The Hart Trophy is the NHL's most coveted award, as the winner just became one step closer to becoming a legend in professional hockey. Although we are still early in the 2023-24 season, quite a few players have separated themselves from the pack and they deserve recognition for their early-season accomplishments on the ice.
Below, there are five skaters and one goaltender who have made highlight-reel plays seemingly game after game. But the new No. 1 might be surprising, as they are in Year 1 with their new team after spending the previous year posting solid, but not MVP-caliber numbers.
Who is the new No. 1 in the MVP race?
6. William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
When you watch the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews is often the first player you will look for. But through the first few weeks of the 2023-24 season, William Nylander has been on a tear, tallying 10 points, five goals, and five assists, putting him on pace to shatter his career-high of 87 points.
But his awesome points production is just part of the equation; Nylander is currently boasting a 20.8 shooting percentage through six games, and he's also showing off a physical edge with six hits so far. If Nylander can maintain his points production, the Maple Leafs will be borderline unstoppable offensively.
5. Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
We have been waiting for the Detroit Red Wings to show up and play some exciting hockey ever since Steve Yzerman took over in the front office. And through seven games, Dylan Larkin has been one of the centerpieces, with 14 points so far, putting him on pace for 164 this year if he continues at the same rate.
What's even scarier is the fact that Larkin isn't a pure scorer, but a two-way player, having finished 20th for the Selke in 2018-19. It's one thing to put up an outrageous number of goals and assists, but it's something completely different to produce at a high level at both ends of the ice.
4. Linus Ullmark, G, Boston Bruins
Linus Ullmark is once again demonstrating why he's the NHL's best goaltender. Last season, he finished in 10th place for the Hart, but the 2022-23 Vezina and Jennings winner is easily a top-five name during this season's early stages.
Ullmark has posted a 3-0-0 record while in a timeshare with Jeremy Swayman, and he is on pace to shatter his career-best save percentage and goals allowed average from last year. Through three games, Ullmark has logged an eye-popping 0.962 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA, and he could just be getting started.
3. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are one of the NHL's best teams at the moment, and Mikko Rantanen is a big reason for that. Last season, he put on a goal-scoring clinic, finding the back of the net 55 times while his 50 assists gave him a career-high 105 points.
Rantanen is yet another forward on this list who isn't afraid to play defense, as he finished 18th for the Selke in 2020-21. His career numbers reflect his willingness to play sound hockey without the puck, which, in turn, gives him and his teammates ample chances to score at will. He has done that this season, with 12 points and five goals in six contests.
2. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes has slowly but steadily improved since his first season in 2019-20, and last season was a breakout. In 2022-23, he put up 99 points and 43 goals en route to an eighth-place finish for the Hart.
Through six games in 2023-24, Hughes has 17 points and four goals in six games. While he's not scoring as many goals as the others on this list, his points total so far this season is nearing three per game.
Do the math, and at this point, Hughes is on pace to score 232 this season. It's tough to see him or anyone keeping that pace up, but nonetheless, he's on pace for perhaps a legendary year. Hughes would be number one in these rankings, but one player may have proven themselves to be just a tad more valuable.
1. Alex DeBrincat, RW, Detroit Red Wings
You knew there would be a shocker at number one, but is it any coincidence that the Detroit Red Wings have been surging in Alex DeBrincat's first season with the team? Detroit has played pedestrian hockey over the past two seasons, but DeBrincat's presence has pushed them over the top in the 2023-24 season's early going.
He has 13 points, one less than teammate Dylan Larkin, but his nine goals set him apart from the other skaters on this list. Further, DeBrincat is a physical player, having racked up 109 hits last season when he was with the Ottawa Senators. If DeBrincat keeps scoring goals the way he has through seven games, he will be a serious contender for the Hart.
(Statistics provided byHockey-Reference)
