Best player in the world: 2016

[Midnight Judges]

Sidney Crosby then won the Conn Smythe. Yes - it's not the greatest statistical conn smythe run ever, but he was absolutely instrumental in getting his team to turn their season around/make playoffs/win cup.

Actually it's quite possibly the worst and most undeserved Conn Smythe in all of hockey history.

No other player has won that award as a minus player let alone on a paltry 65 point / 21 goal pace while another player was on a 34 goal / 103 point pace while also contributing far more defensively than Crosby did.

And if they did it would be because they contribute a lot defensively - which Sidney Crosby absolutely doesn't.

One of the Canadian voters claimed on TSN that Crosby deserved it in part because of his penalty killing duties. Crosby flat out didn't kill penalties in the playoffs that year.

The voters simply wanted to give the award to Crosby.

Sidney Crosby was absolutely NOT instrumental in that cup win. Against the Capitals - the toughest series they played - Crosby was a complete passenger with a .33 PPG and a 0.00 GPG and zero primary points despite playing top line minutes and taking tons of offensive zone starts.

 

[bobholly39]

Actually it's quite possibly the worst and most undeserved Conn Smythe in all of hockey history.

No other player has won that award as a minus player let alone on a paltry 65 point / 21 goal pace while another player was on a 34 goal / 103 point pace while also contributing far more defensively than Crosby did.

And if they did it would be because they contribute a lot defensively - which Sidney Crosby absolutely doesn't.

One of the Canadian voters claimed on TSN that Crosby deserved it in part because of his penalty killing duties. Crosby flat out didn't kill penalties in the playoffs that year.

The voters simply wanted to give the award to Crosby.

Sidney Crosby was absolutely NOT instrumental in that cup win. Against the Capitals - the toughest series they played - Crosby was a complete passenger with a .33 PPG and a 0.00 GPG and zero primary points despite playing top line minutes and taking tons of offensive zone starts.

To the bolded. Never in history....or maybe it sounds like a very close parallel to the other playing getting votes in this poll.

Kane Smythe in 2013. 19 points in 23 games (same as Crosby, but in 24 games), vs Krejci 26 points in 22 games (97 point pace).

The reality is - Conn Smythe goes to the best/most valuable player on the cup winning team. Couture wasn't going to win the smythe in 2016 - you really need to get over that.

Did repuation/name recognition help Crosby win the smythe over some of his other teammates who could have been deserving in 2016 (Letang, Kessel, Murray)? Yes, it did. Still a great run where he was clearly one of a few players who could have won the smythe.

Did reputation/name recognition help Kane win the smythe over some of his other teammates who could have been deserving in 2013 (Crawford, Keith, etc)? Yes, it did. Still a great run where he was clearly one of a few players who could have won the smythe.

You probably should have picked a better thread to bring up those same old tired Crosby arguments you make in every thread.

 

[Beau Knows]

Can't go wrong with either Crosby or Kane here.

 

[Albatros]

You can argue about Kane, but Crosby doesn't have a case against Karlsson at this point. Three more points as a forward against a defenseman.

 

[WarriorofTime]

even that was a pretty weak conn smythe performance and arguably undeserved.

I have to see any convincing argument that it was anything other than a legacy award because they didn't know at the time the Pens would repeat the following year.

How many of those writers that have a ballot are based in or around the Golden Horseshoe? No way those guys were gonna vote Phil Kessel for Conn Smythe after they chased him out of town and deemed the Leafs bad teams to be his personal moral failing.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Sidney Crosby had an absolutely abysmal start to the season. People were questioning if he was "done". That lasted about 5 weeks - or 18 games.

In those 18 games - he had points in only 5 games. On November 17th, he was 179th in league scoring, and -8. Just a horrendous start.

So no - Sidney Crosby didn't have the best overall season. That would be Kane. But this is about best player, not best season.

He flipped a switch around mid November. From November 18th till end of season:

Crosby 76 points in 62 games, 34 goals + 27 (101 point pace)
Kane 78 points in 64 games, 33 goals, +3 (100 point pace)

Sidney Crosby then won the Conn Smythe. Yes - it's not the greatest statistical conn smythe run ever, but he was absolutely instrumental in getting his team to turn their season around/make playoffs/win cup.

Sidney Crosby was a better player than Patrick Kane in 2015-2016. He continued on that trend in the world cup that summer, and again the following year.

I think Carey Price deserves consideration. I voted for him last poll (close with Crosby), and good chance Price was still just as good/better going into this year, but he only got to play 12 games before a season ending injury, so a bit harder to gauge his level of play vs others.

