Reevaluating the Hart Part 6: The Dead Puck Era

In Part 6 of our Hart Trophy series, we examine the Hart Trophies awarded between the strikes of 1995 and 2004, much of which is colloquially known as “The Dead Puck Era” due to the low scoring of the late ’90s and early ’00s

Listen here:

2005 – Gary Bettman, P, NHL

2004 – Martin St. Louis, RW, Lightning (2nd by points, 3rd by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Peter Forsberg (1.41PPG, 55P, 7.4 PS)
• Art Ross: Martin St. Louis (94P, 1.15PPG, 13.2 PS)
• MVS by PS: Martin St. Louis
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Joe Sakic (10.8 PS, 87P)
  • MVF by OPS: Martin St. Louis
  • MVD by PS: Scott Niedermayer (12 PS, 54P)
  • MVD by DPS: Scott Niedermayer (+20)
• MVG: Roberto Luongo (20.9 PS, 25-33-14, .931%, 2.43 GAA, 48 GSAA, 7 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: 
    • Pavel Datsyuk (68P, 8.4 PS)
    • Brett Hull (68P, 7.8 PS)
  • MVS by PS: 
    • Mathieu Schneider (9.8 PS, 46P)
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Senators)
  • by Points: Marian Hossa (82P, 10.8 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Marian Hossa
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Devils)
  • (skater) by PS: Scott Niedermayer
  • by DPS: Scott Niedermayer
  • by GPS: Martin Brodeur (12.5 PS, 38-26-11, 9.17%, 2.03 GAA, 10 GSAA, 11 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Martin St. Louis
• Norris: Scott Niedermayer
• Selke: Kris Draper (40P, +22, 6 PS)
• Vezina: Martin Brodeur
• Jennings: Martin Brodeur

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Datsyuk	Red Wings	75	30	38	68	27	8.4	0.40	0.51	0.91	0.36	0.11	20th	No
Forsberg	Avalanche	39	18	37	55	19	7.4	0.46	0.95	1.41	0.49	0.19	No	No
Gomez	Devils	80	14	56	70	22	8.1	0.18	0.70	0.88	0.28	0.10	No	No
Hull, Br	Red Wings	81	25	43	68	25	7.8	0.31	0.53	0.84	0.31	0.10	No	No
Iginla	Flames	81	41	32	73	31	11.1	0.51	0.40	0.90	0.38	0.14	2nd	No
Kovalchuk	Thrashers	81	41	46	87	34	10.6	0.51	0.57	1.07	0.42	0.13	10th	No
Nash	Blue Jackets	80	41	16	57	21	7.7	0.51	0.20	0.71	0.26	0.10	25th	No
Niedermayer	Devils	81	14	40	54	18	12	0.17	0.49	0.67	0.22	0.15	9th	No
Sakic	Avalanche	81	33	54	87	32	10.8	0.41	0.67	1.07	0.40	0.13	7th	No
Savard	Thrashers	45	19	33	52	19	5.9	0.42	0.73	1.16	0.42	0.13	No	No
Schneider	Red Wings	78	14	32	46	16	9.8	0.18	0.41	0.59	0.21	0.13	No	No
St. Louis	Lightning	82	38	56	94	36	13.2	0.46	0.68	1.15	0.44	0.16	Yes	Yes

Voting Breakdown:

1. St. Louis: 97 1st place votes, 96.76% total vote points
2. Jarome Iginla: 2 1st place votes, 24.1% total vote points
3. Brodeur: 2 1st place votes, 20.29% total vote points
4. Miikka Kiprusoff: 0 first place votes; 18.38% total vote points
5. Markus Naslund: 0 first place votes; 16.76% total vote points

Other First Place Votes:

• Luongo: 2 1st place votes, 15.9% total vote points (6th)
• Ed Belfour: 1 1st place vote, 5.62% total vote points (10th)
• Joe Thornton: 1 1st place vote, 3.52% total vote points (14th)

Verdict:

Good!

