Connor McDavid walked away from Monday’s NHL awards ceremony with two new awards, bringing his total tally from the 2022-23 season to four. However, according to one voter, he is not even worthy of being an A.J Final for one.
After the Edmonton Oilers captain receives the Hart Trophy for the league’s Most Valuable Player, the voting totals are announced, and one person – Specifically, Seth Rorabo of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – I think that McDavid not only does not deserve the title, but also deserves the fifth place.
Some seasons, the race for Hart is so tight that no one really knows how it will go. This was not the case this year. McDavid put up a career-high 153 points—a total not seen since Mario Lemieux scored 160 30 years earlier—and led the league with 64 goals, the most since Alex Ovechkin scored 65 in the 2007-08 season.
In 82 games this regular season, no one could even come close to what McDavid and every voter was doing, but one thought he deserved Hart’s nickname. One hundred and ninety-five people put the thriller first on their ballot, but Rurabu decided not to.
Instead, he gave Boston Bruins winger David Pasternak his first-place vote. The 27-year-old has had a stellar season in his own right, scoring 61 goals and adding 52 assists, but it’s likely Pasternak himself will vote for McDavid.
This isn’t the first time Rurabo has caused a stir with his rogue vote. Curiously left McDavid and Auston Matthews, last year’s Hart Cup winner, Completely off ballot in 2021-22.
Along with the almost unanimous Hart Trophy, McDavid also walked away with the Ted Lindsay Award for the league’s Most Valuable Player, as voted by players. In addition to Monday’s two awards, McDavid was awarded the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points, and the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading in scoring.
“Food ninja. Friendly thinker. Explorer. Entrepreneur. Zombie junkie.