GENE'S BLOG: Hart to Hart conversation

I think we need to have a Hart to Hart conversation because it's that time.
The season is less than three weeks away from being over. There is a lot on the line for teams as they secure a playoff berth or make a final push. It is when the best play their best so they can lift their game to the necessary levels. This is a season like no other when it comes to the talent the NHL is showing off on a game-to-game basis. It is a big, big win for the fans of the fastest game on ice. The individual performances being showcased across North American NHL rinks have been nothing short of sensational. It has become quite evident the race for the Hart Trophy is a complicated one.
First off, I think it makes sense to pass on the official definition for the Hart Trophy:
The Hart Memorial Trophy (originally the Hart Trophy) is awarded annually to the player determined to be the "most valuable" to his National Hockey League (NHL) team during the regular season. The winner is chosen through a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
I will first be upfront and honest -- I do not have a vote. I never have and the way it's going I never will. I don't need the pressure of trying to figure out who the winner should be, especially this season. I cannot remember such a packed group of players who have a chance to be awarded the trophy.
The list is a very long one and includes a couple of Oilers in Connor McDavid (108 points) and Leon Draisaitl (101 points). There's also Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau (104 points) or Toronto's Auston Matthews and Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau (both at 99 points).
I haven't even talked about defence and Nashville's Roman Josi (87 points) or between the pipes with New York's Igor Shesterkin (34 wins, 2.07 GAA, .935 SV%).

You see what I mean about the challenge that exists in trying to figure out who the Hart Trophy winner will be. What has added an extra layer (and a thick one) to this race is all of the above play on teams that will win their division or, at minimum, make the playoffs. There have been years where a player has had a phenomenal season but their team has not. It's just not the case this season, making the pick all the more difficult.
My choice would be McDavid. I just think he has the talents and the results to be the winner. It's not always the most talented player who is the best player and the most important one to their team, but I believe that to be the case when discussing the captain of the Edmonton Oilers. As Jack Michaels would say, "down the stretch they come", and if this were a horse race it would likely be a photo finish with McDavid winning by a nose. In fact, one of the players he would be edging out is his teammate Draisaitl.

I feel a little bad, as I'm not attempting to treat the Oiler as a second-class scoring citizen because he's not. The Deutschland Danger has already reached the 50-goal, 100-point plateau. In fact, I believe just like he did in 2019-20, Leon will win another Hart Trophy. I just don't believe it is this year. However, it could be next year, or the one after that, or the one after that. He will continue to be in the Hart Trophy running for years to come.
The others in the running aren't slowing down their challenge to try and stop McDavid from winning two Hart awards in a row. The last time anyone secured the honour in back-to-back seasons was Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals forward did it in 2008 and 2009. Voters may also be looking for a change in a winner and the positional player who gets awarded the honour. The last defenceman to win the Hart Trophy was Chris Pronger, who did it with St. Louis in 2000. The last goalie to do it was Montreal's Carey Price in 2015; however, he's the only netminder to win it in the last 20 years.

The biggest challenger for McDavid, if not his own teammate, could likely be Matthews. As he flirts with a potential 60-plus-goal season and is also among the league's top point-getters, he is having a super season. There is no doubting that his scoring, along with where he plays, could push him over the top. I believe if Connor reaches 50 goals for the first time, that could be the final thing to check off his list of ways to secure another trophy to add to his mantle.
The Professional Hockey Writers' Association has a tough choice ahead of them. We wait to see who the finalists are and eventually the winner, who will be announced in a couple months.
I'm really glad we had this Hart-to-Hart conversation.