David Pastrnak Not A Finalist For Hart Trophy

David Pastrnak will not be the NHL’s MVP for the 2019-20 season. On Tuesday, the league revealed the three finalists for the Hart Trophy. Pastrnak was not one of them. Instead, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. The same three were named finalists last week for the Ted Lindsay Award which is awarded to “the most outstanding player in the NHL.” The PHWA voted on the Hart Trophy. The NHLPA votes on the Ted Lindsay award.

The Hart Trophy, annually award to the NHL’s most valuable player, hasn’t been won by a Bruins player since Bobby Orr in 1972. The last player to win the award while playing at least part of his season with the Bruins was Joe Thornton in 2005-06.

In June, Pastrnak let the media know who he would vote for if he had a vote.

“For me, it’s absolutely no question,” Pastrnak said. “For me, Leon Draisaitl was showing up the whole season. “A Lot of people say, ‘Oh he’s playing with Connor (McDavid).’ Connor was hurt for a month and he brought it up even another level. For me, it’s absolutely no question it’s going to be and should be Leon Draisaitl. The way he played this year is absolutely no question for me.”

Pastrnak does come away with some hardware from the 2019-20 season. He finished tied for the NHL’s goal scoring title with Alexander Ovechkin. That made him a co-Rocket Richard Trophy winner. He was the first Boston Bruins player to ever win the award.

Pastrnak paced the Bruins with 95 points (48 g, 47 a) while skating on the club’s top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. That was good enough to tie for third in the NHL in points behind Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Pastrnak tied with Panarin.

He scored a career-high 20 goals on the powerplay in 2019-20. David Pastrnak also notched ten game-winning goals for a Bruins team that finished first in the NHL. 28 of Pastrnak’s goals came at even-strength.