Epsilon
#basta
I don't remember anyone with voter standing calling Brind'Amour the Hart trophy favorite in 2005-06 at the half-way point of the season, or anywhere around there. I do remember some homer Canes fans on HF saying that, but that's just about it. Any reputable sources out there making such a claim?
Eric Staal has a legitimate case for being "player of the year" for 2005-06 (regular season+playoffs), but I don't really see Brind'Amour getting anywhere close. It's not like Datsyuk in 2008-09, where he was the best two-way player in the league and finished in the top 5 in scoring (and 3rd in Hart voting). Brind'Amour was a great defensive forward, but was barely top 50 in the league in scoring. Leadership and intangibles doesn't even begin to make up that sort of gap.
Eric Staal has a legitimate case for being "player of the year" for 2005-06 (regular season+playoffs), but I don't really see Brind'Amour getting anywhere close. It's not like Datsyuk in 2008-09, where he was the best two-way player in the league and finished in the top 5 in scoring (and 3rd in Hart voting). Brind'Amour was a great defensive forward, but was barely top 50 in the league in scoring. Leadership and intangibles doesn't even begin to make up that sort of gap.