The Edmonton Oilers are playing to keep hold of their top position in the Pacific Division, and their captain, Connor McDavid, is playing a big role in it. He is pouring his heart and soul into keeping this team afloat despite setbacks caused by injuries to their star forwards. Those issues are testing the lineup, and the team has leaned on its top star to carry the offensive load.
At the same time, the Hart Trophy debate has taken a surprising turn, overlooking McDavid’s contributions and drawing strong reactions from inside the locker room. One moment of frustration came into focus this week when a teammate openly challenged the narrative shaping the MVP race around McDavid.
Why Kasperi Kapanen Is Defending Connor McDavid’s Hart Trophy Case
McDavid should be a frontrunner in the Hart Trophy discussion, but recently, some prominent voices in the NHL community have not considered him a top candidate. This has drawn pushback from his teammate, Kasperi Kapanen, who did not hold back when addressing the growing narrative that is shifting attention away from Edmonton’s captain.
Kapanen openly questioned that trend, stating, “Kind of crazy that they’re taking him out of the conversation right now which makes no sense to me.” He acknowledged the strength of other candidates but remained firm in his stance, adding, “There are a lot of good players out there but … it’s a no-brainer for me.”
McDavid’s case has strengthened after a strong December with 34 points. Since then, he has recorded two hat tricks, including one in a dominant 5-point performance against San Jose that helped push Edmonton into first place in the division. He has led the league in scoring while driving a significant share of the team’s offense, often stepping up in critical moments as the Oilers were on the verge of falling behind.
The broader Hart Trophy field includes names like Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov, both of whom have maintained strong seasons with consistent production. At the same time, Macklin Celebrini has emerged as a standout young contender, adding another name to an already crowded race. Despite that competition, McDavid’s influence on Edmonton’s results continues to stand out.
Some top voices who overlooked McDavid include Brian Boyle and Kevin Weekes of NHL Network. However, that has not changed his overall role within the Oilers’ system, where he remains the primary driver of offense, especially with Leon Draisaitl sidelined by injury.
Edmonton’s season has been defined by elite scoring paired with inconsistent defensive results, yet the team has still managed to hold the top spot in the Pacific Division. Much of that stability has come from McDavid’s ability to elevate his play when needed, particularly during this late push toward the playoffs.
As the Oilers prepare for key matchups against division rivals, the MVP conversation is unlikely to settle quietly.
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