If you are just going to take 1 point I made and ignore all the others then don't bother. I am making objective observations as a fan.

My bad, I didn't know that I was obliged to comment on every single point you made.

We have a legit conversation happening here, and rightfully so.

This is a good debate.

McDavid currently has 99 assists, and Matthews has 100 points to lead Toronto in scoring.


Shout out to Panarin, Rantanen, Hyman, Bouchard, and Dobson for having great seasons, and not getting the recognition you deserve.

I only did the 3 publicly discussed candidates in the analysis. Bouchard hasn't been in the conversation amongst the national media.

Depends on your sources, I guess.

https://thehockeywriters.com/2023-24-norris-trophy-tracker/

I think you're forgetting another stat Matthews has that's a little more important... I think it's _0 that he's chasing... Or is it potentially having the most hat-tricks in a single season since Wayne Gretzky?

Or is it doing all that while being Toronto's shutdown player? And a Selke caliber defensive player (nobody has ever won the Selke while scoring 60+, Matthews can win it while scoring 70+)

Either way, it's not only having 100+ points

70 goals would be an awesome achievement for sure, it's only been done 14 times in history by 8 different players, and not since 92-93 when Mogilny and Selanne scored 76 each.

But McDavid is on pace to score 110 assists, which has only been done 9 times by 2 different players: Gretzky (8x) and Lemieux. The last time 110 assists was achieved was 90-91 by Wayne Gretzky.

Pretty incredible that McDavid and Matthews are chasing numbers we haven't seen in 30 years.

It is incredible...

TBH, It should be 97 vs 34 for the Hart... Just like it was 2 years ago... No matter whose side you are on, the other deserves 2nd IMO

I had heard some talking about Ekholm but that's the first I've seen put Bouchard in the mix. Early in the year Dobson and him were there but support for them among writers seems to have dropped off. Alex Chauvancy isn't a PHWA member or voter either.

Come on. Google "Bouchard Norris" and you'll see dozens of articles.

MacK

I didn't know that I was obliged to research your points for you

"That's the first I've seen"

Then you haven't been looking. This is your post and you've admittedly done very little research. Awkward.

Voting has shifted dramatically in this poll, which is understandable.


These numbers are fluid and should change slightly, but not significantly:

Kucherov: 77 GP, 43 G, 96 A, 139 Points, +9
MacKinnon: 79 GP, 51 G, 86 A, 137 Points, +37
Matthews: 77 GP, 66 G, 38 A, 104 Points, +36
McDavid: 74 GP, 31 G, 99 A, 130 Points, +34
Panarin: 79 GP, 46 G, 70 A, 116 Points, +16


All of these players are having Hart Trophy worthy seasons, and I'm sure the winner will be a deserving vote.

Thanks for participating in the poll and in the general discussion.