Kucherov, MacKinnon, McDavid named Hart finalists

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers were named Hart Trophy finalists Tuesday.

The Hart is awarded to the league's most valuable player and voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It will be given out after the playoffs conclude in June.

The nominated trio were the league's top three scorers this season.

Kucherov and McDavid made history as only the fourth and fifth players ever to notch 100 assists in a season.

Kucherov secured his second Art Ross Trophy as the league's top producer and is a Hart finalist for the first time since he won the award in 2019. Kucherov's 144 points were the second-most by a player in the past 28 years - clearing his next-most productive teammate by 54 points - and his exploits were a key reason the Lightning reached the playoffs.

MacKinnon is a Hart finalist for the fourth time since 2017 and has never won the prestigious award. He established a new career high with 140 points and led the league in even-strength production. The Nova Scotia native broke the 50-goal plateau for the first time, led the league in shots (405), and ranked second among all forwards in average ice time (22:49).

McDavid is a three-time Hart winner and took home the award last year. The Oilers captain recorded his fourth consecutive 100-point season and led Edmonton to the playoffs after the club stumbled to a 2-9-1 start. Only three players in league history have won the Hart four times: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Eddie Shore.

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