Matthews? Gaudreau? Shesterkin? Hart Trophy race at least 7 deep

Auston Matthews leads the NHL in targets, Connor McDavid has probably the most factors and Igor Shesterkin has been the most effective goaltender within the league.

It is completely potential none of them wins the Hart Trophy as MVP.

“There’s an argument or a case for every man the place you say, `Yep, for positive,”‘ former NHL participant and coach Rick Tocchet said. “I believe that is most likely the toughest Hart in years. It is not clear reduce for me as a result of I could make an argument for everyone.”

There will likely be loads of arguments made earlier than ballots are due Monday night. One other downside? Solely 5 gamers may be listed.

Auston Matthews

“What is the case? He is the most effective scorer,” Toronto Maple Leafs teammate David Kampf said. “He has probably the most targets. That’s the reason.”

An damage slowed Matthews’ push for 60 targets however would not diminish how he has been main Toronto all season and now into the playoffs.

“It is only a quantity,” Leafs defenceman Justin Holl said. “I do not know if he cares about it that a lot.”

An added contact: 43 of his targets have come at even energy, additionally most within the league.

Johnny Gaudreau

“It is not outlandish to have him profitable the Hart simply due to his manufacturing and the best way he is performed defence, too,” said Tocchet, now a Turner Sports activities analyst. “His defensive sport has actually been at one other degree. You watch him and he is down low, he is profitable battles, he is serving to his D out for possessions.”

Connor McDavid

Edmonton’s captain is the most effective hockey participant on the earth and is on tempo to win the scoring race for the fourth time up to now six seasons. He is probably the most dynamic playmaker within the sport and the rationale the Oilers are all the time a risk to make a deep playoff run.

“He had the right position mannequin in Sidney Crosby to judge his sport the best way Crosby has grown right into a 200-foot hockey participant, has grown into an amazing chief,” said Matt Hendricks, who performed with McDavid for 2 seasons in Edmonton. “Connor has executed every thing to observe these footsteps but in addition create his personal, as effectively.”

Igor Shesterkin

“He is been that good for that staff,” Tocchet said. “He dipped a little bit bit, which is comprehensible [unde] loads of strain all yr. However he is nonetheless been actually good — glorious. His stats are phenomenal.”

Leon Draisaitl

McDavid’s working mate is not far behind Matthews within the goal-scoring race and is one other piston within the Oilers engine to get them again within the playoffs for a 3rd consecutive season.

“Draisaitl penalty-kills, he takes loads of attracts in his personal finish on essential faceoffs,” Tocchet said. “Which means loads to me for the Hart.”

Jonathan Huberdeau

Huberdeau trails solely McDavid in scoring, and he hasn’t simply executed it whereas taking part in alongside elite middle Aleksander Barkov. He leads the NHL with a career-high 85 assists and reached 30 targets for the second time in a breakout season.

Roman Josi

Nashville has gotten nice manufacturing from forwards Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg and relied on Juuse Saros in aim, however Josi because the captain and greatest participant controls and wins video games.

“He is simply every thing for that staff,” retired defenceman Karl Alzner said. “Even when he would not get on the rating sheet greater than as soon as in a sport, he’s utterly driving play for that staff each time he is on the market. He is all the time within the combine.”