Is Leon Draisaitl Gonna Break Nathan MacKinnon's Hart?

[oXo Cube]

Drai has been hands-down the best all-around player in the NHL so far this season. The numbers in many categories show that and the eye test shows that. Seems like it's taking Olympic level mental gymnastics to say otherwise.

I'd say there is one other player we could talk about as being comparably dominant, but he's a goalie.

 

[Regal]

I'd say there is one other player we could talk about as being comparably dominant, but he's a goalie.

Logan Thompson?

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

If they're close to each other production wise, yes that is the premise. Then its simply a glorified art ross.

Obviously good players need fellow good players to win it and every year wont be 17-18 Hall vs MacKinnon.

But yes, it would be nice if the Hart was a player who truly was the MVP and not simply the higher of two really good players (McDavid/Drais). If McDavid had those 6 games back, he'd be tied or leading the scoring race right now. Thats a pure coin flip and not a true unquestionable MVP.

If either was gone, then the Oilers would likely be a bubble playoff team, so theyre both extremely valuable, but not Hart level IMO.

Hart *should be* best player in the league then we wont have whiners crying because the hart winner has other good players on their team

 

[Dirty Mind]

I feel kinda spoiled getting to watch McDavid and Draisaitl play for my team on a regular basis. It’s going to be hard to adjust when they’re retired and we’re back to being impressed with 80-100 points seasons like everyone else.

People laughed at the Oilers for drafting him. “hA Ha sHoUlDa piCkeD BeNnetT LoL!”. Would be fun to dig up those old hot takes.

 

[Sombastate]

Are you in that league to make easy money against handicapped people?

Rent is due

 

[benfranklin]

Hart *should be* best player in the league then we wont have whiners crying because the hart winner has other good players on their team

The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

So start a petition to change the description of the award. You can put Draisaitl, Makar, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Kucherov all on the same team and per the award, none of them should win it if a player elsewhere is more valuable to their team. It doesnt mean the top 5 players in the world arnet listed there, but its not what the award is.

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

So start a petition to change the description of the award. You can put Draisaitl, Makar, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Kucherov all on the same team and per the award, none of them should win it if a player elsewhere is more valuable to their team. It doesnt mean the top 5 players in the world arnet listed there, but its not what the award is.

brother that's why I said *should*...

 

[qc14]

Hart *should be* best player in the league then we wont have whiners crying because the hart winner has other good players on their team

I like to think of it more as "best season" -- the vast majority of it is the "best player" part yes but when it's a year like this year where you have a really large amount of very legitimate candidates the team aspect can and should break ties.

I'd say there is one other player we could talk about as being comparably dominant, but he's a goalie.

Pierre-Luc Dubois isn't a goalie

 

[nightonthesun]

It has to be "your turn" as well.

Updated for posterity.

 

[UpHere]

The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

So start a petition to change the description of the award. You can put Draisaitl, Makar, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Kucherov all on the same team and per the award, none of them should win it if a player elsewhere is more valuable to their team. It doesnt mean the top 5 players in the world arnet listed there, but its not what the award is.

The only people that care to argue about the "to his team" bit are fans of other teams that won't have a Hart candidate for the foreseeable future - it's voted as the MVP award for the best season and everyone knows this

 

[McFlyingV]

you spelled Kucherov's name wrong and forget to mentioned he is doing it the 2nd season in a row.

Draisaitl's vastly superior goal scoring, even strength production, and defensive play catapult him ahead of Kucherov's measly 0.04 point per game advantage.

 

[CaviarAndRinkFries]

 

[McFlyingV]

If they're close to each other production wise, yes that is the premise. Then its simply a glorified art ross.

Obviously good players need fellow good players to win it and every year wont be 17-18 Hall vs MacKinnon.

But yes, it would be nice if the Hart was a player who truly was the MVP and not simply the higher of two really good players (McDavid/Drais). If McDavid had those 6 games back, he'd be tied or leading the scoring race right now. Thats a pure coin flip and not a true unquestionable MVP.

If either was gone, then the Oilers would likely be a bubble playoff team, so theyre both extremely valuable, but not Hart level IMO.

Thing is Draisaitl is blowing his Art Ross competition away in goal scoring, even strength production (except for Mack), and he's doing it while having incredible on ice 2-way results that none of his competition even come close to. His production also comes almost entirely with a goalie in the net which isn't true of some of his competition.

 

[Coffey]

ALL THANKS TO MCDAVID

 

[La Bamba]

He’s the true engine of the Oilers this year. Give this man all the awards

 

[nightonthesun]

Oh, points matter?

