Leon Draisaitl (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7d9818c3-d49c-4c5d-a67c-04ffe4e7955e.jpeg] Leon Draisaitl (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) The NHL’s individual awards races are in their final stage, and when it comes to the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, there are clear candidates to emerge as one of the finalists. Could Connor Hellebuyck win the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy? In reverse order of likely winners, here are this writer’s choices to be in the running for this year’s Hart Trophy. 5. JACK EICHEL, C, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS This is only the third time in Eichel’s 10-year NHL career that he’s played more than 70 games, but the 28-year-old has been terrific, posting personal-bests in assists (66) and points (93) in 76 games. Eichel has been far and away Vegas’ most productive player, with 26 more points than the next-best Golden Knight [http://thn.com/vegas]. He isn’t likely to beat out the rest of the field for the Hart, but he deserves to be in the conversation, as Vegas might not be at the top of the Pacific Division without him. 4. NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Kucherov has won the Hart once before, claiming the award in 2018-19. And although his current totals of 82 assists and 116 points aren’t close to his career highs, the 31-year-old Russian has been Tampa Bay [http://thn.com/tampabay]’s best player – arguably, outside of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy – so he could be a finalist for this year’s Hart. Kucherov is reliably one of the most dynamic players on the planet, but from our perspective, he’s slightly outside of the top-three Hart candidates this season. He has nothing to apologize for, though, as the Lightning would not be where they are in the Atlantic Division standings without him. 3. NATHAN MACKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE MacKinnon is the reigning Hart winner, and once again, he’s having an incredible year for the Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado]. The 29-year-old has generated 84 assists – slightly behind his career-best mark of 89 assists, which he set last season – and 116 points, which is also the second-best total of his 12-year career. MacKinnon’s all-around game is basically flawless, and his ferocious drive to win sets the tone night in and night out for the Avs. Colorado’s other foundational talent, superstar defenseman Cale Makar, will also surely get some Hart votes, but this writer sees MacKinnon as the true alpha dog for the Avalanche, and he deserves to be a finalist for this year’s Hart. 2. CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, G, WINNIPEG JETS The last time a goaltender won the Hart was back in 2014-15, when Canadiens icon Carey Price won it. But Hellebuyck’s outstanding performance this season for the Jets [http://thn.com/winnipeg] – including a .925 save percentage, eight shutouts, a 1.99 goals-against average and 45 wins – is going to garner him many, if not most, Hart votes this time around. At 31 years old, Hellebuyck almost assuredly will win his second straight Vezina Trophy and the third Vezina of his career this season, and he absolutely should be a Hart finalist as well. The Jets have been the best regular-season team this season in large part due to Hellebuyck’s dominance, and he could win his first Hart because of it. 1. LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS Draisaitl won his first career Hart in 2019-20 on the strength of a 67-assist, 110-point season for the Oilers [http://thn.com/edmonton], and the 29-year-old German superstar is our choice to win this year’s Hart. Why? Let’s start with his NHL-best 52-goal season and his league-leading totals in game-winning goals (11), power-play goals (16) and overtime goals (six). It’s true that Draisaitl’s assist and point totals aren't as high as they've been in the past few years, but that's more of a comment on the less-potent Oilers lineup around him this season than it is about how phenomenal he’s been. In a year where Draisaitl’s teammate and fellow phenom Connor McDavid hasn’t been as thoroughly outstanding as he usually is, Draisaitl has filled the void and should be rewarded for it with his second Hart. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
