While I'm still fleshing out the 2013 draft steal look back, I've been increasingly wishing to write about the various trophies and who I think are the leaders at this point. I'm in that weird deadzone where it's too early to talk about the WJC's and since I'm not covering a particular team, I have little to talk about. So here's my take on the Hart Trophy race.
The Hart trophy has become somewhat of a joke recently. When once it was meant to be given to "the player judged most valuable to his team." It has now become the "well you led the league in points or came close and scored the most goals" award. Namely, the Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin trophy. Unless they're injured, or OV is lacking steroids that season. Obviously I'm glossing over that Perry, Henrik Sedin and Malkin have all won the Hart in the Crosbvechkin era, but when we really look into those years, Crosby was injured for two with a ridiculous PPG average and would have won if healthy under the NHL's criteria. Sedin's I agreed with, though I remember there being a lot of controversy since Crosbvechkin had 50+ goals. Much like the Norris trophy, I like the definition of the trophy more than the execution. It shouldn't be the Art Ross, just like the Norris shouldn't be the Art Ross for defensemen. With that in mind and going by the definition of the award, I've made a few controversial choices, in lieu of the fact that Crosby is likely circled at number one by the vast majority of the actual voters of this award.
Mark Giordano
The Flames captain has been an elite defensemen for several years, but quietly. He was the main reason they could let go of Phaneuf, even if they'll claim it was because of Jay Bouw. He's also the reason they could let go of Jay Bouw himself later on. He's always been a pretty impressive defensive player, but this unprecedented upswing in offensive production the past season and a half is remarkable. Even more remarkable is how unnoticed it has gone. If I asked you who the third highest PPG among defenseman was last season, would your first instinct be Giordano? Mine sure as hell wasn't. Perhaps it's the stigma of a rebuilding squad, or having the shinier toys always at the forefront. Yet now, in the spotlight, you'd be hard pressed to find a better story in the NHL. Along with his partner Brodie, the Flames have been great, luck, advanced stats, whatever the excuse or lack there of, at this point the results are coming up well. Who is the most important player on the Flames? Their captain, leading scorer and all-around minute muncher. I haven't watched as much Flames hockey as their fans, but when I do, I noticed him. I think his play is definitely justifying the rabid and vitriolic response to those awaiting the "inevitable" collapse. He's leading the NHL in scoring by defensemen with a disgusting 28 points in 28 games. He's second in goal scoring with 7. He plays all situations and lest you think he's running the gambit on the power play, he's first in even strength points by a considerable margin with 20. I forgot where I read the stat, but apparently 54% of all Calgary's goals were scored while Giordano was on the ice and he had a point on 52% of that 54. This is his to lose in my opinion, even if he can't sustain that PPG average. It would also be nice to see a defenseman get some love in this process.
Pekka Rinne
Is there a better goalie in the NHL right now? Maybe, but they aren't playing as well. Rinne has been lights out in his healthy return to form, bringing up and surpassing the visions of Vezina contention past in 2010 and 2011. A lot of people assumed that with Trotz and his defense first borepproach gone that Rinne would suffer, or the defense would suffer, or something something Connack McEichel. Surprise. Rinne is the front runner for the Vezina, Forsberg is running the early table on the Calder, Ribeiro has re-established his career in a Masterton level way, Lavvy is running neck and neck with Hartley for the Jack Adams and Weber is having a masterful year with Josi. Everything is coming up Milhouse. Largely in part due to Rinne's return to health and form. Basically first in sv%, third lowest GAA's, leader in wins and facing a ton of shots, he's been fantastic. Now you can argue that Rinne has an excellent defense in front of him...and he does...in Weber-Josi. The rest though? I'd say it's about average and even less than some of the contenders top-4's. Ryan Ellis? Seth Jones? Anton freaking Volchenkov? That's not an elite defense, sorry to say. They're all serviceable in their own way, but hardly the stuff of legend right now. If the Preds continue this crazy level of success, Rinne deserves some mention, not only for the Vezina, but the Hart.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Yes I'm pulling the "flavour of the month" card. Or should it be flavour of the year? Regardless I'm going with Tarasenko because he fills the checklist for the actual purpose of this trophy over others who might be in contention. While Crosby, Malkin, Voracek, Giroux and Seguin etc. might be having more offensively lucrative years than Tarasenko, it's hard to not notice that Tarasenko is the offensive lifeblood of the Blues. When he isn't going all out, things aren't going well for them. Not only is he a real threat in the Rocket Richard race, he's magic on the ice, at both ends of the ice. He generates about 7 scoring chances a night, it's absurd. Half the season should just be highlight packs of him. Even when he isn't scoring he's going all out, forcing turnovers and generating offense out of nothing. His line has basically carried the Blues offense and really masked what has been a generally disappointing year in those regards. Steen isn't the demon he was last season, Backes has 12 points, Stastny has been injured a bit, Oshie has been a right royal disaster and where the 20 goal Berglund went, only Odin knows. He has nearly twice as many goals as Schwartz, the second leading scorer on the Blues. He accounts for 22% of his teams goals, the only two who have a similar rate (Seguin 26 and Nash 22) are on teams outside the playoffs and don't have the same offensive depth. The point is, Tarasenko plays on a team that shouldn't need him to be such a one man wrecking crew, yet it seems he must be or they'll falter. i think it's also important to note that of the "top" cream of NHL scorers this year, he has the least power play points (often by 8 points give or take the compared player), a distinct disadvantage in the points race. I would bring up the shots angle and how he drives possession, but this is getting a little long winded. He's been amazing and deserves some love.
Winner : Mark Giordano
I think he's had too good a season to pick anybody else right now. The Flames go as he goes, and right now that's apparently to the playoffs.