NHL's Hart Trophy: Picking a winner is no easy task

The NHL has been rolling out the names of finalists for various awards all week and they have literally saved the best for last as the three candidates for the Hart Trophy are to be named Saturday.

Here's a quick look at a few names worthy of consideration as the "player judged most valuable to his team."

Patrick Kane

In what seems like a declaration best left for Captain Obvious, the Chicago Blackhawks forward will likely headline the list of finalists. 

His achievements in 2015-16 include notching a league-best 106 points and setting a franchise record with a 26-game points streak. 

He was also a huge catalyst in Chicago stringing together 12 wins in a row from Dec. 29 to Jan. 19. 

Braden Holtby

A nod is certainly due Braden Holtby, who patrols the crease for the Washington Capitals and just so happened to tie Martin Brodeur's record of 48 wins in a single season.

Holtby is also nominated for the Vezina Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, but will face some tough competition in the trio of categories. 

Alex Ovechkin

The Capitals forward is at least a flashy choice because he led the NHL with 50 goals and captained the league's best team.

Although it's easy to point to the fact Ovi also fired more pucks at the net that anyone else and is not even in the top 20 for shooting percentage, his knack for goal scoring was one of the key ingredients in Washington posting 120 points. 

Jamie Benn

The Dallas Stars forward may not be the likeliest of candidates, but also being a nominee for the Ted Lindsay Award, an acknowledgement of the "most outstanding player" by the players themselves, could help his cause. 

Even though Benn was a distant second to Kane in the scoring race with 89 points, he did help the Stars to a first-place finish in the Western Conference. 

Sidney Crosby 

Things were looking bleak for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins until a coaching change was made on Dec. 12.

The team — and especially Crosby — began trending upward from there as he went from all-star snub to finishing third in the points race with 85.

Just as important, Crosby and Co. pulled themselves back into contention and secured a playoff berth, despite Evgeni Malkin being limited to 57 games. 

Jaromir Jagr 

Of all the possible finalists, Jagr may have had the least to work with as far as his supporting cast with the Florida Panthers. But that might be the very definition of the Hart Trophy.

Jagr showed no signs of slowing down, even as his 44th birthday came and went in February. 

The forward appeared in 79 games for the Florida Panthers with a very respectable 27 goals and 39 assists. 

His veteran savvy and leadership are intangibles that helped Florida clinch the Atlantic Division and reach the playoffs for just the fifth time in franchise history.