Todd Cordell: Bovada not optimistic about Gaudreau's Hart Trophy chances

Gaudreau taking home the Hart and Conn Smythe this year.

I must be missing something. Everyone (well, almost everyone) has been saying what a great job BT has been doing, the top six are improved, and now there's no comparison with last year's bottom six, James Neal is this, Lindholm is that, Hanifin can be as good, even better maybe than DH, everbody's better than Ferland..... And last year was a dumpster fire, etc etc.
Now Gaudreau might have to be taken seriously IF we can manage to "sneak" into the post-season in a "mediocre" division? What's wrong with this picture? I don't get it.
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I must be missing something. Everyone (well, almost everyone) has been saying what a great job BT has been doing, the top six are improved, and now there's no comparison with last year's bottom six, James Neal is this, Lindholm is that, Hanifin can be as good, even better maybe than DH, everbody's better than Ferland..... And last year was a dumpster fire, etc etc.
Now Gaudreau might have to be taken seriously IF we can manage to "sneak" into the post-season in a "mediocre" division? What's wrong with this picture? I don't get it.
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- itwasin

I think this is what's going to make it such an intriguing season. I'm a life long Flames Fan and can honestly say I can see them taking the division, however I can also see them finishing 5th/6th in the division. There isn't one team that is far and away better than the group. San Jose maybe, but it's the same team returning and Burns drives the bus from the back end and he regressed last year a bit, he's also going into his 33/34 year old season (not unlike Gio). Every team has questions marks except Vancouver who will lose for Hughes (and that's what they should do.).

I must be missing something. Everyone (well, almost everyone) has been saying what a great job BT has been doing, the top six are improved, and now there's no comparison with last year's bottom six, James Neal is this, Lindholm is that, Hanifin can be as good, even better maybe than DH, everbody's better than Ferland..... And last year was a dumpster fire, etc etc.
Now Gaudreau might have to be taken seriously IF we can manage to "sneak" into the post-season in a "mediocre" division? What's wrong with this picture? I don't get it.
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- itwasin

I mean, Hanifin has good results but in a sheltered role and Hamonic was a train wreck for most of last year. They really need that pairing to be good

I must be missing something. Everyone (well, almost everyone) has been saying what a great job BT has been doing, the top six are improved, and now there's no comparison with last year's bottom six, James Neal is this, Lindholm is that, Hanifin can be as good, even better maybe than DH, everbody's better than Ferland..... And last year was a dumpster fire, etc etc.
Now Gaudreau might have to be taken seriously IF we can manage to "sneak" into the post-season in a "mediocre" division? What's wrong with this picture? I don't get it.
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- itwasin

I wouldnt lose any sleep worrying about it. Looking at the names of the players on that list are pretty freaking good. So would it be a shock Gaudreau doesnt win the Hart? Hardly. If he wins it, well hockey will be pretty fun in cowtown. I think Peters will be able to put 4 of the best line combos we havent seen in ages. I would love to see us come at teams in waves pressuring their D, aggressively forechecking & creating havoc & high scoring chances. These oddsmakers can put out whatever they want, the games still have to be played. I prefer the underdog role flying under the radar.

The only thing that matters is results and hype. Calgary does not get a lot of either so not surprised by any of these lists.

I mean, Hanifin has good results but in a sheltered role and Hamonic was a train wreck for most of last year. They really need that pairing to be good
- ToddCordellCGY

Hamilton had very sheltered role as well when he was Hanifin’s age playing on a very strong Boston team. As far as hamonic just wait for this year. Dougie Hamilton’s first year on the flames had a lot of flames fans calling for him to be traded. It takes some time to learn a new conference, new division and the style that goes with them. Not to mention Dougie had the benefit of playing with a defender like Gio where hamonic had to play with Brodie who not only had a new defence partner to learn to play with but was also playing on a off wing and trying to figure that out as well.

Below is a comparison between Hamilton and Hanifin’s first 3 years in the league. Also keep in mind Hamilton was playing for Boston that was challenging to the cup year after year and Hanifin was playing for a rebuilding Carolina team.

Hanifin: first three seasons
ages (19-21)
83pts in 239 games

Hamilton: first three seasons
ages (20-22)
83 pts in 178 games

For me I think the team having success and winning the Cup is a lot better then individual rewards. I'm looking forward to when the smoke is all gone and October rolls around. Has anyone heard any update on Hanifin's contract extension??

I'd be much more concerned about this if I thought Johnny needed to have a Hart calibre season to make it. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Johnny win it, but I don't think we need him to to be successful as a team, so who really cares?,

I mean he is on the list for one of the top 20 wingers so theres that i guess

The only thing that matters is results and hype. Calgary does not get a lot of either so not surprised by any of these lists.
- DuranDuran

, the other Canadian franchises just get the latter, but the Flames will earn the first this upcoming season.

Don't look too much into casino odds. The people running the sports books know far more than pretty much everyone else, but the numbers aren't really what they actually think. The numbers are skewed in a way to get the most people to bet on something that's really stupid to bet on. Gaudreau probably has a similar chance to the people in the 15-20 range, but he doesn't have quite the same star power yet so they inflate the odds so "smart" fans will say, "Wow, look at those odds, I may as well put a few bucks on him."

At this point, betting on anyone but McDavid is a pretty silly bet. Betting on sports at all is a pretty silly thing to do.

Don't look too much into casino odds. The people running the sports books know far more than pretty much everyone else, but the numbers aren't really what they actually think. The numbers are skewed in a way to get the most people to bet on something that's really stupid to bet on. Gaudreau probably has a similar chance to the people in the 15-20 range, but he doesn't have quite the same star power yet so they inflate the odds so "smart" fans will say, "Wow, look at those odds, I may as well put a few bucks on him."

At this point, betting on anyone but McDavid is a pretty silly bet. Betting on sports at all is a pretty silly thing to do.
- Hunkulese

Oh , I don't know?
$20 on Johnny for the Hart at 50-1 doesn't sound like the worst thing I've ever wasted $20 on!?!?!

Oh , I don't know?
$20 on Johnny for the Hart at 50-1 doesn't sound like the worst thing I've ever wasted $20 on!?!?!
- InSutterWeTrust

Well, hopefully we'll be talking to a new thousandaire in ten months.

Have we traded for Karlsson yet?

Have we traded for Karlsson yet?
- K-man25

I'll just settle for signing Hanifin.

I'll just settle for signing Hanifin.
- Helios

Sometimes you gotta set your sights higher.
Sign Hanifan trade him for Karlsson!

Sometimes you gotta set your sights higher.
Sign Hanifan trade him for Karlsson!
- K-man25

Are there any pics of Karlsson in Flames-bedsheets?