Ty Anderson joins Mike Felger on Sports Sunday to discuss Linus Ullmark’s MVP-level season
Edmonton Oilers superstar center Connor McDavid has been the favorite for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP throughout the 2022-23 season.
McDavid is having a campaign for the ages. He leads the league in goals (50), assists (65) and points (115) for an Oilers team that often struggles defensively (20th in goals against) and has had inconsistent goaltending (19th in save percentage). McDavid has scored or tallied an assist in 55 of the 61 games he's played in -- that kind of consistency is remarkable.
The Oilers are in a playoff spot largely because McDavid has been so dominant. And he's not just an all-time offensive player. His two-way game is solid as well.
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Could anyone challenge McDavid for league MVP over the final month-and-a-half of the regular season?
Boston Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark might give him a run. He has risen all the way to No. 2 on DraftKings Sportsbook's Hart Trophy odds list, as of Wednesday:
- Connor McDavid, Oilers: -2000
- Linus Ullmark, Bruins: +2200
- David Pastrnak, Bruins: +2800
- Jack Hughes, Devils: +4000
- Nikita Kucherov, Lightning: +4500
- Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche: +4500
- Jason Robertson, Stars: +6000
- Tage Thompson, Sabres: +10000
- Sidney Crosby, Penguins: +10000
- Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes: +10000
McDavid is still a massive betting favorite for this award at -2000 odds. It would be a surprise if he doesn't win for the third time in his career.
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But you shouldn't completely rule out Ullmark. He leads the league in many of the important statistics for goalies.
One thing that could potentially work against Ullmark in the Hart race, even if it's unfair, is the fact that his team is so good. Pastrnak is a legit MVP candidate. Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm and others are having tremendous seasons, too.
Ullmark absolutely should to be in the Hart conversation, though. He's very much deserving of that. He's also deserving of the Vezina Trophy, and after Tuesday night's record-setting 54-save performance in an overtime victory against the Calgary Flames, the Bruins' goaltender should be the overwhelming favorite for that award.