The NHL has stirred debate in the hockey world after leaving Connor McDavid off a recent Hart Trophy contenders graphic, a move that many fans wasted no time questioning.
With the regular season winding down, discussion around the Hart Memorial Trophy has intensified. But instead of clarifying the nuances of the race, the league’s latest social media post has only fueled controversy.
With no Connor McDavid, NHL’s Hart Trophy Candidates Raise Major Questions
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the NHL shared a graphic asking, “Who will take home the Hart Trophy this season?” The image highlighted three players along with their chances of winning:
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning): 42%
- Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche): 39%
- Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks): 10%
Notably absent from the list was McDavid, despite the Edmonton Oilers captain’s dominant season.
Heading into a crunch showdown against the Utah Mammoth, Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 126 points (43G, 83A) in 77 games, tied with Kucherov. MacKinnon is next on the board with 122 points and leads the league in goals with 51, while Celebrini has 107 points.
Beyond raw production, McDavid’s value to Edmonton stands out even more. He has been involved in 47.57% of all Oilers goals this season, a staggering share that underscores his impact. Within the PHWA’s definition of “most valuable to his team,” it is difficult to find a higher impact player; in fact, only Macklin Celebrini (46.16%) comes close to that level of team-dependency.
That level of influence is often central to Hart Trophy discussions, which focus on the player deemed “most valuable to his team.”
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Fans Left Scratching Their Heads Over McDavid’s Omission
The omission quickly sparked reactions online, with many arguing McDavid’s presence in the MVP conversation should be a foregone conclusion. Some pointed to Kucherov’s elite production in fewer games or MacKinnon’s goal-scoring pace as justification for their inclusion. Others highlighted Celebrini’s importance to San Jose’s offense.
Still, leaving out the league’s points leader and arguably its most impactful player left plenty of observers puzzled.
Top Tier Hockey channel reacted, writing, “Connor McDavid is the only reason his team is in the playoffs and has the most points. Honestly, NHL awards are just a joke at this point. Just gonna ignore McDavid because you’re tired of him winning. That’s now 3 seasons where he’s been robbed.”
Whether it was a simple marketing oversight or a reflection of shifting voter sentiment, the NHL has inadvertently turned the Hart Trophy race into a referendum on Connor McDavid’s value.
