NHL MVP: Matthews, Gaudreau and McDavid among frontrunners

Auston Matthews leads the NHL in targets, Connor McDavid has essentially the most factors and Igor Shesterkin has been the very best goaltender within the league.

It’s totally doable none of them wins the Hart Trophy as MVP.

Matthews, McDavid and Shesterkin are among the many front-runners, however the pool of candidates goes not less than seven deep with Johnny Gaudreau, Leon Draisaitl, Jonathan Huberdeau and Roman Josi additionally within the combine.

“There’s an argument or a case for every man the place you say, ‘Yep, for positive,’” former NHL participant and coach Rick Tocchet stated. “I feel that is most likely the toughest Hart in years. It’s not clear lower for me as a result of I could make an argument for everyone.”

There shall be loads of arguments made earlier than ballots are due Monday night. One other downside? Solely 5 gamers could be listed.

AUSTON MATTHEWS

“What’s the case? He’s the very best scorer,” Toronto Maple Leafs teammate David Kampf stated. “He has essentially the most targets. That’s the reason.”

Matthews’ 60 targets are essentially the most a participant has had in a season since Steven Stamkos scored 60 in 2011-12. Matthews is one in all solely three gamers to attain that many because the wage cap period started in 2004-05.

An harm slowed Matthews’ push for 60 targets however doesn’t diminish how he has been main Toronto all season and now into the playoffs.

“It’s only a quantity,” Leafs defenceman Justin Holl stated. “I don’t know if he cares about it that a lot.”

An added contact: 43 of his targets have come at even energy, additionally most within the league.

JOHNNY GAUDREAU

The Calgary Flames weren’t purported to be this good, and they’re largely due to Gaudreau, who led them with 111 factors going into Tuesday and has been a lot improved away from the puck.

“It’s not outlandish to have him successful the Hart simply due to his manufacturing and the way in which he’s performed defence, too,” stated Tocchet, now a Turner Sports activities analyst. “His defensive recreation has actually been at one other degree. You watch him and he’s down low, he’s successful battles, he’s serving to his D out for possessions.”

CONNOR MCDAVID

Edmonton’s captain is the very best hockey participant on this planet and is on tempo to win the scoring race for the fourth time prior to now six seasons. He’s essentially the most dynamic playmaker within the sport and the rationale the Oilers are at all times a menace to make a deep playoff run.

McDavid has additionally received nearly 54% of his faceoffs and honed his all-around recreation like different stars earlier than him.

“He had the proper function mannequin in Sidney Crosby to judge his recreation the way in which Crosby has grown right into a 200-foot hockey participant, has grown into an amazing chief,” stated Matt Hendricks, who performed with McDavid for 2 seasons in Edmonton. “Connor has accomplished every thing to comply with these footsteps but in addition create his personal, as nicely.”

IGOR SHESTERKIN

The New York Rangers look method forward of schedule of their rebuild, and there are many the reason why, from coach Gerard Gallant to 50-goal scorer Chris Kreider. However the largest issue has been Shesterkin, who has the bottom goals-against common at 2.03 and the very best save proportion at .936.

“He’s been that good for that crew,” Tocchet stated. “He dipped slightly bit, which is comprehensible (beneath) plenty of stress all yr. However he’s nonetheless been actually good — wonderful. His stats are phenomenal.”

LEON DRAISAITL

McDavid’s operating mate isn’t far behind Matthews within the goal-scoring race and is one other piston within the Oilers engine to get them again within the playoffs for a 3rd consecutive season.

Draisaitl received the Hart in 2020 after the season was lower brief by the pandemic. He’s within the dialogue once more as a result of he does a lot extra for Edmonton than simply creating offence and performs greater than every other ahead within the league.

“Draisaitl penalty-kills, he takes plenty of attracts in his personal finish on necessary faceoffs,” Tocchet stated. “Meaning so much to me for the Hart.”

JONATHAN HUBERDEAU

The most efficient participant on the very best crew within the league can’t be counted out. The Florida Panthers rating greater than anybody else, and Huberdeau is the most important a part of that.

Huberdeau trails solely McDavid in scoring, and he hasn’t simply accomplished it whereas enjoying alongside elite centre Aleksander Barkov. He leads the NHL with a career-high 85 assists and reached 30 targets for the second time in a breakout season.

ROMAN JOSI

Whereas Colorado’s Cale Makar is the favorite to win the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s high defenceman, Josi has basically carried Nashville into the playoffs. His 91 factors had him tied for thirteenth within the league with Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, who might be the eighth participant within the MVP race.

Nashville has gotten nice manufacturing from forwards Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg and relied on Juuse Saros in objective, however Josi because the captain and greatest participant controls and wins video games.

“He’s simply every thing for that crew,” retired defenceman Karl Alzner stated. “Even when he doesn’t get on the rating sheet greater than as soon as in a recreation, he’s fully driving play for that crew each time he’s on the market. He’s at all times within the combine.”