Who Are Players Competing for The NHL MVP

Read on to find out who is contention to be this seasons Hart Memorial Trophy winner and NHL MVP

With the NHL past the half-way point, we are looking forward towards the playoffs, the Stanley Cup, as well as who will be crowned as this season's MVP. The Hart Memorial Trophy race has always been one that has kept fans guessing and betting, with this year being no different.

This is a list of players who are currently in the race for the coveted MVP trophy. While this can obviously change between now and the play-offs and the final series, these are the leaders for now.

Brad Marchand

The Bruins started the season off with a big gap in their team with David Pastrnak sidelined due to recovering from an off-season hip surgery. However, Brad Marchand stepped up, feeling the massive gap left by Pastrnak.

The winger has helped shoot the Bruins to the top of the pile in the East, and not only that, he has been scoring for fun, helped the defensive line, and has generally just stepped his game up substantially. With Pastrnak now back, Marchand doesn’t have to be the lead scorer anymore, however, being the second goal-scorer is proving to be invaluable for the Bruins.

Auston Matthews

What can be said about Auston Matthews that you can’t just see by watching one of his games? He has established himself as the main man at the Maple Leafs, with the 23 year old being a two-time Calder Memorial Trophy winner, as well as having two 40 goal seasons.

Matthews has scored 32 goals in 39 games, and while others have scored a few more goals, the consistency that Matthews has is putting him in contention to be the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games since Brett Hull did it back in the early 90’s.

Nicklas Backstrom

Nicklas Backstrom has had to do some serious stepping up recently. When the Capitals were hit with a COVID outbreak, and Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov were all sidelined, Backstrom was the player the Capitals had to rely on.

He carried the team on his shoulders until his teammates returned, also scoring many goals in the process. JJ Bean said he is the best player at the Capitals, and without him, who knows where they would be right now?

Patrick Kane

In short, Patrick Kane is the reason the Blackhawks are currently contenders in the Central division. After losing a few key players, many wrote the Blackhawks off, but the experienced winger has done the job of a few players, and kept Chicago in the fight.

Let us not forget that Kane has already won the Hart MVP trophy back in the 2015-16 season, and with 14 goals this season, he is performing across the ice like a man possessed. If he stays in the form he is in, the Blackhawks can be play-off contenders.

Leon Draisaitl

The Edmonton Oilers have probably two of the best players in the league, as well as the top two goal scorers currently. Leon Draisaitl has been a player that has been in the shadow of Connor McDavid for a long time, until last season, when he took home the Hart Memorial Trophy as well as the Art Ross Trophy.

He is currently sitting second in the leading goalscorers list this season, having scored only one goal less than his teammate McDavid. He has also shown his prowess both on the wing, and as a second line centre, giving the Oilers an absolutely deadly attacking force when he links us with McDavid. Leon Draisaitl has to be very close to being the MVP, with his teammate being the only player currently better than him.

Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid is easily the player that many believe will be this season's MVP. while there are others that are performing well for their team, they just aren’t getting close to the Canadian.

McDavid is currently the leading goalscorer in the league, as well as the player with the most assists. No one is scoring more or creating more goals than this man. What is more incredible is that at his current pace, he is on track to score 100 points in 56 games, a mindblowing accomplishment.

As of a few days ago as well, many experts believe that McDavid is almost a shoo-in to win the Hart Trophy again. Unless something drastic happens like a season ending injury, no one else can get close to him.

While you may be inclined to believe that the race for the MVP trophy is closer than it really is, right now, there is only a race for second place. Connor McDavid is having a season like no other, and other players just can’t keep up.

As mentioned already, he can become a player to score 100 points in 56 games, an incredible feat, and not only that, he is also responsible for half of his teams goals. It really is just a matter of time before he is crowned the Hart Memorial Trophy winner, as well as the 2020/21 MVP, a position that he most definitely deserves.

Who Are Players Competing for The NHL MVP

Brad Marchand

Auston Matthews

Nicklas Backstrom

Patrick Kane

Leon Draisaitl

Connor McDavid

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