Who should have won the Hart in 2018?

[FrankSidebottom]

Taylor Hall

39G-54A-93P in 76GP, +14
The closest teammate (Hischier) with 52P
Team made the PO

Nathan MacKinnon

39G-58A-97P in 74GP, +11
Rantanen with 84P
Team made the PO

Anze Kopitar

35G-57A-92P in 82GP, +21 (won the Selke)
Brown with 61P
Team made the PO

Claude Giroux

34G-68A-102P in 82GP, +28
Voracek with 85P
Team made the PO

Connor McDavid

41G-67A-108P in 82GP, +20
Draisaitl with 70P
Team didn’t make the PO

 

[norrisnick]

My vote would have gone to Kopitar.

 

[dirtydanglez]

mcdavid keeps getting robbed.

 

[Video Nasty]

I would have given it to McDavid, playoffs or not, but I understand why there is a mental block when it comes to the value provided for a team that still finished 17 points out of a playoff spot. It’s really difficult to for most to see the difference between a possible last place in the league team and a 20th place team, so let’s move on from that. The other four all had really nice cases.

I’ve long defended Hall winning a close race against MacKinnon because the way their seasons ended were the exact opposite and it’s no one’s fault other than MacKinnon’s that he didn’t win it.

Hall helped lead the Devils to a 7-0-1 record in the final two weeks of the season and they nabbed the 8 seed. He scored 7 goals and had 15 points in those 8 games. People also tend to forget that from January 2nd through March 6th, he had a personal 26 game point streak where he scored 18 goals and had 38 points which had to have stayed fresh in the minds of the voters.

Meanwhile, the Avs went 3-5-1 and very nearly fell out of a playoff spot until securing it on the final day against the Blues. MacKinnon had 1 goal and 6 points in those 9 games. MacKinnon went goalless during the 9 games prior to the final game of the season where he scored in that win to help the Avs stave off getting eliminated.

There’s a difference in the mind of voters between a team getting hot to just sneak into the playoffs and a team playing lackluster and nearly missing a position they had held.

That’s just how a lot of the Hart races work. If there is not that obvious pick, it usually comes down to the final stretch of the season. Hall simply flipped a switch when the calendar turned to 2018 and his point streak paired with the final two weeks of opposite results compared to MacKinnon, was just enough to squeak out a close win.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

I think several players were worthy, Hall being among them.

I have no problem with awarding the Hart to Taylor Hall in 2018.

 

[NateTheGreat]

MacKinnon. It’s okay though, the only trophy he’s concerned with winning is the Stanley Cup.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Had no problem with Hall getting it. Would have liked to have seen Kopitar snag it personally

 

[bert]

Giroux should have got it.

 

[Video Nasty]

Giroux should have got it.

Definitely has his own valid case. Piled up 74 points over his final 55 games while the Flyers went 33-15-7. Was of course the runner up in the Art Ross race. Leapt over MacKinnon, Malkin, and Kucherov in the final week of the season in the process.

Also of note is that he potted 8 goals in the final 5 games as the Flyers went 4-1 and stayed ahead of the streaking Blue Jackets, Devils, and Panthers.

All these guys had really compelling cases, so it’s always been a little irksome when some just chalk it down to a screwjob.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

I voted for Giroux.

 

[Kairi Zaide]

Hall and Giroux pretty neck-and-neck to me.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I would have gone with McDavid.

But aside from him, I think there was a gaggle of about 9 players who could have won, including those listed in this poll and Giordano, Ovechkin, and Kane.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I would have given it to McDavid, playoffs or not, but I understand why there is a mental block when it comes to the value provided for a team that still finished 17 points out of a playoff spot. It’s really difficult to for most to see the difference between a possible last place in the league team and a 20th place team, so let’s move on from that. The other four all had really nice cases.

I’ve long defended Hall winning a close race against MacKinnon because the way their seasons ended were the exact opposite and it’s no one’s fault other than MacKinnon’s that he didn’t win it.

Hall helped lead the Devils to a 7-0-1 record in the final two weeks of the season and they nabbed the 8 seed. He scored 7 goals and had 15 points in those 8 games. People also tend to forget that from January 2nd through March 6th, he had a personal 26 game point streak where he scored 18 goals and had 38 points which had to have stayed fresh in the minds of the voters.

Meanwhile, the Avs went 3-5-1 and very nearly fell out of a playoff spot until securing it on the final day against the Blues. MacKinnon had 1 goal and 6 points in those 9 games. MacKinnon went goalless during the 9 games prior to the final game of the season where he scored in that win to help the Avs stave off getting eliminated.

There’s a difference in the mind of voters between a team getting hot to just sneak into the playoffs and a team playing lackluster and nearly missing a position they had held.

That’s just how a lot of the Hart races work. If there is not that obvious pick, it usually comes down to the final stretch of the season. Hall simply flipped a switch when the calendar turned to 2018 and his point streak paired with the final two weeks of opposite results compared to MacKinnon, was just enough to squeak out a close win.

This is exactly why he won, he went on that crazy hot streak and dragged NJ into the playoffs and the fact that he almost doubled the next highest scorer for NJ.

That being said, I said then I would have voted for MacKinnon and I still feel that was the correct choice.

 

[FrankSidebottom]

I would have gone with McDavid.

But aside from him, I think there was a gaggle of about 9 players who could have won, including those listed in this poll and Giordano, Ovechkin, and Kane.

They were pretty mediocre in 2018, you are confusing it with 2019. Outside of the listed, in 2018 a case (albeit pretty weaker) could be made for Kucherov, Malkin, Hedman, Ovechkin and Rinne.

