Final ESPN “Awards Watch” does not have Nathan MacKinnon winning MVP

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon has been the Hart Trophy favorite basically the entire season.

That doesn’t mean it’s a lock he’ll win NHL MVP.

ESPN came out with its final “Awards Watch” on Monday and MacKinnon has been passed by Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov.

“Kucherov earned roughly 50% of the first-place votes in the final Awards Watch tally to lead the race in its final days,” ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski wrote.

Look, Kucherov is a great player, but if MacKinnon doesn’t win his second Hart Trophy this will be a frustrating one. That’s been the thought all year long, but according to the voters sampled in this story, Kucherov might edge him out late.

“This is the tightest Hart race I’ve ever voted on. Felt all season this was Nathan MacKinnon’s to lose and, well, Kucherov and Connor McDavid have both passed him at this point. The ultimate photo finish here,” a voter told Wyshynski.

As of Monday afternoon, MacKinnon is third in the NHL in points with 126. Kucherov leads the way with 133 and McDavid has 128.

But when it comes to goals, MacKinnon is still No. 1 in the league with 52 of them. Montreal’s Cole Caufield has 51 with McDavid at 47, good for third.

Obviously, this isn’t a knock on MacKinnon but rather a compliment to how well Kucherov and McDavid have both played. We’ll see if he can finish with a bang over the Avalanche’s last three games and swing some voters.

Elsewhere, Cale Makar is still in the conversation for the Norris Trophy, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll win that given to the NHL’s best defenseman. It’ll likely be Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets who takes it.

In a year the Avs have already secured the Presidents’ Trophy, it’d be bizarre if they don’t win any individual awards. Then again, the thing they care about most is hoisting the Stanley Cup, something Colorado is in great position to do.

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