McDavid backs Draisaitl for Hart Trophy: 'It should be Leon'

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid endorsed teammate Leon Draisaitl for the Hart Trophy on Tuesday.

"I don't have a lot of faith in the media voting so I don't know who's going to win, but it should be Leon," McDavid said, according to TSN. "I think the players will get it right and vote Leon (for the Ted Lindsay Award), but you never know about the media."

Draisaitl, 24, captured the Art Ross Trophy after pacing the league in scoring with a career-best 110 points through 71 games. His 43 goals led the Oilers and ranked fourth in the NHL. The 6-foot-2 pivot was playing at a 127-point pace over 82 games, which would have marked the highest single-season franchise total since Mark Messier's 129 in 1989-90.

"He's been a good player for a long time. Obviously he was great this year, huge for us in all situations and it's a super big accomplishment for him," McDavid said. "I'm definitely happy to see him be recognized like that."

McDavid, who captured the Hart Trophy in 2017, went on to praise Draisaitl's complete game.

"Any guy that leads the league in scoring and puts up those type of numbers and plays penalty kill and does all that type of stuff, that's a sign of consistency and that's a sign of bringing it each and every night," he said.

Draisaitl was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is given annually to the player deemed to be the most outstanding in the NHL, as voted on by his peers.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin were nominated alongside Draisaitl for both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

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