This year a coin flip will decide the winner of the Hart Trophy.

OK, not really, but given how tight the race for arguably the biggest individual award in hockey has been this season, it appears to be as good a system as any as we head into the final weeks of the season.

As it stands, a serious case could be made for nearly a dozen potential candidates. However, we'll try to narrow that down as we look at the five most-likely candidates and a few honorable mentions to bring home MVP honors.

1. Nikita Kucherov

Throughout the season several players have entered and exited the MVP conversation, but Nikita Kucherov has remained a constant.

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward sits atop the NHL's points list with 87 in 66 games and has not conceded his throne since Dec. 13.

Kucherov has had one three-game pointless streak and another of two games, and outside of those has not gone consecutive games without a point.

The 24-year-old been the pinnacle of consistency while tormenting goaltenders, and is poised to lead the Lightning to what stands to be a franchise-best in points and the team's first-ever Presidents' Trophy.

2. Nathan MacKinnon

One year removed from the worst season in the salary cap era, the Colorado Avalanche are knocking on the door of the playoffs and they have Nathan MacKinnon to thank for it.

MacKinnon has 32 goals and 79 points in just 59 games this season, demolishing his previous career highs (24 goals, 63 points) set during his rookie campaign. In fact, he currently leads the league with 1.34 points per game.

If it wasn't clear how valuable he's been, it should be noted that only Calgary's Sean Monahan has more than MacKinnon's 10 game-winning goals.

3. Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall finally saw his historic point streak come to an end Thursday night.

Prior to Thursday, the New Jersey Devils forward had strung together a point streak of 26 games. That run helped Hall set a career high in goals, and leaves him just six points shy of his career best (80).

Besides being in the top 10 in scoring, he's also put up an astounding 33 more points than the next closest Devil. He also leads the team in power-play points, game-winning goals, shots, and overtime goals.

Meanwhile, his performance has the Devils sitting in a playoff spot, which would halt a streak of five seasons without postseason hockey.

4. Evgeni Malkin

It's not outlandish to think that if Malkin had been able to stay healthy over the last eight seasons he may very well have captured a few more Hart Trophies.

Malkin has played more than 70 games in a season just once since the 2009-10 season when he dressed in 75 in 2012. Last season he tallied 72 points in 62 games - a 95-point pace. And this season he's on pace for 107.

Malkin is just two goals off Alex Ovechkin's league-leading 40 and just two points back of Kucherov with a game in hand. If he keeps this up he could soon lead both categories and subsequently lead this list.

5. Alex Ovechkin

Patrik Laine, Eric Staal, and Malkin are making late-season pushes for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. But let's face it, Ovechkin is still the favorite to capture the award for the seventh time in his career.

Ovechkin paces the league as the only 40-goal scorer this season. The 32-year-old has already surpassed last year's output of 33 goals and 69 points with 40 and 72, respectively.

His bounce back in offense has the Capitals within a point of top spot in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand on the Penguins and him in pursuit of his fourth Hart Trophy.

Honorable Mentions

Connor McDavid

Historically the Hart Trophy is usually awarded to players on playoff-bound clubs, but if McDavid keeps producing as he has, it will be hard to deny him his second straight Hart Trophy.

While playing on the fifth-worst team in the league, the Edmonton Oilers captain has still managed to put up 31 goals (a career high) and 81 points. In fact, he's factored in on over 42 percent of all Oilers goals this season.

The Hart Trophy is summarized as "the player most valuable to his team" and it would be hard to argue that any team relies more on one player than the Oilers do on McDavid.

Steven Stamkos

Before Kucherov grabbed the scoring race by the horns, it looked as though Stamkos was going to run away with it.

The Lightning captain has since slowed down a bit, but still remains in the top 10 in scoring.

After being limited to just 17 games last season, it's quite clear that Stamkos has returned to being one of the elite producers in the game.

Claude Giroux

The Philadelphia Flyers appear playoff bound after missing last year's postseason, and that's thanks in large to the play of Giroux.

The captain sits fourth in league scoring with 80 points in 68 games. He's already posted his highest point total since the 2013-14 season and has been instrumental in linemate Sean Couturier shattering his previous career highs in goals and points.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The Montreal Canadiens signed forwards William Bitten and Michael Pezzetta to three-year, entry-level contracts, the team announced Wednesday.

Bitten was drafted in the third round in 2016 with the 70th overall selection. In his second season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, he's contributed 19 goals and 61 points in 58 games.

Pezzetta was selected in the sixth round, 160th overall in 2016. The 19-year-old has split this season with the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves and Sarnia Sting where he's put up 22 goals and 50 points in 58 contests.

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Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser is likely done for the season.

The rookie sensation was diagnosed with a soft-tissue injury and a small non-structural, non-displaced fracture in his lower back that will require four-to-six weeks of recovery time, the team announced Tuesday.

The injury occurred late in the club's eventual overtime win over the New York Islanders after Boeser went in for a hit but was propelled back-first into an open door on the Canucks' bench.

The 21-year-old was then taken to hospital for what head coach Travis Green initially labelled precautionary reasons.

The injury likely concludes an incredible rookie campaign that has seen him tally 29 goals and 55 points in 62 games, both team highs. It also likely brings an abrupt end to the Calder Trophy race, as while Boeser leads all first-year players in goals, he trails Islanders forward Mathew Barzal by 14 points.

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Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy sprained the MCL in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Tuesday.

The injury occurred early in the first period of the Bruins' clash with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

It's a big blow to Boston, which is already without forward Patrice Bergeron, who's expected to miss at least one more week with a fractured right foot.

McAvoy paces all rookie defensemen with 32 points in 59 games and trails only Torey Krug in scoring among Bruins defenders.

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The Washington Capitals took the Toronto Maple Leafs to school Saturday night.

