DENVER — Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has been named a finalist for the National Hockey League's (NHL) Hart Memorial Trophy.
MacKinnon set the franchise record for most points in a season with 140. The previous record, 139, was set by Peter Stastny in the 1981-82 season with the Quebec Nordiques.
MacKinnon recorded at least a point in 69 games this season. He also started the season with a point in 35 consecutive home games. This is the second longest home point streak in NHL history just behind Wayne Gretzky's 40-game streak.
Three time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, were also named as finalists for the award.
Kucherov lead the NHL in points this season with 144. He was involved in half of Tampa Bay's total goals on the season, 288 (excluding shootout-deciding goals). Kucherov previously won the Hart Memorial Trophy during the 2018-19 season.
McDavid became the sixth player in league history to register at least seven 100-point season. McDavid is the first player since Gretzky to get at least 120 points in three consecutive seasons.
The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season.
The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented by the NHL in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1924 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens.
RELATED: MacKinnon, Nichushkin lead 5-goal outburst in 3rd period, Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports
