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Toronto Maple Leafs: Can Auston Matthews Win a Hart Trophy?

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 8: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his 30th goal of the season against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 8, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 8: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his 30th goal of the season against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 8, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs superstar, Auston Matthews is the best pure goal-scorer in the NHL, but can he take home NHL’s most prestigious individual honor?

In their 104 year history, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had a number of Hall of Fame players, but they haven’t had an individual win the Hart Trophy since Ted Kennedy during the 1954-55 season. The funny thing about Kennedy winning the award that year was that the league gave it to him almost as a “thank you” and acknowledgment of such a great career and not because he had the best individual season that year.

Although I wasn’t around to watch that season, Maurice Richard or Bernie Geoffrion probably should have actually won the Hart Trophy, as they both led the NHL with 38 goals and were first and second in league scoring.

Kennedy was 11th in scoring (third in assists) on a third-place team in a six-team league, so you could really make the argument that he wasn’t deserving of that award. Kennedy wasn’t even first on the Toronto Maple Leafs in scoring that year, as Sid Smith finished with two more points and 22 (!!) more goals than him, so it was truly just a popular contest, rather than a legitimate award (stats via: quanthockey.com).

Auston Matthews Can Win Hart Trophy This Year

As we currently sit, Auston Matthews has 25 goals and 40 points in 33 games. He’s already missed three games this year, so at his current pace, he’s trending towards a 60 goal and 96 point season.

That would be an amazing season, but the one issue is that Alex Ovechkin is pacing at an even better point total. He’s currently trending towards a 55 goal and 113 point campaign, which would almost certainty give him the Hart Trophy.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still have a chance at the title based on their point total, but the Edmonton Oilers are in shambles and who knows if they even make the playoffs. At this point, I think the race is between Ovechkin and Matthews.

In order to win the Hart Trophy, you typically have to win either the Art Ross Trophy and/or Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as well. However, even if you win the Art Ross by a large margin, it doesn’t mean you’re the Hart Trophy winner.

Lots of goals and points are obviously important towards winning the NHL’s MVP award, but there are many other factors that come into play. When Sidney Crosby won the Hart Trophy in 2016-17 season, he led the NHL in goals with 44 goals, but was 11 points shy of Connor McDavid’s 100 points. The Oilers missed the playoffs that year, while the Penguins were a Stanley Cup contender, so the nod went to Crosby, who also won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard.

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It’s possible that Matthews goes on an absolute heater, wins the Rocket by a landslide and competes for the Art Ross Trophy but at this point, it’s Ovechkin’s trophy to lose.

The torch will get passed soon, but it may have to wait another year or two.

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