by Patrick J. Walsh III ’24 on November 10, 2023
Sports
The Hart Trophy, also known as the most valuable player award, is among the most virtuous trophies in all sports. The trophy symbolizes a player that has gone above and beyond and goes “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” This trophy was first awarded in 1924 to Ottawa Senators centerman Frank Nighbor. Nearly 100 years later, this award is still valued as one of the highest distinctions for a player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Connor McDavid has won this trophy in two of the last three seasons, as well as in 2016. As grateful as he is to have won this award several times, he has not come close enough to achieving every NHL player’s goal, raising Lord Stanley. McDavid may be the best player in the NHL by a landslide, but with Connor Bedard taking his talent to the pros, Nathan MacKinnon hunting for cup number two, and Sidney Crosby refusing to retire, anyone has a chance at claiming this hardware. This season will feature a new player receiving this trophy—he isn’t new to the NHL, but he is a guy who has a nose for the puck and a howitzer of a shot. David Pastrnak will win the 2023-2024 Hart Trophy. The Czechian has been with the Boston Bruins his whole career and has evolved into one of the most fascinating players in the NHL. Last season, he scored 61 goals and was the runner-up as a Hart Trophy finalist. With Bergeron no longer on the ice, Pastrnak’s opportunities may be limited, especially on the power play, but there is no doubt that he is the number one option on offense and a player that the whole city of Boston is counting on. The Bruins’ chance to win the cup diminished in the first round last season. They took another severe hit when they lost two Bruins legends to retirement and a few more to free agency. The Bruins will still be a very competitive club this season, like every year, but there are questions about whether they will be able to manufacture enough offense. With Pastrnak healthy and hungry, he will carry this team to the postseason and give them a chance to return the most sacred trophy to Titletown.