Leon Draisaitl is the Hart Trophy winner.
The award goes to the player judged most valuable to his team.
It’s interesting, considering Connor McDavid is widely regarded by his colleagues and everyone else who follows hockey as the best player on the planet.
McDavid, by the way, only garnered a single first-place vote when the NHL awards were announced Monday.
I find it difficult to deem Draisaitl the MVP of the league when you have guys who carried teams like Nathan McKinnon in Colorado or Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg. Or how about Victor Hedman becoming a powerhouse defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Draisaitl ran away with the most points in the league, with his teammate right behind him. When you win the Art Ross, your chances of winning the Hart become far more likely.
But that’s not the award. It’s the player most valuable to his team. Draisaitl was extremely valuable for the six games without McDavid this season. However, are the Oilers better off without McDavid than they would be without Draisaitl?
Not a chance.