MacKinnon and Makar still favorites for huge awards in latest NHL poll

Colorado Avalanche superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar continue to hunt the most prestigious trophies in the NHL.

Of course, the Stanley Cup is the top prize, but they might take home some individual hardware.

Again.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski dropped his latest award watch on Thursday, and wouldn’t you know it MacKinnon is still the favorite for the Harty Trophy, given to the NHL’s MVP. And Makar is still the top vote-getter for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league’s best defenseman.

Wyshynski “polled a wide selection of Professional Hockey Writers Association voters anonymously to get a sense of where the wind is blowing for the current leaders.”

MacKinnon is first for MVP, topping Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

MacKinnon received 59 percent of the votes in the February addition of the awards watch, up nearly 10 percent from last month when he was still the favorite.

“Most even-strength points in the league, plus-44 rating. Yeah, still good,” one MacKinnon voter told Wyshynski.

He’s won the Hart Trophy once before and could be destined for it again, leading the NHL in goals with 40 at the Olympic break and second in points (93) behind only Oilers star Connor McDavid.

For the Norris trophy, Makar had a silly lead in this vote last month, however the margin is shrinking a little bit. Right now, Makar is beating out Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets with 53 percent of the first-place votes.

“It’s still Cale Makar, but objects in the rearview mirror are closer than they appear in the form of Zach Werenski,” one voter told Wyshynski.

Makar’s been in a little bit of “slump” recently, particularly without Devon Toews for about a month, but it’s hard to even call it that. Makar has 57 points in 55 games including 15 goals.

To see the full awards watch, including the latest with Scott Wedgewood for the Vezina Trophy and Jared Bednar for the Jack Adams, click here.

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