Crosby, Stamkos, Giordano early leaders in Hart Trophy discussion

[vicarious]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...id=DL|NHL|home

Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames – One of the biggest surprises in the League has been the Flames with 28 points in 22 games. But the play of Giordano should come as no surprise, because he's been trending towards elite defenseman status for quite some time. Giordano is the top scoring defenseman in the League with 23 points in 22 games. He has 70 points in 86 games since the start of last season, the second-highest points per game average for a defenseman over that span, behind only Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators. Giordano's impact on the Flames is massive as an elite possession-driver who logs big minutes in all situations.

[codynw]

Voracek?

Crosby isn't really playing like himself these past couple weeks, his point pace slowed down a ridiculous amount, while Voracek has been pretty consistent. It's between Voracek, Giordano and Stamkos for me right now. In that order.

edit: Just realized the Flyers aren't in a playoff position. Can't give it to Voracek if they don't make the playoffs, no matter how good he is individually.

[JJ1532]

Voracek? For what reason other than the fact he is putting up points? I'd say Gio is more important to the Flames than Voracek is to the Flyers. Gio not only puts up points, but he leads the team on and off the ice. He is the only one of 2 in our team currently who could play on our 1st defensive pair. He is not just a points scorer but an excellent defenseman as well. He is excellent in all aspects of his game and is vital to the future of our team.

I would make an argument that Giroux is as important(if not more) to the Flyers than Voracek is. I mean, his nomination last season for this award proved as much. Surely you can say that if the Flyers lost Voracek for say, 10 games, they would be able to get by on the production of Giroux and Simmons. If we lost Gio from our blue line for that period, I think things could easily fall apart.

I know I'm biased here, but I think when you take everything into consideration, Gio is an easy winner at this point.

[Stud_McCool]

I'd nominate Carey Price before Stamkos at this point.

[N-E-B]

The Penguins and Lightning without Crosby and Stamkos are still good teams.

The Flames without Giordano are not.

That should say it all.

[Ring of Fire]

Crosby-1st overall, Stamkos-1st overall, Giordano-undrafted

[djsFlames]

One is not like the others, and for that reason alone is the most deserving of the award to this point.

[devo22]

this one might go down as a "hater comment" (and probably deservedly so because it's true that I dislike the guy), but it always pisses me off when Crosby leads those kind of lists. Fantastic player, easily the best of the last 10 years and a "generational talent" (blech), but at the end of the day, we are talking about the Most Valuable Player. They have another world class center who, when Crosby went down injured, stepped up and scored 50 goals and 109 points just three years ago. And even if we are talking about pure offensive output, it's not like he's outscoring Malkin by a mile. Three points at the moment, same with Hornqvist. Maybe I'm just misinterpreting the award, but to me the Hart Trophy has always meant "which team had success because of that player and would go down the drain or lose a significant step if it wasn't for that guy?". To me, the answer to that question isn't "Pittsburgh and Crosby" so far this year.

\end rant. Glad that Gio is getting all the attention he deserves!

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Voracek? For what reason other than the fact he is putting up points? I'd say Gio is more important to the Flames than Voracek is to the Flyers. Gio not only puts up points, but he leads the team on and off the ice. He is the only one of 2 in our team currently who could play on our 1st defensive pair. He is not just a points scorer but an excellent defenseman as well. He is excellent in all aspects of his game and is vital to the future of our team.

I would make an argument that Giroux is as important(if not more) to the Flyers than Voracek is. I mean, his nomination last season for this award proved as much. Surely you can say that if the Flyers lost Voracek for say, 10 games, they would be able to get by on the production of Giroux and Simmons. If we lost Gio from our blue line for that period, I think things could easily fall apart.

I know I'm biased here, but I think when you take everything into consideration, Gio is an easy winner at this point.

I saw a stat last week that Voracek has a point in every single Flyer's game this year that the team has scored at least a goal. When he doesn't have a point they've been shut out (2 games).

[Weitz]

Gio is a defencemen, loses some votes on that I imagine. I have read a lot of the voters look down on Goalies/defenceman because they have their own award.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Gio is a defencemen, loses some votes on that I imagine. I have read a lot of the voters look down on Goalies/defenceman because they have their own award.

