“It’s a big honour” – Auston Matthews, Igor Shesterkin, and Connor McDavid are named NHL’s Hart Trophy Finalists
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Hart Trophy Award
Toronto Maple Leaf’s center Auston Matthews, New York Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin, and Edmonton Oilers’ center Connor McDavid were announced as nominees for the NHL’s 2021-22 Hart Trophy Award. The star trio was announced to be the finalists of the trophy awarded annually to “the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team.” on Thursday.
The winners of all the National Hockey League awards will be announced during the Conference and Stanley Cup Finals later this postseason. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted for the Hart Trophy Finalists. Heated debates were ignited as there were lots of eligible candidates this year-round for the Hart Trophy. Though the process was tedious we now have the name of the three finalists in our bag.
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2021-22 Hart Trophy Finalists’ names announced
Auston Matthews earned this year’s Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top leading scorer and career-high with 60 goals and 46 assists. He became the 21st player in NHL history and the first in a decade to score 60 goals in a season. The 24-year-old seems to be the runner-up for the Hart Trophy last season and finished 2nd in voting for Connor McDavid. Matthews noted, “It’s a big honour”. “But I think right now the focus isn’t really much on that. It’s more on what we’re going through … what (Thursday night) means to this team”. “Just a great opportunity for us.”
The reigning Hart Trophy winner, Connor McDavid claimed the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s top scorer this season with a career-high of 44 goals and 79 assists with 123 points. McDavid said before Oilers’ Game 6 on Thursday “It’s always nice, especially to be in that group, that category of player”. “Obviously, we have a bigger focus.”
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Oiler’s head coach, Jay Woodcraftsaid, “To me, it’s quite clear who the best player in the world is and who has the biggest impact”.
“Everyone else that is up for that award — and now the nominees for that award — have all had fantastic seasons, fantastic seasons. But if you’re asking me who the best player in the world is, I’m glad that I get a front-row seat to coach him every night.”
New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is a first-time Hart Trophy finalist and was also the first-time finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender according to thestar.com. He is also the 3rd goaltender since 2000 to win the award joining Jose Theodore and Carey Price. Till now he had a 2.07 goals-against average, .935 save percentage, and 6 shutouts.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
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