why didn't Mario win the Hart in 2001?

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Meh, the players are just as susceptible to hype and narratives as the media.

plus, at least the media waits until the season is over to vote (though that wasn't always the case)

 

[Big Phil]

sakic had a great season but was it really better than mario?

mario came out of retirement and reclaimed his spot as the best player in the world

jagr ended up winning the ross when he was way out of the race before mario returned

mario put up an absured 76 points in 43 games, the pens probably don't make the playoffs without his comeback

you could say sakic proved he deserved it as the avs won the cup without forsberg, but couldn't that mean his team was just that stacked?

if taylor hall deserved the hart this year, how didn't mario deserve it in 2001?

For starters, Hall played a full season, Mario played 43 games. It is probably the same reason Tim Thomas didn't win the Hart in an easier season in 2011, he only played 51 games. Not bad for a goalie, but not 70 either.

Funny thing about the 2001 Hart race is that Sakic had all but 9 of the 1st place votes. Mario had 8 of them and Markus Naslund had 1 of them believe it or not. If Mario plays a full season it's his.

But this was a season where we all knew Sakic was winning it. 118 points, excellent two-way play, best team in the NHL, no one else on his team was close to him in points either. He had all the credentials for it. Mario was a great story and his half season alone gave him a well deserved finalist spot, but he needed more to beat Sakic that year.

1989 is the real head scratcher.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Sakic closed out the season with 70 points to Lemieux’s 76 from the date of Lemieux’s return to the end of the season. It was the 48 points he had before that.

I believe this post is all you need to know.

 

[jghockey]

Two words -- JOE SAKIC.

The Avalanche were destined to win the Cup in 2001. I'm glad that Ray Bourque got a Cup before he retired.