Once again, his team on paper isn't worse than the Avs roster. I could actually make a argument that the Avs roster on paper is less talented and is much less experienced.McDavid was really valuable to his team, could argue most valuable, how can you not. He passes both eye test and metric test. He blew everyone away on EV points this year and how can anyone that watch the Oilers think “he’s not valuable”? Oilers roster is crap, they would be ranked near 31st without him.
I think MacKinnon is the front runner for Hart, with Hall 2nd. However, if Avs lost the final game and don’t make the playoffs, I think Hall is the winner. Which makes no sense, I find the playoff argument for voting who wins the MVP is stupid in every sport. McDavid is getting the Mike Trout treatment, getting penalized because his GM and coach are terrible.
The fact is McDavid isn't exactly surrounded by trash. He's got Draisaitl, RNH, Strome, Lucic, Maroon (for most of the year), Larsson, Klefboom, Puljujarvi etc. that's a pretty equivalent cast to what MacKinnon has, yet MacKinnon was able to get his bunch to the playoffs and McDavid's crew checked out in February.
No one is denying that McDavid is an elite player, he just wasn't the MVP this year and that's why there are two different awards. One for the best individual player which McDavid deserves, and one for the guy who is the most valuable player to his teams success which either MacK or Hall deserves this season.