May 2, 2022 by Ryan Lotsberg

The Hart Memorial Trophy is presented to “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team” according the the NHL. The word “adjudged” leaves the definition of the award open to interpretation, which is what makes the Hart Trophy debate fun. There are a lot of worthy candidates this year. I could make an argument for a number of players that are all on playoff teams.

We’ve seen the player that wins the scoring race win the Hart Trophy many times. Connor McDavid won the Art Ross Trophy for being the lead’s leading point scorer. McDavid pulled away from the field in the final weeks of the season. The 25-year-old led the league with 44 power-play points. McDavid registered a point on 42.86% of his team’s goals, which is a higher percentage than any other candidate. I’d say that makes him pretty valuable.

Taylor Hall had a career year and won the Hart Trophy in 2017. Auston Matthews surpassed his former career best points total by 26 points this season, which is more than any other candidate. He had the highest five on five expected goals for percentage of any candidate (63.91%). He became the first player to score 60 goals in a season since Steven Stamkos did it in 2012. It should be noted that it was Evgeni Malkin and not Stamkos that won the Hart Trophy that year.

Jonathan Huberdeau also shattered his previous career high points total. His 115 points were 23 more than his previous best total. He finished ahead of his next closest teammate by 28 points, which is a higher number than any other candidate. That makes him quite valuable to his team! He had more powerplay points than any non-Oiler in the league, which placed him in a tie for third overall in that category. He was about a minute and a half shy of having more minutes on the penalty kill than the other five players that I examined for this piece combined. He impacted the game in every facet.

Johnny Gaudreau quietly tied for second with Huberdeau in the points race. He’s done great work at even strength this season. He had 90 even strength points, which is twelve more than McDavid had. He had 72 points at five on five and his goals for percentage at five on five was a whoppipng 71.64%. Both are easily the highest marks among Hart Trophy candidates. 

Roman Josi is the first defenceman to score more than 90 points in a season since Ray Bourque in 1993-94. He led his team in scoring by ten points. Any defenceman that can produce like that is extremely valuable. He’s a strong contender for the Norris Trophy, and there could be an argument made for the Hart Trophy as well. 

Igor Shesterkin had a fabulous season on an up and coming New York Rangers team. His .935 save percentage is sparkling, even though it has dipped slightly in the second half of the season. His 2.05 goals against average is spectacular. Ultimately he won’t win the Hart Trophy, but his play deserves being an honourable mention.

As an Oilers fan, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention Leon Draisaitl here. His vote is with McDavid, but he’s been pretty great this season as well. His 55 goals were second in the league, and he finished in fourth place in the scoring race. He’s the first player since 1995-96 to get 55 or more goals and 55 or more assists. He had the second most powerplay points in the league. He had the second most penalty kill minutes of the candidates that I examined here. Draisaitl is a complete player that had a season worthy of a Hart Trophy in many other years, but not in this one.

After hearing the arguments for all of the candidates, my three nominees for the Hart Trophy would be McDavid, Huberdeau, and Matthews.

What I think will happen and what I think should happen are two different things. Remember that it is the Professional Hockey Writers Association that votes on the Hart Trophy. I have a hard time believing that a Maple Leaf that broke a franchise record for goal scoring and won the Rocket Richard Trophy won’t win the popular vote with the media. That’s why I think Auston Matthews will win the Hart Trophy (as much as it pains me to say it). It’s going to be the most popular narrative.

However, the rightful winner should be Huberdeau. He checks all of the boxes. He was near the top of the points race. He led his team in scoring by a considerable margin, which is a sure sign of a player that is valuable to his team. He was third in the league in power-play points, and he’s the only candidate that actually killed penalties consistently. He excelled in every area of the game this season. He was clearly the most valuable player on the President’s Trophy winning team. He was also clearly the most valuable player in the NHL this season.