The finalists for the Hart Trophy, given to the player most valuable to his team, have been announced. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the three finalists are Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid.
Kucherov is considered to be a favorite for the award after putting up a tremendous year. The 25-year-old took his game to another level as he has already captured this year’s Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in total points. He finished the year with 41 goals and 128 points, the most in the league since the 1995-96 season. His totals are also the most-ever by a Russian-born NHL player. Kucherov has also been nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, awarded to the most outstanding player and voted on by the players. Kucherov led his team to the Presidents’ Trophy, given to the team with the best regular-season record.
Crosby had an impressive season as well. Often forgotten when talking about the league’s best players, Crosby helped lead the Penguins to the playoffs this year and did it by breaking the 100-point mark for the first time in five years. On top of that, he was 18-points better than any other players on his team, making his season quite valuable for a Pittsburgh franchise that struggled to get into the playoffs this season.
McDavid’s name is not surprising either, other than the fact that the Edmonton Oilers didn’t have a very impressive season and while they weren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs until late in the season, they were never truly considered to be a playoff threat this season. In fact, McDavid is just the sixth player in NHL history to be a Hart finalist from a non-playoff team. McDavid, however, who won the Hart Trophy in the 2016-17 season when he tallied 30 goals and 100 points, continues to improve on each season as he tallied 41 goals and 116 points to reach new career highs.
Several interesting players were left off the finalist list as well, including Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane.
Nathan MacKinnon should be there over Cindy Crosby.
Agreed
Yup
Waaaaaa.
#freeconnor
You mean top 5 player of all time, 3 time Stanley cup champ and your 2018 – 2019 MVP Sidney Crosby
Sidney envy always brings them out of their closets.
I won’t say he should win it since I didn’t see enough of the others, but Sid had a better year this year than the two years he did win it. Far more complete of a 200 foot game now.
Crosby again was voted the best player in the NHL by his peers. He should of been a finalist for the leagues best defensive player as well. Theirs not a better two way player in the league.
McDavid, given he provided about 80% of the overall production of his entire team.
Kucherov is my pick for Hart Trophy , McDavid close second. Agree with PolishHammer MacKinnon over that guy in Pittsburgh,
When Nathan Mackinnon leads his team to 3 Stanley Cups, than maybe. Til than, Sid is still better
This is the 18-19 Hart trophy. Not The Who-Won-More-Cups trophy. It’s not a question of all-time or recent seasons, but of who was better this year