Today, the National Hockey League announced the finalists for the Hart Trophy, given by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association to the league’s MVP. It’s been a very long time since a member of the Los Angeles Kings was a finalist. Then again, it’s been a very long time since a member of the Los Angeles Kings was this good over a full season.
Kopitar is the first MVP finalist for the Kings since Wayne Gretzky in 1990-91, and though he probably won’t be the second King to win it (after Gretzky in 1989), it’s a special moment for a player who was underappreciated for a long time.