Sounds like a Crosby simply had the better season. Breaking down the season in parts to help your argument and then mentioning how he did the following year makes no sense. Kane was consistent the entire year and out scored Crosby by a major amount, there’s a reason why he walked away with the awards while Crosby was getting carried in the playoffs.

Also, if you’re going to use the next year to justify your pick for this year, why can’t Kane get the same treatment for the year prior?(cup and tied playoff scoring)…he added a Hart, Lindsay, and Ross to that…but because Crosby PACED for one more point over 60ish games, he must definitely be the winner? Ridiculous.

And he didnt win the Cup or Conn Smythe. This non sense about him not deserving the Smythe is so revisionist. Why would a player with 3 more points throughout the playoffs, who played against teams bottom feeders be a more valuable player that year. Crazy.

I’ll take the guy who played the tough match ups vs the mickey mouse ones.

getting the tougher match ups, yet not doing anything with them and being out played by numerous teammates….

 

[J bo Jeans]

Sounds like a Crosby simply had the better season. Breaking down the season in parts to help your argument and then mentioning how he did the following year makes no sense. Kane was consistent the entire year and out scored Crosby by a major amount, there’s a reason why he walked away with the awards while Crosby was getting carried in the playoffs.

Also, if you’re going to use the next year to justify your pick for this year, why can’t Kane get the same treatment for the year prior?(cup and smythe)…he added a Hart, Lindsay, and Ross to that…but because Crosby PACED for one more point over 60ish games, he must definitely be the winner? Ridiculous.

getting the tougher match ups, yet not doing anything with them and being out played by numerous teammates….

Flyers fan figures. And it was liked by a Caps fan. Flyers fan and caps fan dont like Crosby. 1 + 1 = 2

 

[GreatGonzo]

Flyers fan figures. And it was liked by a Caps fan. Flyers fan and caps fan dont like Crosby. 1 + 1 = 2

Not a flyers fan, but nice try either way, I love it when people call out fan bases when they have nothing better to contribute. Go touch some grass or something.

 

[bobholly39]

Sounds like a Crosby simply had the better season. Breaking down the season in parts to help your argument and then mentioning how he did the following year makes no sense. Kane was consistent the entire year and out scored Crosby by a major amount, there’s a reason why he walked away with the awards while Crosby was getting carried in the playoffs.

Also, if you’re going to use the next year to justify your pick for this year, why can’t Kane get the same treatment for the year prior?(cup and smythe)…he added a Hart, Lindsay, and Ross to that…but because Crosby PACED for one more point over 60ish games, he must definitely be the winner? Ridiculous.

getting the tougher match ups, yet not doing anything with them and being out played by numerous teammates….

Patrick Kane didn't win the Conn Smythe the year prior - he won it in 2013 (3 years prior).

Also - Crosby didn't have the better season, obviously, Kane did - I was saying Crosby is best player, Kane best season . Is your post full of typos, or am I somehow misunderstand what you're saying?

Also - I wasn't suggesting Crosby was necessarily much better than Kane those 60 games - I'm saying they played at a similar level, and Crosby was better in the playoffs, better the year before, better later that 2016 summer in the world cup and throughout 2016-2017 season...so all in all, it comes out to Crosby being called the best player this year. But it is close.

 

[J bo Jeans]

Not a flyers fan, but nice try either way, I love it when people call out fan bases when they have nothing better to contribute. Go touch some grass or something.

you have nearly 9000 posts telling me to touch grass... LOL too funny

 

[wetcoast]

To the bolded. Never in history....or maybe it sounds like a very close parallel to the other playing getting votes in this poll.

Kane Smythe in 2013. 19 points in 23 games (same as Crosby, but in 24 games), vs Krejci 26 points in 22 games (97 point pace).

The reality is - Conn Smythe goes to the best/most valuable player on the cup winning team. Couture wasn't going to win the smythe in 2016 - you really need to get over that.

Did repuation/name recognition help Crosby win the smythe over some of his other teammates who could have been deserving in 2016 (Letang, Kessel, Murray)? Yes, it did. Still a great run where he was clearly one of a few players who could have won the smythe.

Did reputation/name recognition help Kane win the smythe over some of his other teammates who could have been deserving in 2013 (Crawford, Keith, etc)? Yes, it did. Still a great run where he was clearly one of a few players who could have won the smythe.

You probably should have picked a better thread to bring up those same old tired Crosby arguments you make in every thread.

This dribble that you trot out is just a bad look.

Justin Williams and Butch Goring were much worse relative to other team mates and then the same argument disappears for you when you talk about the 18 Conn Smythe winner.

Sounds more like a specific agenda than an actual point of intelligent discussion.

 

[Voight]

Its quite easily Kane.

