Oilers’ McDavid Should Be Clear Cut Hart Trophy Favorite – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers
If Connor McDavid were to retire today, he would be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Although the Edmonton Oilers forward does not have a Stanley Cup, he has 1,210 career points, 150 last season points, five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, three Hart Trophies, a Rocket Richard Trophy, and a Conn Smythe. It’s easy to see from the list alone why he is considered the best player in the game today.
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Perhaps the most exciting thing about McDavid’s accomplishments is that he shows no signs of slowing down. After a five-point night against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, he is now six points ahead of the league in scoring with 133, indicating he is on track to earn his sixth Art Ross. His 133 points are the second-highest total of his career, and the only 153 he can score in 2022-23 continues to lead the way.
These kinds of numbers from McDavid are pretty much expected at this point, which makes it no surprise to see what he’s been able to do lately. That said, it’s important to note that up until a few weeks ago, the Oilers were in serious danger of missing the playoffs, which proves just how much value McDavid provides. If it weren’t for his dominance, this team would be in the draft lottery.
Another important thing to remember is that a few weeks ago, McDavid was forced to be without his right-hand man in Leon Draisaitl. In the 11 games Draisaitl has missed, the Oilers captain has posted 10 goals and 19 points. Put all that together and you have what could prove to be the key to winning the Hart Trophy. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
McDavid Can Be Overlooked Due to Inconstant Dominance
With McDavid, it looks like we’re starting to tap into what some call voter fatigue. While everyone sees how McDavid dominates year after year, it would be fun to see different players get their share of these awards. That, of course, is not how any awards, and especially the Hart, are meant to be handed out.
The best example of this came less than a week ago, when the NHL tweeted out a poll of Hart’s top three picks. The three on the list were Macklin Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov, all three having excellent seasons. That said, the complete neglect of McDavid shows that there are serious flaws in the system.
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Let’s start with Celebrini, who probably has the best argument to win the Hart of the three NHL players. The 19-year-old has been better than his biggest fans could have imagined with 42 goals and 108 points in 77 games. The next highest scorer for the San Jose Sharks is Will Smith with only 56 points.
The issue when running Celebrini with Hart is that the Sharks may not even make the playoffs. That is not meant to criticize Celebrini, as his total points show how much he carries his team. Unfortunately for him, the Hart is an almost impossible prize to win without making the postseason. The last time was in 1987-88, when Mario Lemieux won the award for the first time in his illustrious career despite the Pittsburgh Penguins failing to make the playoffs.
As for MacKinnon, he has once again been a standout for the Colorado Avalanche with 51 goals and 123 points. There is no denying his role in the Avs’ success, but they are also the top team in the league in significant numbers. While they will undoubtedly be a worse team without him on the roster, most would agree that the Avalanche will be a playoff team regardless. That’s not the case for the Oilers.
Last but not least is Kucherov, who continues to feel somewhat underdog despite the ridiculous numbers he puts up every year. He did the same in 2025-26 with 127 points in 72 games. That said, he falls into the same category as MacKinnon, as, again, most would agree that the Lightning would still be a playoff team without him on the roster. The Hart Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player on his team, and based on this write-up, that seems to clearly agree with McDavid.
Past Achievements May Not Be Used Against A Player
The bottom line is this: those who vote for these awards can’t just look at McDavid because of his past success. If he’s the best fit, he’s the best fit: point blank. And, based on the facts given above, it’s clear why he deserves to win his sixth Hart Trophy for his effort this season. If it fails to go that way, there will be a lot of frustration from many hockey fans, and rightfully so.
