Hart Trophy: Who has better claim?

[SeanMoneyHands]

I think he wins it. He plays with Point but MacKinnon plays with Rantanen.

Rantanen > Point.

 

[Rob Brown]

But kuch is 6 points up atm. Mac had a good year but it's kuches Mac can win another year

Doesn't impact me of course but 6 points isn't a whole lot considering he has another game tonight and also scored more goals than Kucherov, which in theory is harder. They'll both be final 3 candidates so we'll see either way in June.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Its a 50/50 toss-up, for some reason some kuch fans are trying to make it seem like its an obvious choice and if he doesn't win it will be a robbery but in reality it could go either way between him and Mackinnon.

Mack does bring a lot more overall value than pts, but kuch did have a better offensive season. Each game is a game, vs top teams , bottom feeders, whatever it is, its a game. Both put up a similar amount of pts, kuch 6 (or less) more pts and Mack 7 (or more) more goals.

Should be a close vote

 

[Danarqhy]

Sportsnet already lobbying for their Canadian boy Mackinnon, kinda gross TBH. If their nationalities were reversed, every buffoon in the media would be licking Kuch's ass like there's no tomorrow.

Kucherov is the answer here. Only reason he loses it is dumb bias (which I won't be shocked to see).

 

[daver]

Sportsnet already lobbying for their Canadian boy Mackinnon, kinda gross TBH. If their nationalities were reversed, every buffoon in the media would be licking Kuch's ass like there's no tomorrow.

Kucherov is the answer here. Only reason he loses it is dumb bias (which I won't be shocked to see).

At least Kucherov isn't Czech, then he would have no chance, and rightfully so.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Sportsnet already lobbying for their Canadian boy Mackinnon, kinda gross TBH. If their nationalities were reversed, every buffoon in the media would be licking Kuch's ass like there's no tomorrow.

Kucherov is the answer here. Only reason he loses it is dumb bias (which I won't be shocked to see).

Sports network makes case for betting favorite to win MVP? DISGUSTING

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

MacKinnon will likely still win it just because he's Canadian.

 

[AndreRoy]

Sadly I won’t be at all surprised if Kuch gets screwed out of a deserved award due to the anti-Tampa/Southern factor, just as Bishop, Hedman, and Vasilevskiy were before him.

 

[flying squirrel]

100 assist for winger, leading scorer most of year, major team contributor, and importance of Kucherov within quickened depletion of flat-capped "Cup" roster. Should sealed MVP up, especially considering Lightning had not gelled until recently (2nd half of season) from flattened-cap "Cup" roster loses, that cause quickened depletion after only 2 million cap growth over 4 years. This severe flat-cap happened while Lightning were reaching 3 SCF's in-a-row and after 8 years of playoff successes. No "Cup" winners ever dealt with such salary scraps after winning it all. Other NHL stars had great season, but they didn't mean what Kucherov has meant for their team this season.

Kucherov deserves MVP. But..... deserve doesn't decided things concerning sports awards at times. Kucherov will come up short because humans are the deciding factor here. He's MVP, everyone knows it, but it won't be first snub in sports history, and won't be last unfortunately. We'll witness NHL all-star bias voting type bias within Hart voting block. It is what it is..... This is one of reasons to why #1 BS press conference was born in first place, but most don't even know why #1 BS was born. They won't look to why he felt this way, or why Lightning maybe somewhat have a chip on their shoulders all these years. That's OK, team accomplishments are what Lightning are mostly about, but these disses probably have been yummy food/motivation for them all. Sometimes, the want to prove others wrong is a great motivator. Thrown that on top of great talent, the want to be best already, awesome work ethic, and one ends up with what Lightning sustained for years.

That #1 BS statement didn't just come from thin-air

• While Kucherov and Lightning achieved 6 ECF's , 4 SCF's, and won 2 "Cups" in 8 years time.
• That successful team won Vezina once, Norris once, and hart once with major awards decided by human voting. (Jack Adams anyone? More on that later)
• Kucherov's one Hart had to be taken by force winning scoring title at 128 points and team beating total victories in regular season record.
• That's it for major awards that are decided by human element during that span. Lightning's goalie Vasy & D Hedman were the answers for years: to who's best defender and goalie you'd want to have on your team. Their performances/numbers during regular season & playoffs back that up then too.
• Any other NHL/Media darlings pulled off 6 ECF's, 4 SCF's, and "2 Cups" in 8 years time. While reaching 3 straight SCF's with same core. Then just coming up just short of winning 3 "Cups" in-a-row. Would be showered with individual awards, wouldn't they?
• Shoot, wonder how modern day Hawks & Pens individual awards stack up during their hay day of "Cups" and deep playoff runs? Bet they both finished with more individual awards that are decided by human element. Was there players that won same major individual awards multiple of times?
• The biggest snub: How has Jon Cooper not won a "Jack Adams Award" yet? He has done enough for best Head Coach of the year many times over, and this season might be his best work getting this new bunch coached up (Cores 3rd window grouping). But crickets.....
• Lightning organization learned long ago during Cooper's earlier days, they better take human element out of things. Team use to get so frustrated during games, but conditioned themselves to overcome it. They became so good that outside influences could not influence or change outcomes on-the-ice. That's were Lightning got their accolades for their body of work. They won on-the-ice achievements that aren't given by human votes.