2003 – Peter Forsberg, C, Avalanche (6th by points, 4th by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Peter Forsberg (1.41PPG, 106P, 13.6 PS)
• Art Ross: Peter Forsberg
• MVS by PS: Milan Hejduk (14.6 PS, 98P)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Joe Thornton (12.1 PS, 101P)
  • MVF by OPS: Milan Hejduk
  • MVD by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom (13.2 PS, 62P)
  • MVD by DPS: Derian Hatcher (9.3 PS, 30P, +37)
• MVG: Roberto Luongo (14.4 PS, 20-34-7, .918%, 2.66 GAA, 19 GSAA, 6 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Senators)
  • by Points: Marian Hossa (80P, 11.1 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Marian Hossa
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: Sergei Fedorov (83P, 10.1 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Sergei Fedorov
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Flyers, Devils – ahead of the 3rd best team by 3 goals)
  • (skater) by PS: 
    • Eric Desjardins (9.2 PS, 32P)
    • Scott Niedermayer (10.1 PS, 39P)
  • by DPS: 
    • Eric Desjardins (+30)
    • Scott Niedermayer (+23)
  • by GPS: 
    • Martin Brodeur (11.4 PS, 41-23-9, .914 SV%, 2.02 GAA, 9 GSAA, 9 SO)
    • Roman Cechmanek (10.9 PS, 33-15-10, .925%, 1.83 GAA, 23 GSAA, 6 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Markus Naslund (104P, 13.5 PS)
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom
• Selke: Jere Lehtinen (48P, +39, 7.5 PS)
• Vezina: Martin Brodeur
• Jennings:
  • Martin Brodeur
  • Roman Cechmanek
  • Robert Esche (12-9-3, .907 SV%, 2.20 GAA, -1 GSAA, 2 SO, 3.8 PS

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Bertuzzi	Canucks	82	46	51	97	38	12.3	0.56	0.62	1.18	0.46	0.15	5th	No
Forsberg	Avalanche	75	29	77	106	36	13.6	0.39	1.03	1.41	0.48	0.18	Yes	No
Hejduk	Avalanche	82	50	48	98	39	14.6	0.61	0.59	1.20	0.48	0.18	12th	No
Hossa	Senators	80	45	35	80	33	11.1	0.56	0.44	1.00	0.41	0.14	10th	No
Lemieux	Penguins	67	28	63	91	32	9.4	0.42	0.94	1.36	0.48	0.14	15th	No
Lidstrom	Red Wings	82	18	44	62	22	13.2	0.22	0.54	0.76	0.27	0.16	8th	No
Naslund	Canucks	82	48	56	104	41	13.5	0.59	0.68	1.27	0.50	0.16	2nd	Yes
Thornton	Bruins	77	36	65	101	37	12.1	0.47	0.84	1.31	0.48	0.16	4th	No

Voting Breakdown:

1. Forsberg: 38 1st place votes, 81.94% total vote points
2. Naslund: 5 1st place votes, 55.16% total vote points
3. Brodeur: 14 1st place votes, 50.16% total vote points
4. Thornton: 0 first place votes; 21.13% total vote points
5. Todd Bertuzzi: 2 1st place votes, 16.13% total vote points

Other first place votes:

• Mike Modano: 1 1st place vote, 6.94% total vote points (7th)
• Fedorov: 1 1st place vote, 3.55% total vote points (9th)
• Patrick Roy: 1 1st place vote, 1.61% total vote points (12th)

This strikes us as perfectly reasonable. However, if the Panthers had made the playoffs, maybe Forsberg loses out to Luongo, yuk yuk yuk.

Verdict:

Good!

2002 – Jose Theodore, G, Canadiens (18th by points, 19th by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Todd Bertuzzi (1.18PPG, 85P, 11.2 PS)
• Art Ross: Jarome Iginla (96P, 1.17PPG, 14.4 PS)
• MVS by PS: Jarome Iginla
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Rob Blake (12.2 PS, 56P)
  • MVF by OPS: Jarome Iginla
  • MVD by PS: Rob Blake
  • MVD by DPS: Chris Chelios (10 PS, 39P, +40)
• MVG: Jose Theodore (17.4 PS, 30-24-10, .931%, 2.11 GAA, 46 GSAA, 7 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: Brendan Shanahan (75P, 10.3 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom (10.5 PS, 59P)
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Canucks, by 3 goals)
  • by Points: Markus Naslund (90P, 11.9 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Markus Naslund
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Avalanche)
  • (skater) by PS: Rob Blake
  • by DPS: Rob Blake
  • by GPS: Patrick Roy (13.3 PS, 32-23-8, .925%, 1.94 GAA, 28 GSAA, 9 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Jarome Iginla
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom
• Selke: Michael Peca (60P, +19, 7.2 PS)
• Vezina: Jose Theodore
• Jennings: Patrick Roy

Best Player Racer:

