Hart Trophy Talk: MacKinnon, Malkin, Kucherov the Early Favorites, Scoring at Highest Rates By Far.

[txpd]

I know its not popular, but considering the offense they lost in the off season and predictions that they would fall from the list of contenders. Considering that many of the team's core producers on offense and in the net have floundered. The Capitals are about to win another division title. Alex Ovechkin leads the league in % of team goals scored. His assist rate is higher than in recent seasons.

Like I said. Ov is old news. Leave him with another Rocket Richard Trophy and move on. But I think if we are talking MVP, I think there is a fair case for 8

 

[John Pedro]

I'd give it to McDavid... dude is so much better than the rest that team success gotta be taken with a grain of salt in his case. It's like Trout in the MLB, not his fault his teammates suck.

 

[sr edler]

Oprah would get everyone a Hart.

 

[Treent1]

Mcdavid started to rack up points when Edmonton was comfortable out of the PO's position. He's not MVP.

 

[CanadienShark]

Hmm I swear Colorado fans were saying it was highly improbable that Mackinnon doesn't continue scoring 2.00PPG down the stretch they just "couldn't see why he wouldn't". 3 points in 5 games since then.

The hype train was going full steam ahead. There is no player in the league where we should say it's likely they continue a 2.0 points per game pace.

 

[likid]

I'm gonna leave this here...


Also Kopitar at 88 is up on Doughty by 33 points

Would also add this:

 

[likid]

Question for McDavid fans.

How many points did he score after the Oilers were practically out of play-off picture? I believe much more than before, when Oilers games mean something...

I'm not even sure when they were out of play-off picture...

 

[Laineux]

I'm not even sure when they were out of play-off picture...

They've been out of realistic playoff picture since game #20 I'd say. McDavid had 25 points in the first 20 games.

 

[StoneHands]

This is my prediction.

1. MacK (Drops to 3rd if the Avs miss the playoffs)
2. Kopitar
3. Kucherov
4. Malkin
5. McDavid
6. Giroux
7. Hall

 

[McBaevid]

K u c h

Nah he hasn't been an MVP player since January and he shouldn't get it based on his supporting class alone.

 

[PuckInTheNards]

I've watched a lot of hockey this year. The three players I've seen who have the biggest impact on their team are McKinnon, McDavid and Josi. Josi's on the best team in the West - yes, he has a great supporting cast but he's outright dominant. If I had a vote, Josi would be my Hart winner. (Also, f*** the Preds).

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Nah he hasn't been an MVP player since January and he shouldn't get it based on his supporting class alone.

What? Being the best player on a top team while being tops in the scoring race among players on NHL teams (sorry McDad) should at least get you close.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Losing the Hart?
Was it his to lose?
Being ice cold going into the playoffs usually ends quickly.

As your boy Crawford said. " playoff slumps don't last long"

 

[Eltuna]

Whole team is really snake bitten right now. 5 goals in their last 4 games while generating 30 shots a game and having a decent amount of great scoring chances. Unfortunately running into some hot goaltenders. If the avs miss the playoffs I’m really not sure who will win the Hart, as open a year as I can remember.

 

[TGWL]

Mcdavid started to rack up points when Edmonton was comfortable out of the PO's position. He's not MVP.

His 25 in the first 20 games was also "when they were comfortably out of the PO's", right? I'm using the first 20 as an example, it goes on through-out the entire year. Don't act like he didn't put up any points until his team was out of the Playoffs for good.

 

[Cup or Bust]

Mcdavid started to rack up points when Edmonton was comfortable out of the PO's position. He's not MVP.

McDavid has been on pace for around 100 points for most of the season, where have you been. I don't think he should win the Hart, but not based on inaccurate nonsense you just posted.

 

[TonyTinglebone]

Ah.

That is funny.

For the less historically-inclined, here are some examples of Hart winners/Norris winners on the same teams:

1956 - Jean Beliveau / Doug Harvey
1961 - Bernie Geoffrion / Doug Harvey
1965 - Bobby Hull / Pierre Pilote
1969 - Phil Esposito / Bobby Orr
1974 - Phil Esposito / Bobby Orr
1977 - Guy Lafleur / Larry Robinson
1979 - Bryan Trottier / Denis Potvin
1985 - Wayne Gretzky / Paul Coffey
1986 - Wayne Gretzky / Paul Coffey
1992 - Mark Messier / Brian Leetch

But I note that it hasn't happened (I think) since 1992, which explains why the younger crowd thinks it's strange.

