2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy finalists: Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid

[Breakfast of Champs]

Nhl.com , the hockey news, and thescore all picked mackinnon and the total votes was 41-20 in his favour over kuch. He is also the massive favorite on betting sites.

He should get this and IMO he is the most deserving

 

[Three On Zero]

MacK
Kuch
Mcdavey

 

[filinski77]

I bet the way it was announced is the way the votes were tallied up.

Kuch wins, Mack 2nd and McDavid 3rd.

Or just alphabetical order.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Should be Kucherov's, relatively comfortably IMO.

100 assists is a plateau that matters and 144 points and winning the Ross while having 60% more points than #2 on your team is the definition of most valuable

 

[bobholly39]

Good - they were clearly the 3 best and therefore most valuable players this year. They deserve to be top 3.

So many other great seasons - such as Hughes or Matthews - but these 3 were the best, so I'm glad they are top 3.

I'd go Kucherov #1, MacKinnon #2, and McDavid #3.
If McDavid had been named Joe Smith - I might have him #1, based on leading his team to an incredible turnaround. But he's going to be held to a higher standard based on his track record - which I think is fine.

 

[Ceremony]

I think MacKinnon is going to win this very comfortably and set up quite the meltdown on here from an apparently large number of people.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Kuch took the trophy that’s won on the ice. Mack will take this media popularity contest.

They give trophies for winning one playoff game now?

 

[Dr Pepper]

Or just alphabetical order.

Hmm......upon closer inspection and after checking all the other announcements, you may be on to something there.

 

[Roksta]

Yes. Pundits in the US.

Are these US Pundits in the room with us?

 

[daver]

Or just alphabetical order.

Or East to West. Or South to North.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

McDavid is very likely going to finish 3rd. But this is his 8th consecutive season placing in the top five in Hart voting. The only players with longer streaks, in a century of NHL history? Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

Most consecutive seasons, top 5 in Hart voting (1924-2024)

• 12x - Wayne Gretzky (1980 to 1991)
• 10x - Gordie Howe (1957 to 1966)
• 8x - Bobby Orr (1968 to 1975)
• 8x - Connor McDavid (2017 to 2024)
• 6x - Bobby Hull (1964 to 1969)
• 6x - Guy Lafleur (1975 to 1980)
• 5x - Bobby Clarke (1973 to 1977)
• 5x - Gordie Howe (1951 to 1955)

 

[jetsforever]

3 logical picks, I'd probably go with Kuch

 

[Coffey]

McDavid is very likely going to finish 3rd. But this is his 8th consecutive season placing in the top five in Hart voting. The only players with longer streaks, in a century of NHL history? Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

Most consecutive seasons, top 5 in Hart voting (1924-2024)

• 12x - Wayne Gretzky (1980 to 1991)
• 10x - Gordie Howe (1957 to 1966)
• 8x - Bobby Orr (1968 to 1975)
• 8x - Connor McDavid (2017 to 2024)
• 6x - Bobby Hull (1964 to 1969)
• 6x - Guy Lafleur (1975 to 1980)
• 5x - Bobby Clarke (1973 to 1977)
• 5x - Gordie Howe (1951 to 1955)

A model of consistency.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Nathan MacKinnon is now one of only 17 players in NHL history who's been a Hart trophy finalist 4+ times in the span of 7 seasons (descending order):

1. Bobby Orr (7 times in 7 seasons - 1969 to 1975)
2. Wayne Gretzky (7 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 1983 to 1989)
3. Gordie Howe (6 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 1960 to 1966)
4. Bobby Hull (6 times in 7 seasons - 1962 to 1968)
5. Phil Esposito (5 times in 6 seasons - 1969 to 1974)
6. Jaromir Jagr (5 times in 7 seasons - 1995 to 2001)
7. Sidney Crosby (5 times in 7 seasons - 2013 to 2019)
8. Connor McDavid (5 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 2018 to 2024)
9. Dominik Hasek (5 times in 6 seasons - 1994 to 1999)
10. Guy Lafleur (4 times in 4 seasons - 1976 to 1979)
11. Bobby Clarke (4 times in 5 seasons - 1973 to 1977)
12. Eddie Shore (4 times in 6 seasons - 1933 to 1938)
13. Maurice Richard (4 times in 6 seasons - 1950 to 1955)
14. Jean Beliveau (4 times in 6 seasons - 1964 to 1969)
15. Alexander Ovechkin (4 times in 6 seasons - 2008 to 2013)
16. Bryan Trottier (4 times in 7 seasons - 1978 to 1984)
17. Nathan MacKinnon (4 times in 7 seasons - 2018 to 2024)

In case anyone is wondering - Mario Lemieux was a Hart finalist 4 times in 5 seasons that he played in (1993 to 2001). But that covers 9 NHL seasons.

