NHL Awards Watch: The MVP race is heating up

The NHL Awards Watch for January shows that the MVP race is tightening up, with several contenders emerging. The Hart Trophy race is now a crowded field, with Kirill Kaprizov, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Nikita Kucherov and Mitch Marner all in the mix.

Kaprizov, the Minnesota Wild star, has been the front-runner for much of the season, but his recent injury has opened the door for others. MacKinnon, the Colorado Avalanche star, has been on a tear in December, and he's now right behind Kaprizov in the MVP race. Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers star, has been leading the NHL in goals, and he's also in the mix for the MVP award.

Eichel, the Vegas Golden Knights star, has been the best player on the best team in the NHL this season. He's been a consistent offensive force, and he's also been a strong defensive player. Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks star, has been the best player on a struggling Canucks team. He's been a dominant offensive force, and he's also been a strong defensive player.

Kucherov, the Tampa Bay Lightning star, has been leading the Lightning in scoring all season. He's been a consistent offensive force, and he's also been a strong defensive player. Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs star, has been holding down the fort while Auston Matthews has been out with an injury. He's been a consistent offensive force, and he's also been a strong defensive player.

The MVP race is now a crowded field, and it's going to be an exciting race to the finish. It's anyone's guess who will win the Hart Trophy this season, but it's sure to be a close race.