The Capitals steamrolled the Maple Leafs 5-2 in a Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and, to Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, his team sure didn't look its age.

Related: Capitals remain undefeated in outdoor games with win over Maple Leafs

"They look at us and they still think we're kids," Babcock said. "It looked like we were kids here tonight. I thought they smacked us around and forechecked us. I didn't think we executed at all, I didn't think we played fast."

The Maple Leafs' dismal display means the team will practice tomorrow in Buffalo despite a late flight, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.

Related: Capitals score 5 goals to chase Maple Leafs' Andersen

"Obviously, we've got to regroup," said Babcock. "We'll be practicing tomorrow. The work we didn't put in today we'll be putting in tomorrow and get back on track here."

The Maple Leafs face the Sabres on Monday, when they'll look to halt a three-game losing streak.

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The Washington Capitals might want to consider playing outdoors permanently.

With a commanding 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Saturday night's Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Capitals improved to 3-0-0 all time in outdoor games.

Saturday's game was the Capitals' first outdoor contest since the 2015 Winter Classic, where they topped the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 at Nationals Park in Washington.

In their only other outdoor game, the Capitals edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

As for the Maple Leafs, the loss on Saturday was their first in an outdoor game after two wins against the Detroit Red Wings during the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium and last season at the Centennial Classic at BMO Field in Toronto.

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With five goals on 25 shots Saturday, the Washington Capitals forced the Toronto Maple Leafs to mercilessly pull goaltender Frederik Andersen.

The Capitals took a 3-1 lead in the first period, but the Maple Leafs got to within a goal early in the second on a seeing-eye shot from Nazem Kadri. However, the Capitals answered back with tallies from John Carlson and Jakub Vrana for a 5-2 advantage, after which Andersen was pulled in favor for Curtis McElhinney.

It marked the first time Andersen has been pulled from a game this season, outside of an injury, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

Offensively, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Carlson each contributed three points, tied for the most in an outdoor game.

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Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy left Saturday's game in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury and is not likely to return, the team announced.

McAvoy left the game just 37 seconds in after appearing to be tripped by Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.

An injury of any severity would be a big blow to the Bruins as the 20-year-old sits second in team scoring among defensemen with 32 points in 58 games.

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NHL general managers really flexed their creative muscles ahead of this year's deadline and pulled off some elaborate deals.

Related: Ranking the 5 biggest deadline deals

In the days leading up to the deadline, the league saw two three-team trades and on more than a handful of occasions, salary was retained on players who were traded.

The salary cap has forced teams to get creative and at no time was that more apparent than over the last couple days. Of course, while players will always be at the forefront of all moves made on trade deadline day, don't forget the other big motivator ... the money.

Good trades come in threes

When it comes to pulling off a blockbuster trade, things are no longer as easy as they once were. With draft picks at a premium and the salary cap being what it is, it's not always possible for a single club to provide all the assets needed to get it done. So, when that's the case, you need to call on your friends.

The three-way deal between the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche in November in which Matt Duchene was dealt to the Senators and Kyle Turris went to the Preds seemed to motivate other general managers to get in on that action.

On Feb. 23rd, the Senators pulled off their second such trade of the season, involving the Vegas Golden Knights in a deal that saw Derick Brassard shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Then, on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Predators pulled off a trade that moved Pontus Aberg to the Oilers and Mark Letestu to Columbus.

While the second deal was fairly straightforward, the first included eight different pieces, including players, prospects, picks, and even some salary retention on Brassard.

Money was tight in Pittsburgh and the Golden Knights - with all the cap space in the world - ultimately got in on the action to retain 40 percent of Brassard's salary. The Penguins likely couldn't have made this deal without the Knights' involvement.

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford called the trade the most complex deal of his career, but they could become the norm as cap-stricken teams look for ways to balance the books.

Salary retention, no problem

NHL clubs appear to be in the giving mood these days.

If there is one trend we saw more than any other during this deadline, it was that teams don't mind eating salary if it means getting more value in a trade.

In the four days leading up Monday's 3:00 p.m. ET deadline, five players had salary retained by their former club.

* = Brassard traded from Senators to Golden Knights, from Golden Knights to Penguins.

In each deal, it seems, in retaining salary, the receiving club was able to get something more from their counterparts. In all four trades above (Nash and Beleskey were included in the same deal), three included a first-round pick and the other - the Plekanec trade - included a second-round pick.

With Nash, Plekanec, and Stastny on expiring contracts, the salary retention is not a long-term endeavor, so the retaining teams aren't handcuffed going forward. In the end, it comes down to the old adage: "help me help you."

Rangers free up a pretty penny in McDonagh deal

Three weeks ago, the Rangers brass warned fans the team could be parting with many fan favorites, and after the dust settled on Monday night, the Rangers had given up just Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller after trading away Nash and Michael Grabner days earlier.

In dealing the two to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a giant five-player, two-pick deal, the club freed up over $5.5 million in cap space, giving it a cushion of $14 million.

The space means very little now as New York looks to be trending toward a potential lottery pick with its poor play of late, but it sets the Rangers up nicely to potentially be active in free agency.

The team should have roughly $25 million in cap space going into next season and that number could go up if it looks to sell off further pieces at the draft.

Related: A look at each team's stockpile of picks ahead of June's NHL draft

All in all, Jim Gorton has done well to kick the club's rebuild into overdrive.

(Salary cap information courtesy: Cap Friendly)

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Patrick Maroon from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

In return, the Oilers acquired a third-round pick in 2019 and a prospect, according to Friedman.

Maroon's production has dropped after he put up 27 goals and 42 points last season. In 57 games, he's tallied 14 goals and 30 points.

The 29-year-old adds depth to the Devils' left side after the team picked up Michael Grabner from the New York Rangers last week.

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