No reason Gaudreau should win it above Stone. Same number of points, and Stone was significantly better defensively.
I could see Ekblad taking the prize if the voters wanted to go defense.
It is mindblowing that some Pred fans think that the reason that Forsberg didn't get nominated is because he plays for the Preds being that they are a small market team.
Do they not realize that the Panthers are also a small market team? Ottawa can also be considered a small market team.
Being a big market team or a Canadian team most probably has an affect. But you're under the microscope, whereas in Nashville, you could get by with playing poorly and no one will know.It is mindblowing that some Pred fans think that the reason that Forsberg didn't get nominated is because he plays for the Preds being that they are a small market team.
Do they not realize that the Panthers are also a small market team? Ottawa can also be considered a small market team.
Yes.
I'm guessing this means that when they announce the three "finalists", the decision has already been made, right? These "finalists" are really just the top-3 vote getters?
This is correct.
All the voting is done before the playoffs start so as to avoid playoff performance bias.
The league already knows who all the winners are for every trophy except the Conn Smythe and the Cup itself.