Crosby, McDavid, Bobrovsky are finalists for Hart Trophy
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky are finalists for the NHL’s Hart Trophy. The Hart Trophy is given to “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”
McDavid captured the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s scoring leader after scoring 30 goals and 70 assists for 100 points while playing in all 82 games. He also led the Oilers to second place in the Pacific Division and their first berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2005-06 campaign.
The 20-year-old finished the year on a 14-game point streak. McDavid, from Newmarket, Ont., is trying to become the third player in NHL history to win MVP honours before his 21st birthday. Only Crosby and Wayne Gretzky have accomplished the feat.
Crosby, 29, captured his second Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s goal-scoring leader, netting 44 goals. He led the defending Stanley Cup champs to their best regular-season record since the 1992-93 campaign.
The Cole Harbour, N.S., native finished with 89 points and was second behind McDavid for the Art Ross Trophy. It’s the sixth time that Crosby is a finalist for the MVP award, previously winning in 2008 and 2014.
Bobrovsky led the NHL with a 2.06 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 63 starts this season. The Russian posted 41 wins and seven shutouts as the Blue Jackets enjoyed their best season in franchise history.
The 28-year-old is also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. It’s the first time that he’s a Hart Trophy finalist.
The award winner will be announced at the NHL awards in Las Vegas on June 21.