Kucherov was already behind because he's Russian, but moment Kucherov right after he got ultimate F F u "Cup" money. Kuch let NHL/Media hear some truth bombs about #1 VS subject matter. More than not, truth within Plato's Cave is not received to well by present shadow casters or those who've been conditioned by those shadows. This was no exception! Though Lightning players & coach were already dissed individually, that press conference was final nail in Kucherov's individual awards chances >>>> but those chances as you see were slim to begin with. Weren't they? So, Kuch let the "Bud-Light" truth serum do it's thing during that #1 BS press conference and never looked back. Some will hold that against Kucherov -vs- Some will see it as being brave in side an echo-chamber, instead of going easy route and putting head down while hoping NHL/Media throw him some crumbs.

I'd be shocked if Kucherov won MVP

 

[Connor McConnor]

MacKinnon has had it all year. Imagine losing it on the last game of the season

To be fair, the Avs were competing for the top spot in the West for a while then fell off late. I think if they had won the division MacK wins but now that winning isn’t really in play, I don’t see how he’s been more valuable than Kuch.


Both deserving options, McDavid probably wins comfortably if healthy all year.

 

[User9992]

For me he IS.

 

[featherhawk]

Kucherov would get my vote

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

He did? MACK plays in an easier division and conference LESS CUPCAKES SUCH as sj,az,and ana. He has worse points per game against the top 10 teams points wise in.the nhl. Kucherov more points, broke two nhl records this year, more points per game, and a better shooting percentage. Also let's be honest of kucherov didn't have the season he had, the LIghtning aren't in the playoffs. Mack has to get 6 points tonight to tie him and mcdavid is the best center on the ice tonight.

AND he plays with worse linemates than Kucherov.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Been saying all year long, the Art Ross winner will also win the Hart.

For a hot minute it looked as if McDavid was going to overtake him, but Kuch never let up.


Kuch deserves it IMHO.

And that was the most impressive Hart/Ross race I can remember in a long-ass time. I grew up where only 3 players won the Art Ross for 20 years.

 

[TheGuiminator]

Best peak season out of any Russian player ever IMO

Also add the fact that Kucherov has now outscored (fair and square) peak McDavid not once, but twice. That makes it even more impressive.

He deserves to win the Hart & Lindsay by a landslide

 

[Goose]

It was pretty much a neck and neck finish, six points is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things, they each deserve a major piece of hardware. If Mack had won the Art Ross I'd say give the Hart to Kuch and vice versa.

All this proactive whining in this thread is stupid though, it's a subjective award and you can argue it for Mack as easily as you can for Kuch, either one is deserving, Kuch won't be "robbed" if it goes to Mack.

 

[Chinaski89]

Yet he performed worse overall and against.the top 10 teams. The best players should elevate their should game when they play the best teams.


Sorry we don't have cupcakes like Arizona, San Jose, and anaheim.

Are you purposefully forgetting Chicago?

 

[Bank Shot]

Things that posters constantly used against McDavid in the past were excessive ice time, and poor faceoffs.

Well Mackinnon played 23 minutes per night this season and was 46.5% on the draw. Absolute crickets now.

They are both BS arguments, but its funny how they only get used against McDavid and not MacK.

 

[Outl4w]

Are you purposefully forgetting Chicago?

Add another one

 

[AslanRH]

Kuch can have it for all I care.
I just want to see MacK improve on his already better playoff numbers.
That is when the best playing the best matters and the Avs are going to need MacK's best to make it anywhere this year.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

If you took the names away and the voters didn't actually know who's numbers were who's, by every standard the voters have always used, the vote clearly goes Kucherov.

But this year there's a segment of the voters that want MacKinnon to win and they'll find the obscure stats that they've never looked at or cared about before to support it.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

It is going to be close

Kucherov has the bigger point gap argument.

McKinnon has the argument well look at Kucherov he has 5 guys above 70 heck at 75 and I only have 3 guys above that number.

One could argue he recieved more help. It will be close.

 

[Goose]

100 assist for winger, leading scorer most of year, major team contributor, and importance of Kucherov within quickened depletion of flat-capped "Cup" roster. Should sealed MVP up, especially considering Lightning had not gelled until recently (2nd half of season) from flattened-cap "Cup" roster loses, that cause quickened depletion quickened after only 2 million cap growth over 4 years. This severe flat-cap happened while Lightning were reaching 3 SCF's in-a-row and after 8 years of playoff successes. No "Cup" winners ever dealt with such salary scraps after winning it all. Other NHL stars had great season, but they didn't mean what Kucherov has meant for their team this season.

