McDavid, Matthews, Makar are the top Hart Trophy picks in Player Poll

LAS VEGAS– Connor McDavid leads a three-player race for the Hart Trophy in a preseason poll of his peers.

The Edmonton Oilers center was selected as the favorite to win the 2022-23 regular season award, presented to the most valuable player. 17 of the 49 players surveyed voted him first.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Austin Matthewswho won the Hart last season received 10 votes, as did the Colorado Avalanche defenseman Kal Makarwho won the Norris Trophy last season was voted Best Defenseman.

McDavid has won the Hart twice (2017, 2021). He’s the clear favorite to win it for the third time this season. McDavid was also the NHL.com favorite Trophy Tracker voting at the start of the season.

“[McDavid] does it every night,” said Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle. “I think he’s too good for the league.”

Since the start of the 2018-19 season, McDavid leads the NHL with 441 points (152 goals, 289 assists) in 278 regular-season games. teammate Leon Draisaitl (409) is the only other player to break 400 points in that span.

Video: Auston Matthews in 3rd place on NHL Network’s countdown

“I think just the impact he’s had on this team, I feel like he’s carried this team for a long time now,” said the Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm said. “It’s impressive what he does year after year after year.”

Despite that dominance, Matthews won the Hart last season when he became the first NHL player to score at least 60 goals since Steven Stamko scored 60 points in 2011-12. Matthews had 60 goals and 106 points.

Those lining up against Matthews believe he may just be scratching the surface and could hit 60 again this season.

“As a goalkeeper, I think he’s the scariest player to play against and he’ll be the one, whatever the goals per season records are, he’ll keep chasing them and I think he’ll be.” , he said Jake Oettinger the Dallas Stars.

Said Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann: “He’s such a consistent goalscorer and he makes it look so easy. He’s a great player. I think Toronto will be a good team this year so he has a good chance of getting it. I 100 percent believe he can live to be 60. I do not know. I think he can live to be 70. He has so many skills. I think he might make it.

Video: Connor McDavid #1 on the NHL Network countdown

Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets and Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabers were the last players to score 70 goals in a season (76 each in 1992–93).

Defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets Zach Werensky believes 60 goals could be a baseline for Matthews at this point. The 25-year-old forward is entering his seventh season on a team many believe is a Stanley Cup contender.

“I have the feeling that he can reach another level,” said Werenski. “Every time he’s on the ice you get the feeling he’s going to score and a year older, a year older than a Maple Leafs team, I just have a feeling he’s back in it this year will be in this 1960s stadium.”

Makar is a dark horse after a season in which he had 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) in 77 games and won the Norris Trophy in a virtual dead heat Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators in the vote (1,631 vote points to 1,606).

Video: Cale Makar ranks No. 2 on NHL Network’s countdown

Makar finished eighth in the Hart vote.

Many believe Makar is a legitimate contender for the MVP crown this year, including McDavid.

“It’s just because of how good he is,” McDavid said.

If Makar won the Hart, he would be the first defenseman since the St. Louis Blues’ Chris Pronger in 2000.

“He’s so good, so talented and learns more every year with his experience,” said goalkeeper Bruins Jeremy Swayman said. “And obviously he’s already won big awards. But I think he’s just pushing the limits of what he’s capable of.”

It was a steep drop in support after the first three. Nikita Kutscherow of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mitchell Marner the Maple Leafs and Nathan MacKinnon the Avalanche received two votes each.

Six other players, forward Jonathan Huberdeau the Calgary Flames, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, 1, Clayton Keller the Arizona Coyotes and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers and fullback Victor Hedman the Tampa Bay Lightning and Josi each received one.