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Bertuzzi	Canucks	72	36	49	85	32	11.2	0.50	0.68	1.18	0.44	0.16	No	No
Blake	Avalanche	75	16	40	56	19	12.2	0.21	0.53	0.75	0.25	0.16	No	No
Iginla	Flames	82	52	44	96	41	14.4	0.63	0.54	1.17	0.50	0.18	2nd	Yes
Jagr	Capitals	69	31	48	79	30	9.1	0.45	0.70	1.14	0.43	0.13	No	No
Kovalev	Penguins	67	32	44	76	29	9.1	0.48	0.66	1.13	0.43	0.14	No	No
Lidstrom	Red Wings	78	9	50	59	18	10.5	0.12	0.64	0.76	0.23	0.13	No	No
Naslund	Canucks	81	40	50	90	35	11.9	0.49	0.62	1.11	0.43	0.15	5th	No
Oates	Two Teams	80	14	64	78	25	6.6	0.18	0.80	0.98	0.31	0.08	No	No
Shanahan	Red Wings	80	37	38	75	30	10.3	0.46	0.48	0.94	0.38	0.13	8th	No

Voting Breakdown:

1. Theodore: 26 1st place votes, 70% total vote points
2. Iginla: 23 1st place votes, 70% total vote points
3. Roy: 8 1st place votes, 45.65% total vote points
4. Sean Burke: 2 1st place votes, 27.74% total vote points
5. Ron Francis: 1 1st place vote, 7.74% total vote points
6. Joe Sakic: 2 1st place votes, 6.61% total vote points

This is the vote that shows why we need an MVG award. Yes, the Habs are not a playoff team this year without Theodore. But the award traditionally goes to a forward (prior to Hasek), so why this year? Who had the better career now?

Verdict:

Controversial

2001 – Joe Sakic, C, Avalanche (1st in points, 2nd in SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Mario Lemieux (1.77PPG, 76P, 9.5 PS)
• Art Ross: Jaromir Jagr (121P, 1.49PPG, 14.1 PS)
• MVS by PS: Joe Sakic (15.9 PS, 118P)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Gary Suter (6.9 PS, 34P)
  • MVF by OPS: Joe Sakic
  • MVD by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom (12.2 PS, 71P)
  • MVD by DPS: Sergei Zubov (10.7 PS, 51P, +22)
• MVG: Sean Burke (14.4 PS, 25-22-13, .922%, 2.27 GAA, 33 GSAA, 4 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Avalanche)
  • by Points: Joe Sakic
  • MVS by PS: Joe Sakic
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Devils)
  • by Points: Patrik Elias (96P, 12.5 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Patrik Elias
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Sabres, by 3 goals)
  • (skater) by PS: Alexei Zhitnik (7.3 PS, 37P)
  • by DPS: Rhett Warrener (5.5 PS, 19P, +10)
  • by GPS: Dominik Hasek (13.9 PS, 37-24-4, .921%, 2.11 GAA, 30 GSAA, 11 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Joe Sakic
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom
• Selke: John Madden (38P, +24, 4.6 PS)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek
• Jennings: Dominik Hasek

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Bure	Panthers	82	59	33	92	41	11.9	0.72	0.40	1.12	0.50	0.15	9th	No
Jagr	Penguins	81	52	69	121	46	14.1	0.64	0.85	1.49	0.57	0.17	3rd	No
Lemieux	Penguins	43	35	41	76	29	9.5	0.81	0.95	1.77	0.67	0.22	2nd	No
Oates	Capitals	81	13	69	82	25	6.5	0.16	0.85	1.01	0.31	0.08	No	No
Sakic	Avalanche	82	54	64	118	46	15.9	0.66	0.78	1.44	0.56	0.19	Yes	Yes

Voting Breakdown:

1. Sakic: 53 1st place votes, 93.87% total vote points
2. Lemieux: 8 1st place votes, 43.87% total vote points
3. Jagr: 0 first place votes; 33.87% total vote points
4. Roman Cechmanek: 0 first place votes; 14.35% total vote points
5. Martin Brodeur: 0 first place votes; 10.32% total vote points

Other first place votes

• Markus Naslund: 1 1st place vote, 3.23% total vote points (11th)

Verdict:

Good!