 

[Midnight Judges]

They were pretty mediocre in 2018, you are confusing it with 2019. Outside of the listed, in 2018 a case (albeit pretty weaker) could be made for Kucherov, Malkin, Hedman, Ovechkin and Rinne.

Ah crap. You're right. I was looking at the wrong year.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Just a reminder how shitty those NJ teams were both before and after that single season by Hall. He instilled a confidence in the team that we could win any game.

 

[biturbo19]

Cory Schneider probably. The real linchpin of that Devils team that overachieved.

 

[Hynh]

Hall
93 points on 243 goals = 38.3%

McDavid
108 points on 229 goals = 47.2%

Hischier's low point total doesn't mean the Devils weren't scoring goals without Hall's help. And before you mention Hall missing games, in order for him to match McDavid's share he would have to score 22 more points in the 6 games he missed without NJ scoring a single extra goal because of his presence.

 

[centipede2233]

This comes down to perception. Hall having the greatest seperation over 2nd in points on his team while being white hot down the stretch is gonna win this hart race 10/10 times.

 

[Felidae]

I can understand why McDavid didn't win the Hart trophy. He lead the league in points and PPG, but not by a lot.

He had 6 more points than 2nd place, and that was Giroux, a noticeably better two way player.

Mackinnon virtually matched McDavid's PPG, but playing less games.

That being said, I still would have had him as a hart finalist over Hall or Mackinnon, alongside Kopitar and Giroux.

Kopitar or Giroux would have been my choice as Hart winner. I'm leaning towards Kopitar just because he was elite at both ends of the ice. Giroux was better offensively and while he's a very good two way player, I'm not sure he was "elite" defensively.

 

[bobholly39]

Kucherov. Most value provided to a team, easily. To this day I'm still shocked he gets almost no recognition for his 2017-2018 season.

Tampa surprisingly missed playoffs in 2016-2017. So at start of 2017-2018, Kucherov is on fire, as he and Tampa want in the playoffs.... He leads league in scoring most of the season, and helps catapult Tampa to very top of standings all year. Tampa goes from missing playoffs to winning conference.

Then - near very end of season - Kucherov takes the foot off the gas slightly, and a couple of people pass him in scoring racein the last ~2 weeks of season. People act like this is a negative - but to me this is 100% a positive. Kucherov didn't go "all out" in meaningless games in April - and instead entered the playoffs fresh and ready to compete. All others listed here disappointed in playoffs.

Giroux - 3 points, - 10 in 6 games. Philly out in round 1
Kopitar - 2 points in 4 games, shutout in 3 of 4 games, LA swept in round 1
MacKinnon - 6 points in 6 games - but only 1 in last 3 games - Col out in round 1
Hall - 6 points in 5 games - only 1 point in final 2 games - NJ out in round 1

Kucherov - 10 points in 5 games in round 1. 3 Game winners (including series clinching goal). Tampa makes it to round 3 game 7 and loses to eventual cup winners.

Something to be said about Kucherov making sure he'd enter playoffs fresh...he was tremendous in playoffs again.

As for McDavid - I seriously dislike this season for him. Edmonton enters season full of hope after making round 2 of playoffs year before....only to fall flat on their face all season long. And McDavid too....by all-star break in January - McDavid was 15th in points per game, and 10th in scoring...and Edmonton way out of playoffs. True he scored a ton of points in Feb/March/April and won the Ross - but this had no impact/value to his team who remained at bottom of standings. It would have been more valuable for him to score a lot at start of season and help Edmonton start strong and be in playoff race.

So - Kucherov was the most valuable player in 2017-2018 to me, and should have won the Hart. I'd have MacKinnon close at #2. I'd probably have Hall or Malkin round out the top 3.

 

[Albatros]

Hall deserved it, the Devils don't get anywhere near the playoffs without him. Everyone else had significantly more support.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Just a reminder how shitty those NJ teams were both before and after that single season by Hall. He instilled a confidence in the team that we could win any game.

I think that played a part in him winning as well. If NJ had made the playoffs for the third straight year, it works against Hall.

Buy Hall was the most valuable to his team. Him winning was deserved.

 

[bobholly39]

I would have given it to McDavid, playoffs or not, but I understand why there is a mental block when it comes to the value provided for a team that still finished 17 points out of a playoff spot. It’s really difficult to for most to see the difference between a possible last place in the league team and a 20th place team, so let’s move on from that. The other four all had really nice cases.

This was not a good season for McDavid (based on his own high standards) and quite low on value provided to team (again, based on his own high standards).

Edmonton had very high expectations going into this season. Year 3 of McDavid - fresh off a strong round 2 playoff run for Oilers - people expected them to do even more damage and maybe compete for cup...and they fell completely flat on their face the first half. And McDavid did too...

By the all-star break at the end of January - McDavid was 15th in points per game, and 10th in overall points in the league.

If McDavid had been scoring like crazy all year - and despite that his team was out of playoffs because it's just an overall weak/bad team - fine, you may have a point - maybe you could say McDavid raised his team from bottom feeder to ~20th and it had value. But as it is - McDavid had no business being so far back in the scoring race when his team desparately needed him to score more to win more games.

Do you want to talk Ted Lindsay trophy winner for best player that season? Sure - I'm fine with McDavid winning. But Hart is about value provided to team - and McDavid is definitely not #1 for this season.

 

[Albatros]

McDavid had 15+39=54 points in 49 games by the start of February when the Oilers were already out of the picture. He then went on a two-month personal scoring spree doubling his own totals while the team performed even worse than they had up until that point. His season had no league-leading value to his team, nowhere near that.