Kucherov, MacKinnon, McDavid named finalists for the 2024 Hart Trophy

On Tuesday, the NHL announced Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) as the finalists for the 2024 Hart Trophy given to the player most valuable to his team. 

Kucherov was the driving force behind the Lightning securing a playoff spot this season. 

The 30-year-old forward exploded for 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) in 81 games to lead the entire NHL. But it is when you compare him to the rest of his team that it gets pretty amazing. 

Kucherov finished 54 points ahead of the next Lightning skater (Brayden Point) and 37 assists ahead of Victor Hedman. He led the league with 53 power-play points (13 goals, 40 assists), was a 50 percent face-off guy and played in his fifth NHL All-Star Game.

MacKinnon ranked second in the NHL with a career-high 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 2023-24. The Nova Scotia native finished with a plus-35 rating in 82 games while playing nearly 23 minutes per night. 

MacKinnon was a mainstay in the headlines, becoming the first player in NHL history to run off two separate 19-game point streaks in a single season. He also recorded a point in 35 straight home games. 

McDavid has become a household name when it comes to the Hart Trophy… And just about every other NHL award. 

Through only a nine-year career, McDavid has won the Hart Trophy three times (2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23), the Art Ross Trophy for the most points five times (2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23), the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player four times (2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2022-23) and the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy for the most goals in 2022-23. 

This season, McDavid ranked third with 132 points (76 goals, 32 assists). He finished with a plus-35 rating in 76 games.  

The Hart Trophy winner will be announced at the annual NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 27.