2000 – Chris Pronger, D, Blues (1st)

• Best Player by PPG: Jaromir Jagr (1.52 PPG, 96P, 12.2 PS)
• Art Ross: Jaromir Jagr
• MVS by PS: Chris Pronger (14.8 PS, 62P)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Pavel Bure (13.5 PS, 94P)
  • MVF by PS: Pavel Bure
  • MVF by OPS: Pavel Bure
  • MVD by DPS: Chris Pronger (+52)
• MVG: Olaf Kolzig (14.6 PS, 41-20-11, .917%, 2.24 GAA, 24 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Blues)
  • by Points: Pavol Demitra (75P, 9.7 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Chris Pronger
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: Steve Yzerman (79P, 9.8 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Brendan Shanahan (78P, 10.5 PS)
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Blues)
  • (skater) by PS: Chris Pronger
  • by DPS: Chris Pronger
  • by GPS: Roman Turek (42-15-9, .912%, 1.95 GAA, 12 SO, 7 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Jarormir Jagr
• Norris: Chris Pronger
• Selke: Steve Yzerman (+28)
• Vezina: Olaf Kozig
• Jennings: Roman Turek

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Bure	Panthers	74	58	36	94	41	13.5	0.78	0.49	1.27	0.55	0.18	3rd	No
Demitra	Blues	71	28	47	75	28	9.7	0.39	0.66	1.06	0.39	0.14	No	No
Jagr	Penguins	63	42	54	96	37	12.2	0.67	0.86	1.52	0.59	0.19	2nd	Yes
Pronger	Blues	79	14	48	62	20	14.8	0.18	0.61	0.78	0.25	0.19	Yes	No
Recchi	Flyers	82	28	63	91	33	10.7	0.34	0.77	1.11	0.40	0.13	6th	No
Sakic	Avalanche	60	28	53	81	30	10.1	0.47	0.88	1.35	0.50	0.17	14th	No
Turgeon	Blues	52	26	40	66	25	9	0.50	0.77	1.27	0.48	0.17	No	No

Voting Breakdown:

1. Pronger: 25 1st place votes, 68.28% total vote points
2. Jagr: 18 1st place votes, 68.10% total vote points
3. Bure: 11 1st place votes, 59.66% toval vote points
4. Kolzig: 2 1st place votes, 23.97% total vote points
5. Owen Nolan: 1 1st place vote, 10.69% total vote points

Other players to get first place votes:

• Yzerman: 1 1st place vote, 4.48% total vote points

It’s weird to us that this is one of the closest votes in history as Pronger easily meets the “best player on the best team” criterion.

Verdict:

Good!

1999 – Jaromir Jagr, RW, Penguins (11th)

• Best Player by PPG: Jaromir Jagr (1.57 PPG, 127P, 14.6 PS)
• Art Ross: Jaromir Jagr
• MVS by PS: Jaromir Jagr
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Jaromir Jagr
  • MVF by OPS: Jaromir Jagr
  • MVD by PS: Al Macinnis (13.6 PS, 62P)
  • MVD by DPS: Al MacInnis (+33)
• MVG: Dominik Hasek (16.8 PS, 30-18-14, .937%, 1.87 GAA, 54 GSAA, 9 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Stars)
  • by Points: Mike Modano (81P, 10.7 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Mike Modano
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Maple Leafs)
  • by Points: Mats Sundin (83P, 8.9 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Mats Sundin
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Stars)
  • (skater) by PS: Mike Modano
  • by DPS: Derian Hatcher (8.6 PS, 30P, +21)
  • by GPS: Ed Belfour (9.1 PS, 35-15-9, .915%, 1.99 GAA, 10 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Jaromir Jagr
• Norris: Al Macinnis
• Selke: Jere Lehtinen (52P, +29, 6.5 PS)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek
• Jennings:
  • Ed Belfour
  • Roman Turek (16-3-3, 9.15 SV%, 2.29 GAA, 4 GSAA, 1 SO)

Voting Breakdown:

1. Jagr: 51 1st place votes, 96.96% total vote points
2. Alexei Yashin: 0 first place votes; 40.36% total vote points
3. Hasek: 4 1st place votes, 30.71% total vote points
4. Curtis Joseph: 1 1st place vote, 21.07% total vote points
5. Teemu Selanne: 0 first place votes; 19.82% total vote points

And we’re back to the Gretzky approach.

Verdict:

Fine!

