Colorado Avalanche star ahead Nathan MacKinnon received his first profession Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL’s Most Beneficial Participant on Thursday.
MacKinnon, 28, beat Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the consideration, one among 5 main awards handed out at Thursday evening’s NHL Awards.
Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks received the Calder Trophy for excellent rookie, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks ran away with the Norris Trophy for excellent defenseman, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets received his second Vezina Trophy for the league’s high goaltender and MacKinnon additionally obtained of the Ted Lindsay Award, voted most excellent participant by his friends within the NHLPA.
MacKinnon was a top-three finalist for the Hart 3 times (2018, 2020, 2021) earlier than lastly breaking via.
“Congrats to Kuch and Connor, it might simply be any of you guys,” MacKinnon stated in his acceptance speech. “I feel everybody is aware of it was such a toss-up this yr. I would wish to thank the writers. I am really honored.”
In his eleventh NHL season, MacKinnon powered Colorado with profession highs of 51 objectives, 89 assists and 140 factors in enjoying all 82 video games.
Bedard, nonetheless simply 18, lived as much as the hype that surrounded him when the Blackhawks chosen him No. 1 total in final yr’s draft. Regardless of lacking 14 video games as a consequence of a fractured jaw, he led all rookies in aim (22) and factors (61) whereas tying for first amongst rookies with 39 assists. His 61 factors additionally led Chicago.
“It is a cool honor, for certain,” Bedard stated. “There’s lots of people who go into it. Clearly, it is a person award however it’s cool to have a good time it nearly along with your teammates and household, simply with the assistance they’ve put towards it.”
Bedard had 152 first-place votes, the opposite 42 going to Minnesota’s Brock Faber. New Jersey’s Luke Hughes took third.
Hughes, 24, set profession highs with 17 objectives, 75 assists and 92 factors whereas enjoying in all 82 video games for Vancouver. He grew to become the primary member of the Canucks to win the award.
“It is surreal and possibly hasn’t sunk in but,” Hughes stated. “It was an important season for me and for our crew. Took a whole lot of steps ahead individually and as a bunch, so actually pleased with the yr.”
Hughes received 172 of 194 first-place votes. Roman Josi of Nashville and Cale Makar of Colorado completed a distant second and third in voting, respectively.
Hellebuyck, 31, additionally received the Vezina in 2020. He went 37-19-4 with a 2.39 goals-against common, .921 save share and 5 shutouts in 60 video games. He additionally received the William M. Jennings Trophy, introduced to the qualifying goalie for permitting the fewest objectives through the common season.
“I feel we made actually huge strides this yr,” Hellebuyck stated of the Jets. “We modified our id just a little bit and we introduced a stable, successful philosophy to Winnipeg, and I feel our followers and I feel our crew purchased in. And simply that all-around buy-in, I am fairly pleased with that.”
Hellebuyck beat Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky, who positioned second and third, respectively, in voting.
–Discipline Degree Media