NHL MVP Nominees Announced: MacKinnon, McDavid, and Kucherov Lead Hart Trophy Race

Tuesday, May 7th, 2024

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Connor McDavid from the Edmonton Oilers, and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning have emerged as contenders for the Hart Memorial Trophy for the 2023-24 season. This accolade recognizes the most valuable player to their team during the regular season.

While both McDavid and Kucherov have previously won the league MVP award, MacKinnon is aiming for his first Hart Trophy victory after being a finalist three times before.

As the leading scorer for the Avalanche, MacKinnon reached new personal bests with 51 goals, 89 assists, and a total of 140 points. He stood out in the NHL with 405 shots on goal and achieved two significant scoring records: accumulating points in 35 consecutive home games and a separate streak of 19 games with points, becoming the inaugural player to accomplish two point streaks of 19 games within a single season.

McDavid is in the running for his fourth Hart Trophy, having gathered 132 points to lead Edmonton, with an impressive 100 of those as assists, the highest in the league. His performance spiked following a coaching change on the team, with 122 points achieved in the subsequent 65 games.

Kucherov matched the feat of 100 assists in a season, a milestone only achieved by NHL greats like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr, establishing personal records with 44 goals and a total of 144 points. This season marked his second win of the Art Ross Trophy and led the Lightning into their seventh successive playoff appearance.

Related Links

• Colorado Avalanche News & Updates
• Colorado Avalanche Schedule & Scores
• Edmonton Oilers News & Updates
• Edmonton Oilers Schedule & Scores
• Tampa Bay Lightning News & Updates
• Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule & Scores
• NHL News