It’s shaping up to be one of the more competitive Hart races we’ve ever seen. Each team has about 12-13 games remaining. Who’s your pick?

36 comments

  1. Kucherov. He’s a part of basically all of tampas goals, and Tampa isn’t as secure seeding wise as Colorado, so they’ll have to keep playing hard whereas it’s possible Colorado could rest or at least reduce minutes later

    I have learned not to doubt Mcdavid but both kuch and Mack are operating at about a 1.7 points per game pace. Mcdavid will need to get about 35 points in his final 16 games to have a shot. Doable but tough.

    Edit: I read the post as who will have the most points. Hart I’m not sure, sounds like Mack right now but imo it should be kucherov.

  4. If McDavid gets to 100 assists, it’s hard not to give it to him, even if the voters do have voter fatigue.

  5. It’s going to come down to whichever of mackinnon or kuch stays on top of the scoring race. Hart winners that don’t lead a statistical category are extremely rare for forwards. Neither will lead goals and matthews wont win the hart so it’s going to come down to points leader. Last ones to win without leading in points or goals as forwards were hall in 18 and Sakic in 01. It’s rare. The one thing mackinnon has going for him is he doesn’t have any individual hardware and he’s been second fiddle multiple times. Some people might feel like he “deserves it” this year, which a lot of people definitely do.

  6. Just want Mac to win his first on his third attempt. Other guys have em already so as much as it’s being a homer, feels like Mac winning it would be more special than the other two.

  7. Matthews would have to hit 70 to be in the conversation and even then he would be less likely than Kucherov or MacKinnon at 140 point paces.

    In the 60 goal season, Matthews was 6th in points and only 17 points behind the leader in points. But this year even at 70, he’d be like 30 points behind multiple players and further outside the top 5 in points. I’d be curious to see how the numbers shake out excluding secondary assists though. I’m fine with counting goals and primary assists equally but don’t think a bunch of extra secondary assists for a 50 goal guy makes them more valuable than a 70 goal guy.

  8. I think MacKinnon will win it partially as a lifetime achievement award but also because he’s reasonably deserving.

  9. Couldn’t care less about any awards voted on by the writers. They’re motivated by feels and vibes. The PHWA is a self-important group, useful only to themselves.

  10. Based on his Stanley Cup presser, the Russian factor, and his passionless all-star appearance, I don’t think Kucherov will ever win a voting-based trophy again. Despite his incredible skill he has repeatedly shown himself to be a low-character individual. Contrast that with the drive of MacKinnon and I’m not even sure it’ll be a close vote.

  11. Unless he gets injured it’s going to be MacKinnon. When it comes to stats him and kuch are close enough that you can consider them even.

    MacKinnon hasn’t won the hart before and many people (including voters) think he deserves one. Unlikely he has another shot at winning after this year and Kuch already has a hart. I think that narrative will be the tiebreaker for a number of voters

  13. As it stands now, it belongs to MacKinnon. I’d love for McDavid to catch up to him and win the Hart, especially considering how the Oilers played when he was in a slump vs. how they’ve played since, but I doubt that will happen.

  17. I get such a kick out of these comments when people just casually say stuff like “Kucherov should win it but he’s Russian.”

    Hockey is for everyone*

  18. Would be absolutely incredible to see the four skaters split the votes hard and fucking Hellebuyck comes through first with second, third, and fourth place votes. Don’t tell me that wouldn’t be amazing drama!

  19. I think MacK has the inside track on this one.

    Matthews has faded a bit recently (last night excluded) and he would have to go 70+ to get consideration at this point IMO

  22. Have you guys seen the Lightning this year? The US Labor Department should be investigating them for how much work Kucherov has taken on because it’s damn near illegal.

    Kucherov.

  23. Voter fatigue gives it to mackinnon this year. Mcdavid is Mcdavid is Mcdavid but they want to give it to someone else.

  24. Leaving McD out of the question for now, I’d pick MacKinnon over Kucherov for the simple reason that he carries more responsibilites on the ice as a center than Kuch does as a wing. That’s why MacK has twice as many blocked shots, more hits, etc. To be honest, he kind of sucks in the dot for a center, but otherwise, he’s the guy you build a team around. Kucherov is the guy you sign to push your offense (with a 1 C already signed) to the next level.

  25. Nobody wants to acknowledge Kucherov is about to hold the 1 and 2 spots for most points by a Russian in a single season. 

  26. I think MacK deserves it as a lifetime Hart.

    We all know McDavid is the best player every year.

  29. My opinion is it should be Kucherov. The Lightning are not in a playoff spot without him. I think MacKinnon will win it though.

  30. To me it’s pretty clearly McDavid. Look at the Oilers season trajectory and then overlap his injury and recovery. First 20 or whatever games of the year they’re the biggest disappointed in the league. Huge bust, the whole world has written them off. He comes back from his injury early to help right the ship, undoubtedly extending his recovery time, which I think gets lost in all this. People forget he was playing hurt.

    Well now he’s back to full health and lo and behold, he’s all but caught up to Kuch and Mac in the points race, and Oilers are not just in a solid playoff position, they’re right on Vancouver’s heels for 1st in the Pacific.

  32. Kucherov or mackinnon looks like, but all I care about is that the Rocket winner is a Maple Leaf

  34. All I know is that fans of a blue and white team will not be happy when someone does not get nominated this year.

    And the craziest part is that it’s justifiable come the end of the season.

  36. If Matthews hits 70 goals it’ll be him, if McDavid hits 100 assists it’ll be him, and if neither of those things happens it’ll be MacKinnon. Honestly I think it should be kucherov but I think the voters love a good story like one of McDavid or Matthews joining an elusive club and while MacKinnon is very deserving I think the fact he hasn’t won it yet gives him an edge over kucherov.

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