NHL analysts picks the field over Connor McDavid for Hart Trophy despite 120-points pace

TSN analyst Martin Biron picked the field over Connor McDavid for the Hart Trophy on SC with Jay Onrait. McDavid, on course for over 120 points, could join Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito and Marcel Dionne with four straight 120-point seasons.

Biron praised McDavid's performances this year but believes other players may win the MVP this year.

"I'm picking the field for MVP this year, not McDavid, despite the fact that Conor McDavid is still on pace for a season of over 120 points." Biron said, "If he achieves that 120 or more, that's four years in a row, he would become the fifth player.

"This is just research that I did tonight. Mario, Wayne, Phil Esposito and Marcel Dion are the only four players to have gone four straight seasons of 120 points or more. Like McDavid could get that with that group, which is pretty incredible."

McDavid is having a strong 2024-25 season, with 19 goals and 43 assists in 41 games, ranking sixth in points. He was drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015 and is now in his 10th season. McDavid has 1,041 career points in 685 games, including 352 goals and 689 assists.

Known as one of the NHL’s best players, McDavid has won the Hart Trophy three times. He has seven seasons with over 100 points and scored over 120 points in the last three seasons. His career-high came in 2022-23 with 153 regular season points, including 64 goals and 89 assists. Last season, he accumulated 132 points, reaching 100 assists for the first time.

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Connor McDavid talked about facing the Colorado Avalanche

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers play the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena, Denver, on Thursday. The game follows Edmonton's game with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, which they won 5-3.

The upcoming matchup will feature star players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from the Oilers going up against Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen from the Avalanche. Leon Draisaitl leads the league with 31 goals and 64 points, while MacKinnon has 70 points, and Rantanen has 61 points.

Connor McDavid called Colorado’s lineup a "great challenge:"

"It's always fun. You know, they're a great challenge. ... But obviously, whenever you get that many stars in one game, it's always fun. Great challenge. That five-man unit they put out there with McKinnon, Makar, Toews and Rantanen and all those guys, it's pretty tough."

Both teams are good offensively, with the Oilers averaging 3.26 goals per game and the Avalanche having 3.32 goals per game.