I don't think it's easily anyone tbh. McDavid/Matthews/Gaudreau all have strong cases, either guy can win it and not surprise me.
NHL.com Trophy Tracker - Hart Trophy
- Thread starter koyvoo
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Duffalufagus
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- Jan 4, 2017
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Whisky’s already done it. In multiple threads. The only thing Huberdeau is leading Gaudreau in this year is secondary assists. Johnny has him beat in every meaningful statistical category and is having a historic 5v5 season.
Huberdeau is also a borderline liability defensively. As Dom at the Athletic showed a couple weeks back in an exhaustive piece.
I’m prepared to consider the case for Huberdeau. No one seems willing to try and make it though.
Albus Dumbledore
Master of Death
- Mar 28, 2015
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I think u mistook my stance. After quick consideration I have Johnny ahead. I just think Huberdeau has a better narrative.
Connor McConnor
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I got AM leading but McDavid could catch him down the stretch. Great season from Auston, I have no problems with him winning.
One great season doesnt mean = McDavid though lets not get this twisted (referring to the other thread).
One great season doesnt mean = McDavid though lets not get this twisted (referring to the other thread).
Matthews has been amazing but he has zero legitiamte claim to the Hart as of now. If he goes on a big tear and finishes top 2-3 in scoring with a big goal total he deserves some 3rd place votes. Toronoto media is op tho.
You just don't win the Hart as the 5th leading scorer in the league.
You just don't win the Hart as the 5th leading scorer in the league.
are you high?
Eternal Leaf
Registered User
NHL Leaders - Points per Game | NBCSports
Matthews missed 5 games and sits second in the league in points per game. He's just another hater ignoring the slightest bit of context.
Shesty has taken a big step back and Matthews and Josi have taken big steps forward.
Right now the three candidates should be Matthews, Josi, and McDavid.
At this very moment I would have Matthews narrowly winning it.
Right now the three candidates should be Matthews, Josi, and McDavid.
At this very moment I would have Matthews narrowly winning it.
McDavid, Matthews and Josi seem to be the really likely guys. Probably comes down to who its the major milestones: 60 goals in a season for Matthews is a once in a decade accomplishment in the NHL nowadays. Josi cracking 100 points as a defenseman would be massive, as this hasn't been done in thirty years. McDavid likely wins the Art Ross again, and despite voter fatigue and not likely to hit a once-in-a-decade or more record his generally bonkers numbers will give him a shot as well.
- Jan 23, 2017
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What a crazy Hart race. Josi could be the first defenseman since the 90s to hit 100 points while Matthews will be the first to hit 60 in a decade. Had Shesterkin kept a .940 form throughout the season that would've been one hell of a final 3.
Divine
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Shesterkin's chances are also hurt by the fact he played such few games. People act like he played 65+ games like everyone else.
He's played 47 games so far, might finish with around 50-55? How can you be the most valuable player in the league playing that few games. You would never see a forward or defenceman win it with that few games, despite how well they played.
For reference, previous goalies who won the Hart:
Price 2015-2015: 66GP .933 save percentage
Hasek 1997-1998: 72GP .932 save percentage
Hasek 1996-1997: 67GP .930 save percentage
So if he can get to 65ish games, with a .930+ save %, that's typically the kind of season a goalie needs to win the Hart.
Rangers only got 10 games left though. So if he played them all, the max he can get is 57 games. Most likely finishes 52-53, which is too few to win the Hart even for a goalie.
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The Panther
Registered User
Mark Messier won the Hart in 1992, with 97% of the 1st place votes, and was fifth in scoring.
Taylor Hall won the Hart in 2018, finishing sixth in scoring.
I mentioned the Hall season where he solo carried the Devils by 2x closest teammate but Messier is a solid shout I guess touche.
The Panther
Registered User
We know Gaudreau (ES points and plus/minus leader, top team) and Matthews (goals leaders, most-ever by a US/Leafs' player) and Josi (record points for D on his club and any D in recent years) are going to set certain standards that give them Hart trophy chances. My question is: What does Connor McDavid have to do to sway enough voters his way?
