According to NHL.com, the official definition of the HART trophy is: Hart Memorial Trophy is the award of the year, “gives the player the most valuable player to his team“. In the 2024-25 season, I can’t think of a player who is more suitable for this definition than Edmonton Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl.
Related: Oilers’ 4 Harvests 3-2 Overtime Beating the Flames
Of course, Colorado avalanche forward Nathan Mackinnon has had a great season. Like his avalanche teammate Cale Makar, he will likely win the Norris Trophy best defensive player. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has been excellent again this season, with Winnipeg Jets goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck being incredible for pouring the Jets into the NHL first defensive Chris Pronger and Ryan Whitney.
Draisaitl is different in the Oilers’ victory over the Flames 3-2
In the 2024-25 season, the final part of the Alberta campaign is the Oil Man and the Flames’s statement game. The Oilers have not had De Russell in the past four games after he was injured in the Oilers’ 7-1 victory over Utah Hockey Club on March 18. Without him, and without his teammate Connor McDavid, who lost to the Jets 4-3 on March 20, he was still injured, the Oilers were in the loss and the Oilers were a little louder. Meanwhile, the Flames rode a popular goalkeeper for Calder Trophy candidate Dustin Wolf, who has been playing hockey lately, hoping to sneak into the wildcards of Western Conferences. The Flames led 2-1 to the third stage until Draisaitl had 3:12 left, defeating Wolf in Game 50 of the season. In overtime, he scored his 51st time at 2:25 to win the dramatic victory of the Oilers, putting them tied with the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.
Both goals are symbolic for key reasons: They made Draisaitl the 50th goal scorer of the 2024-25 season, putting him in the lead with Rocket Richard Trophy for Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander and kept him within five-pointers Kucherov and Mackinnon, both of whom scored 109 points. More importantly, Draisaitl’s heroic return after being injured proved his worth to the Oilers. Without Draisaitl and Mcdavid on the roster for over a week, the Oilers had gone to great lengths, but certainly lacked the MVP magic, especially from Draisaitl, and especially from Draisaitl, who had almost single-handedly carried the fate of the Oilers on his shoulders all season.
Declaration of Players Season
Draisaitl often sits on McDavid when it comes to honors and praises, but like another vibrant duo on the Oilers 40 years ago, Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, who have carved out the hockey Hall of Fame career. Draisaitl joined an elite company in his 50th goal on March 29 as the goal marked his fourth 50th goal in his career. He currently ranks 12th in league history, joining former Oilers sniper Jari Kurri, who has 50 seasons to join NHL legends such as Bobby Hull, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Pavel Hull, Pavel Bure and Phil Esposito, all of whom end their careers with 50 50 seasons.
Draisaitl plays, I wouldn’t object to his joining this elite team and probably three 50-goal scorers of all time: Gretzky, Mike Bossy and Alex Ovechkin, each with nine 50-goal seasons.
Draisaitl’s Hart Trophy Grophy ambitions are full of vitality
Draisaitl gave his Oiler teammates not enough to emphasize when he beat the Flame 3-2. He demonstrates his value as a leader and his importance to the Oilers. It feels like the team is sinking, especially in a 6-1 loss to Seattle Clake on March 27, where they are going to lay off four games and lead the team like his. Another player has a hard time catching his goal in the Rockets Richard Trophy game. If he can somehow win the Art Trophy at Kucherov and Mackinnon, he should be the unanimous choice for the Hart Trophy and MVP for the 2024-25 season.
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