For over 30 years there has been a statistic with an uncanny reliability for predicting the winner of the Hart Trophy, and it is pointing squarely at Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers winning the award for 2017-18.
Before calling the engraver, it's important to consider the unwritten rules that apply to Hart Trophy voting. While not explicitly listed as qualifying criteria, most voters in the Professional Hockey Writers Association feel that a candidate's team must make the playoffs, the player can't have missed a significant number of games, and that there can't be another superstar on the same team.