NHL MVP race heating up: Initial favorites for the Hart Trophy revealed

There will be a new Hart Trophy winner this season.
Last year’s MVP, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, earned the rare Hart–Vezina double, but repeating is extremely difficult — no goaltender has done so since Dominik Hasek in the 1990s.

2. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
If San Jose reaches the playoffs after back-to-back last-place finishes, Celebrini will be a major reason why. The rookie sits second in league scoring with 34 points and recently became only the fourth teenager in NHL history to record 30 points in his first 20 games. He has been involved in half of the Sharks’ total goals.

4. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers started slowly as usual, and McDavid didn’t score until his seventh game. Since then, the three-time MVP has piled up nine goals in 14 games and plenty of assists, climbing to third in the scoring race with 33 points. He’s averaging 1.8 points per game in Oilers wins and leads all NHL forwards in ice time.

3. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
Unlike last year, Bedard came out firing this season. He already has two hat tricks and ranks fourth in the league with 31 points. He has improved significantly on faceoffs and has helped keep the Blackhawks in playoff contention after two straight bottom-two finishes.

1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon is powering a dominant Avalanche team. He leads the NHL with 37 points and is tied for the league lead in goals with 17. Most of his production has come at even strength, he tops the league in plus-minus, and he’s third in shots. He and Celebrini go head-to-head on Tuesday.