Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, Florida Panthers stud Matthew Tkachuk, and Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak were announced as the 2022-23 Hart Trophy finalists Friday.
The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes to determine the winner of the Hart Trophy, which is given annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team."
McDavid is a five-time finalist for the hardware and two-time winner. He was also nominated Wednesday for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is voted on by members of the NHL Players' Association.
The megastar was once again in a league of his own this campaign, reaching new heights with 64 goals and an outlandish 153 points in 82 contests while factoring in on almost 50% of the Oilers' goals. McDavid recorded 45 multi-point games - including 10 with at least four points - and 14 multi-goal contests. With that consistent output, it's no wonder he captured the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's most prolific scorer.
McDavid led all skaters in goals above replacement (31.7) and wins above replacement (5.4) while producing at a rate of 2.09 goals and five points per 60 minutes at all strengths, according to Evolving Hockey.
Tkachuk is a first-time nominee for the Hart Trophy. The talented agitator's first season in Sunrise really couldn't have gone any better, and he was a key reason the Panthers forced their way into the playoffs. He led his teammates with a career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 contests and had the fifth-most even-strength points (72) in the league while boasting the fourth-highest point-per-game rate (1.38).
Florida scored 288 goals this campaign, meaning Tkachuk had a hand in approximately 38% of them. He ranked second league-wide in both goals above replacement (28.8) and wins above replacement (4.9), trailing only McDavid in both metrics.
Also a Ted Lindsay Award finalist, Pastrnak ranked second in the league with 61 goals and third with 113 points while skating in all 82 games. Sure, the Bruins were a well-oiled, dominant juggernaut in the regular season, but that was in large part due to Pastrnak, who also led all skaters in even-strength goals (43) and shots (407).
The gifted scorer didn't just pace the Bruins in goals and points - he blew his teammates out of the water. Pastrnak was 34 goals clear of Jake DeBrusk and Patrice Bergeron in second place and held a 46-point lead on Brad Marchand. Out of all skaters to play at least 10 games this campaign, Pastrnak led the field with a rate of 2.28 goals per 60 minutes in all situations.
Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews took home the Hart Trophy last season.
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