1998 – Dominik Hasek (2nd), G, Sabres (10th by points, 9th by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Jaromir Jagr (1.32 PPG, 102P)
• Art Ross: Jaromir Jagr
• MVS by PS: Teemu Selanne (13.3 PS, 86P)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Alexei Yashin (9.5 PS, 72P)
  • MVF by OPS: Teemu Selanne
  • MVD by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom (11.6 PS, 59P)
  • MVD by DPS: Chris Pronger (10.3 PS, 36P, +47)
• MVG: Dominik Hasek (18.6 PS, 33-23-13, .932%, 2.09 GAA, 54 GSAA, 13 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Stars)
  • by Points: Joe Nieuwendyk (69P, 10 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Sergei Zubov (11 PS, 57P)
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Blues)
  • by Points: Brett Hull (72P, 8.4 PS)
  • MVS by OPS: Brett Hull
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Devils, by 1 goal)
  • (skater) by PS: Scott Niedermayer (10.8 PS, 57P)
  • by DPS: Scott Stevens (7.7 PS, 26P, +19)
  • by GPS: Martin Brodeur (11.1 PS, 43-17-8, .917%, 1.89 GAA, 17 GSAA, 10 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Dominik Hasek
• Norris: Rob Blake (50P, -3, 8.8 PS)
• Selke: Jere Lehtinen (42P, +19, 5.7 PS)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek
• Jennings: Martin Brodeur

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	TL
Bondra	Capitals	76	52	26	78	35	12.1	0.68	0.34	1.03	0.46	0.16	No	No
Bure	Canucks	82	51	39	90	40	12.9	0.62	0.48	1.10	0.49	0.16	No	No
Forsberg	Avalanche	72	25	66	91	31	10.1	0.35	0.92	1.26	0.43	0.14	8th	No
Gretzky	Kings	82	23	67	90	30	9.1	0.28	0.82	1.10	0.37	0.11	5th	No
Jagr	Penguins	77	35	67	102	36	12.6	0.45	0.87	1.32	0.47	0.16	2nd	No
Leclair	Flyers	82	51	36	87	37	13.1	0.62	0.44	1.06	0.45	0.16	7th	No
Lidstrom	Red Wings	80	17	42	59	21	11.6	0.21	0.53	0.74	0.26	0.15	12th	No
Nieuwendyk	Stars	73	39	30	69	29	10	0.53	0.41	0.95	0.40	0.14	12th	No
Selanne	Ducks	73	52	34	86	39	13.3	0.71	0.47	1.18	0.53	0.18	3rd	No
Zubov	Stars	73	10	47	57	18	11	0.14	0.64	0.78	0.25	0.15	No	No

Voting Breakdown:

1. Hasek: 43 1st place votes, 92.41% total vote points
2. Jagr: 4 1st place votes, 57.04% total vote points
3. Selanne: 5 1st place votes, 45.74% total vote points
4. Brodeur: 1 1st place vote, 21.3% total vote points
5. Wayne Gretzky: 1 1st place vote, 8.52% total vote points

Hasek had a better year but was slightly less of a consensus MVP. 

I agree that, this year, it’s hard to find a definitive skater. 

Is this Zubov’s best case for winning the Hart?

Verdict:

Barely controversial and not controversial if you accept goalies as Hart candidates.

1997 – Dominik Hasek, G, Sabres (6th by points, 7th by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Mario Lemieux (1.61 PPG, 122P, 14.5 PS)
• Art Ross: Mario Lemieux
• MVS by PS: Mario Lemieux
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Brian Leetch (13.1 PS, 78P)
  • MVF by OPS: Mario Lemieux
  • MVD by PS: Brian Leetch
  • MVD by DPS: Vladimir Konstantinov (9.5 PS, 38P, +38)
• MVG: Dominik Hasek (17.2 PS, 37-20-10, .930%, 2.27 GAA, 54 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Avalanche)
  • by Points: Peter Forsberg (86P, 10 PS)
  • MVS by PS: Sandis Ozolinsh (11.1 PS, 68P)
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Penguins)
  • by Points: Mario Lemieux
  • MVS by OPS: Mario Lemieux
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Devils)
  • (skater) by PS: Scott Stevens (7.9 PS, 24P)
  • by DPS: Scott Stevens (+26)
  • by GPS: Martin Brodeur (12.4 PS, 37-14-13, .927%, 1.88 GAA, 36 GSAA, 10 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Dominik Hasek
• Norris: Brian Leetch
• Selke: Michael Peca (49P, +26, 5.1 PS)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek
• Jennings:
  • Martin Brodeur
  • Mike Dunham (8-7-1, .906 SV%, 2.55 GAA, 0 GSAA, 2 SO)

