NHL Quick Hits: Making Sense of the Hart, Late Playoff Pushes & More

It’s that time in the season when the hockey world looks back and forward at the same time. The regular season has only four weeks remaining, believe it or not. It won’t be long before everyone is previewing the playoffs and making their picks for the end-of-the-year awards.

The award race is a good place to start, especially since there are a few in the works. Right now, it’s hard to say with confidence who will win the Norris, Vezina, or the Hart Trophy. The Hart, particularly, is a fascinating conversation because multiple players have great cases and will attract different voters.

How is the Hart Trophy Race Shaping Up?

Usually, the Hart comes down to two or three players, and this season, it looks like there are three big names followed by a few sleepers who can put themselves in the conversation. The leader all season has been the best player on the best team, and it’s hard to argue with that.

Nathan MacKinnon – It seems like MacKinnon’s great play is taken for granted. He has a league-leading 45 goals and 69 assists as the constant game-changing forward on the Colorado Avalanche. In the past, MacKinnon’s great play was taken with a grain of salt because he had Mikko Rantanen on his wing. This season, the Avalanche aren’t top-heavy, which makes the case even stronger for their top-line center, who makes everyone around him better.

Macklin Celebrini – If there’s one player who is the most valuable to their team, it’s Macklin Celebrini. He has 35 goals and 61 assists. That’s 16 goals and 30 more assists than anyone else on his team. To put it bluntly, without him, the Sharks aren’t even close to the playoffs. It’s where the voters might overlook Celebrini because his season is impressive but might end up happening on a team that finishes far from the playoffs.

Nikita Kucherov – One of the craziest facts in the modern era is that Nikita Kucherov only has one Hart Trophy (2018-19). Yet, every year he comes close but misses out to someone else who puts together a career year. Kucherov is leading the NHL in points, and with the Tampa Bay Lightning putting together a remarkable season, it will be hard to overlook him this time around.

The Defensemen – Defensemen fall into the category of being overlooked, yet are often the most valuable players on the ice. Cale Makar is having a season that can win him the Norris and the Hart. The same is true with Zach Werenski, who has helped turn the Columbus Blue Jackets into a playoff team. Then there’s the question about whether Matthew Schaefer should get votes because of the value he has to the New York Islanders. The last time a defenseman won the Hart Trophy was 1999 with Chris Pronger, so maybe it’s time to vote for one of the blue liners.

Even if the Flyers & Senators Miss The Playoffs, This Finish Signals Success

Both the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers are making late pushes for the playoffs. Both teams are within five points of a wild card spot, thanks to the Senators winning seven of their last 10 games and the Flyers winning three in a row. It’s easy to look at this as too little and too late. It’s also easy for fans to wonder why the team is suddenly winning and not fighting for a draft position.

This is vital for both teams in the big picture. The flipside is seeing a team bottom out and mentally check out, which signals that changes must be made in the offseason. Instead, these teams are proving that they are building something and can compete in the near future, even if they end up a few points short of a playoff spot.

The Flyers, in particular, must prove they are ready to compete. Last season’s team checked out the moment they sold at the trade deadline, and it ended up getting John Tortorella fired. Rick Tocchet has taken a lot of heat all season for his roster management and lineup decisions but he has the Flyers playing above their weight, and this finish confirms that.

The Senators, meanwhile, came into this season with Stanley Cup aspirations. They made the playoffs last season and looked to take a big step forward. Yes, they might miss the playoffs but if they do by only a few points, they’ll show they are closer to contention and that last season wasn’t a one-off.

Quick Hits

Cole Caufield scored a hat trick on Saturday night and is up to 43 goals on the season. It seems like every Saturday night in Montreal, he finds the back of the net. He trails MacKinnon by only one goal for the Rocket Richard award, and the question is whether he can outscore the game’s best player.

With the way things are shaping up, there can be some great first round matchups. The focus naturally is on the Central Division as the top three teams also have the three best records in the NHL. So, a Stars-Wild series could be epic. Likewise, a Pittsburgh Penguins series against the Columbus Blue Jackets can be surprisingly fun, with both teams being nearby rivals.

The hockey world is mourning the loss of Jessi Pierce, who tragically passed away at 37 years old. Pierce covered the Minnesota Wild but was far more significant to the hockey world than just an NHL beat. She brought energy and enthusiasm to hockey that even those who didn’t know her well could feel. The tributes have been touching and are worth reading for anyone in the hockey world (Joe Smith and Michael Russo’s on The Athletic is a must)

When Larry Brooks passed away earlier in the season, a part of the way hockey was covered died with him. Brooks, in some ways, was the last columnist whom everyone read and, more importantly, had gravity with his words as he could change how teams and players operated with his pieces. With Jessi Pierce, hockey coverage will be a step behind. The fans won’t receive the same energy that she provided, the same passion for the game that was reflected in her writing and podcasting. Our hearts go out to her and the ones closest to her.