The official definition of the Hart Trophy according to NHL.com is: The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team“. In the 2024-25 season, I can’t think of a player who fits this definition more than Edmonton Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl.
Related: 4 Takeaways From Oilers’ Dramatic 3-2 Overtime Victory Over Flames
Sure, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon has had an outstanding season. Same with his Avalanche teammate, defenceman Cale Makar, who will most likely win the Norris Trophy for best defenceman. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has been great again this season and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been unbelievable in backstopping the Jets to the top of the NHL standings, but it was Draisaitl’s heroic performance on March 29 at home against the surging Calgary Flames that placed him in first place in the Hart Trophy race in my mind and many others including former Oilers defencemen Chris Pronger and Ryan Whitney.
Draisaitl Made All the Difference in the Oilers’ 3-2 Victory Over the Flames
The final instalment of the Battle of Alberta in the 2024-25 season was a statement game for both the Oilers and Flames. The Oilers had been without Draisaitl for the last four games after he was injured in the Oilers’ 7-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club back on March 18. And without him, and teammate Connor McDavid, who is still out with injury from the March 20 4-3 loss to the Jets, the Oilers were floundering a bit. Meanwhile, the Flames were riding the hot goaltending of Calder Trophy candidate Dustin Wolf and have been playing good hockey as of late in hopes of sneaking into a Western Conference wild card spot. The Flames held a 2-1 lead late into the third period until Draisaitl tied things up with 3:12 remaining, beating Wolf for his 50th of the season. In overtime, he scored his 51st at the 2:25 mark to seal the dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Oilers, keeping them tied with the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division.
These two goals are symbolic for key reasons: They made Draisaitl the first 50-goal scorer of the 2024-25 season, putting him nine goals ahead of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander for the Rocket Richard Trophy, and they kept him within five points of leaders Kucherov and MacKinnon, who both…
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