Eastern Bias exists - No Gaudreau for Hart

[OptimalTates]

If it's most valuable to his team, I think Shesterkin (look at Georgiev's stats) and McDavid (two person team) are clearly much more valuable. As is someone like Kaprizov. Probably so are the likes of Josi/Saros because they took the Predators to the playoffs kicking and screaming (and without Saros got predictably annihilated in four).

If it's best player, McDavid still has an edge. It's no disrespect to Gaudreau to say that the first overall, "generational talent", 12.5M (sweetheart deal ;P) player whose finished at worse 2nd place in each season's scoring race in the last six seasons is better. It's crazy that he's even in conversation. Similarly, it's not an insult to say someone like Matthews who 60 goals in 73 games, including a 51 in 50 stretch, is better. I'd even say that Makar is probably the biggest 'victim' by this criteria as he's making a case for best player in the league after his regular season performance (which was then somehow dwarfed by his start in the post-season).

[Strange Brew]

Probably the second time he finishes fourth. If you only look at offensive numbers, I don't know that McDavid's eight extra points trumps all the other categories that Gaudreau beats him in.

Great season for 13 and this doesn't diminish it any.


If everyone throws their sticks into a pile at centre ice and you're picking players for a must win game, at what point do you pick Gaudreau? Not sure i really know the answer to that, but probably not first.

[Ashasx]

McDavid is a generational offensive talent. His impact on the ice is cratered defensively.

[Matata]

Hopefully eastern bias at least gives it to Matthew's

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Probably the second time he finishes fourth. If you only look at offensive numbers, I don't know that McDavid's eight extra points trumps all the other categories that Gaudreau beats him in.

Great season for 13 and this doesn't diminish it any.


If everyone throws their sticks into a pile at centre ice and you're picking players for a must win game, at what point do you pick Gaudreau? Not sure i really know the answer to that, but probably not first.

Crazy that he'll finish 4th in voting (though wouldn't be surprised if he is completely absent off of some Edmonton media lists) when he was so much better this season than 18/19.

[OutOfTheCube]

I know everyone here is salty but really, has the Art Ross winner ever not been nominated for the Hart? I know they don’t win every time but it’s pretty much a shoe in nomination.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

McDavid is a generational offensive talent. His impact on the ice is cratered defensively.

Johnny is the much more complete player. His point totals are astounding when you consider his ice-time and defensive role this year.

McDavid's point total is actually kinda disappointing for a guy who is a generational offensive talent and doesn't backcheck or play any semblance of defense. I think lots of writers are lazy and Art Ross = auto Hart.

Johnny is the real MVP.

[CroFlames]

Finalists does not equal nominee.

The voting is already done, and these three names were the top three. The winner is already known.

Just friendly PSA.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

If it's most valuable to his team, I think Shesterkin (look at Georgiev's stats) and McDavid (two person team) are clearly much more valuable. As is someone like Kaprizov. Probably so are the likes of Josi/Saros because they took the Predators to the playoffs kicking and screaming (and without Saros got predictably annihilated in four).

If it's best player, McDavid still has an edge. It's no disrespect to Gaudreau to say that the first overall, "generational talent", 12.5M (sweetheart deal ;P) player whose finished at worse 2nd place in each season's scoring race in the last six seasons is better. It's crazy that he's even in conversation. Similarly, it's not an insult to say someone like Matthews who 60 goals in 73 games, including a 51 in 50 stretch, is better. I'd even say that Makar is probably the biggest 'victim' by this criteria as he's making a case for best player in the league after his regular season performance (which was then somehow dwarfed by his start in the post-season).

Shesterkin has some historic numbers so I understand his inclusion but McDavid's season wasn't special in any way outside of the fact he won the scoring race based on a lot of powerplay points. What Gaudreau did 5 on 5 this season hasn't been done for 30 years by anyone. That said adding Hart Trophy recognition to Gaudreau would do nothing but push up his already increasing price for his next contract as look at all the rope Taylor Hall got for that one season.

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How you can tell journalists simply look at the points leaders and then vote.

McDavid? Lol.

I can’t think of a single reason why someone would have voted for McDavid over Gaudreau.

Are you a secret Oiler fan?! You really think Gaudreau is more important to the Flames than McDavid is to the Oilers?

That only works if you believe that Tkachuk and Lindholm are fourth line bums that Gaudreau elevated to first line players à la Thornton or Crosby. Otherwise, as any true Flames fan would proudly proclaim, the Oilers are absolutely terrible without McDavid.

Remove Gaudreau from the Flames, yeah they probably don't make the playoffs but this year they're probably still fighting down to the wire against Vegas and the Kings. Remove McDavid from the Oilers, they're probably also still fighting down to the wire for a playoff spot....against the Gulls and Roadrunners.

[Northendzone]

No Huberberdeau (sp?) either.

one would think that matthews and shes have the inside track given thier markets.

seems to me that it was a tough year to narrow the list down to 3

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Crazy that he'll finish 4th in voting (though wouldn't be surprised if he is completely absent off of some Edmonton media lists) when he was so much better this season than 18/19.

Has that been confirmed? I wouldn't be shocked if he fell further than that as I have a feeling Oilers media may have not even put him on their ballots.

[kobasew19]

Whatever, Gaudreau will just win the Conn Smythe instead.

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

one would think that matthews and shes have the inside track given thier markets.

Remember we are talking about the same professional writing association that didn't know what position Ovechkin played when they voted him into the all-star team twice.

Half of them probably go so far as clicking on this page: https://www.nhl.com/stats/

And voting Hart, Norris and Calder based on who's faces showed up (during the regular season).

[kipperiggy]

There's already an award for the goalies, vote for Shesterkin there. Lame that Huberdeau or Gaudreau didn't get the third spot. They must be 4 and 5 and then maybe Kaprizov too?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

No Huberberdeau (sp?) either.

one would think that matthews and shes have the inside track given thier markets.

seems to me that it was a tough year to narrow the list down to 3

You can argue he got snubbed but he's down on goals scored and he was 2nd line center on a team that scored an awful lot of goals may have led voters to come to the conclusion he was a cog in the wheel more than some other players.

[stemit14]

You would think that the purpose of having the sports writers vote on this is that they would approach it with a deeper knowledge of the game. But that doesn’t seem so.

Look at McDavid for example. McDavid plays an extra 3-4 minutes a night more than other forwards in the scoring race. A lot of that extra time is on the powerplay. Now imagine if you took those minutes away. Would he still win the scoring title? I don’t think so. If he doesn’t win the scoring title, is he a top 3 candidate for the hart trophy? Again, I don’t think so.

Whatever. Johnny has bigger trophies to focus on right now. Hopefully McDavid is out of the playoffs by the end of today, wins the Hart trophy and then demands a trade out of Edmonton.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by kobasew19

Whatever, Gaudreau will just win the Conn Smythe instead.

^ it'll have to be Markstrom

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I know everyone here is salty but really, has the Art Ross winner ever not been nominated for the Hart? I know they don’t win every time but it’s pretty much a shoe in nomination.

It's true, but I really wish the Hart and Art Ross weren't so intertwined.

In a year such as this points alone shouldn't be a factor in voting for MVP.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Josi could have been there too.
I'm more upset that McDavid is a fanilist than Gaudreau isn't.

Wouldn't complain if I saw Josi, Huberdeau or even Kaprisov on the list, just no Oilers.