MacKinnon wins Hart for 1st time in 4th bid as finalist

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon took home the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, beating out Edmonton Oilers dynamo Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.

MacKinnon claimed the Hart after previously finishing as a finalist three times.

Here's how the voting broke down:

Nathan MacKinnon wins the first Hart Trophy of his career as the player most valuable to his team. Here's the voting breakdown: pic.twitter.com/ptweByVIoK

- Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 28, 2024

MacKinnon finished second to Kucherov in the Art Ross Trophy race. The Avalanche center racked up 140 points over 82 games in 2023-24, falling four points shy of the Lightning forward. However, MacKinnon led the NHL with 92 even-strength points, beating Kucherov by one.

Colorado's catalyst also topped the NHL in standings points above replacement, wins above replacement, and goals above replacement, according to Evolving-Hockey. Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews and McDavid placed second and third, respectively, in all three categories.

The Avalanche controlled 56.64% of the expected goals when MacKinnon was on the ice at five-on-five this season, along with 59.41% of the scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick.

MacKinnon has been a perennial Hart candidate for years. Here's how close he's come:

In 2017-18, he lost to Taylor Hall - then of the New Jersey Devils - by only 70 voting points. Hall had 1,264 to MacKinnon's 1,194. The Nova Scotian forward fell just 12 first-place votes shy of Hall that year.

Earlier Thursday, MacKinnon won the Ted Lindsay Award, claiming the honor of MVP as voted upon by his peers.

MacKinnon's 51 goals, 89 assists, and 140 points were all career highs. He posted 42 tallies and 69 helpers last season to hit triple digits in points for the first time.

He'll turn 29 on Sept. 1.

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