MacKinnon was fifth in the NHL with 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) and third with 62 even-strength points to help the Avalanche finish with the second-best record in the Western Conference (42-20-8, .657) and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight season. The center was leading the postseason in points (25; nine goals, 16 assists) when Colorado was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round. MacKinnon won the Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct) on Sept. 11.
Panarin tied for third in the League with NHL career highs in goals (32), assists (63) and points (95), and was first in even-strength points (71) and first among forwards in rating (plus-36). The forward helped the Rangers (37-28-5, .564) advance to the Qualifiers, when they lost a best-of-5 series to the Carolina Hurricanes in three games.
MacKinnon and Panarin also were the other finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.
The 2020 NHL Awards had been scheduled for June 18 in Las Vegas but were postponed March 25 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
2020 Hart Trophy voting (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th)
1. Leon Draisaitl, F, EDM 1,309 (91-31-26-16-4)
2. Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL 1,162 (48-66-34-15-5)
3. Artemi Panarin, F, NYR 889 (24-41-54-25-17)
4. David Pastrnak, F, BOS 369 (3-12-15-43-51)
5. Connor McDavid, F, EDM 309 (1-7-24-33-31)
6. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG 283 (3-13-15-22-21)
7. Roman Josi, D, NSH 29 (0-0-1-6-6)
8. Jack Eichel, F, BUF 14 (0-0-0-2-8)
9. Brad Marchand, F, BOS 12 (0-0-0-3-3)
10. Evgeni Malkin, F, PIT 8 (0-0-0-1-5)
10. Auston Matthews, F, TOR 8 (0-0-0-1-5)
12. John Carlson, D, WSH 7 (0-0-1-0-2)
13. Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL 6 (0-0-0-1-3)
13. Alex Ovechkin, F, WSH 6 (0-0-0-1-3)
15. Jacob Markstrom, G, VAN 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
16. Elias Pettersson, F, VAN 3 (0-0-0-0-3)
17. Tristan Jarry, G, PIT 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
17. Patrick Kane, F, CHI 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
17. J.T. Miller, F, VAN 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika contributed to this report