Connor McDavid a Finalist to Win His 4th Hart Trophy – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, and Nathan MacKinnon were named finalists for the Hart Trophy on Friday, May 8. McDavid will be seeking his fourth Hart Trophy win, while both Kucherov and MacKinnon are looking to win for the second time. If McDavid should win the Hart for the fourth time, he will move into third place overall in league history for most Hart Trophy wins, trailing Wayne Gretzky with nine and Gordie Howe with six. 

A Great Season for McDavid Despite a First-Round Playoff Exit 

McDavid led the NHL in points this season for the sixth time in his career, finishing with 138 points in 82 games. He finished the season eight points ahead of Kucherov and 11 points ahead of MacKinnon. Although McDavid has enjoyed a lot of individual success, he would be the first to mention that he’s really only interested in winning the Stanley Cup.

Unfortunately for McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, they were disposed of in six games in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. It seemed as though all the hockey that McDavid has played over the past three seasons had caught up with him; He didn’t look like himself and was injured early on in the playoff series with the Ducks. 

The Accolades Keep on Coming 

If McDavid were to win his fourth Hart Trophy, it would be a big accomplishment for the future Hall of Famer. Over the past three seasons, he has won some significant personal awards including the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. McDavid was also named MVP of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics, finishing with 13 points and setting a new scoring record for an NHL player in a single Olympic tournament.

An Uncertain Future 

McDavid, along with teammate and fellow Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl, was very direct and to the point at their season-ending news conference. McDavid felt that the Oilers organization had “taken a step back” and talked about how he and his teammates needed to be better. With an aging nucleus of players in their 30s, including Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers’ Stanley Cup window may be closing. When McDavid signed his two-year contract last October, he put the organization on notice that the time to win is now. 

An Important Season Ahead 

Next season could be one of the most important in McDavid’s career, and the Oilers for that matter. Should the team not improve in certain areas, including goaltending and defence, McDavid and the organization will have to make some important decisions.

This offseason, it’s vital that McDavid catch up on his rest and recover from his injured ankle. The past two seasons, the NHL has played a condensed schedule, but next season the pace of games played per week should become more manageable. This should help McDavid and an Oilers team that has played the most hockey in the NHL over the past four seasons.

The Stanley Cup Is the Only Goal for McDavid 

You can bet that McDavid is proud of his nomination for the Hart Trophy, but as he has often stated, winning a Stanley Cup is his number-one priority. He has also mentioned that he would love to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. However, considering how great McDavid has been over the span of his career, I wouldn’t bet against him.