Edmonton is currently (with 10 games remaining) the hottest team in the League with six straight wins, McDavid has 10 points over those six wins, and he has scored at least a goal in each (the longest Oilers' goals streak, incidentally, since Jimmy Carson in 1988-89!). He also has 29 points in the past 15 games (and is +10 over that period).
Barring another huge game from Huberdeau, McDavid is likely to win the Art Ross again.
But of course he's starting to compete with himself, esp. after last season. So, I think the Oilers need to keep winning most of the games and McDavid needs to keep getting around 2 points per game down the stretch. It's kind of not fair, but that's how it is.
The one point in his his favor, maybe, is that while his standards are higher than most, he's also a favorite choice. Like, if voters had to nominate their top three, most would have him one or two or three. So, he may yet win the Hart by voters being divided among the four or five strong candidates.
Edmonton is currently (with 10 games remaining) the hottest team in the League with six straight wins, McDavid has 10 points over those six wins, and he has scored at least a goal in each (the longest Oilers' goals streak, incidentally, since Jimmy Carson in 1988-89!). He also has 29 points in the past 15 games (and is +10 over that period).
Barring another huge game from Huberdeau, McDavid is likely to win the Art Ross again.
But of course he's starting to compete with himself, esp. after last season. So, I think the Oilers need to keep winning most of the games and McDavid needs to keep getting around 2 points per game down the stretch. It's kind of not fair, but that's how it is.
The one point in his his favor, maybe, is that while his standards are higher than most, he's also a favorite choice. Like, if voters had to nominate their top three, most would have him one or two or three. So, he may yet win the Hart by voters being divided among the four or five strong candidates.
The point in Mcdavid's favor is that he is the leading scorer in the NHL. It's a pretty good one imo.
Divine
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Matthews scored more PPG (and obviously goals) than Gaudreau, people just forget he missed games to wrist surgery/suspension. Also how is Calgary considered a top team, but not Toronto who's even higher up in the standings?
McDavid's problem is his team has had a disappointing season. Hart is usually an overachieving award. You drag a bad team to the playoffs, or your drag a good team to the top of the league. The Oilers aren't even top 10 in the NHL, and his PPG isn't running away with it either like he does some seasons.
He's at 1.52 PPG
Matthews is at 1.47PPG (2nd) but Matthews has 56G in 66 games, which I would say is more impressive than the scoring difference.
Josi, the same. Lack of team success and a lot harder for a defencemen to get it. He picks up a lot of assists but Karlsson was over PPG, Brent Burns was over a PPG, Mike Green was over a PPG and scored 31 goals in 68 games and none of them got close to the Hart.
Even Lidstrom never won the Hart, so it would have to be more than points. It would have to be arguably the best offensive and defensive D man dominating the league, probably being physical too. The last defenceman to win the Hart was Pronger and Bobby Orr before that.
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The Panther
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I mention Calgary as a top team because they're far better than they were last season, which surprises several observers. No one expected them to do this well, especially when the coach was fired. And Gaudreau is clearly their top skater this season. By contrast, the Leafs are certainly having a fine season, but they're just doing about as well as expected.
Not sure why you think the Oilers are having a "disappointing season"...?
Divine
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Oilers are 12th in the NHL in the weakest division. I wouldn't call that a good season, 16 teams make the playoffs.
They were not even a playoff team until San Jose gift wrapped them Evander Kane for 2M, I don't know how McDavid gets credit for that.
The Panther
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Divine
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Well, when you got no counter argument.. you can always attack the poster to detract from the argument.
Someone doesn't agree with me, therefore they got no credability. I won't say why though, except they disagree with me and my views are a fact of law. How does that usually work for you?
Chet Manley
Registered User
Win the Art Ross? Make the playoffs? Not named Jaromir? Congratulations you have won the Hart Trophy.
We had a flow chart before that predicted every Hart winner for the last while. Could somebody link it? Just curious.