You could argue that the Maurice Richard and Art Ross trophies are for forwards, just don't tell Bobby Orr that. Forwards get the Selke as well.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Komskies

You could argue that the Maurice Richard and Art Ross trophies are for forwards, just doing tell Bobby Orr that. Forwards get the Selke as well.

Maybe the MVP should just be an MOP, to get rid of the "valuable" subjective business. And I've always wanted a defensive defenceman award. The Langway or something like that.

In a similar vein I've thought the Selke has turned from the "defensive forward" award into the "really good offensive forward who is also OK on defence" award. I used to like the checkers who obviously had skill but sacrificed stats to play guys like Gretzky into the ground.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Komskies

You could argue that the Maurice Richard and Art Ross trophies are for forwards, just don't tell Bobby Orr that. Forwards get the Selke as well.

I'm not saying its fair or that I agree, was simply pointing out how the voters vote according to an article I read.

I always think the Hart is a joke anyway. You have Crosby winning it yet when eh misses most of the year the Penguins still make the playoffs and do really well.

When was the last time it actually went to the most valuable player? Instead of the guy who scored the most points or blew everyone away with how many goals he scored?

[Zevo]

^ This year...

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

In a similar vein I've thought the Selke has turned from the "defensive forward" award into the "really good offensive forward who is also OK on defence and plays east of the Mississippi" award.

fyp

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by codynw

edit: Just realized the Flyers aren't in a playoff position. Can't give it to Voracek if they don't make the playoffs, no matter how good he is individually.

Iggy should have won the Hart the year that Jose Theodore won it even though the Flames missed the playoffs. A Montreal based writer left Iggy's name completely off his ballot.

/still bugs me

[Coach]

The fact that writers vote for the awards at all is stupid. The NHLPA should vote on every award.

The Ted Lindsay is higher regarded amongst players, but the media always makes a big stink about the Hart.

The Norris has a trend of being the most offensive defensemen and really flies in the face of the true nature of the award. I don't mind the defensive defenseman award, but I don't like it for two reasons: A) Perpetuates the first point. B) Is redundant. The award should go to the defenseman that best helps his team everywhere. Keith, Doughty, Chara (not so much anymore), Weber, Giordano. These guys do everything at a top level. Guys like Karlsson and Subban bother me when they get nominated, although Subban has been impressive SINCE winning I would say. Not that those guys aren't great players, they're just the best.

The Selke I think gets given to the proper player more often than not. It's almost always centreman as that's the nature of the position. I like the award as I have loads of respect for elite two-way players like Toews and Bergeron.

[Iggy Snipe]

If the Flames made the playoffs, and Gio finishes top amongst all defesenmen, I bet he has a real shot at the Hart trophy. Not to mention the Norris, but thats a given. The guy is the real deal this year.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The fact that writers vote for the awards at all is stupid. The NHLPA should vote on every award.

The Ted Lindsay is higher regarded amongst players, but the media always makes a big stink about the Hart.

The Norris has a trend of being the most offensive defensemen and really flies in the face of the true nature of the award. I don't mind the defensive defenseman award, but I don't like it for two reasons: A) Perpetuates the first point. B) Is redundant. The award should go to the defenseman that best helps his team everywhere. Keith, Doughty, Chara (not so much anymore), Weber, Giordano. These guys do everything at a top level. Guys like Karlsson and Subban bother me when they get nominated, although Subban has been impressive SINCE winning I would say. Not that those guys aren't great players, they're just the best.

The Selke I think gets given to the proper player more often than not. It's almost always centreman as that's the nature of the position. I like the award as I have loads of respect for elite two-way players like Toews and Bergeron.

While the writers are mostly stupid, so are the players. Not sure either group should be voting on anything.

I'd like to see coaches and GMs get a secret votes on all the awards, that I think would give you the best result. Coaches and GMs voting for the players they'd like to see on their roster if they had a choice.

[locsofblu]

Flames have to make playoffs for Gio to get the nod I think.