No, it’s more of a vibe.

 

[10YearsHaveGone]

Just going to point out that this years production is hardly out of the norm for Draisaitl. These are his stats through 54 games going back 6 years.:

In 2020 he had 29-54-83.

In 2021 he had 30-51-81.

In 2022 he had 37-39-76.

In 2023 he had 32-49-81.

2024 was a "down" year with only 28-42-70 in 54 games.

Now in 2025 38-43-81.

Dude is just a consistent 50" goal, 120+ point producer. Has been for over half a decade.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Just going to point out that this years production is hardly out of the norm for Draisaitl. These are his stats through 54 games going back 6 years.:

In 2020 he had 29-54-83.

In 2021 he had 30-51-81.

In 2022 he had 37-39-76.

In 2023 he had 32-49-81.

2024 was a "down" year with only 28-42-70 in 54 games.

Now in 2025 38-43-81.

Dude is just a consistent 50" goal, 120+ point producer. Has been for over half a decade.

Yup, the big difference is this year he is SO much better in his own end (mainly effort related, hes always been smart enough to be good at it), and almost all the production is at even strength.

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

I like to think of it more as "best season" -- the vast majority of it is the "best player" part yes but when it's a year like this year where you have a really large amount of very legitimate candidates the team aspect can and should break ties.


Pierre-Luc Dubois isn't a goalie

yes agreed. sorry I should have wrote best player that season

 

[Avs2022]

Necas hits the post 4 times a game. No way Mac wins.

 

[geebster]

But why is the focus only on the next best teammate instead of the other players on that team? The Oilers have turned into a team that’s pretty good at locking things down, but their high end offense is still heavily dependent on their two-headed monster. They can still be good with only one, but they’re not an elite team without both.

Also, I feel like too many are looking at it in the context of McDavid being the overall better player rather than viewing things through the lens of this season. There’s a number of comments about how “if Draisaitl was gone they’d still have McDavid”, but that assumes McDavid is going to take it up a notch over how he’s played. Yea their point per games are the same, but McDavid did miss those games. And even beyond the points, Draisaitl is the much better goal scorer this year, is playing the better all around game and has worse linemates when they’re apart.

It’s mostly noise, but McDavid has actually been outscored when on the ice 5v5 without Draisaitl (46% GF%), while Draisaitl is at 57% without McDavid. Overall, Draisaitl has a 60% GF% at 5v5, while the Oilers are just under 50% with him off the ice. He’s also factored into 46% of his team’s goals, which is slightly more than MacKinnon for most in the league. The focus for Draisaitl’s Hart bid has been more about his case for the best player this year, but I think he’s being underrated in terms of relative value.

Draisaitl obviously matters to the Oilers, you cant produce that much without mattering. The question is does he matter more than any other player on any other team to their team? Thats what the Hart is (supposed to be) about. Again, he probably gets it because lots of points with most goals seems to be the actual criteria, but the Canucks without Hughes go from wildcard to lottery, while Oilers are still a playoff team with a healthy McDavid, hes that good. If you replace Hellebuyck with an average NHL goalie they lose a lot more than the Oilers do without Draisaitl.

I just disagree that Draisaitl matters more than any other player in the entire league to their team. He clearly is a top 5 ish important player to his team, McDavid should be right up there too, even with those underlying stats. They both are the only reason the Oilers are good, they absolutely rely on both of them. But some teams rely on ONE guy instead of two somewhat equivalent players. Those singular players are more compelling for the Hart.

Again right now Draisaitl would be my expected winner, but only because thats just how its voted on. Guy with most points, unless someone with a similar amount has a lot more goals. Bonus points if you havent won one yet or werent an asshole at the all star game.

 

[KCC]

MacKinnon was looking to be running away with the Art Ross and another potential Hart trophy but King Leon is all but caught up. The Rantanen trade probably messed things for Nate and it might ruin his chances at getting his first Art Ross as he is scoring at 1.45 PPG vs 1.49 for Leon. Kucherov actually is even higher at 1.54. Based on the latest rumblings Leon is also leading the Hart race due to his goal scoring.

Will MacKinnon be able to hold on to pole position? Or will Leon crush Nate's hopes and dreams and break his heart and Hart? or maybe it will be the NHL's biggest villain the Koochman overtaking both at the last minute to sneak yet another win for the bad guy?

Discuss.

Well at least currently of writing this I think Draisaitl deserves the Hart. Anyone who has watched him this season would likely agree. What I am more interested in though is does anyone think he deserves a Selke nomination? Not saying he would win but his 200 foot game has been ridiculous this year.