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Over the last few weeks, the NHL has slowly announced the three finalists for each major award.
The most recent to come up were the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. Unsurprisingly, Taylor Hall is in the mix for both.
Hall averaged 1.22 points per game, and recorded 41 more points than his closest teammate (Nico Hischier), while leading the New Jersey Devils to their first playoff berth since 2011-12.
Perhaps more impressively, Hall recorded at least a point in every game between the turn of the calendar and March 8th. That's 26, if you're counting at home. While things were tightening up with teams fighting for playoff spots, or positioning, Hall was an unstoppable force.
As fantastic as his season was, he's far from a lock for either award.
His competition – Nathan MacKinnon and Anze Kopitar for Hart; MacKinnon and Connor McDavid for the Ted Lindsay – is quite fierce.
Here is a look at how they compare in several key categories.
For the Hart, I think it comes down to MacKinnon and Hall. The former had the more statistically impressive season while the latter managed to be one of the league's most productive player despite spending a large chunk of his season alongside two rookies – with one being a 6th round pick in 2016.
I have no clue what will happen with the Ted Lindsay Award. It's supposed to go to the most outstanding, not most valuable, player. I think that's Connor McDavid but MacKinnon and Hall will (rightfully) steal some votes.
Regardless of who ends up winning these awards, it's nice to know Hall will be getting the recognition he deserves as one of the NHL's top players.
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