On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Patrick Johnston discussed the Hart Trophy race halfway through the 2024-25 NHL regular season. The Hart, awarded annually to the most valuable player to their team, is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers&#8217; Association.
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Quads started by sharing the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/sizing-up-vancouver-canucks-quinn-hughes-sits-hart-trophy-conversation">results of a survey</a> he conducted among NHL Awards voters to gauge the current Hart Trophy favourites:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Leon Draisaitl — 11-0-0-0-0 (55 points)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Nathan MacKinnon — 0-7-3-0-0 (37 points)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Quinn Hughes — 0-2-5-2-1 (28 points)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Connor Hellebuyck — 0-2-3-4-0 (25 points)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Kirill Kaprizov — 0-0-1-0-6 (9 points)</li>
</ol>
<h3>Leon Draisaitl: The Favorite</h3>
Draisaitl’s dominance this season has made him the frontrunner for the award, a sentiment echoed by both hosts.
“The season Draisaitl is putting together right now, playing with Podkolzin as his most common winger, but really the big story is he woke up and decided to play defence this year and he’s doing it at a really high level,” said Quads. “The defensive involvement wasn’t there in past years like it is this year. He’s putting up the points—already has 31 goals—and again, playing with Podkolzin as his linemate. He’s playing on another level this year, and it’s his award to lose at the halfway point.”
“He’s kicked it up a notch,” agreed PJ. “The Oilers are an incredible team obviously because they have these two superstars, and they go where they take them. With the way they’re playing, this is a team that’s clearly in the Stanley Cup discussion and it’s mostly because of Draisaitl.”
PJ also expressed surprise that Connor McDavid didn’t receive any votes: “It’s ludicrous to me to not have him in the conversation, but it’s a statement about how strong the other contenders are. Hughes has also raised his game so much, and Connor Hellebuyck deserves to be there. Then you have Kirill Kaprizov, Kucherov, and all these guys. It’s an incredible time to be a hockey fan.”
Quads went further, hinting at Draisaitl’s defensive improvements being worthy of Selke Trophy consideration.
“He might end up finding himself on my Selke ballot this year,” Quads said. “The fact he’s playing defence at a level that makes me at least consider him for the Selke, he’s leading the league in goals, all these miraculous things and he’s doing it with Podkolzin and guys like Kasperi Kapanen. The fact he’s getting the results he is makes him the most valuable player in the league in my opinion.”
While Draisaitl leads the race, PJ argues that Connor Hellebuyck deserves serious consideration.
“Where would the Jets be without him?” PJ asked.
Quads agreed, noting Hellebuyck’s incredible performance this season.
“Hellebuyck is having a better year than last year when he won the Vezina—he has a .928 save percentage. And he’s on his way to winning the Vezina this year as well—he can almost coast at this point,” Quads said. “When you talk about the spirit of the award, most valuable to his team, the Jets are nothing without him. A .928 save percentage is unbelievable.”
Nathan MacKinnon, Quinn Hughes, and Kirill Kaprizov rounded out the top five in Quads’ poll. While each has a case that could be argued, Draisaitl’s all-around dominance stands out as the most significant narrative.
You can watch the full segment below.
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On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Patrick Johnston discussed the Hart Trophy race halfway through the 2024-25 NHL regular season. The Hart, awarded annually to the most valuable player to their team, is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
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Quads started by sharing the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/sizing-up-vancouver-canucks-quinn-hughes-sits-hart-trophy-conversation">results of a survey</a> he conducted among NHL Awards voters to gauge the current Hart Trophy favourites:
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Leon Draisaitl — 11-0-0-0-0 (55 points)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Nathan MacKinnon — 0-7-3-0-0 (37 points)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Quinn Hughes — 0-2-5-2-1 (28 points)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Connor Hellebuyck — 0-2-3-4-0 (25 points)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Kirill Kaprizov — 0-0-1-0-6 (9 points)</li>
</ol>
<h3>Leon Draisaitl: The Favorite</h3>
Draisaitl’s dominance this season has made him the frontrunner for the award, a sentiment echoed by both hosts.

“The season Draisaitl is putting together right now, playing with Podkolzin as his most common winger, but really the big story is he woke up and decided to play defence this year and he’s doing it at a really high level,” said Quads. “The defensive involvement wasn’t there in past years like it is this year. He’s putting up the points—already has 31 goals—and again, playing with Podkolzin as his linemate. He’s playing on another level this year, and it’s his award to lose at the halfway point.”

“He’s kicked it up a notch,” agreed PJ. “The Oilers are an incredible team obviously because they have these two superstars, and they go where they take them. With the way they’re playing, this is a team that’s clearly in the Stanley Cup discussion and it’s mostly because of Draisaitl.”

PJ also expressed surprise that Connor McDavid didn’t receive any votes: “It’s ludicrous to me to not have him in the conversation, but it’s a statement about how strong the other contenders are. Hughes has also raised his game so much, and Connor Hellebuyck deserves to be there. Then you have Kirill Kaprizov, Kucherov, and all these guys. It’s an incredible time to be a hockey fan.”

Quads went further, hinting at Draisaitl’s defensive improvements being worthy of Selke Trophy consideration.

“He might end up finding himself on my Selke ballot this year,” Quads said. “The fact he’s playing defence at a level that makes me at least consider him for the Selke, he’s leading the league in goals, all these miraculous things and he’s doing it with Podkolzin and guys like Kasperi Kapanen. The fact he’s getting the results he is makes him the most valuable player in the league in my opinion.”

While Draisaitl leads the race, PJ argues that Connor Hellebuyck deserves serious consideration.

“Where would the Jets be without him?” PJ asked.

Quads agreed, noting Hellebuyck’s incredible performance this season.

“Hellebuyck is having a better year than last year when he won the Vezina—he has a .928 save percentage. And he’s on his way to winning the Vezina this year as well—he can almost coast at this point,” Quads said. “When you talk about the spirit of the award, most valuable to his team, the Jets are nothing without him. A .928 save percentage is unbelievable.”

Nathan MacKinnon, Quinn Hughes, and Kirill Kaprizov rounded out the top five in Quads’ poll. While each has a case that could be argued, Draisaitl’s all-around dominance stands out as the most significant narrative.

You can watch the full segment below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h9S4E7SLRc

Sponsored by bet365
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Diving into the NHL Hart Trophy Race at the halfway point: Canucks Conversation

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