[News] Hart finalists: Crosby, Ovechkin, Tavares

[Buff]

Who votes on the Hart?

If it is the media, then Ovechkin gets it. Ovie was all the rage with media peeps at the end of the season.

I'd like to see Crosby or Tavares get it. You can make a case for Crosby that it took nearly a month for anybody to catch him in scoring after he went out with the injury, and Kunitz's scoring pace took a dive during that time. However, the Pens still did well without Crosby. So, that is where you can make a case for Tavares, because he was THE guy on his team. Without him they don't make the playoffs... too bad Wang and Snow can't go (more) insane and trade JT to Calgary for Stajan, Nemisz, Jackman and a 5th.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Buff

Who votes on the Hart?

If it is the media, then Ovechkin gets it. Ovie was all the rage with media peeps at the end of the season.

Yep it's the writers. Strong end is always going to be more important than a strong start for the Hart and Ovechkin already has the buzz around him so I could see him winning it, but I hope it's Tavares.

[OILFAN #81]

My vote would go to Tavares. I think Ovechkin will win though.

[troutman]

Toews. Kane.

Eastern players' point totals are inflated by playing in a weak conference.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m NHL announces Crosby, Ovechkin and Tavares as Hart finalists

Friedman told Fan960 that he voted for Toews, but there are more eastern voters, and with no inter-conference play they simply did not pay enough attention to the West.

[dustygoon]

Maybe Katie Strang gets 20 votes

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

No Toews. What the? Is this a joke?

Eastern bias maybe.

Eastern bias for sure - Freedman acknowledged this this morning on 960. More eastern conference writers voting.

Toews should be in the mix- MVP on the team with the best record in the league. One could also argue that there are stronger teams in the western conference, and Toews stands out as the best player in the west. I'd still probably put Ovechkin and Crosby ahead, but with the two conferences not playing each other during the season there should have been at least one candidate from each conference.

[CGY12]

I would have included Kane in the 3. Not the popular choice for people but his contribution and dominant play this year I think deserved it.

[boogerz]

Tavares is the runaway winner.

Moulson and Boyes aren't first liners without him, and their line is the only scoring line the Isles have. Hard to argue against the guy who is legitmately, the only offensive catalyst on his team

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Best Player - Crosby
Most Valuable Player - Tavares

Hart gets messy but going with the true definition of most valuable player to his team, Tavares is easily my vote.

Agreed. That's why I think Crosby should win the Lindsay (for most OUTSTANDING player), and Tavares should win the Hart (for most valuable to his team).

Sadly, I think many of the voters will automatically think the Hart means best player. In fact, I don't even think Crosby should be a Hart nominee. The Pens have proven that they can win without him, so he doesn't really fit the definition of most valuable to his team. A player like Tavares does. If the Pens would have started losing without Crosby I could justify his nomination. But they kept rolling without him. Unfortunately, the Hart voters don't even abide by the very definition of what the Hart is for.

[Kaine]

Tavares should win this without a doubt. Ovie while he has an amazing stretch, he was not consistent enough from start to finish.

[keenan87]

My vote would go to Craig Anderson

However from that list, I would choose Tavares (maybe Ovechkin). Crosby needs to learn how to stay healthy.

[Oil Stain]

Tavares finished 17th in scoring!!!! 17th!

For a guy that is basically all offence, how does he possibly win the trophy which is given to the best player in the NHL.

If the writers truly want to make it into a "best player on a mediocore team" award then why isn't Suter nominated?

Tavares winning this trophy would be a total farce.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Tavares finished 17th in scoring!!!! 17th!

For a guy that is basically all offence, how does he possibly win the trophy which is given to the best player in the NHL.

If the writers truly want to make it into a "best player on a mediocore team" award then why isn't Suter nominated?

Tavares winning this trophy would be a total farce.

Agreed 1,000,000%

He is a dynamic player on a mediocre team with high visibility to most media?

Crap

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Tavares finished 17th in scoring!!!! 17th!

For a guy that is basically all offence, how does he possibly win the trophy which is given to the best player in the NHL.

If the writers truly want to make it into a "best player on a mediocore team" award then why isn't Suter nominated?

Tavares winning this trophy would be a total farce.

Well he did also finish 3rd in goals. Give him a better team to work around and his assist total would go up.

Suter, while a fair argument, at least has Parise and Koivu compared to Tavares' Streit and Moulson. I don't know how it could be argued that Tavares doesn't belong in discussion for the most valuable player to his team award when he's head and shoulders above anyone else on his team.

[Resolute 14]

If Crosby wins, it is on reputation.

Given Tavares and Ovechkin dragged their teams into the playoffs, I would go with either. I'd like to see Tavares win, but I think Ovechkin might.

[Enoch Root]

I think Ovi will get it, but I think he is the least deserving of the 3.

For me, I don't care if a guy misses some games due to injury, the question is: who was the most valuable player this year, and I think it was Crosby.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Ovi will get it, but I think he is the least deserving of the 3.

For me, I don't care if a guy misses some games due to injury, the question is: who was the most valuable player this year, and I think it was Crosby.

The award is actually based on who was the most valuable player to his team, not the MVP in general.

One could make the argument that without Crosby (missed a lot of time as is) the Pens were a top team in the East. Without Ovie or Tavares neither team was much more than a basement dweller.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Well he did also finish 3rd in goals. Give him a better team to work around and his assist total would go up.

Bull crap. Crosby scored 100 points in his rookie season playing with Colby Armstrong.

Suter, while a fair argument, at least has Parise and Koivu compared to Tavares' Streit and Moulson. I don't know how it could be argued that Tavares doesn't belong in discussion for the most valuable player to his team award when he's head and shoulders above anyone else on his team.

No player makes the playoffs on his own. The Islanders have a good team outside of Tavares. St.Louis doesn't have any legit stars besides Pietrangelo and he wasn't nominated.

Crosby would be more valuable to the Islanders then Tavares would be. Ergo he's the most valuable player.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Bull crap. Crosby scored 100 points in his rookie season playing with Colby Armstrong.



No player makes the playoffs on his own. The Islanders have a good team outside of Tavares. St.Louis doesn't have any legit stars besides Pietrangelo and he wasn't nominated.

Crosby would be more valuable to the Islanders then Tavares would be. Ergo he's the most valuable player.

*sigh* MVP to their respective teams, not hypothetical trades or MVP of the league. It's the Hart award, not a medal of participation at some school event.