In the NHL The Hart Memorial Trophy is given to the best player in the league such as the MVP of the season. It is one of the most coveted awards given to a player in the National Hockey League.
The favorites for the award this year are Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor Hellebuyck, and Nikita Kucherov. All players who have been playing some impressive hockey this season.
All players except for Hellebuyck have been league MVP once, MacKinnon winning last year, Kucherov in 2019, and Draisaitl in 2020.
Draisaitl has been on a dominant stretch this season as he led the season in goals. Kucherov led the league in points and tied with MacKinnon for most assists in the league. MacKinnon was the MVP of the Nations Face off earlier in the season. Hellebuyck has been the goalie in the league this season and is a favorite for the Vezina’s award for best goaltender.
Each player also was a big part in each team’s position in the playoffs as their play helped them get to that point.
The winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy will be announced on Thursday June 27th, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Whoever wins will be known as the best player of the 2024-2025 NHL season.