Kucherov deserves MVP. But..... deserve doesn't decided things concerning sports awards at times. Kucherov will come up short because humans are the deciding factor here. He's MVP, everyone knows it, but it won't be first snub in sports history, and won't be last unfortunately. We'll witness NHL all-star bias voting type bias within Hart voting block. It is what it is..... This is one of reasons to why #1 BS press conference was born in first place, but most don't even know why #1 BS was born. They won't look to why he felt this way, or why Lightning maybe somewhat have a chip on their shoulders all these years. That's OK, team accomplishments are what Lightning are mostly about, but these disses probably have been yummy food/motivation for them all. Sometimes, the want to prove others wrong is a great motivator. Thrown that on top of great talent, the want to be best already, awesome work ethic, and one ends up with what Lightning sustained for years.

That #1 BS statement didn't just come from thin-air

• While Kucherov and Lightning achieved 6 ECF's , 4 SCF's, and won 2 "Cups" in 8 years time.
• That successful team won Vezina once, Norris once, and hart once with major awards decided by human voting. (Jack Adams anyone? More on that later)
• Kucherov's one Hart had to be taken by force winning scoring title at 128 points and team beating total victories in regular season record.
• That's it for major awards that are decided by human element during that span. Lightning's goalie Vasy & D Hedman were the answers for years: to who's best defender and goalie you'd want to have on your team. Their performances/numbers during regular season & playoffs back that up then too.
• Any other NHL/Media darlings pulled off 6 ECF's, 4 SCF's, and "2 Cups" in 8 years time. While reaching 3 straight SCF's with same core. Then just coming up just short of winning 3 "Cups" in-a-row. Would be showered with individual awards, wouldn't they?
• Shoot, wonder how modern day Hawks & Pens individual awards stack up during their hay day of "Cups" and deep playoff runs? Bet they both finished with more individual awards that are decided by human element. Was there players that won same major individual awards multiple of times?
• The biggest snub: How has Jon Cooper not won a "Jack Adams Award" yet? He has done enough for best Head Coach of the year many times over, and this season might be his best work getting this new bunch coached up (Cores 3rd window grouping). But crickets.....
• Lightning organization learned long ago during Cooper's earlier days, they better take human element out of things. Team use to get so frustrated during games, but conditioned themselves to overcome it. They became so good that outside influences could not influence or change outcomes on-the-ice. That's were Lightning got their accolades for their body of work. They won on-the-ice achievements that aren't given by human votes.

Kucherov was already behind because he's Russian, but moment Kucherov right after he got ultimate F F u "Cup" money. Kuch let NHL/Media hear some truth bombs about #1 VS subject matter. More than not, truth within Plato's Cave is not received to well by present shadow casters or those who've been conditioned by those shadows. This was no exception! Though Lightning players & coach were already dissed individually, that press conference was final nail in Kucherov's individual awards chances >>>> but those chances as you see were slim to begin with. Weren't they? So, Kuch let the "Bud-Light" truth serum do it's thing during that #1 BS press conference and never looked back. Some will hold that against Kucherov -vs- Some will see it as being brave in side an echo-chamber, instead of going easy route and putting head down while hoping NHL/Media throw him some crumbs.

I'd be shocked if Kucherov won MVP

10/10 for persecution complex score, nice work.

However, I agree Kuch has to work harder than others for credit due to Russian/personality factors. What you didn't mention was his All-Star Skills Competition performance, which was self-inflicted. I wouldn't be surprised if some voters remember that at voting time.

Rightly or wrongly, many viewed it as unprofessional, unsportsmanlike, classless, or whatever the word you want to choose is.

 

[Juxta Position]

If you took the names away and the voters didn't actually know who's numbers were who's, by every standard the voters have always used the the vote clearly goes Kucherov.

But this year there's a segment of the voters that want MacKinnon to win and they'll find the obscure stats that they've never looked at or cared about before to support it.

Yep, in the media's mind it's his "turn"

 

[Rschmitz]

Its a 50/50 toss-up, for some reason some kuch fans are trying to make it seem like its an obvious choice and if he doesn't win it will be a robbery but in reality it could go either way between him and Mackinnon.

Mack does bring a lot more overall value than pts, but kuch did have a better offensive season. Each game is a game, vs top teams , bottom feeders, whatever it is, its a game. Both put up a similar amount of pts, kuch 6 (or less) more pts and Mack 7 (or more) more goals.

Should be a close vote

What value does Mack bring compared to Kucherov? His (lol) defense and faceoff %?

10/10 for persecution complex score, nice work.

However, I agree Kuch has to work harder than others for credit due to Russian/personality factors. What you didn't mention was his All-Star Skills Competition performance, which was self-inflicted. I wouldn't be surprised if some voters remember that at voting time.

Rightly or wrongly, many viewed it as unprofessional, unsportsmanlike, classless, or whatever the word you want to choose is.

Kucherov played in the ASG exactly the same way he plays in games. Slow, methodical, uninspired. A lot of media/fans caught sand in their vagina over it.