Trophy Tracker: McDavid of Oilers leading way for Hart as MVP

To mark the quarter point of the season, NHL.com is running its second installment of the Trophy Tracker series. Today, we look at the race for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player who is the most valuable to his team as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Connor McDavid quickly said Auston Matthews when he was asked on the “NHL @TheRink” podcast prior to the season who he thinks is the most entertaining player in the League.

“He’s so creative with the puck,” McDavid said. “He scores goals so many different ways.”

Maybe McDavid quietly made it a goal to emulate Matthews’ goal scoring ability, because that is happening so far this season.

Edmonton’s 25-year-old center was on pace for 50 goals in 50 games until recently. Now he’s merely on a 62-goal pace for the season with 16 in 21 games as part of his NHL-high 36 points.

Last season, Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs center, became the first player in 10 years to score 60 when he reached that number in 73 games. 

Could McDavid be on a path to get there too?

“You’re noticing an uptick in his goals for or his goals for per game, but I don’t think it’s necessarily he’s coming out and saying I have to do this this year, this is my individual goal,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “When the play to be made is to shoot the puck, he’s willing to do it. When the play to be made is to pass the puck, he’s willing to do that as well. He’s driven solely by team success.”

The Oilers haven’t found that consistent team success yet this season, going 4-7-0 in their past 11 games after 7-3-0 in their first 10. But McDavid has his scoring touch.

Video: VGK@EDM: McDavid makes a great move to score in OT

He was selected by a panel of 14 NHL.com writers as the early favorite to win the Hart Trophy, receiving 67 voting points, including 12 first-place votes. 

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak was second in the voting with 35 points and one first-place vote. San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson received the other first-place vote.

“I mean, it’s pretty special to watch,” Oilers forward Dylan Holloway said. “It’s definitely nice to have him on your team because you can just watch and it’s honestly amazing to see him buzz around the ice. Some players are just opportunistic, but he makes something happens every time he touches the puck.”

McDavid won the Hart Trophy in 2016-17 and 2020-21. He scored 33 goals in 56 games in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, a 48-goal pace in an 82-game season.

He scored an NHL career-high 44 goals last season, averaging 3.95 shots on goal and shooting 14.0 percent. He’s averaging 3.90 shots on goal per game this season and shooting 19.5 percent, well above his career 14.9 shooting percentage entering this season.

Seven of his 16 goals have come on the power play. He has never scored more than 11 power-play goals in a season. Three goals have been game-winners, including one in overtime. 

“The best players in the world find ways to evolve their game so they don’t just rely on old patterns or old ways of doing things,” Woodcroft said. “They constantly push and press in order to find new ways to have success. Connor is no different. I do see a little bit more deception on his shot. I see him getting it off from different angles. That’s part of him understanding the way the game is currently being played in the NHL and finding ways to have an impact.”

McDavid has scored at least one goal in 11 of Edmonton’s 21 games. He has two hat tricks, including in the Oilers’ season-opener on Oct. 13. He has at least one point in all but four games.

He has had at least five shots on goal in seven games, at least four in 15.

“He’s obviously our heartbeat,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said. “We go as he goes.”

Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Connor McDavid, Oilers, 67 points (12 first-place votes); David Pastrnak, Bruins, 35 (1); Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, 22; Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars, 22; Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks, 18 (1); Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 13; Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets, 10; Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights, 7; Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche, 5; Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils, 5; Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, 3; Jesper Bratt, Devils, 3