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LAS VEGAS -- Connor McDavid leads a three-player race for the Hart Trophy in a preseason poll of his peers.

The Edmonton Oilers center was selected as the favorite to win the 2022-23 regular-season award given to the most valuable player. Seventeen of the 49 players who were polled selected him first.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews , who won the Hart last season, received 10 votes, as did Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar , who won the Norris Trophy last season voted as best defenseman.

McDavid has won the Hart twice (2017, 2021). He is the odds-on favorite to win it a third time this season. McDavid was also the favorite in the NHL.com Trophy Tracker voting to start the season.

"[McDavid] does it every night," Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle said. "I think he's too good for the League."

Since the start of the 2018-19 season, McDavid leads the NHL with 441 points (152 goals, 289 assists) in 278 regular-season games. Teammate Leon Draisaitl (409) is the only other player to top 400 points in that span.

Video: Auston Matthews at No. 3 on NHL Network's countdown

"I think just the impact he has on that team, I feel like he's been carrying that team now for a long period of time," Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm said. "It's impressive what he does year after year after year."

Despite that dominance, Matthews won the Hart last season when he became the first NHL player to score at least 60 goals since Steven Stamkos scored 60 in 2011-12. Matthews had 60 goals and 106 points.

Those who compete against Matthews believe he may only be scratching the surface and could reach 60 again this season.

"As a goalie, I think he's the most scary player to play against and he's going to be the one, whatever the goal per season records are, he's going to keep chasing those and I think it'll be him," said Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars.

Said Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann : "He's just such a consistent goal-scorer and he makes it look so easy. He's a great player. I think Toronto's going to be a good team this year, so he's got a good chance of getting it. I 100 percent think he can get 60. I don't know. I think he can get 70. He's got that much ability. I think he could do it."

Video: Connor McDavid at No. 1 on NHL Network's countdown

Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets and Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres were the last players to score at 70 goals in one season (76 each in 1992-93).

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski believes 60 goals might be a baseline at this point for Matthews. The 25-year-old forward starts his seventh season on a team many believe is a contender for the Stanley Cup.

"I feel like there's another level he can even get to," Werenski said. "Every time he's on the ice, you feel like he's going to score, and a year older, a Maple Leafs team a year older, I just feel like he's going to be in that 60 ballpark again this year."

Makar is a dark horse after a season when he had 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) in 77 games and won the Norris Trophy in a virtual dead heat with Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators in the voting (1,631 voting points to 1,606).

Video: Cale Makar at No. 2 on NHL Network's countdown

Makar finished eighth in Hart voting.

Many believe Makar is a legit contender for the MVP crown this year, including McDavid.

"It`s just because how good he is," McDavid said.

If Makar were to win the Hart, he would be the first defenseman to do so since Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues in 2000.

"He is so good, so talented and just learning more and more each year with his experience," Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said. "And, obviously, he's got great accolades already. But I think he's just touching the limits of what he's capable to do."

It was a steep drop-off in support after the top three. Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mitchell Marner of the Maple Leafs and Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche each received two votes.

Six other players, forwards Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, 1, Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, and defensemen Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Josi each received one.

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