Is this finally the season Avalanche's Cale Makar changes NHL history?
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This upcoming season could provide Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche with the perfect opportunity to finally end the long-standing Hart Trophy drought for defenseman, potentially cementing his place among the league's elite.
Sports Illustrated recently unveiled its list of top Hart Trophy candidates for the 2025-26 season, and the names that appeared were largely expected.
Will Cale Makar finally win the Hart Trophy next season?
Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that the list included Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, and Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, with last season's winner Connor Hellebuyck, also making the cut.
Interestingly, aside from Pastrnak, every player on the list has claimed the Hart Trophy at least once since the 2019-20 season.
"But the biggest omission from this list, at least to me, is Cale Makar. We haven't seen a defenseman win the Hart since Chris Pronger did it in 2000 for the St. Louis Blues. And that's probably why Makar and other blueliners like Quinn Hughes are an afterthought.
Can this be the year Makar ends that drought? I still can't imagine he goes his entire career without winning at least one of these. But what would it take?" -Deen
Can this be the year Makar ends that drought? I still can't imagine he goes his entire career without winning at least one of these. But what would it take?" -Deen
I truly believe that the type of season we witnessed last year is exactly the kind of performance that gives a non-forward a real shot at the Hart Trophy, which likely explains why Connor Hellebuyck earned the honour.
"But Rantanen moving on opens an opportunity for Makar to be an even bigger offensive weapon for Colorado. Which in itself is funny to say out loud because he had a career-high 92 points last year.
Can he hit 100 this year? Can he do it while again reaching 30 goals? Will that be enough to really get more attention from voters?" -Deen
Can he hit 100 this year? Can he do it while again reaching 30 goals? Will that be enough to really get more attention from voters?" -Deen
Voter fatigue is a real factor in Hart Trophy voting, which likely explains why McDavid doesn't win it every season.
If MacKinnon repeats a 115-120 point campaign, and Makar surpasses the 100-point mark, I could see Makar starting to steal the spotlight from the Avalanche's No. 1 center, especially given the impact he'll have at both ends of the ice while maintaining high offensive production.
Source:
Colorado Hockey Now
Is This the Year Cale Makar Breaks the Hart Trophy Drought for Defensemen?
Colorado Hockey Now
Is This the Year Cale Makar Breaks the Hart Trophy Drought for Defensemen?
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 9 | 21 ANSWERS Is this finally the season Avalanche's Cale Makar changes NHL history? Do you think Cale Makar has what it takes to take home the Hart Trophy this upcoming season? | ||
| yes | 18 | 85.7 % |
| no | 3 | 14.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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