The NHL announced the three finalists for the Hart Trophy on Monday, awarded to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.
This year’s finalists are: Columbus’ Sergei Bobrovsky, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid.
Bobrovsky, also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, set a new Blue Jackets team record by earning 41 wins this season and led the NHL with a 2.06 GAA and .931 save percentage. He finished tied for third with three shutouts, fourth with 1,727 saves and made 63 starts. Bobrovsky led the Blue Jackets to their first playoff appearance since 2014. He becomes the first Hart Trophy finalist representing the Blue Jackets.
Crosby led the NHL with 44 goals this season, earning the second Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy of his career. He added 45 assists and was tied with Patrick Kane for second in league scoring with 89 points in 75 games. This is the sixth time Crosby has been a finalist for the Hart Trophy, winning it in 2007 and 2014. He finished second to Kane in voting for the award last season.
McDavid was this year’s only 100-point player, hitting that mark on the nose in 82 games to earn the Art Ross Trophy, and he led all players with 70 assists. McDavid had this season’s longest individual point streak, getting on the score sheet in 14 straight games to end the regular season, and also had a league-best 30 multi-point games. McDavid helped the Oilers to a 103-point season, the franchise’s best mark since 1987. A Hart Trophy finalist for the first time, McDavid is trying to become the third player in league history to win this award before his 21st birthday, joining Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky.
The award winners will be revealed on June 21 in Las Vegas.
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