I think there's a couple way voters vote. It's the same dimwits who voted in Ovechkin twice into the end year All-Star roster, so even then it might be being generous to say they have some criteria.
Best player: Easy enough, usually forward bias. Kucherov should be a lock for this vote, but I think McDavid does have a bit of a leg up on Gaudreau here. (Kucherov, McDavid, Gaudreau)
Best player on playoff team: Kucherov again should take this. Crosby's certainly always a threat. Gaudreau though gets second place with Rantanen, Mackinnon splitting votes hurts them and gets more complicated if they miss. (Kucherov, Gaudreau, Crosby)
Most valuable player: This is where it gets complicated. McDavid is probably the most valuable to his team because they are so thin. Kucherov has Point, Stamkos, Hedman. Gaudreau has Giordano, Monahan, Tkachuk and Lindholm. It's arguable if Gaudreau is even the most valuable player for the team. I think I would be more afraid of losing Giordano down the stretch (knock on wood).Chicago's just so far down that Kane can't be all that valuable right now. (McDavid, Gibson, Aho)
Most valuable player on playoff team: Maybe some room to argue for Barzal or Burns as their teams would be outside of the playoffs without them. But I think Ovechkin is actually probably the most valuable player to a playoff team. Double the goals of anyone else on his team (Ovechkin, Kucherov, Gaudreau?)
Favourite team's best player: Hard to argue there isn't some bias by the media. This is where Marner, Tavares and Matthews might get a leg up. (Giordano, Gaudreau, Monahan)
An NHL player the voter has heard for: This is for the people who don't even know what position Ovechkin was playing. These voters will vote based on name recognition so (Crosby, Ovechkin, Lemieux)
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