Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk are Hart Trophy finalists - ESPN

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk are finalists for the NHL's Hart Trophy, the league announced on Friday.

The Hart is awarded each year «to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.» Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted on the winner.

McDavid is a previous two-time Hart recipient in 2017 and 2021, when he became just the second player in 97 years to ever unanimously win the award. Edmonton's captain is coming off another sensational regular season where he produced 64 goals and 153 points through 82 games, the most by any skater since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux put up 161 points in 1995-96.

Those figures also earned McDavid his first Maurice «Rocket» Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal-scorer and third consecutive Art Ross Trophy (fifth overall) as its leading points-getter. McDavid is a finalist as well for the Ted Lindsay award, which designates the NHL's «most outstanding player» as voted on by members of the NHL's Player's Association. The 26-year-old propelled the Oilers to their fourth consecutive postseason berth; Edmonton is currently tied 2-2 with Vegas in their Western Conference second-round series.

Pastrnak set several career-bests in the regular season, including goals scored (61, second-most in the NHL), points (113, tied for third-most), and assists (52). The Bruins' top-line winger played a major role in creating Boston's historic regular season run where they broke multiple records — including most wins in a season with 65 — and won the President's Trophy on the strength of a 135-point campaign.

Pastrnak was arguably the Bruins' best player from start to finish, getting