With just days remaining before the National Hockey League goes on pause for the Olympic break, a trio of Canadians have played themselves into contention for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most most valuable player.

As they get set to begin their quest for gold with Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor McDavid are leading the NHL’s MVP race as the 60-game mark of the regular season approaches.

MacKinnon, the 2024 Hart winner, is the current favourite and is being offered at -250 to take home the award on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP)

The Halifax, N.S. native is leading the league with 40 goals on the year in just 53 games played, and is projected to set a new career high with 141 points this season.

MacKinnon is currently shooting at an impressive 17.0 per cent clip, well ahead of his career average mark of 10.9 per cent. It’s also higher than his mark of 12.6 per cent he shot in 2023-24, when he scored his current career-high of 51 goals.

In addition to his gaudy individual numbers, the four-time Hart finalist has also been a driving force in leading the Colorado Avalanche to the top spot in the league this season.

The Avalanche lead the league in wins (36), regulations wins (33), points (81), goals for (205), and goals against (134). Colorado also owns the fewest regulation losses in the NHL with eight.

By their standards, the Avalanche have hit a rough spell of late by going 4-4-2 over their previous 10 games, but MacKinnon still remains the favourite to win his second career Hart Trophy at season’s end.

While MacKinnon is in the midst of a putting together a career-best season for the powerhouse Avalanche, Celebrini might just hold the title of being the most valuable player to his team.

The sophomore phenom has the next best odds to win the Hart at +230 on FanDuel, and a deeper dive into the numbers would indicate that he’s as deserving of the honour as any.

Macklin Celebrini San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, front, and John Klingberg celebrate Celebrini’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck (DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

With 27 goals and 52 assists, Celebrini has already eclipsed his goal and assist totals from his rookie year and is now fourth in scoring with 79 points on the season through 53 games played.

The West Vancouver, B.C. native’s point total is more than than double his next closest teammate, while also directly contributing to 48 per cent of San Jose’s 166 goals scored on the year.

Celebrini’s play has lifted the Sharks into playoff contention for the first time in seven seasons, with San Jose currently just two points out from the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference after posting a dismal 20-50-12 record last year.

The 19-year-old forward is on pace for 122 points, and would join the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, and McDavid as players to win the Hart in their second seasons in the NHL.

McDavid, a three-time Hart winner, holds the third-best odds to win the award at +450.

Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during overtime NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Richmond Hill, Ont. native was not named as a Hart finalist for the first time in four seasons after playing in just 67 games last year, but the Edmonton Oilers captain appears to be a shoe-in this time around.

After a slow start to the season, McDavid native has seemingly found a higher gear since the start of December, recording 59 points over his past 30 games to bring his season total up to 95.

This recent surge has helped McDavid overtake MacKinnon as the league’s leading point scorer, also helping the Oilers play to a 17-10-3 record over that span.

He currently ranks second in goals with 34, and leads all skaters with 61 assists, numbers that were helped by a career-best 20-game point streak that ended last month.

The six-time Hart finalist is now on pace for 139 points on the year, which would mark the second-most productive full season of his career.

Before all three players look to finish strong and beat each other out for the Hart Trophy, they get the chance to win their first Olympic gold medal from Milano Cortina later this month.