If MacKinnon loses the Hart - he's going to set the record for most years as a Hart trophy finalist, without ever winning (this will potentially be his 4th time). There are three players who were finalists three times without winning - Red Kelly, Ray Bourque, and Martin Brodeur.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Nathan MacKinnon is now one of only 17 players in NHL history who's been a Hart trophy finalist 4+ times in the span of 7 seasons (descending order):

1. Bobby Orr (7 times in 7 seasons - 1969 to 1975)
2. Wayne Gretzky (7 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 1983 to 1989)
3. Gordie Howe (6 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 1960 to 1966)
4. Bobby Hull (6 times in 7 seasons - 1962 to 1968)
5. Phil Esposito (5 times in 6 seasons - 1969 to 1974)
6. Jaromir Jagr (5 times in 7 seasons - 1995 to 2001)
7. Sidney Crosby (5 times in 7 seasons - 2013 to 2019)
8. Connor McDavid (5 times in 7 seasons - multiple, but latest was 2018 to 2024)
9. Dominik Hasek (5 times in 6 seasons - 1994 to 1999)
10. Guy Lafleur (4 times in 4 seasons - 1976 to 1979)
11. Bobby Clarke (4 times in 5 seasons - 1973 to 1977)
12. Eddie Shore (4 times in 6 seasons - 1933 to 1938)
13. Maurice Richard (4 times in 6 seasons - 1950 to 1955)
14. Jean Beliveau (4 times in 6 seasons - 1964 to 1969)
15. Alexander Ovechkin (4 times in 6 seasons - 2008 to 2013)
16. Bryan Trottier (4 times in 7 seasons - 1978 to 1984)
17. Nathan MacKinnon (4 times in 7 seasons - 2018 to 2024)

In case anyone is wondering - Mario Lemieux was a Hart finalist 4 times in 5 seasons that he played in (1993 to 2001). But that covers 9 NHL seasons.

If MacKinnon loses the Hart - he's going to set the record for most years as a Hart trophy finalist, without ever winning (this will potentially be his 4th time). There are three players who were finalists three times without winning - Red Kelly, Ray Bourque, and Martin Brodeur.

Thats basically a list of the greatest players of all time. The crazy thing is he's only 28 and he has a cup on his resume too. Win or lose this, he is really having an all-time level prime these last 7 years.

He's overshadowed by McDavid but mackinnon has truly been remarkable since 2017-18. He would he a first ballot HOFer if he retired tomorrow.

 

[lipstickjunkie]

McDavid is very likely going to finish 3rd. But this is his 8th consecutive season placing in the top five in Hart voting. The only players with longer streaks, in a century of NHL history? Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

Most consecutive seasons, top 5 in Hart voting (1924-2024)

• 12x - Wayne Gretzky (1980 to 1991)
• 10x - Gordie Howe (1957 to 1966)
• 8x - Bobby Orr (1968 to 1975)
• 8x - Connor McDavid (2017 to 2024)
• 6x - Bobby Hull (1964 to 1969)
• 6x - Guy Lafleur (1975 to 1980)
• 5x - Bobby Clarke (1973 to 1977)
• 5x - Gordie Howe (1951 to 1955)

Pretty crazy that Howe is on this list TWICE.

 

[Dolemite]

Are these US Pundits in the room with us?

Do you know what a pundit is?

PS - Stay in School

 

[Hoochi Papa]

Oh wow. Kucherov played full regular season with negative 5 vs 5 +/- and now he should be rewarded. Considering how playoffs went, they'll probably LTIR him again.

 

[eojsmada]

MacKinnon for me...literally deadlifted his team through the first half of the season and never let up off the gas.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

MacK will win. Although Kucherov is just as deserving , the tie will go to the media darling who hasn't won yet.

McDavid didn't really deserve 3rd place but it doesn't matter because its a 2 horse race anway.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

They give trophies for winning one playoff game now?

LOL, if you're trying to attack Kuch, playoff wins isn't a good route to take.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Oh wow. Kucherov played full regular season with negative 5 vs 5 +/- and now he should be rewarded. Considering how playoffs went, they'll probably LTIR him again.

Uh no... where do you guys come up with these fake stats?

 

[Hoochi Papa]

Uh no... where do you guys come up with these fake stats?

His LTIR doctor. Guy's a master at fabricating shit.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

His LTIR doctor. Guy's a master at fabricating shit.

I mean you're the guy making up fake stats. Are you saying Kuch faked a surgery?

 

[Oilslick941611]

Everyone knows McDavid is the best player in the NHL, but given his injuries this year and seemingly losing his ability/will to shoot I can't see him winning this year, nor should he.

This one is MacK's to lose.