Todd Cordell
Connor McDavid.
He is more of a creator for teammates than himself and yet last season he still finished 6th in goals, 3rd in scoring chances, and 3rd in high-danger scoring chances.
McDavid has openly said he'll make an effort to become more of a scorer this season. If he means it – and stops deferring as much to underwhelming linemates such as Milan Lucic, Ty Rattie, and Drake Cagguila – he could end up potting 50+. He's that gifted.
I wouldn't be surprised if he leads the league in goals and points. It'll probably take that kind of effort to get the Edmonton Oilers back into the playoffs given the supporting cast he has to work with.
James Tanner I feel like this one is easy. Auston Matthews has already established himself as the best 5v5 scorer in the NHL by a significant amount, and last year he scored at just under a 50 goal pace despite not racking up all that many PP goals in relation to his top goal-scoring peers.
He did this while playing through and returning from three different injuries.
Add in the extra room John Tavares is going to give him, a full healthy season, an extra year of growth and development (he is still getting better) and some PP success and he is a lock for 50, and he could approach something crazy like 65.
Matthews scored at a higher 5v5 rate than Ovechkin did the year Ovechkin scored 65, so that number is based in reality, even if everything will need to go right for him to hit it.
Either way, Matthews should be the obvious pick of anyone who takes the time to go through the stats. He is superior to both Laine and Ovechkin when it comes to 5v5 scoring and I fully expect him to start dominating the powerplay too.
Matthews will win the Richard for the first of many times this year.
Adam French Ovechkin.
I wish I had a hot take. Matthews scoring 60 or Laine shooting up a storm. McDavid adds shooting to his repertoire and masters that a la when Crosby netted a Rocket Trophy.
However I live in reality and in reality this will one day be renamed the Alex Ovechkin Award. He has won it 7 times over hiss career. 7 freaking times. In half the seasons he has played he has won it. Why stop now? Maybe because he's partying like Tony Montana, but I think he will be just fine. Cocaine only makes you faster!
I think OV hits 50 again and wins it.
Peter Tessier It's the year Ovie finally slows down, still hungover from winning the Stanley Cup, content in his legacy the young guys step up and Patrik Laine, who has been skating all summer, changed his diet and dropped weight comes in and swoops it up. Honourable mention and the guys in the race are MacKinnon, McDavid, Boeser, and probably his Matthews.
Laine will win it but it should be a ton of fun to watch and perhaps a tighter ice than many expect.
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