ESPN Fantasy Baseball / Yahoo Fantasy Baseball
After St. Louis Blues defenseman
It was assumed voting couldn't get any closer but in 2002,
The Hart Trophy has had its share of close finishes, and this season's race seems too close to call. A look at leading contenders:
1. Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens): Theodore and Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) are the only goaltenders to win the Hart Trophy over the past 50 years, but Price is the favorite to win this season. He's why the Canadiens are challenging for the league's top record.
The Canadiens ranked 24th in goals per game, but Price had made them dominant with a 1.92 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.
The Hart is supposed to go to the player judged most valuable to his team, and that describes Price. No goalie has been as statistically dominant since Hasek had similar numbers in 1998-99.
2. Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals): Ovechkin has scored 50 goals in a season in which the scoring champion likely will have fewer points than any NHL scoring champ since 1967-68. Heading into Thursday's games, Ovechkin had 10 more goals than any other player in the NHL, and he led the league with 11 game-winning goals. His work to be a better all-around player has helped the Capitals become a playoff team. He can control a game with his physical play, shot and offensive flair.
3. Devin Dubnyk (Minnesota Wild): General manager Chuck Fletcher's trade for the goaltender turned around the Wild's season. With Dubnyk playing Vezina Trophy-style hockey, the Wild have played like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He was the missing piece.
4. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins): Crosby has missed five games, and his team has been overrun by injuries and hasn't played well. But he was leading the NHL scoring race and helped the Penguins to the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. He also ranks among the top 25 in league in the enhanced statistical category of shots attempted vs. shots against his team while he is on the ice. That's a puck possession indicator.
5. John Tavares (New York Islanders): Tavares was third in the NHL scoring race with 77 points, and no teammate had 50 points. He's the flag carrier for the Islanders rise to contending status. He's the team's offensive catalyst, leader and clutch performer. He's the face of the franchise, and the Islanders wouldn't be where they are this season without Tavares showing his teammates how to get there.
6. Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks): He is the best player on the NHL's best team. The Ducks are leading the Presidents' Trophy race and Getzlaf had a team-high 68 points in 76 games. His blend of size and skill causes matchup problems for most of the Ducks' Western Conference opponents.
7. Vladimir Tarasenko (Blues): Tarasenko, 23, has become one of the NHL's most dangerous offensive players. He's two strides away from being on a breakaway.
The Blues have a different look and feel this season, mostly because Tarasenko has taken his offensive production to another level. He has a +25 plus-minus to go with his 36 goals.
8. Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators): Rinne's performance level was on par with Price's early in the season, but he has cooled a bit. His return to health is the primary explanation for the Predators being better than expected this season. He has been the difference in many of his team's wins this season.
CBS Sports Fantasy Baseball / RotoWire Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonthman.html
No comments:
Post a Comment