Voight
#winning
Admittedly, that was back then non-Canadians were forbidden to win the Conn Smythe (Leetch being the only one).
They technically still are , but the voters have opened up in recent years (Z, Malkin, Quick, Kane)
Admittedly, that was back then non-Canadians were forbidden to win the Conn Smythe (Leetch being the only one).
I thought Yzerman played with Shanahan, while Fedorov played with Kozlov, and I want to say Brown.
As Dr No said a few posts later in response to someone else, it was talked about as a thing at the time. I completely understand that Yzerman was a fine 2nd choice in 2002, and all that, but there was talk at the time about whether a European could truly win the Conn Smythe with the Don Cherrys of the media insinuating that it's tough to be the most valuable player in the playoffs when you didn't grow up wanting to win the Stanley Cup, etc. It wasn't until Lidstrom actually won that nonsense like that was mainly put to rest.
I vote for random chance.
I did a Poisson simulation of 3000 "Yzerman postseasons", each with 20 games played, using a five-year average points per game centered around 1997 (92 points in 95 games). These were the results:
POINTS | PROB
7|0.0%
8|0.2%
9|0.3%
10|0.6%
11|1.3%
12|2.7%
13|3.9%
14|4.9%
15|5.9%
16|8.1%
17|7.5%
18|8.8%
19|9.5%
20|9.1%
21|8.2%
22|6.9%
23|5.9%
24|4.5%
25|4.1%
26|2.9%
27|2.0%
28|1.1%
29|0.6%
30|0.4%
31|0.4%
32|0.2%
33|0.0%
34|0.1%
35|0.1%
And of course, a Poisson distribution assumes that Yzerman performs exactly the same way each game, when in reality his performances would vary (meaning that this distribution would be spread out even more than this).
Admittedly, that was back then non-Canadians were forbidden to win the Conn Smythe (Leetch being the only one).
Yzerman gets extra points for being a leader and finally shattering the choke label.
That was often the idea and there was an unspoken (or even spoken) stigma of a European player winning the Smythe. However, there was never a time before 1994 that a non-Canadian should have won it either. Even in 1994 with all that went on with Messier's prediction and production and stuff if they wanted to they could have picked Messier and people would have been happy with that. Leetch was just too good that spring though and perhaps through the first three rounds you give the nod to Messier, but Leetch just really cranked it up in the final.
Other than that, nothing before 1994 stands out. 1995 and 1996 were just fine. 1997 is the only one that makes you wonder a bit. 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 were all just how I'd have done it more or less. Maybe Sakic in 2001 and Belfour or Modano in 1999. But if 2002 was the first time a European wins it then that's fine too. Other than 1997 there really isn't a time one could have won it either. Even in 2002 I remember the idea that Yzerman didn't win it was a bit of a shock.
Hard to believe, but only three non-North Americans have won the Smythe in NHL history. Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Malkin. More Americans though with 4 altogether.
That was a big part of it too, plus the fact that he was the captain and really stepped it up defensively. But I think Fedorov may have had the better postseason. However, no Red Wing in 1997 stood out like a sort thumb, so Vernon winning it has never bothered me.
tbh. Hasek shouldve won it in 99.
When Hasek didn't necessarily outperform Belfour, it's hard to give it to the goalie on the losing team.
IMO, Modano should have won it in 1999. I do think a lot of the talk about Nieuwendyk being the "real leader" of that team (instead of their actual captain, Hatcher) reeked of Canadian-centric thinking.
When Hasek didn't necessarily outperform Belfour, it's hard to give it to the goalie on the losing team.
IMO, Modano should have won it in 1999. I do think a lot of the talk about Nieuwendyk being the "real leader" of that team (instead of their actual captain, Hatcher) reeked of Canadian-centric thinking.
Maybe not but he was the most VALUABLE player in that playoffs. Well, atleast from my perspective. Modano wouldve been a good choice too. Tbh there were three americans and and czech that put up smythe worthy performances and they gave the award to a canadian for a Mickey Mouse stat type record.
I've seen this claim before (Yzerman close runner up to Vernon in 1997), and I find it incredible, considering how far ahead Fedorov should have been. I'd chalk it up to overly large effect of nationalism in hockey at the time, but that wouldn't explain why Yzerman would have finished ahead of Shanahan:
http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1997.html
(Just going by stats, Shanahan looks better than Yzerman, but it was a long time ago, and I don't remember who was more visually impressive between the two. I do remember feeling Fedorov was robbed at the time, however).
_________
Back on topic, Yzerman's 13 points were tied for 3rd on the team, so it's not like he did poorly. The Wings were a deep, defense-first team. Only Fedorov (20) and Shanahan (17) outscored Yzerman.
Yzerman did get a lot of support for the 97 CS. See the end of this clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUUccGjdAPE for an example. The Hockey Scouting Report 98-99 said that Yzerman should have won in 97 like he did in 98.
For the voting you need to look it up in a library but 6/8/97 USA Today Red Wings notebook by Cynthia Lambert states: "Vernon edged out Yzerman in the closest vote in the 33-year history of the award, first won by Jean Beliveau in 1965. Two points separated Vernon and Yzerman."