- Art Ross/Hart/Lindsay sweep.
- Won the scoring title with a 17 point margin. Was 5 goals behind Ovechkin for league lead in goals. 3rd in assists behind Thornton & Karlsson.
- 26 game point streak (16 G 14 A). Only players with longer streaks - Gretzky x4, Lemieux x 2, Coffey, Lafleur & Sundin.
- Beat Crosby for the Hart by a massive margin.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Kane was a monster from 2016-2022
He outscored Crosby in 5 of those 7 seasons. (they tied in 2017)

 

[Voight]

I have to see any convincing argument that it was anything other than a legacy award because they didn't know at the time the Pens would repeat the following year.

How many of those writers that have a ballot are based in or around the Golden Horseshoe? No way those guys were gonna vote Phil Kessel for Conn Smythe after they chased him out of town and deemed the Leafs bad teams to be his personal moral failing.

That had nothing to do with it.

It was more along the lines of Crosby not having a Smythe amongst his achievements and his pals in the media refusing to let their Golden Boy retire without one. They knew it would always be held against him and they weren't gonna let that happen to him.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Patrick Kane didn't win the Conn Smythe the year prior - he won it in 2013 (3 years prior).

Also - Crosby didn't have the better season, obviously, Kane did - I was saying Crosby is best player, Kane best season . Is your post full of typos, or am I somehow misunderstand what you're saying?

Also - I wasn't suggesting Crosby was necessarily much better than Kane those 60 games - I'm saying they played at a similar level, and Crosby was better in the playoffs, better the year before, better later that 2016 summer in the world cup and throughout 2016-2017 season...so all in all, it comes out to Crosby being called the best player this year. But it is close.

Even better, shouldn’t he get credit for something he did 3 years ago then?

That still makes zero sense. Crosbys still the best player despite not having the better season? Why? Because he’s Crosby? Because of what he did in 2014? What’s the reasoning and at what point do those two not have to equal eachother?

You clearly used that sample size to suggest Crosby was better. Close? Sure, he was a Hart nominee and finished within the top 5 scoring. He was indeed ONE of the best players that year. But your giving him the crown based on his reputation, not his play.

you have nearly 9000 posts telling me to touch grass... LOL too funny

Sounds like a personal problem then. Maybe get the hint?

 

[GreatGonzo]

Kane was a monster from 2016-2022
He outscored Crosby in 5 of those 7 seasons. (they tied in 2017)

This. People have been voting Crosby based on past and future achievements, then focus on playoffs when it’s convenient. Kane happened to peak around this time and it wasn’t like he had one huge year and followed it up with lesser ones. He was one of the top offensive talents In the league for years and one of the best playoff performers prior to that. Kane deserves to be called the best player this year, he earned it.

 

[Bouboumaster]

You Price fans are out to lunch if you think he wins the Hart over 106 point Kane. Kane lit the league on fire.

The year before, Price pretty much dominated the NHL, and was on his way to do the same again before he got hurt.

People who says that Price fans are out to lunch, are in fact, out to lunch

 

[Voight]

The year before, Price pretty much dominated the NHL, and was on his way to do the same again before he got hurt.

People who says that Price fans are out to lunch, are in fact, out to lunch

Price won the Hart/Pearson because it was one of the worst offensive seasons for forwards in years. If he replicates the exact same season in 2016, he definitely doesn't win the Hart or Pearson over Kane.

Goalies have had better seasons than prices 2015, they didn't win the Hart/Pearson because forwards had elite seasons and the Art Ross winner didn't have 89 points.

 

[ijuka]

This. People have been voting Crosby based on past and future achievements, then focus on playoffs when it’s convenient. Kane happened to peak around this time and it wasn’t like he had one huge year and followed it up with lesser ones. He was one of the top offensive talents In the league for years and one of the best playoff performers prior to that. Kane deserves to be called the best player this year, he earned it.

The focus on playoffs is also pretty funny, I mean, Crosby scored 19 points in 24 games and was -2. Sure, he won, but this hardly was some dominant performance. He got outplayed by Phil Kessel, who got robbed off the Conn-Smythe(Crosby had to get his career achievement, I guess).

Crosby also lost to Jamie Benn in the scoring race, just like the season before.

Thinking he was better than Kane this season is downright hilarious.

 

[GreatGonzo]

The focus on playoffs is also pretty funny, I mean, Crosby scored 19 points in 24 games and was -2. Sure, he won, but this hardly was some dominant performance. He got outplayed by Phil Kessel, who got robbed off the Conn-Smythe(Crosby had to get his career achievement, I guess).

Crosby also lost to Jamie Benn in the scoring race, just like the season before.

Thinking he was better than Kane this season is downright hilarious.

