The Pittsburgh Penguins have displayed more competitiveness this season than they’ve shown in years. While the franchise has dropped several recent games, captain Sidney Crosby continues to drive the offense, keeping Pittsburgh competitive.
With an 8-4-2 record, only the New Jersey Devils hold a better position in the Metropolitan Division. However, despite Crosby’s strong performance, his chances of being an early Hart Trophy favorite appear surprisingly low.
Why Is Sidney Crosby Not Among Early Hart Trophy Favorites?
The Penguins’ early momentum has cooled after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since early October. Despite the setbacks, Pittsburgh remains in a strong position, with Crosby controlling the play. With 17 points (9 goals, eight assists), he seems to be on his way to another 100-point season.
However, despite his consistent performance, he’s absent from early Hart Trophy predictions. In a recent poll conducted by ESPN, the members voted for who they thought was the most likely to win the NHL’s major awards this season.
Among the players who have been sensational this season, Jack Eichel seems to be the favorite. The other names that were predicted to be among the favorites were the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar and Mark Scheifele from the Winnipeg Jets.
The Vegas forward has become the consensus choice among voters. He was named NHL Player of the Month for October and leads the league in points. Eichel captured 42% of first-place votes. “It’s a wide-open race after 10 games,” one voter concluded.
“Lots of guys are having incredible impacts on the scoreboard and tilting the ice in favor of their respective teams,” they added. But Eichel wasn’t the only name dominating the ballots, as Makar finished second in voting with 19%.
The defenseman has been exceptional, recording 18 points through 13 games while anchoring Colorado’s offense. Interestingly, teammate Nathan MacKinnon has better raw numbers with 19 points (10 goals, nine assists), yet he received less support than Makar.
Scheifele, meanwhile, leads the NHL with 20 points and trails only Makar and Eichel with 15% of the votes. While Eichel and Makar have dominated the seasons, Crosby’s exclusion stands out. What makes this exclusion even more notable is that he appeared on ballots but received zero first-place votes.
Among current Hart contenders, only Crosby has previously won the award. While Makar captured the Conn Smythe Trophy during Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, the Hart has eluded him. Crosby has won it three times during his career.
His current pace suggests he’s targeting a repeat of last season’s 91-point performance. However, Pittsburgh’s playoff absence cost him Hart consideration then. If Crosby maintains his production and the Penguins reach the postseason, he’ll present a compelling case for nomination.
The early skepticism may simply reflect voters waiting to see if Pittsburgh’s success and Crosby’s production prove sustainable over a full season.
