Backstrom Should be in the Hart Trophy Conversation

[LastWordArmy]

This season's Hart Trophy race has been one of the most unpredictable in recent years. Players like Brad Marchand and Brent Burns are solidifying themselves as elite by exceeding a point per game thus far. Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin is having a surprisingly below-average season. However there is another player in Washington who is having a great year, Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom should be in the Hart Trophy conversation.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/03/16/nicklas-backstrom-hart-trophy-conversation/

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[Ovechkins Wodka]

He's not even the most valuable player on the team.

 

[artilector]

Yes, Backstrom is having a good season, but no way is this Hart-worthy.

 

[SpinningEdge]

McDavid has earned it.

Look what Edmonton was before him... now they're a playoff team.

 

[Demandedace]

I love Nicky B and I hope he manages to earn the Art Ross, but he should not be in contention for Hart. As 'Edge said, McDavid pretty much singlehandedly made the Oilers a formidable team.

 

[Corby78]

Poor guy can't make an all star team. Way too underrated

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

Poor guy can't make an all star team. Way too underrated

Yep. It would be incredible for a player to win the Hart and yet not even be an all star. :p

 

[txpd]

for some, he's not even the best center on the team. if he wins the the scoring championship in a season where Ovechkin scores 32 goals and Oshie scores 35 and the team the best record in the league, it would be kind of a shame to find that he is not even in the conversation. But I guess ive been reading on this forum with analytics and all that Backstrom isn't even that good.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Backstrom is so easily this team's best center.

 

[trick9]

for some, he's not even the best center on the team. if he wins the the scoring championship in a season where Ovechkin scores 32 goals and Oshie scores 35 and the team the best record in the league, it would be kind of a shame to find that he is not even in the conversation. But I guess ive been reading on this forum with analytics and all that Backstrom isn't even that good.

Not really.

Nicklas Backstrom has been ridiculously good this season, and continued that with dominant performance against the Lightning. That being said, the reason he's not in the Hart -conversation is because some voters still see Ovechkin as the main guy on the team, and not to mention that you have Braden Holtby there too. I still think he's the best player on the team (for the 2nd year in a row) and has been the biggest reason they stand #1.