Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid named Hart Trophy finalist

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” voted upon by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

McDavid finished the year with 64 goals and 153 points in 82 games. Not only did this mark a career-best for the 26-year-old, but it would also placed him with Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bernie Nichols, and Steve Yzerman of players to hit 150 points in a single season, something that hasn’t been done since Lemiuex in 1995-96.

The Oilers superstar has been a finalist for the MVP award four times in the past, capturing it for the first time in 2016-17 after hitting the 100-point mark in just his second season in the NHL. He would then reclaim his title again in 2020-2021 after leading the league in both even strength points at 68 and power play points at 37.

McDavid was named a finalist beside Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, and David Patsrnak of the Boston Bruins.

Pastrnak would be the runner up to McDavid in goals at 61, and finished third in points at 113 points. He became the second player in almost 50 years in Bruins franchise history to have 60 goals since Phil Espositio in 1974-1975. Leading the Bruins with 20.3 percent of the teams 301 goals and heavily relied on for his goal scoring abilities, Pastrnak would finish amongst the top performers in game winning goals. This is the first time he is an NHL Awards finalist. If he wins he will become the first Bruin to win since 1999.

Tkachuk posted a 40 goal year for 109 points, with the Panthers second point leader Aleksander Barkov 31 points behind. This would be his first season in Florida leading them to their fourth straight playoff berth; the first time in franchise history. He is looking to become the sixth player in NHL history to win the Hart Trophy in his first season with a new team. Tkachuk is now the fourth player in history to have consecutive 100 point campaigns after relocating teams during the offseason.

All winners will be announced June 26th at the 2023 NHL awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

Aleena Aksenchuk is an intern with Oilersnation and the Nation Network. She can be found on twitter at @A_Aksenchuk8