It’s the need to throw away context and look at it as, “a smythe is a smythe” and “a cup is a cup.” Crosby suddenly doesn’t need to dominate anymore in order to be the best and that seems really convenient.

 

[Voight]

The focus on playoffs is also pretty funny, I mean, Crosby scored 19 points in 24 games and was -2. Sure, he won, but this hardly was some dominant performance. He got outplayed by Phil Kessel, who got robbed off the Conn-Smythe(Crosby had to get his career achievement, I guess).

Crosby also lost to Jamie Benn in the scoring race, just like the season before.

Thinking he was better than Kane this season is downright hilarious.

What kills me is this happened when he was 27 & 28 years old. So you cant even use the excuse of him being past his prime. This is literally coming off a season where he won the scoring race by nearly 20 points.

 

[Mrb1p]

Still Price. He was even better than in 2015 10-2 to start the year and the Habs finished with 28-36-6. He was absolutely insane.

Kane makes it close though, and I understand why people wouldn't vote on a 12 games sample size, even if it's foolish as he was just as good the year prior and very close to the same level the year after.

I'd go overall Price, Kane and Crosby third.

 

[Albatros]

Still Price. He was even better than in 2015 10-2 to start the year and the Habs finished with 28-36-6. He was absolutely insane.

Whereby the team started to suck because of goalscoring rather than goaltending issues. Condon looked like a more than adequate replacement initially.

 

[Mrb1p]

Price won the Hart/Pearson because it was one of the worst offensive seasons for forwards in years. If he replicates the exact same season in 2016, he definitely doesn't win the Hart or Pearson over Kane.

Goalies have had better seasons than prices 2015, they didn't win the Hart/Pearson because forwards had elite seasons and the Art Ross winner didn't have 89 points.

This is quite ridiculous. No, goalies didn't have better seasons than Price who had arguably the best season ever in 2015, for a goaltender. It's a ridiculous premise that Price won "because" it was one of the worst offensive seasons. Price was the best player in the world for a 24-36 months period, thats it.

He gets the Hart for sure, as we can see how his team reacted to him missing 40ish games in 2015 2016, they went from the 9th best team in the league from the start of 2014-2015 to his injury in 2016 in winning % with .658 (2nd best in NHL over 187 games), while having the worst GF/GP of all teams in the top 9 and the 3rd worst PP% of all teams in the top 9 to a .400 winning percentage, right after his injury.

You really should put some respect on the talent you've witnessed, such fake news should just not be allowed. Either you have bad faith or you don't remember well, Ill give you the benefit of the doubt and tell you it's the 2nd part.


For comparisons sake: Kane missed games in both 2014 and 2015 and the blackhawks lost .020 points when he wasn't in the line-up. When from 76-35 to 19-14.

Whereby the team started to suck because of goalscoring rather than goaltending issues. Condon looked like a more than adequate replacement initially.

The team was completely transformed by the loss of Price. Not only did he inspire a lot of confidence in the way they played but also he was an integral part of the transition game and acted as the 3rd best transition defenseman for the Habs at that time.

 

[bobholly39]

Even better, shouldn’t he get credit for something he did 3 years ago then?

That still makes zero sense. Crosbys still the best player despite not having the better season? Why? Because he’s Crosby? Because of what he did in 2014? What’s the reasoning and at what point do those two not have to equal eachother?

You clearly used that sample size to suggest Crosby was better. Close? Sure, he was a Hart nominee and finished within the top 5 scoring. He was indeed ONE of the best players that year. But your giving him the crown based on his reputation, not his play.

Sounds like a personal problem then. Maybe get the hint?

So you want to vote Kane because of his smythe from 3 years ago? Your posts are getting more and more confusing in this thread. You initially suggested "Kane won Smythe in 2015".

Crosby had an unusually slow start for ~18 games, by far the worst stretch of his career and completely out of character for him - this costs him the "best season" acolade. But after he got over whatever caused it - he was just as good/better than Kane the remaining ~60-65 games. He was also clearly better in playoffs, with his smythe. Also, if you expand slightly past this season, Crosby continued to do better with the World Cup MVP a couple of months later. Crosby was also better the year before/after - it shows a trend in surrounding months that Crosby is simply a better player than Kane at this point, even though it's close.

I don't understand why people think these polls are about best season, vs best player. Here are best seasons:

2012 Malkin
2013 Crosby or Ovechkin
2014 Crosby
2015 Price
2016 Kane
2017 Crosby or McDavid

It's so obvious who best season is every year. What's there even to poll people about, outside of a few specific years that are close?

Best player is not best season. You have to actually utilize some brain cells and think a bit harder.