To mark the first quarter of the 2025-26 regular season, NHL.com is running its second installment of the Trophy Tracker series. Today, we look at the race for the Hart Trophy , given annually to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team selected in a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Nathan MacKinnon is one-upping himself this season.

In his 13th NHL season, the 30-year-old Colorado Avalanche center is off the best start of his career with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 23 games.

The 39 points and 18 goals are each the most MacKinnon has had through his first 23 games in any of his 13 NHL seasons. His previous best was 35 points, which he had three times; 2018-19 (15 goals, 20 assists), 2021-22 (six goals, 29 assists) and 2024-25 (seven goals,

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