It`s an MVP award not the best offensive player award. Until he plays even a little bit of D......no dice for OVI
- yttrohs

if that's the case, then why the hell is kadri in there.........his defense is somewhere between awful and non-existent.............and yes, i've seen him play plenty

Now you're confusing "best player" with "most valuable to his team." Now, if you want to use his team's record with/without him (although losing Neal probably plays a part as well), that's a different story. If you think that playing 75% of the season makes you more valuable to your team's success than a player playing for his team for 95-100% of the season, that's fine.

I have no problem with Crosby winning as he's a great player and definitely very valuable to his team. But to me, I'd give a VERY slight edge to Ovechkin because his team goes as he has, and for them to make the playoffs, he's going to need to do it for the rest of the season.
- jmatchett383

Perfect example of this is Mario winning the Hart in 93. He missed 24 games that season, and was on a team that featured multiple future Hall of Famers. Should he not have won because he only played around 70% of his teams games???

since when is tied for 7th not in the top ten in scoring..is their an exhcange difference in ontario??
- NYI78

His point was that he WAS in the top 10 in scoring but a -5.

since when is tied for 7th not in the top ten in scoring..is their an exhcange difference in ontario??
- NYI78

not sure it's worth the effort with him..............all of his "reasons" are completely ridiculous, when you consider he put kadri near the top of his list.

His point was that he WAS in the top 10 in scoring but a -5.
- jmatchett383

and my original point...you play with brad boyes and matt moulson and try to be a plus player.. i'm not saying Tavares should be MVP.. but he should be in the final three for voting and has had an outstanding season

It`s an MVP award not the best offensive player award. Until he plays even a little bit of D......no dice for OVI
- yttrohs

That's bull. Look at the past 4 or 5 years winners. It may be wrong, but being one of the best offensive players in the league helps a player get into Hart consideration.

so +/- now determines whether a player is bad defensively...............has nothing to do with the team, or goaltending.

hell, lidstrom won teh norris with an even +/- or he may have even been -1..............guess he sucked defensively too
- sensarmy_11

Obviously you fell in love with JT in 2009 at the WJHC like the rest of the city of Ottawa. However, as an NHL player he is a less than average defensive player and you donèt need to look at plus minus, just need to watch him play to see it. The -5 stat just proves the fact.

Obviously you fell in love with JT in 2009 at the WJHC like the rest of the city of Ottawa. However, as an NHL player he is a less than average defensive player and you donèt need to look at plus minus, just need to watch him play to see it. The -5 stat just proves the fact.
- yttrohs

Perfect example of this is Mario winning the Hart in 93. He missed 24 games that season, and was on a team that featured multiple future Hall of Famers. Should he not have won because he only played around 70% of his teams games???
- cap1681

Fair point. Then again, it was Mario Lemieux, who probably should have the award named after him (heck, he was valuable to the team as an owner for keeping them in Pittsburgh). Also, I remember being at the game in Philly when we cheered him as he came on the ice after getting chemo in the morning then flying to Philly. We cheered him when he scored a goal. Then he scored again, and it was more of a, "Okay...you made your point," kind of nothingness. But like I said, if he gets it, I'm okay with it. I'm just of a mind that you should play close to a full season (85%+) to be considered.

why so serious Pens fans...i'm joking relax.... hold on let me re read my memo from the league "Sidney Crosby is the best athlete in all of sports and ye shall never take his name in vain or jest"
- NYI78

Sit in the corner and feel shame until you can recite it from memory.

Obviously you fell in love with JT in 2009 at the WJHC like the rest of the city of Ottawa. However, as an NHL player he is a less than average defensive player and you donèt need to look at plus minus, just need to watch him play to see it. The -5 stat just proves the fact.
- yttrohs

and if you have been watching him..like you just said he has been a plus player for since March..but you know that already just like you know that they had issues scoring 5 on 5 but those have been resolved

That's bull. Look at the past 4 or 5 years winners. It may be wrong, but being one of the best offensive players in the league helps a player get into Hart consideration.
- cap1681

Obviously scoring gets attention, but Hart trophy winners in MOST cases are complete players. Very few bad defensive players win.

and my original point...you play with brad boyes and matt moulson and try to be a plus player.. i'm not saying Tavares should be MVP.. but he should be in the final three for voting and has had an outstanding season
- NYI78

Hey, don't argue with me. I don't agree, I was just stating what his point was.

Obviously scoring gets attention, but Hart trophy winners in MOST cases are complete players. Very few bad defensive players win.
- yttrohs

Ovechkin won it twice. Your argument is invalid.

Ovechkin won it twice. Your argument is invalid.
- cap1681

He also won the Pearson/Ted Lindsay award 3 times, so his peers must have felt he was deserving.

Johnny "The Franchise" Tavares is probably the only reason Islanders aren't moving to Quebec

Ovechkin won it twice. Your argument is invalid.
- cap1681

i have a feeling most things he says are invalid....atleast when it comes to anything related to hockey

and if you have been watching him..like you just said he has been a plus player for since March..but you know that already just like you know that they had issues scoring 5 on 5 but those have been resolved
- NYI78

I believe that JT is going to be an elite player. But like all elite players, the last part of their game to develop is play without the puck. Thats the way it is. Even as an Islanders fan you can not possibly believe that part of his game is good. It will be eventually and he will be downright scarey.

He also won the Pearson/Ted Lindsay award 3 times, so his peers must have felt he was deserving.
- jmatchett383

I was commenting on how bad defensive players don't win the Hart. I dont know if you ever watched Ovechkin play, but calling him a bad defensive player is a compliment to him.

so +/- now determines whether a player is bad defensively...............has nothing to do with the team, or goaltending.

hell, lidstrom won teh norris with an even +/- or he may have even been -1..............guess he sucked defensively too
- sensarmy_11

Nik Lidstrom was a +450 for his career....I'd ay that pretty much established his resume.

if that's the case, then why the hell is kadri in there.........his defense is somewhere between awful and non-existent.............and yes, i've seen him play plenty
- sensarmy_11

Kadri is +19. That doesn't exactly scream awful defender to me

Ovechkin won it twice. Your argument is invalid.
- cap1681

I guess you missed the VERY FEW in my statement. He is one of 2

Kadri is +19. That doesn't exactly scream awful defender to me
- Pinnerflynner

kadri plays sheltered minutes, mostly on the 3rd line. never plays against the other teams top players (forwards or d-men)

he has no business in the hart trophy conversation.........

Nik Lidstrom was a +450 for his career....I'd ay that pretty much established his resume.
- Emperor Filonius

i was being sarcastic, showing buddy that +/- is a terrbile indication of a players defensive ability

case in point....last season kuba was like top 3 in the entire league in +/- and the guy was a friggin pylon.

Hey, don't argue with me. I don't agree, I was just stating what his point was.
- jmatchett383

i'm not arguing with just stating my point