And the Hart Trophy goes to ...

The Hart Trophy. The NHL's award is awarded annually to the "player judged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Now if you go strictly by the letter of the law - then it's a no-brainer win for Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks? Have you seen the Canucks without Boeser?

But of course that's not really how it works. It goes to the player who made the biggest impact on his team and that usually means a team that made the playoffs and played all 82 games. The only exception to this rule was in 2012 when the NHL media awarded the Hart to Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks which was bizarre to say the least. Daniel Sedin of the Canucks beat him in points and almost tied him in goals and crushed him in plus minus AND his team finished First Overall and Perry's team was 27th in the NHL. Perry had zero impact on his team but he won it anyway.

Despite that disaster it usually goes to the person who helped his team get into the playoffs.

That eliminates Boeser and Connor McDavid.

So let's cut to the chase - who are the three Finalists and why?

William Karlsson of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.
Patrick Laine of the Winnipeg Jets.

William Karlsson of the Las Vegas Golden Knights has, at time of writing. 39 goals and 26 assists and is just 2 goals off the NHL lead and is a whopping plus 39. When the plus minus matches the amount of goals you have and those goals are closing in on 40 - you've had a dynamite year.

But look at Karlsson's team. They're a bunch of castoffs from the rest of the NHL. Karlsson was a pick in the Vegas' expansion team draft from Columbus Blue Jackets. If they had known then what they know now there's no question Karlsson would NOT have been exposed in the expansion draft.

In order for Las Vegas to become the best expansion team in ANY sport in history they had to have a leader. That leader was Karlsson. Someone had to score the goals. Someone had to lead the way, light the lamp, give the entire team hope. Hope that they weren't just a bunch of castoffs or misfits. Like their scrappy coach they've been the most consistent and best team in the NHL since Game 1.

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche has led a team that went through the trials and tribulations of years of being on the junk heap and the turmoil of a star player Matt Duchene who just didn't want to be a part of it anymore. Talk about a punch to the stomach for the rest of the team.

BUT MacKinnon didn't let his team lay down and fold. He rallied the troops. He pushed his body to the limits and he may be the fastest player in the NHL with and without the puck. He pushes forward in a relentless attack and at times he's a one man wrecking ball. With his leadership his team has gone from the junk pile to respectable.

Patrick Laine of the Winnipeg Jets is a phenom. Oh did the Toronto Maple Leafs make a mistake or what? And I'm sorry to have to rub that into Leaf's misery... but it has to be said HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU NOT DRAFT PATRICK LAINE???? He's 19. He's leading the NHL in goals. He's huge. A giant of a man. And he's only 19. Can you imagine this kid at 26? Holy cow. Now don't get me wrong, Auston Matthews is a nice player, but he's no Patrick Laine.

Laine has led his team to a remarkable record and run and pulled the team out of obscurity and he may possibly save the Winnipeg Jets from being moved BACK to Atlanta. If they didn't have Laine the Jets would stink. Well, maybe that's harsh, they wouldn't be in the playoffs. Laine has help. But not a lot. He's got a good center in Mark Scheifele and together they pack a punch. The Jets are a strong contender for the Stanley Cup which you can't say about Vegas or Avalanche.

Honourable Mentions:
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning. He has so much help. And he's going to win the Art Ross.
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals. Stunningly good as always. May still win the Maurice Richard.
Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils. The former First Overall has had a terrific year. New Jersey is finally digging itself out of the hole Lou Lameriello made.

So of Laine, Karlsson and MacKinnon who should win?

Karlsson.

Karlsson and it's not even close folks.

Take a second and think about what he's done. He's lead an expansion team, starting with a horrific massacre hanging over the entire city, and he's lead them into hope.
Where would they be without him?
Think about that.
They play brilliantly. He's brilliant in both ends.
It's the right ending on a great year on a great story.

He's my Hart Trophy winner and a very deserving one.
Laine and MacKinnon will win soon.

The other guys were expected to be good teams. And Taylor Hall was gift wrapped Jordan Eberle... Is there a GM in Edmonton?




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