The National Hockey League announced the finalists for the 2024 Hart Memorial Trophy today. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche were named the three finalists.
The award is given annually to the NHL player voted most valuable to his team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
McDavid was third in NHL points this season with 132 points (32G, 100A) in 76 games. It was his fourth straight season where he recorded 100 or more points and the seventh time in his nine NHL seasons. McDavid is aiming to win his second straight Hart Trophy and his fourth since joining the NHL. He also won the award in 2016-17 and 2020-21. McDavid recorded 1.88 points per game on average this season.
Kucherov led the NHL this season with 144 points (44G, 100A) in 81 games. Kucherov’s 144 points is the highest point total in his NHL career and the most in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s history surpassing his previous mark of 128 points (41G, 87A) that he set back in 2018-19. The now 30-year-old forward picked up the Art Ross Trophy this season and looks to add his second career Hart Trophy to his shelf. Kucherov won the Hart Trophy back in 2018-19.
McDavid and Kucherov were the first players in a season since Wayne Gretzky’s 122 assists in 1990-91 to record 100 assists in a single NHL season.
MacKinnon was second in NHL scoring with 140 points (51G, 89A) in 82 games. His goals, assists and point totals led the Colorado Avalanche in addition to his 51 goals ranking fourth in NHL scoring and his 48 power-play points (10G, 38A) were second to Kucherov. This was MacKinnon’s second time and second consecutive season where he recorded 100 points or more. MacKinnon is a four-time Hart Trophy finalist but has never won the award.
Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy in the 2022-23 NHL Season.
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