Auston Matthews, Igor ShesterkinAnd Connor McDavidThursday's announcement made them the finalist for the NHL 2021-22 Hart Trophy. It is an annual award to “the player adjudged most valuable to his club.”
The Hart is voted for by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. All NHL award winners will announced at the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final. Dates and times to be determined.
This season's Hart Trophy field was full of eligible candidates, prompting heated debates in the league about the criteria that best defines the NHL MVP. Is Shesterkin a good goaltender? Should a forward like Jonathan HuberdeauWhen his offensive stats were tied for second in the NHL, his 115 points were not being held back. And are defensemen like Roman JosiYou are not explosive enough, but you were overlooked.
PHWA members were the final word on who would be included in the Hart Trophy ballot. Each finalist played an important role in the team's success.
Matthews of Toronto is a Hart finalist again, having finished behind McDavid last year in voting. Matthews, 24, won the Rocket Richard Trophy for second consecutive season. He scored 60 goals and 106 points. Matthews is among 22 NHL players who have reached the 60-goal mark. At the 55-goal mark, he established a single-season franchise record for Leafs scoring. The Leafs' alternate captain, Toronto, played a crucial role in helping them achieve other records in this season's most wins (54) and most points (115), as they surged to second place in the Atlantic Division.
Matthews would become Toronto's third Hart Trophy winner, the first since Ted Kennedy in 1954-1955.
New York's Shesterkin is a Hart Trophy finalist. Shesterkin was also previously named a Vezina Trophy finalist as the NHL's top goaltender. Shesterkin enjoyed a remarkable regular season with the Rangers. He collected a record of 36-13-4 and led league starters in save percentage (.935), goals-against average (2.07), and posted the third-most shutouts ((6)). New York finished second in the Metropolitan Division with an average of 2.49 goals against and second in save percentage (.935) thanks to Shesterkin's brilliant campaign.
Shesterkin would receive the Hart Trophy for New York's first time since 1993. Mark Messier1991-1992 In addition, he would be the third goaltender to win the award since 2000. Jose TheodoreAnd Carey Price.
McDavid, Edmonton's captain, is a Hart Trophy finalist. He won the award unanimously last season. In 2016-17, he also won the Hart. Oilers' captain, McDavid, had another productive season offensively. He was seventh in league points (123), second in assists (79), third in even-strength point (78), and seventh overall (44).
As a teammate Leon DraisaitlMcDavid was the catalyst in Edmonton's recovery from their midseason slump, which saw them fall out of the playoff picture. He helped them achieve a 104 point campaign to finish second place in the Pacific Division. McDavid is praised for his dynamic play on the ice and his ever-evolving defense game.
