Mar 19, 2016
Thumbs down to disappointing Canadian teams, up to Hart favourite Kane
TSN's Dave Hodge gives a thumbs down to disappointing seasons from Canadian NHL teams and assesses which teams have let their fans down the most but offers a thumbs up to the accomplishments of Hart Trophy favourite Patrick Kane.
By Dave Hodge
In almost any other hockey season, fans of two Canadian-based NHL teams could have a great time deciding which team was better. Maybe even which one might have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup.
In this season, the argument seeks to determine which team has given its fans the greatest disappointment.
At first glance, Montreal must surely top the other six teams for delivering the biggest letdown. It’s a precipitous fall from second place in the full league standings a year ago to where the Canadiens are now, and though there are Habs fans who don’t want to admit it, a healthy Carey Price wasn’t all that was needed to put Montreal a few points away from the Presidents Trophy again.
But it says here that Montreal is neck-and-neck with three other teams for making the loudest burst of last season’s balloon. Fans in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver are invited to defend the inclusion of their teams at the top of the list. It was not supposed to be like this for the Jets, Flames and Canucks after all three qualified for last season’s playoffs.
I’ll put the Jets right with the Canadiens for the reversal that was least expected. Flames next, followed by the Canucks. Then there’s something of a drop to the Ottawa Senators. Where’s Edmonton, you say? Fans of the Oilers are mostly disappointed that Connor McDavid got hurt. Otherwise, they are surely past the point of being let down.
And Toronto has produced exactly what was promised this season. There will only be disappointment if the Leafs wind up higher than 30th in the final standings. Toronto fans must have a hard time dealing with the fact the Leafs are in the cellar and have given them nothing to complain about. I’ve seen the Leafs mess with the minds of their followers many different ways, but try to tell a Leaf joke this season, and you get a blank stare.
Collectively, it’s an easy “thumbs down” to the great Canadian shutout. It’s somewhat harder to know where to start in assessing the fallout.
Maybe it’s because the Chicago Blackhawks sit third in the Central Division, or perhaps it’s because Patrick Kane isn’t popular everywhere he goes, but there seems to be a late-season search for viable Hart Trophy candidates apart from the flashy Chicago winger. Cases are being made for Jamie Benn, the leading scorer on a Dallas Stars team that leads the Central Division, for Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s top goal-scorer, and in defiance of all the early-season talk about what’s wrong with Sidney Crosby, there could be some votes cast for Sid.
In my mind, Drew Doughty might be the best alternative to Kane. He’s the biggest reason the Los Angeles Kings have emerged as such strong Stanley Cup contenders, probably a 1-2 choice with Washington, and Doughty is in line to grab the elusive Norris Trophy for the first time.
But never mind the search. Patrick Kane is still the same Hart Trophy favourite he has been most of the season, third place or no third place for his team.
“Thumbs up” to Kane’s league-leading 92 points, to the entertainment he provides and to the way he has contributed to Artemi Panarin’s Calder Trophy candidacy. For those who are not as willing to forget about his alleged off-ice behaviour as the NHL was when it cleared him of any wrongdoing in Buffalo last summer, please realize the Hart Trophy is a hockey award. Furthermore, it might be argued that Kane’s excellent play is worthy of extra praise for the fact he was able to avoid the distraction of investigations by the authorities and the NHL.
You don’t have to love him to vote for him. With Doughty a rather close second, Patrick Kane has been the NHL’s best player this season.