There has been debate over the last week or so regarding Cale Makar’s place among the NHL’s pantheon of greats.
The consensus is that the top three players are Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, and Nathan MacKinnon.
But where the debate rages on is whether Makar belongs in the same conversation as the three aforementioned stars.
Given the trajectory Makar is on, he is. And he could become the next NHL blueliner to do something that only three before him have ever done: Win the Hart Trophy.
The Hart Trophy, by definition, goes to the most valuable player to HIS TEAM. However, the Hart Trophy has pretty much become an MVP award given to the best player in the league.
And that award generally goes to a forward. Yes, goalies have won it in the past. But only three defensemen have ever taken the award in NHL history.
In fact, the last time a blueliner took home the bacon was Chris Pronger back in 2000. Before him, Bobby Orr won it from 1970 to 1972. Then, there was Babe Pratt in 1944.
That’s it.
That’s the company that Makar could join. But the broader question is: What would Cale Makar have to do to win the Hart Trophy?
Cale Makar would need a truly historic season to win Hart Trophy
In essence, Cale Makar would need a truly historic season to win the Hart Trophy. Orr, for instance, won the Art Ross Trophy with 120 points in 78 games. He also won the Conn Smythe that season, while dominating the NHL at both ends of the ice.
So, would a 100-point season be enough for Makar? No, but it would be a good start. He’s already hit 90 points twice in his career. That’s why it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Makar top 100 points.
Makar would need to top the century mark in scoring, while also playing a dominant shutdown role like Pronger did in 2000. While the former St. Louis Blues defenseman just eeked out Jaromír Jagr in Hart voting that year, his defensive play ranks among the best of all time.
As such, Makar would need a dominant defensive season, something along the lines of Pronger’s +52 rating in 2000. In 2021-22, Makar registered a +48. He’s been close to that, so there’s reason to believe he could match Pronger’s total.
Lastly, would Makar have to win the Art Ross to claim the Hart? Not necessarily. But he would need to something remarkable. Perhaps a 40-goal season as a defenseman could do it. Or, 100 assists might push him over the top. He could average over 30 minutes a night like Pronger did. Best of all, he might actually lead the Avalanche in scoring, especially on a team with Nathan MacKinnon putting up video game-like numbers.
At the end of the day, the Hart Trophy is in the eyes of voters. If Cale Makar can do something truly unique, something that could draw the attention away from McDavid, Kucherov, or even MacKinnon, the Avalanche’s franchise defenseman might just be able to add one more feather to his cap.
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