Eklund: Hart Finalists Announced, Buzzcast at 3:30

Such a close race between Kucherov and MacKinnon, both are equally as important to their respective teams success. MacKinnon will probably win.

I think Kucherov should win. While MacKinnon probably had the best season, if using the definition of the award as most valuable to their team, Kucherov is the most important. COL is a playoff team without MacKinnon. Not sure TBL is a playoff team without Kucherov.

LOL..I wonder if Leaf fans are losing their shlt because matthews was not named a Hart finalist....

They really should amend the award and just award to the player with the most outstanding season. Every year its the same debate - MacKinnon had the better season, but Kucherov was more valuable to his team because of the weaker supporting cast. Half of the people voting likely don't even see this nuance and are just picking whoever had the most outstanding season.

I mean the fact that MacKinnon is in the top 3 proves that. Take him away and the Avs still make the playoffs. Take Dylan Larkin out of Detroit and do they tie for 8th or finish 20 points lower? Swap Hellebuyck for an average goalie - do the Jets even make the playoffs. Those players are more valuable to their team than MacKinnon was to the loaded Avs. Since nobody actually adheres to the definition then just amend it.

Oh no, Not our coach.
Thank you sweet baby Jesus!

They really should amend the award and just award to the player with the most outstanding season. Every year its the same debate - MacKinnon had the better season, but Kucherov was more valuable to his team because of the weaker supporting cast. Half of the people voting likely don't even see this nuance and are just picking whoever had the most outstanding season.

I mean the fact that MacKinnon is in the top 3 proves that. Take him away and the Avs still make the playoffs. Take Dylan Larkin out of Detroit and do they tie for 8th or finish 20 points lower? Swap Hellebuyck for an average goalie - do the Jets even make the playoffs. Those players are more valuable to their team than MacKinnon was to the loaded Avs. Since nobody actually adheres to the definition then just amend it.
- Cooleus

I think it was Wayne Gretzky who said that Arturs Irbe should have won the Hart in 1993-94 by the definition of the award.

They really should amend the award and just award to the player with the most outstanding season. Every year its the same debate - MacKinnon had the better season, but Kucherov was more valuable to his team because of the weaker supporting cast. Half of the people voting likely don't even see this nuance and are just picking whoever had the most outstanding season.

I mean the fact that MacKinnon is in the top 3 proves that. Take him away and the Avs still make the playoffs. Take Dylan Larkin out of Detroit and do they tie for 8th or finish 20 points lower? Swap Hellebuyck for an average goalie - do the Jets even make the playoffs. Those players are more valuable to their team than MacKinnon was to the loaded Avs. Since nobody actually adheres to the definition then just amend it.
- Cooleus

Dylan Larkins 69 points would be a reaaaal dark horse for the Hart.

If you swapped Mackinnon and Larkin. Detroit would be a hell of a lot more dangerous.

How stupid are the Sens Green is a retread loser WOW

Dylan Larkins 69 points would be a reaaaal dark horse for the Hart.
- Mahewman

Again, he won't get any votes, because the voters essentially are looking at who had the most outstanding season. And then if they are close on two candidates, then they'll solve the tie by looking at who did this with the weaker supporting cast. Nobody will vote for Larkin. But based on the actual definition of the award, Wings would be in the lotto without Larkin. I mean he got hurt down the stretch and they lost almost every game without him. The Avs could lose MacKinnon for a month and not miss a beat. If the Oilers miss McDavid for a month they have a strong enough team to hang in there.

How stupid are the Sens Green is a retread loser WOW
- broncohorvath

Green has had 1 permanent head coaching job in the NHL. Hardly a retread.

Again, he won't get any votes, because the voters essentially are looking at who had the most outstanding season. And then if they are close on two candidates, then they'll solve the tie by looking at who did this with the weaker supporting cast. Nobody will vote for Larkin. But based on the actual definition of the award, Wings would be in the lotto without Larkin. I mean he got hurt down the stretch and they lost almost every game without him. The Avs could lose MacKinnon for a month and not miss a beat. If the Oilers miss McDavid for a month they have a strong enough team to hang in there.
- Cooleus

He won't get any votes because he is not more valuable to the Red Wings than either of the three players nominated. Those franchises have all gone all in to build those teams around them because of how valuable they are.

If Detroit had any of the three, they wouldn't be slow playing the rebuild. Thus those players are more valuable to their teams.

You don't win rewards because you missed 15 games and your team wasn't very good when you were out. They weren't very good with him in it either.

LOL..I wonder if Leaf fans are losing their shlt because matthews was not named a Hart finalist....
- TheFreak

Nope. Looks like you’re the only to mention it

He won't get any votes because he is not more valuable to the Red Wings than either of the three players nominated. Those franchises have all gone all in to build those teams around them because of how valuable they are.

If Detroit had any of the three, they wouldn't be slow playing the rebuild. Thus those players are more valuable to their teams.

You don't win rewards because you missed 15 games and your team wasn't very good when you were out. They weren't very good with him in it either.
- Mahewman

Yeah the Oilers were awful when McDavid was out and also while he was playing injured.

apparently they actually couldn't get anyone else to commit to come and coach the team

LOL..I wonder if Leaf fans are losing their shlt because matthews was not named a Hart finalist....
- TheFreak

They're dead. Who gives a flying poop?

Green.

Green has had 1 permanent head coaching job in the NHL. Hardly a retread.
- Only_A_Ladd

And he was fucking awful.

Again, he won't get any votes, because the voters essentially are looking at who had the most outstanding season. And then if they are close on two candidates, then they'll solve the tie by looking at who did this with the weaker supporting cast. Nobody will vote for Larkin. But based on the actual definition of the award, Wings would be in the lotto without Larkin. I mean he got hurt down the stretch and they lost almost every game without him. The Avs could lose MacKinnon for a month and not miss a beat. If the Oilers miss McDavid for a month they have a strong enough team to hang in there.
- Cooleus

The inference is that among those who had the most outstanding and noteworthy seasons, who was the most valuable? One could make the argument that voting, historically, also shows an accounting of who among the season’s elite standouts, who was the most valuable to the league, not only to their team.