Fansided

2016 NHL Awards watch: Karlsson, Holtby, Kane favorites

By Dave Stevenson

Oct 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 22, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) watches from the bench during the third period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Blackhawks 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) watches from the bench during the third period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Blackhawks 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Hart Trophy

The Hart Trophy is annually given to the NHL player who is deemed to be most valuable to his team. It is the NHL’s equivalent of the Most Valuable Player award. There are infinite ways to define one’s value, which makes the Hart Trophy discussion one of the most polarizing in all of professional sports.

  1. Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks: Kane has officially become “The Man” in Chicago. The Blackhawks showed incredible faith in Kane by trading Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. By doing that, Chicago basically asked Patrick Kane to be a dynamic force on offense on a nightly basis. He was asked to do this despite having two new linemates and one of those linemates (Artemi Panarin) spoke very little, if any, English. Kane has been up to the challenge and has flourished. He has a shot at pulling off the NHL’s Triple Crown as he ranks first in the league in points (56) and assists (33) and ranks second in goals (23). On the ice, Kane has been extremely valuable to the Blackhawks. His historic point streak will be weighed quite heavily.
  2. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin – Dallas Stars: Benn and Seguin have been giving Kane a good run for his money all season long. Why are they mentioned together? Because they’re tied to each other and because each will most likely cost the other the Hart Trophy. Benn and Seguin are both incredibly valuable to the Dallas Stars. Nobody can deny that. But how are you going to get first-place Hart Trophy votes when people can easily argue that you’re not the most valuable guy on your own team? One is going to have to separate himself from the other. They’re linemates, which means that’s very unlikely to happen.
  3. Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators: Karlsson’s Hart Trophy hopes are going to rely on the Senators making the playoffs. If he finishes in the top five in points in the NHL as a defenseman while leading his team to the playoffs, it’s going to be mighty hard for voters to ignore him. Hard to argue that there is a more valuable player to his team than Karlsson, but voting has traditionally not been too kind to defensemen. It’ll take a historic performance for Karlsson to win the Hart Trophy. Don’t bet against him.

Honorable mentions: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames), Schneider, Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis Blues)

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