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Hart and Calder Trophy railing, Talbot trying to save UAH hockey program

May 28, 2020, 11:04 AM ET [115 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Tilting at windmills. The below tweets and ensuing argument is most certainly tilting at windmills, cognizant we have way more important topics on which to be concerned. But with the regular season now officially over, we are in award season.

The Hart Trophy is awarded to the player judged most valuable to his team in the NHL as selected in a Professional Hockey Writers Association poll. Per the current version of the poll, Artemi Panarin is fifth, sitting four points behind Connor McDavid. Maybe Panarin's case has been hurt by Mika Zibanejad's fine campaign, and maybe I am being xenophobic, but having watched Panarin day-in and day-out, hard not to see how he isn't at least third.

Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon both have had brilliant campaigns. MacKinnon maybe even better than Draisaitl because of all the injuries suffered by Colorado, but I completely understand why Draisaitl would win the award. That said, Panarin led the league in even strength points and would have had 100 points if the season was completed. He at times, especially when Zib was out, helped carry a "rebuilding" team. If that doesn't warrant at least one first place vote and top-three finish, unsure what does, and this is not demeaning David Pastrnak, who was brilliant in his own right. Just highlighting how good the Russian Rockette was.




If the above didn't get your blood boiling, just wait until the Calder Trophy. Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar should finish 1-2. But Adam Fox should get more consideration for the third place. Fox is third among rookies in assists, tied for fourth in points, first in plus-minus while filling a top-four role on the Rangers' blueline and playing in all 70 games.




Cam Talbot is trying to save the University of Alabama-Huntsville hockey program. The pandemic has resulted in the shuttering of sports at several colleges. UAH is no different. But Talbot, the former UAH and Rangers goalie, is at the forefront of trying to raise $1 million, with the university agreeing to form an advisory board to help keep the program alive if that figure is met.



As a heads up, I am out of pocket beginning tonight to Saturday night. If any new information breaks, I will grab it when I return. But at least we have something tangible to discuss with more to come in the future.

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