The release of the Hart Trophy finalists each year is always guaranteed to result in discontent. Three fan bases – and the majority of unbiased observers – are happy with the decision, while those who support the players that narrowly missed out on a nomination feel the need to criticize the process and establish why their favorite player should have been picked. This phenomenon can be attributed to just the sheer number of elite players worthy of recognition in the NHL, but more than anything it is due to the continued confusion over what the award actually represents.
The Hart Trophy is awarded to the “player judged most valuable to his team”, or in even simpler terms, it is the NHL’s MVP award. In 2017-18, it is hard to argue that any player was more “valuable” to his team than one of Nathan MacKinnon, Taylor Hall, and Anze Kopitar. Without those three, the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, and Los Angeles Kings, respectively, would not only have missed the playoffs, but may have been among some of the worst teams in the league. Yet, the Connor McDavid supporters like to point out that he not only led the league in scoring with 108 points, but was far-and-away the best player on the Edmonton Oilers. This is undeniably true, but the Oilers also finished with just 78 points, a whole 17 points back of MacKinnon’s Avs for a playoff spot and closer to the worst record in hockey than the postseason. Was McDavid valuable to the team? Yes, but at the end of the day, his contributions really only cost his team in NHL Draft Lottery odds.
Yet, even experienced journalists like the Edmonton Journal’s David Staples continue to misinterpret the award. He specifically refers to McDavid as the league’s “overlooked most outstanding player” and breaks down the league’s scoring leaders without regard for the context, or value, of that scoring to each team. Staples’ sentiment is shared by many teams and the criteria he uses in his article to determine his Hart finalists is valid, except for the fact that it is not a “most outstanding player award”; that’s the Ted Lindsay Award, and yes McDavid is a finalist for that.
So here is a forum for all the frustrated fans who want to argue about who the best player in the NHL is. It’s hard to make a case that the PHWA got the Hart nominees for this season wrong, but there are many cases to be made for who the best player in the NHL was this season. Have at it.
Connor mcdavid
The others “helped” their team win with more tangebles then just racking points. When it was apparent that his team wasn’t making the playoffs, McDavid went on a somewhat “selfish” point scoring campaign for the rest of the season. I don’t see how that would be classified as League MVP?
the 39 point run he went on at the end consisted of 15 goals and 24 assists…how was that a selfish point scoring campaign when he helped his teammates score 24 goals?
dont think he’s the mvp this year as i think mack, kopitar, giroux, or hall should win it. mack obviously helped his team tremendously as did kopitar and hall. the flyers probably wouldn’t have come close to making it if giroux wasn’t on the team either. the run he went on at the end of the season pushed them into the playoffs.
Yeah CL there is a good point. Sorry just naturally biased against McJesus…being a Flames fan. In the scheme of things, it can’t be all that fun for a player like him trying so hard to keep it going, when your team is floundering. I wish him all the best for the next 8 years haha.
I like McKinnon for how he took control of the Avs after Duchesne left and led them to the playoffs after such a disastrous campaign the year before. I like Taylor Hall just for the point that I’m a Flames fan lol.
Frankly, no one knows how to interpret this award. Saying the MVP must come from a playoff team is just as flawed as other arguments.