NHL, NBA MVP Chases at the break

 

Photo credit: Santeri Viinamäki

The NHL is holding the Four Nations Tournament instead of an All-Star game this year. The Tournament championship is this Thursday. Regular-season NHL games resume on February 22.

Meanwhile, the NBA resumes after the All-Star break on February 19. So now is a good time to check the MVP Chase for both leagues.

HART TROPHY (NHL MVP)

If your team wins a game or loses in overtime (thus gaining a point in the standings), and your combined points plus +/- in the game equals two or more, you earn an MVP Chase point. Goalies earn an MVP Chase point each time they allow two goals or fewer in a win or OT loss.

Here are the top 15 leaders at the mid-season break. I listed 15 instead of 10 to show where scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon stands. Note: In case of a tie, players are listed alphabetically:

Hart Trophy Chase Leaders

1. Leon Draisaitl, C, Oilers 30

2. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Lightning 27

3. Kyle Connor, LW, Jets 26

4. Connor Hellebuyck, G,  Jets 26

5. Mitch Marner, RW, Maple Leafs 26

6. Aliaksei Protas, C, Capitals 26

7. Jack Eichel, C, Golden Knights 25

8. Jesper Bratt, W, Devils 24

9. Kirill Marchenko, RW, Blue Jackets 24

10. Connor McDavid, C, Oilers 24

11. Brandon Hagel, LW, Lightning 23

12. Jack Hughes, C, Devils 23

13. Cale Makar, D, Avalanche 23

14. Nathan McKinnon, C, Avalanche 23

15. Sam Reinhart, C, Panthers 23

NBA MVP CHASE

You earn an NBA MVP Chase point if your team wins the game and your +/- was ten or more, or your minutes played plus +/- was 40 or more.

NBA MVP Chase Leaders

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder 38

2. Evan Mobley, Cavaliers 31

3. Jayson Tatum, Celtics 31

4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks 30

5. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 29

6. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers 28

7. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers 27

8. Darius Garland, Cavaliers 27

9. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies 26

10. Jalen Brunson, Knicks 25

.James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe). Thank you for your subscriptions and support! Contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.