Photo credit: The Leafs Nation
The NHL has come under fire for not nominating Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Hart Memorial Trophy despite his exceptional season.
Matthews scored a staggering 69 goals, 12 more than the next best player in the league, and was also nominated for the Selke Trophy, which recognizes defensive prowess. Alongside his offensive prowess, Matthews has demonstrated strong defensive skills, making his absence from the Hart Trophy nominations puzzling to many fans.
The Hart Trophy finalists, announced as Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid, all had outstanding seasons, but Matthews' remarkable goal-scoring record and defensive contributions have led many to question why he wasn't included among the finalists.
"2024 Hart Trophy finalists, as voted by @ThePHWA: Nikita Kucherov (TBL), Nathan MacKinnon (COL) and Connor McDavid (EDM)."
Fans and analysts alike have expressed surprise and disappointment at the NHL's decision, highlighting Matthews' unique combination of offensive and defensive abilities as deserving of recognition in the MVP race.
"I'm not surprised Matthews isn't on this list but I don't think any player has ever had 69 goals and a Selke nom in the same season. Could be wrong"
Source: House of Hockey - Matthews gets disrespected by Gary Bettman and the NHL
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