Nathan MacKinnon A Finalist For The Hart Trophy

All the fans at Colorado Avalanche games that chanted “MVP!” at Nathan MacKinnon multiple times throughout the season are looking pretty good right now. In about a month and a half, I think there’s a very good chance they end up being correct.

On Tuesday, MacKinnon was announced as one of three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, presented annually “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” The award is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

This is the fourth time he has been named a finalist for the award, and first time since the 2020-21 season. However, MacKinnon has never won the award before, despite many believing he should have been the winner in 2017-18. The award that year went to New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall.

If you didn’t think MacKinnon would be one of the nominees, I just have one question – where have you been? The Avalanche superstar finished second in the NHL in scoring with 140 points, behind only Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov. It was a season to remember for the 28 year old, who set career highs in points (140), goals (51), and assists (89). His 92 even strength points led the NHL, and at 5-on-5, he led the league with 79 points. His 140 points also set a franchise record for points in a season, besting the previous mark set by Peter Stastny back in 1981-82.

MacKinnon becomes the second Avalanche player to be nominated for a major award, as Cale Makar finds himself up for the Norris Trophy (again).

If the center does happen to win the Hart Trophy, he’ll become just the third Avalanche player to take home the award. Joe Sakic won it back in 2001, and just two years later, Peter Forsberg took home the award.

Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov are also up for the award.

The winner of the Hart Trophy, as well as all the other major awards, will be announced at the NHL Awards show on June 27 in Las Vegas. Colorado Hockey Now will be there to see if MacKinnon does take home the trophy. For now, he’s focused on bringing another Stanley Cup back to Denver.