AM34 running away with the Hart

[2014olympicgold]

I think MacKinnon threw his privates on the table last night with that performance. But Matthews is now 13g up on 2nd place for goals, but by the end of the yr, Mac might be 2nd in goals lol.

The only way Matthews has a chance though is if he puts up 20g more than 2nd place. Meaning he'd need 9g in his final 4games. Which is hilarious that he can physically do it because he's already done it this yr (Feb 15-21)

[SeaDawg]

Regardless of which player eventually wins the Hart trophy, it's been a terrific year for hockey...

- two players neck and neck for the scoring title this late in the season
- two players with over 140 pts (by season's end)
- three players with over 130 pts (by season's end)
- four players with over 120 pts (by season's end)
- one player with over 70 goals (by season's end)
- 10 players with over 100 pts (by season's end)
- 4 players with over 50 goals (and possibly up to 6 by season's end)
- 5 dmen with over 80 pts (by season's end)

It's been an awesome season without even mentioning the heroic performances of Ovechkin and Crosby.

[dejeanneret]

Regardless of which player eventually wins the Hart trophy, it's been a terrific year for hockey...

- two players neck and neck for the scoring title this late in the season
- two players with over 140 pts (by season's end)
- three players with over 130 pts (by season's end)
- four players with over 120 pts (by season's end)
- one player with over 70 goals (by season's end)
- 10 players with over 100 pts (by season's end)
- 4 players with over 50 goals (and possibly up to 6 by season's end)
- 5 dmen with over 80 pts (by season's end)

It's been an awesome season without even mentioning the heroic performances of Ovechkin and Crosby.

Really a terrific season to be a fan. When all is said and done though, I'd really be surprised if Kucherov doesn't win the Hart.

Not to detract from MacKinnon and other potential finalists, but the extent to which Kuch is outperforming and dragging along his teammates is pretty ludicrous. Always hard to argue the point as fact, but I can see worlds in which the Avs, Leafs and even the Oilers have success this season if the MacKinnon, Matthews and McDavid were to miss a chunk of time. This iteration of the Lightning, with a bit of a down year from Vas, would be dead in the water without Kucherov.

Not to say he'll necessarily win it because the voters do odd things sometimes, but Kuch not winning the Hart this year would be robbery in my opinion.

[RizzeeDizzee]

If Kucherov hadn't already won one, I think he'd be the favorite. But since he already has, plus doesn't play in a hockey hotbed, and the voters being able to give it to a more "face of the NHL" type of player who also happens to be North American, he's screwed.

[SeaDawg]

I think Kucherov should win it (I can't stand the guy but I'd vote for him if I had a vote), but I can see a case being made for MacKinnon, Matthews, or even Q. Hughes. I certainly don't think Kucherov is a lock for the Hart.

[Invictus]

Regardless of which player eventually wins the Hart trophy, it's been a terrific year for hockey...

- two players neck and neck for the scoring title this late in the season
- two players with over 140 pts (by season's end)
- three players with over 130 pts (by season's end)
- four players with over 120 pts (by season's end)
- one player with over 70 goals (by season's end)
- 10 players with over 100 pts (by season's end)
- 4 players with over 50 goals (and possibly up to 6 by season's end)
- 5 dmen with over 80 pts (by season's end)

It's been an awesome season without even mentioning the heroic performances of Ovechkin and Crosby.

Ovi with 18 seasons of 30+ goals

[SeaDawg]

Ovi with 18 seasons of 30+ goals

yeah, I mentioned at the end of my list Ovechkin and Crosby's seasons...Ovechkin's accomplishments this year have been well-followed, justifiably so. What he did in the second half is age-defying. Crosby being a PPG player for 17 straight seasons this year was also an historic accomplishment, putting in mildly.

[Invictus]

If Kucherov can hit 100 assists MVP is his.

First time that’s accomplished by winger paired with the point gap between him and the next on his team.
Kuch is such a gamer, too bad he’s also a douche…

Just wait till playoffs when he turns it up a few notches.

[rataylor22]

yeah, I mentioned at the end of my list Ovechkin and Crosby's seasons...Ovechkin's accomplishments this year have been well-followed, justifiably so. What he did in the second half is age-defying. Crosby being a PPG player for 17 straight seasons this year was also an historic accomplishment, putting in mildly.

19 straight season actually. Can break the record if he does it next year. I certainly wouldn't bet against him.

[blayze]

After hitting 50+ goals the other night, I think Mack has it locked unless AM hits 70

[SeaDawg]

19 straight season actually. Can break the record if he does it next year. I certainly wouldn't bet against him.

ah, my bad...I was going by memory.

Would certainly be pretty cool imo to have Crosby break that record in the same year Ovechkin breaks the all-time goals record.

[Canucks_fan18]

If Kucherov can hit 100 assists MVP is his.

First time that’s accomplished by winger paired with the point gap between him and the next on his team.
Kuch is such a gamer, too bad he’s also a douche…

Just wait till playoffs when he turns it up a few notches.

Nobody's talking about Kuch having the chance for 100 assists but McDavid is getting hype like crazy. If he gets 100 assists and wins the scoring title, it would be just peer bias if Mack wins it.

[Pengwin7]

For me, the Hart is MacKinnon.
He's just been truly exceptional this year.
The points & plus/minus & team records are all there with other centers (McDavid and Matthews)... but MacKinnon is just... the most complete... this year... yes, he is.
MacKinnon is logging an extra minute, minute-half more per game than the other guys.
The team is really leaning hard on him. COL doesn't have a fallback C2 to take care of things in key late-game moments... and he's eating those minutes.
[I don't take anything AWAY from McDavid & Matthews to have Cs that can spot-shiftbreak them... but I do give extra props to MacKinnon for needing to play more and doing it WELL.]
That may not show up statistically... but watching late-game COL... it's just all MacKinnon. 'get back out there, son... we need you'. OK. OK coach.
I'd bet he's leading NHL-teamshare% of "last 3 minutes of game + OT".
And I'd bet he has best production in those minutes too.
One source listing clutch goals (not full-tell... but some tell):
https://morehockeystats.com/players/...oogle_vignette


1. MacKinnon
2. McDavid
...
3. Matthews
4. Kucherov (for me, wing is just "too easy" compared to center. You are going to need to outscore and out +/- the other guys by... at least... 10%... to make up for the two-way defensive responsibility of NHL center).


[by the way... don't read the dots wrong. MacKinnon is having a 99/100 type year... McDavid 98.5/100... Matthews 97, Kucherov 97/100... absolutely incredible years by all four guys. They are all HART-worthy spotted into other seasons.]


For clarity - for me - I'm grading the Hart as simply "best player".
I don't care what the text definition is... everybody knows this is award is supposed to be "best player in the NHL this year".
[NHL really needs to scrub that whole "to his team" from the definition... psh.]

[Invictus]

Nobody's talking about Kuch having the chance for 100 assists but McDavid is getting hype like crazy. If he gets 100 assists and wins the scoring title, it would be just peer bias if Mack wins it.

4 games to get 4 assists.

In his last 4 games he's gotten 3 assists in each game except for one game he got only 2.

[Invictus]

I'd bet he's leading NHL-teamshare% of "last 3 minutes of game + OT".
And I'd bet he has best production in those minutes too.
One source listing clutch goals (not full-tell... but some tell):
https://morehockeystats.com/players/...oogle_vignette

Thanks for link.
I was going to say it would be awesome to see those clutch minute stats, and then it looked like you updated your response with the link.

Interesting to see Aho leading the way.