If you include the years the Norris and Hart went to the same person then 2000 is the most recent

 

[McFlyingV]

Question for McDavid fans.

How many points did he score after the Oilers were practically out of play-off picture? I believe much more than before, when Oilers games mean something...

I'm not even sure when they were out of play-off picture...

"Games mean nothing" is the the weakest argument I've ever seen on this site. It has no evidence to support it that games are easier when your team isn't in the playoff race, and even thinking just rationally it doesn't make a ton of sense when you consider that the majority of the teams you play will be teams in a playoff spot, or teams just outside of a playoff spot. Even the notion that there is less pressure on a player is a little farfetched. These guys are professional athletes, they deal with pressure everyday regardless of situation.

Be better.

 

[blinds]

I don't really see an argument for Malkin over Kucherov. I personally like Kopitar at this point but it would be unusual for someone outside the top 5 in scoring to win the Hart. I really don't see Hall in the discussion at all, he's far and away the best player on his team, but he's just not scoring enough overall and doesn't bring much else to the game like Kopitar does.

Sucks to see MacKinnon slipping with the Avs here at the end, although they still have games against LA, STL and ANA so their fate is still in their hands.

 

[snag]

"Games mean nothing" is the the weakest argument I've ever seen on this site. It has no evidence to support it that games are easier when your team isn't in the playoff race, and even thinking just rationally it doesn't make a ton of sense when you consider that the majority of the teams you play will be teams in a playoff spot, or teams just outside of a playoff spot. Even the notion that there is less pressure on a player is a little farfetched. These guys are professional athletes, they deal with pressure everyday regardless of situation.

Be better.

People always look for reasons to detract in other to boost their own ego and worth (in this case, it is ingrained in their fandom). Even if it means they have to resort being completely full of shit.

 

[alg363636]

It should be McDavid. It's dumb that your team needs to make the playoffs.

He is clearly more important to his team than any other player is to their team and he is clearly the most valuable player in the league.

With the exception of maybe Draisatl his team isn't just bad, it's a disgrace. Putting up the numbers he is while surrounded by such an intense dumpster fire is remarkable. Of course his team isn't making the playoffs. Hockey is a team sport and unfortunately for the Oilers there need to be 5 other players on the ice.

 

[oXo Cube]

Question for McDavid fans.

How many points did he score after the Oilers were practically out of play-off picture? I believe much more than before, when Oilers games mean something...

I'm not even sure when they were out of play-off picture...

Well, we were out of the playoff picture on November 1st, so almost all of them I guess?

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

This is my prediction.

1. MacK (Drops to 3rd if the Avs miss the playoffs)
2. Kopitar
3. Kucherov
4. Malkin
5. McDavid
6. Giroux
7. Hall

McDavid is leading the scoring race with 6 points, and if you don't want to go with the #2 team member Kucherov (literally all of the scoring, defense, goaltending support you can have), he's leading by 9. That's a hefty difference. He could be knocking on 110 by the season's end, easily. He's the MVP of the league and deserves at least a Hart finalist nod. I just can't see how Malkin is ahead of him in this season at all.

 

[thistleswamp]

The trophy should go to the player most "valuable" to his team. Obviously points are extremely valuable, and if that's your criteria it's 100% McDavid. He's got the most points. In terms of importance to his team, McDavid again is the runaway. What are the Oilers without McDavid? They're not great with him, they're an AHL squad without him.
He's playing the 4th most minutes amongst all centres (behind Kopitar, Barkov and Couturier).
He kills penalties, playing around 1 minute SH / Game. Kopitar and Barkov play more SH. Kucherov has 16min total, Malkin has 4min.
McDavid also plays about 30 - 50 seconds less PP time per game than Malkin and Kucherov. He's not getting those prime point scoring minutes that those guys are.
He's drawing penalties at the same rate as Malkin, but taking a quarter as many for himself, and takes half as many as Kucherov.

The answer is McDavid, there's no argument here. put it to bed.

 

[Seanaconda]

Kopitar or hall will prob win if they make the playoffs. Then a toss up of marchand kuch malkin ovie and mcdavid .


If youre picking a guy on a team that misses its mcdavids but several guys have a case that will make it.