It's definitely Geno's to lose at this point. The only way Stamkos has a chance is if the Lightning get in the playoffs and I doubt that happens. I'd say it's a landslide for Geno at this point. I'd guess the finalists at this point are Geno, Lundquist and Giroux.
If Tampa doesn't make the playoffs, Stamkos has no shot at all. Many voters, probably over half, are adamantly against giving the Hart to a non-playoff player. After all, if you miss the playoffs, how can you be adjudged to have been the most-valuable player to your team?
I think that it does become an important factor and I think it is a shame. It is akin to using a team stat to explain individual performance.
Further, I think the spirit of it is misplaced. It has the same feeling as the proponents of those who throw their support behind stars in large markets because they have to deal with the "pressure" of a big market. Needless to say, I think both are bunk in terms of award voting.
I agree in some cases it wouldnt be fair. In this case however I think it is.
When you look at the circumstances surrounding why the two teams are where they are in the standings.
Mainly that Tampa regardless of Stamkos hasnt looked like a playoff team most of the season. The Penguins were on a downward spiral towards missing the playoffs....until Malkin picked up the whole team and carried them back into a firm playoff position. The two are reasonably close in points right, and the quality of the team around them should factor in, but Geno has improved in every area of his game he could. Done everything possible to help and inspire the team.
You can say that Stamkos' team not being playoff bound(most likely) shouldnt be a factor but I feel that Malkin steering his team to the playoffs should be.
It's definitely Geno's to lose at this point. The only way Stamkos has a chance is if the Lightning get in the playoffs and I doubt that happens. I'd say it's a landslide for Geno at this point. I'd guess the finalists at this point are Geno, Lundquist and Giroux.
Wait and watch: Within two weeks, Giroux will be overtaken in the points race by 4 or 5 guys. A lot of that will have to do with the Flyers' backend being decimated, the rest of it will have had to do with most of his points being piled up under crazy unsustainable shooting percentages that regressed to career averages (when Giroux was leading the league in goals, he was shooting at 25%; until the all-star break Hartnell was as well; both shooting percentages have dropped like stones). Giroux won't be a finalist because he'll have no leg to stand on in being put there.
My guess is, if Stamkos can't get enough 3rd place votes to be there, it will be either Quick or Karlsson.
Geno has improved in all aspects of his game this year. He will have to hold off Stamkos for most points to win the Hart,IMO. Lundy does have a great D in front of him blocking a lot of shots. I believe he has a lock on the Veznia. Still quite a few games left though, anything can happen.
I'll repeat. Karlsson, 21 year old defender, 67 points in 67 games and Ottawa was supposed to be out of the playoffs at the halfway point of the season, yet they are right there fighting for home ice advantage. He deserves to be at least in 3rd place and ahead of any goalie.
I'll repeat. Karlsson, 21 year old defender, 67 points in 67 games and Ottawa was supposed to be out of the playoffs at the halfway point of the season, yet they are right there fighting for home ice advantage. He deserves to be at least in 3rd place and ahead of any goalie.
Maybe over the goalies mentioned but I think the only player that should truely give Malkin a run is Mike Smith. The guys been awesome and the Yotes would be dead in the water without him.
Maybe over the goalies mentioned but I think the only player that should truely give Malkin a run is Mike Smith. The guys been awesome and the Yotes would be dead in the water without him.
I don't agree. Whitney and Vrbata have been carrying that team just as Smith.
Malkin is the current frontrunner. But if Tampa makes the playoffs, Stamkos will win it. And maybe not undeservedly so. That's why I want Geno to win the Art Ross. There's nothing subjective about the scoring title. You go out and win that on your own. There are no arguments to make. And if he does it playing 7 less games than the runner-up, it's all the more impressive.
Personally, I think Malkin deserved the Hart in 2007-08. He carried the Pens on his back when Sid missed more than a quarter of the season with a high ankle sprain. To me, that was the definintion of "most valuable to his team."
If Malkin can get his Pens to finish 1st in conference with most man games lost, most points, it will not matter if Stamkos gets 60 goals and his team makes 8th seed, Malkins season would be far more impressive.
