The 2024-25 NHL season is nearing the end of the group-stage games. With time ticking for the teams to cement their places in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the players are giving their all for this cause. Additionally, the talks have already begun over who is the season’s most valuable player. Naturally, any fan would think that Alex Ovechkin will be a sure-shot name in the running for the coveted Hart Memorial Trophy. But to everyone’s surprise, this wasn’t the case, as a surprising name had come forward as the leader of this pack.

The Capitals’ star has been grabbing headlines throughout the season as he is all set to break Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most goals scored in the NHL. He is just 9 goals shy of overcoming The Great One’s record of 894 goals scored in the league. To put things into perspective, Ovechkin has already scored 33 goals this season and is tied 6th for the most goals scored in the 2024-25 season. However, this still hasn’t been enough for Ovechkin to be considered in the running for the NHL MVP.

Earlier today, the NHL released the list of players who were in the running for the Hart Memorial Trophy. The list was based on the votes cast by 16 NHL.com writers based on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. Interestingly, it was the Colorado Avalanche star, Nathan MacKinnon, who topped the list with 71 points. The 29-year-old has had a stellar season, scoring 27 goals and assisting 75, with 102 points scored this season, the most in 2024-25. He is followed by the likes of Leon Draisaitl and Connor Hellebuyck, who are also in the running to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Surprisingly, Ovechkin was nowhere to be seen on the list as he could muster just 7 points based on the prediction made by the experts. Nonetheless, the Capitals star has the record of Wayne Gretzky in sight, which he would aim to break in the upcoming games. Meanwhile, Avalanche coach, Jared Bednar was all praise of his star player, MacKinnon further justifying why he is at the top of the list for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Nathan MacKinnon’s standout performances impress Avalanche coach

The Avalanche sit third in the Central Division and are serious contenders for the Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. MacKinnon has been a key player for them and has been central to most of the team’s attacks. Even as the Avalanche are known to make slow starts to the game, their head coach, Bednar explained how MacKinnon has been playing at a different level.

He said, “But the one guy that stood out to me right away at the start of the game that was trying to make a difference on both sides of the puck was Nate. He was helping be the driving force of that again. If you’re prepared and ready to compete like that for 60 minutes, a guy with his talent and ability is going to get something done.”

In their game against the Wild, the Avalanche lost narrowly 1-2, their first defeat after six consecutive wins. Nonetheless, they would look to come back stronger when they take on the Flames later today.