Avalanche fans in disbelief as the Hart Trophy race takes an unexpected turn

The Colorado Avalanche sit atop the league with MacKinnon driving the show, leading in goals and piling points at a historic clip this year. MacKinnon has been utterly dominant, skating away from defenders and dictating play in every zone while Colorado thrives with a league-best record.

Jackson Weber from NHL Trade Talk writes that meanwhile, Edmonton's captain McDavid has flipped a switch in December, lighting up the scoreboard and elevating the Oilers even as their supporting cast fluctuates. His recent surge has put him right back in the MVP conversation after a hot start by MacKinnon.

Fans everywhere are debating which superstar's season matters more, because they both are elite in different ways. It's not just about points, it's how each player makes his team better every night.

Each player's case has gripped the hockey world this week.

One fan poll on X showed a slight lean toward McDavid winning the Hart now that he's closed the gap after MacKinnon's early lead. That discussion doesn't capture every voice, but it does reflect how tight this race has become with 82 games still ahead.

The Avalanche center is having perhaps the best offensive season of his career, pacing the league in production and driving Colorado's success through sheer force of will. He's been the most consistent playmaker and goal scorer the NHL has seen this year.

McDavid isn't just responding, he's dominating stretches with pace and vision that still feels otherworldly. His ability to create scoring chances in even the tightest quarters has kept Edmonton in the mix and boosted his own MVP case.

The key narrative this season is how consistent MacKinnon has been versus how supercharged McDavid's campaign has gotten lately. Voters will weigh team success, scoring, and impact in making their final decision.

There's plenty more hockey left and both stars know the award isn't given in December, but fans are savoring this rare head-to-head MVP storyline.