Half-Season Awards: Hart Memorial

[Rowlet]

Hughes.

See the chart.

 

[M2Beezy]

Mcdavid or makar imo

 

[Coffee]

Hughes or Draisaitl

 

[FlappyGiraffe]

Voted Helle, he has as many shutouts as losses halfway through the season

 

[nowhereman]

Gotta go Hughes here. I don't think I've seen a defenseman who meant more to their respective team since peak Karlsson. Just an unbelievable talent.

 

[geebster]

If it's actually about most valuable player to their team then it's Hughes > Hellebuyck > the field. People who argue that Makar is comparable are missing out on watching a defenseman dictate games with possession while not having anyone on his level on his team. Everyone else I'd consider for a Hart has way more on their team going for them.

Draisaitl has a teammate producing at a higher rate than him, MacKinnon has Makar and Rantanen. Etc.

This award isn't about most valuable though. It's about the best story. And it also ignores goalies and defense largely because the Norris and Vezina exist. So in terms of who might actually win, I'd say Draisaitl right now and whomever has the most points, unless someone is close and has a lot more goals. The Rocket or Art Ross winner will get the Hart as per usual.

 

[PhilJets]

Hellybuyck

Just look at at is stats, advance stats, team stats (win lost record with and without him). How he comparing to the best of American goalies in the history. I understand the playoff is not there yet, but this is regular season MVP voting.

 

[McFlash97]

If it's actually about most valuable player to their team then it's Hughes > Hellebuyck > the field. People who argue that Makar is comparable are missing out on watching a defenseman dictate games with possession while not having anyone on his level on his team. Everyone else I'd consider for a Hart has way more on their team going for them.

Draisaitl has a teammate producing at a higher rate than him, MacKinnon has Makar and Rantanen. Etc.

This award isn't about most valuable though. It's about the best story. And it also ignores goalies and defense largely because the Norris and Vezina exist. So in terms of who might actually win, I'd say Draisaitl right now and whomever has the most points, unless someone is close and has a lot more goals. The Rocket or Art Ross winner will get the Hart as per usual.

The Hart isn't about being the most valuable player on your team, it's about being the most valuable player in the league. Hughes can lug the puck east to west all he wants , but on a team with Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Makar and McDavid, he will be sitting at the end of the bench. Draisaitl is leading the league in multiple selke categories as well as on pace to break the league record for most game winning goals, at a 62 goal pace along with close to a 130 point pace.

 

[BertMcDrai]

The Hart isn't about being the most valuable player on your team, it's about being the most valuable player in the league. Hughes can lug the puck east to west all he wants , but on a team with Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Makar and McDavid, he will be sitting at the end of the bench. Draisaitl is leading the league in multiple selke categories as well as on pace to break the league record for most game winning goals, at a 62 goal pace along with close to a 130 point pace.

Also leading the league in +/-.
Everybody knew he has the potential to be great two way player and this year he has transformed into one and that's with leading the league in goals and still with a good shot to leading in points.

 

[BertMcDrai]

I mean having your own teammate outproduce you but still winning the hart

Drai is out producing McD since Game 1...what are you talking about?

He is better in points, points per game (it's close), goals and +/- by a solar system distance.
He is leading the league in most of those categories too.
His two way play has been stellar this season and all this while being great on the dot and with lots of defensive zone starts (relative to all other offensive players)
As someone who has watched every game he is clearly the best of those two (this season).
And we are talking about being better than Connor f***ing McDavid who is one of the best to ever play.

 

[KCC]

Mcdavid or makar imo

Nah. Draisaitl has been better than him this year.

If it's actually about most valuable player to their team then it's Hughes > Hellebuyck > the field. People who argue that Makar is comparable are missing out on watching a defenseman dictate games with possession while not having anyone on his level on his team. Everyone else I'd consider for a Hart has way more on their team going for them.

Draisaitl has a teammate producing at a higher rate than him, MacKinnon has Makar and Rantanen. Etc.

This award isn't about most valuable though. It's about the best story. And it also ignores goalies and defense largely because the Norris and Vezina exist. So in terms of who might actually win, I'd say Draisaitl right now and whomever has the most points, unless someone is close and has a lot more goals. The Rocket or Art Ross winner will get the Hart as per usual.

False.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Homer voted Marner because, with Matthews out and Nylander doing his normal magic man thing, Marner has really carried the team the first half.

Otherwise I might go Hellebucyk or Drai.

 

[nowhereman]

The Hart isn't about being the most valuable player on your team, it's about being the most valuable player in the league. Hughes can lug the puck east to west all he wants , but on a team with Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Makar and McDavid, he will be sitting at the end of the bench. Draisaitl is leading the league in multiple selke categories as well as on pace to break the league record for most game winning goals, at a 62 goal pace along with close to a 130 point pace.

That is literally the definition of the Hart. Hughes is doing more with less than any other player in the league. Draisaitl may be on pace for 130 points but Hughes is on pace for a 100, where the next closest player may struggle to break 70 points, and tilts the ice like no other player in the league. And claiming that he'd be at the "end of the bench" in favor of Makar just proves you can't let reputation go. Hughes has been better than Makar these last two years and looks like he'll win back-to-back Norris Trophies for the first time since prime Lidstrom.

 

[McPoyle]

Hughes is on pace for a 100, where the next closest player may struggle to break 70 points, and tilts the ice like no other player in the league.

Ah, the Taylor Hall argument. Gotta love it.

 

[nowhereman]

Ah, the Taylor Hall argument. Gotta love it.

Uh, sure thing.

 

[crackdown44]

Voted Hughes based on definition of the award. It’s a stupid award though or at the very least, shouldn’t be considered the most important one like it is

 

[Wry n Ginger]

Accidentally voted Hughes. Meant to vote Hughes.

 

[geebster]

The Hart isn't about being the most valuable player on your team, it's about being the most valuable player in the league. Hughes can lug the puck east to west all he wants , but on a team with Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Makar and McDavid, he will be sitting at the end of the bench. Draisaitl is leading the league in multiple selke categories as well as on pace to break the league record for most game winning goals, at a 62 goal pace along with close to a 130 point pace.

I think it'd be super valuable for you to google the criteria for the Hart trophy. Not being snarky, you have a clear confusion that is easy to solve here.

To save you time this is off the NHL website:

"The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.""

This is why Makar is not in the Hart convo when he isn't even the most valuable player on his own team. Draisaitl has been the best forward but he has a teammate who produces basically at the same level. If Drai wasn't there McDavid is good enough to pick up the slack. Hughes is the entire Canucks team. Helle is irreplaceable to his team. By the definition of the award Hughes >> Draisaitl.

But as I said at the end of my comments... the league never votes on the Hart based on its criteria. The NHLPA votes based on the best story and heavily favours forwards. The rocket or art Ross winner will get it, while the Norris and Vezina winner will not. So Draisaitl is leading for the award right now, because they arent going to vote based on the actual criteria.