For the first time in history, a New Jersey Devils player has won the Hart Trophy.
His name is Taylor Hall.
In just his second season with the Devils, Hall recorded 39 goals and 93 points in 76 games while leading the team to its first playoff berth since 2011-12. Better yet, he did so in a year where expectations were low.
The Devils' 2nd leading scorer, Nico Hischier, tallied 41 fewer points than Hall did during his MVP campaign. Hischier played in six more games, too.
The 41 point gap was the largest between a team's 1st and 2nd leading scorer in the NHL.
That, coupled with Hall putting together a 26-game point streak during a 2nd half playoff push, is probably what pushed Hall over the top for a lot of people.
Nathan MacKinnon had a truly special season. Anze Kopitar was fantastic as well. Voting Hall wasn't an easy, no brainer, decision. I think it was the right one, though.
Hall for Hart.
Voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy by members of the PHWA: pic.twitter.com/0nnksEGw6o
— PHWA (@ThePHWA) June 21, 2018