UPDATED WITH MACKINNON QUOTES
Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award and Lady Byng Trophy, on Tuesday was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
The other finalists are Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, both of whom are also Ted Lindsay Award finalists.
The winner will be announced during the conference finals at date to be determined.
MacKinnon, 24, was fifth in the league in scoring with 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) in 69 games. He missed the regular-season finale against the Rangers on March 11 because of a lower-body injury. He finished 43 points ahead of Colorado's second-leading scorer, Calder Trophy finalist Cale Makar.
MacKinnon did it despite playing numerous games without usual linemates Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, who missed 44 games between them.
“Losing those guys to injury was tough,… he said during a league Zoom call. …I guess, if anything, I was a little more aggressive when I had the puck without those guys. When those guys are on the ice I want to look to them and get them involved; they’re such good players.
“The guys I was playing with are very good as well. I guess I had a little more aggressive mindset. It worked out, obviously, they were out 15-20 games (at the same time). We’re so deep that so many guys stepped up and played great. It wasn’t just myself, but I guess that’s how I changed my game a little bit.…
Leon Draisaitl | Nathan MacKinnon (@Mackinnon9) | @artemiypanarin
— NHL (@NHL) July 21, 2020
Your 2020 Hart Trophy finalists. #NHLAwards
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MacKinnon had 29 multi-point games with a point in 53 of 69 games. The Avalanche went 42-20-8 for a .657 points percentage to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. They will play St. Louis, Dallas and Vegas in round-robin games next month to determine the top four seeds in the Western Conference.
MacKinnon finished second in the Hart Trophy voting in 2017-18, when New Jersey’s Taylor Hall won the award. Five voters didn’t list MacKinnon on their ballots, quite an injustice.
The Avalanche nearly doubled their points production that season, going from 48 points to 95 and made the playoffs for the first time in four years. MacKinnon had 97 points (39 goals, 58 assists) in 74 games.
MacKinnon is looking to become the third Avalanche player to win the award. Joe Sakic (2000…‘01) and Peter Forsberg (2002-03) were previous Colorado winners.
2019-20 Hart Memorial Trophy finalist: Nathan MacKinnon@Mackinnon9 is looking to become the third @Avalanche / Nordiques player to claim the Hart Trophy, after Joe Sakic (2000 01) and Peter Forsberg (2002-03). https://t.co/XqPYQHTB0U #NHLAwards #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/W0MnFvZVST
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 21, 2020
Draisaitl led the league with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists) in 71 games. The Oilers, the No. 5 seed in the West, will play 12th-seeded Chicago in a qualifying round, with the winner advancing to the playoffs.
Panarin, in his first season with the Rangers, had 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 69 games to tie Boston’s David Pastrnak for third in the league in scoring. New York, the No. 11 seed in the East, will play sixth-seeded Carolina in a qualifying round.