September is finally here. Football is already underway, which means that hockey is right around the corner. Training camp will open and preseason games will be underway. As we inch closer and closer to the 2024-25 season, let’s take a look at some players that could be bringing home hardware this year.
Art Ross (Most Points): Connor McDavid
The entire hockey world got to see the best player in the world on the biggest stage in the sport. Seeing Connor McDavid compete for the Stanley Cup was truly remarkable. His team was one win shy of reaching the ultimate goal. Needless to say, McDavid will come out hungry and will help lead the Edmonton Oilers to where they want to go.
McDavid is a point-producing machine. From 2021-24, he had four straight 100-plus point seasons, totaling up 513 points in 294 games. That’s an elite production rate and he shows no signs of slowing down.
There will always be ample opportunity for McDavid, as he plays in almost every crucial situation. Between centering the top line, to playing on the top power play unit, he will have plenty of opportunities to produce. The Oilers’ offense runs through him and Leon Draisaitl.
Also, McDavid has won three straight Art Ross Trophies (2021, 2022, 2023) and a fourth one inside this decade is in order. With a great supporting cast of players and adding a potential 30-goal scorer in Jeff Skinner, great things are going to come for McDavid and the Oilers.
Rocket Richard Trophy (Most Goals): David Pastrnak
There are numerous goal scorers in this league and you can argue that nobody loves scoring goals more than David Pastrnak. Over the last three seasons, only one player has scored more than him.
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Pastrnak scored a career-high 61 goals during the 2022-23 season. He was flanking fellow countryman David Krejci. For fans that remember, Krejci was a phenomenal playmaker and the two developed instant chemistry. Last season, the star winger scored 47 goals and primarily played with Pavel Zacha. Zacha is a good player, but he isn’t Krejci.
Entering the 2024-25 season, Pastrnak will have the luxury of playing alongside Elias Lindholm. Lindholm is a pass-first center and also had his best season during the 2021-22 season playing with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Lindholm now has a star winger and Pastrnak has a legitimate top-line center to play with.
Pastrnak is coming off…
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