This season has been one of the most exciting, with many high-profile trophy races hotly contested, including the Presidents Trophy in the final week of the season and the toss-up Norris Trophy. Today we dive into the Hart Trophy, or MVP Trophy, and why Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche should win it.
The Hart Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be most valuable to a team. The winner will be chosen by a vote of Professional Hockey Writers Association members at the end of the regular season. This is the fourth time Nathan MacKinnon has been a finalist for this trophy, and while it's not an easy vote, it's no surprise that he wins the Hart Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, or both as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. Here's why you should get it. for the first time in his career. He will accomplish this feat even though he is competing against one of the greatest prospects the league has ever seen.
record-breaking season
For MacKinnon, the 2023-24 season was a memorable one as he broke records in all areas, including not only individual results but also franchise records and NHL records. He played in 82 games and had career highs with 51 goals and 89 assists for 140 points. His season accomplishments were boosted by the point streak he accumulated throughout the season, recording at least one point in a league-leading 69 games. These streaks include the home point streak, which set a record for scoring at least one point in 35 consecutive games on home ice, second only to Wayne Gretzky's 40 points in the 1988-89 season. It was the second longest home point streak. He became the first player to score two points in 19 or more consecutive games, both on the road and at home, in the same season.
In franchise terms, McKinnon leads numerous Avalanche singles in points (140), goals (51.1), shots (405), adjusted assists (87), adjusted points (138), and adjusted goals (51.6). He set a season record. , total goals on ice (187), expected plus/minus (plus-25.1), offensive point share (13.1), point share (16.0). He also climbed the ladder of numerous franchise career records, including his third place in assists and his fourth place in points scored. McKinnon was a man of mission offensively when it came to advanced stats, including expected goals (37.3), most penalty minutes (66), goals over expected (13.7), points per 60 minutes ( 4.49), leading the entire team. , medium-risk expected goals (14.91), low-risk expected goals (11.8), and expected goals on ice percentage (64.7%). When he's on the ice, the team plays its best, and that's evidenced by the records and statistics he breaks.
Key statistics for finalists
Competing with the Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, MacKinnon is outperforming himself when it comes to points. He can take what he's given and what he sees on the ice and use it more offensively. McKinnon led three players in goals, tied for first in plus/minus (plus-35), even strength goals (41), even strength points (92), overtime goals (2), wins. Goals (9), Shots on Goal (405), Ice Time per Game Played (22:49). McKinnon was a key contributor, as were the other three candidates, but who wins will all depend on whether voters agree on what will have a greater impact on the team.
Although he never topped 100 assists like McDavid and Kucherov, he did score 50 or more goals, including his own, making him one of only four players to finish a season with 50 or more goals. Ta. The same can be seen in the discussion regarding total scores. In point numbers and the “Power Play Merchant” conversation that comes with the Art Ross Trophy, McKinnon finished with four fewer points than Kucherov because he scored more points on the power play.
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Suppose you make the argument that 5-on-5 or even strength production is most important. In this case, McKinnon has goals (36), points (79), goals above expected (13.9) (closest is Kucherov's 4.1), expected goals per 60 minutes (0.93), medium risk and low risk. He leads three players in expected goals per game. -On-ice goal difference (35) and expected goals created (22.3). There is debate about other finalists who rank higher than McKinnon in other categories. It all depends on what voters saw on the ice, how they perceived the statistics in front of them, and how much interest they gave in determining the MVP.
Mr. McKinnon's awards
Three seasons ago, the Avalanche suffered another heartbreaking loss in the second round of the playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights. MacKinnon was not satisfied with the team's lack of success. In his famous post-game interview, McKinnon said: declared his motives While he has been in the league for a long time, he says, “Next year will be my 9th year, but I haven't won at all.'' He is aiming for even greater success in the future. That's where McKinnon's legacy is heading now. Having won his first Stanley Cup, and hopefully many more of his own, he's now looking to add one more piece of hardware to his vast collection. Adding a prestigious award like the Hart Trophy is a huge accomplishment, but he knows what's more important to him and his team.
“I don't even think about it. I'm very focused on making this playoff run.”
It's the playoffs, and the award goes to the best player in the regular season, not the best player in the playoffs. That's why we have the Conn Smythe Trophy. His comments show where his head is and what he strives for each season he plays. While individual accomplishments are important and highlight the skills and talent a person brings to the ice each year, for McKinnon, the number of rings on a finger far outweighs any individual accomplishments that happened long ago. It's meaningful.
Who should win the Hart Trophy? Do you agree that it should go to McKinnon? Comment below and let us know your thoughts on this season's Hart Trophy finalists.