Why Macklin Celebrini isn't a Hart Trophy finalist despite historic season for Sharks

The easiest speculation has to do with the fact that the Sharks didn't make the playoffs, and some voters could've punished Celebrini for that.

Beyond that, the numbers certainly don't work too heavily against Celebrini.

He had the third-most points in a season ever at age 19 in the NHL, with his 115 points trailing just Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby in that category.

He also had a hugely compelling case as most valuable, because the second-most points put up by a Sharks player was the 59 that Will Smith had. Celebrini had nearly double that.

Maybe this is also a case of voters figuring that Celebrini has plenty more time to work his way up these ballots in the future, but that would be a pretty lame way to make this decision.

Celebrini's season was special regardless, but maybe he could've used a bit more recognition than this lack of a finalist spot will provide.

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