David Pastrnak is Hart Trophy finalist with McDavid, Tkachuk originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak put together one of the most impressive offensive seasons in team history during the 2022-23 campaign.
The superstar forward scored 62 goals with 52 assists in 82 games for a Bruins team that won the Presidents' Trophy and set NHL records for the most wins (65) and most points (135) in a single regular season.
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Pastrnak's efforts were recognized Friday when the league announced he is one of the three finalists for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most valuable player. The other two finalists are Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk.
Bruins roster reset: List of 2023 free agents, salary cap update
The last Bruins player to win league MVP was Hall of Famer Phil Esposito in 1973-74. Bruins legend Ray Bourque nearly won in 1989-90 but lost to Oilers center Mark Messier by two votes.
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Unfortunately for the Bruins, the odds of Pastrnak winning are pretty low. McDavid is the overwhelming favorite after leading the league with 64 goals and 153 points. We haven't seen a player dominate offensively like McDavid in a long time.
That said, being a finalist is an excellent accomplishment for Pastrnak. He should be among the top candidates for this award for the next four or five years given his elite offensive talent.
