Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Artemi Panarin Named Hart Trophy Finalists

The NHL announced the three finalists for the Hart Trophy: Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to abruptly end the 2019-20 regular season and move on to a modified postseason format. As a result, award contenders will be judged by what they achieved to this point in the year.

The league will reveal the Hart Trophy winner during its conference finals or before the Stanley Cup Final.

Draisaitl's 110 points are most in the NHL and 13 points better than Connor McDavid in second place. He sits fourth in goals (43) and first in assists (67). The Oilers' 83 points were fourth-best in the Western Conference prior to the suspension of the season.

Panarin provided immediate dividends on the seven-year, $81.5 million deal he signed with the Rangers in the offseason. He had 32 goals and 63 assists through 69 games, while New York's 37 victories were already its most since 2016-17.

MacKinnon will be difficult to beat, though. His 93 points are fewer than Draisaitl and Panarin's totals, but one could argue he has been more valuable to his team than any other player. Aside from MacKinnon, no other Avalanche forward has more than 45 points.

Colorado sits second in the Western Conference (92 points) and was on pace for its best points haul since the 2013-14 season, when it won 52 games and collected 112 points. Remove MacKinnon from the equation, and the Avs' attack would've been seriously lacking.

Draisaitl, MacKinnon and Panarin are the three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award as well. Nikita Kucherov swept the Hart Trophy and Lindsay Award in 2019, and another sweep could be on the table this summer based on how strong the finalists' resumes are.