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	G	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	Lindsay
Forsberg	Avalanche	65	28	58	86	31	10	0.43	0.89	1.32	0.48	0.15	11th	No
Gretzky	Kings	82	25	72	97	33	9.5	0.30	0.88	1.18	0.40	0.12	15th	No
Jagr	Penguins	63	47	48	95	38	12	0.75	0.76	1.51	0.60	0.19	13th	No
Kariya	Ducks	69	44	55	99	39	12.6	0.64	0.80	1.43	0.57	0.18	2nd	No
Leclair	Flyers	82	52	47	99	40	13	0.63	0.57	1.21	0.49	0.16	6th	No
Leetch	Rangers	82	20	58	78	27	13.1	0.24	0.71	0.95	0.33	0.16	16th	No
Lemieux	Penguins	76	50	72	122	46	14.5	0.66	0.95	1.61	0.61	0.19	3rd	No
Lindros	Flyers	52	32	47	79	30	10	0.62	0.90	1.52	0.58	0.19	9th	No
Ozolinsh	Avalanche	80	23	45	68	25	11.1	0.29	0.56	0.85	0.31	0.14	No	No
Selanne	Ducks	78	51	58	109	43	13.7	0.65	0.74	1.40	0.55	0.18	5th	No
Tkachuk	Coyotes	81	52	34	86	38	10.9	0.64	0.42	1.06	0.47	0.13	10th	No

Voting Breakdown:

1. Hasek: 50 1st place votes, 96.11% total voting points
2. Paul Kariya: 3 1st place votes, 44.26% total voting points
3. Lemieux: 1 1st place vote, 33.52% total voting points
4. Brodeur: 0 first place votes; 21.3% total vote points
5. Teemu Selanne: 12.96% total vote points

This is why the league needs a “Most Valuable Goalie” award. It’s not that Hasek wasn’t stellar but that he was stellar the other years too. There are always stellar goalies but they rarely win the MVP. When they do win the MVP, we have to ask “Why this year?” 

Nobody knew what a Point Share was in 1997 (and their a crude approximation of value), so that’s not why he was voted in. But the Sabres were a long way from the best team in the league. Nor were they one of the very worst offensive teams in the league – they were bad but not in the Top 5 worst. 

So why a goalie this year? Penguins weren’t good enough? Forsberg didn’t score enough?

Verdict:

Any time a goalie wins, it’s controversial.

1996 – Mario Lemieux (3), C, Penguins (4th in points, 3rd by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Mario Lemieux (2.3 PPG, 161P)
• Art Ross: Mario Lemieux
• MVS by PS: Mario Lemieux (17.4 PS)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: 
    • (by division) Brian Leetch (11.4 PS, 85P)
    • (by conference) Mario Lemieux
  • MVF by OPS: Mario Lemieux
  • MVD by PS: Ray Bourque (13 PS, 82P)
  • MVD by DPS: Vladimir Konstantinov (11.1 PS, 34P, +60)
• MVG: Dominik Hasek (14.8 PS, 22-30-6, .920%, 2.83 GAA, 43 GSAA, 2 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: Sergei Fedorov (107P, 12 PS)
  • by MVS by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom (12.2 PS, 67P)
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Penguins)
  • by Points: Mario Lemieux
  • by OPS: Mario Lemieux
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Red Wings)
  • (skater) by PS: Nicklas Lidstrom
  • by DPS: Vladimir Konstantinov (11.1 PS, 34P)
  • by GPS: Chris Osgood (7.8 PS, 39-6-5, .911%, 2.17 GAA, 15 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Mario Lemieux
• Norris: Chris Chelios (72P, +25, 11.3 PS)
• Selke: Sergei Fedorov
• Vezina: Jim Carey (35, 24-9, .911 SV%, 2.26 GAA, 13 GSAA, 9 SO, 9.9 PS)
• Jennings:
  • Chris Osgood
  • Mike Vernon (21-7-2, .903 SV%, 2.26 GAA, 2 GSAA, 3 SO, 4.2 PS)

Voting History:

1. Lemieux: 34 1st place votes, 81.3% total vote points
2. Mark Messier: 10 1st place votes, 50.93% total vote points
3. Eric Lindros: 2 1st place votes, 39.44% total vote points
4. Jaromir Jagr: 5 1st place votes, 28.89% total vote points
5. Fedorov: 0 first place votes; 12.59% total vote points

Other first place vote getters:

• Grant Fuhr: 1 1st place vote, 9.63% total vote points
• Carey: 1 1st place vote, 5.93% total vote points
• Paul Kariya: 1 1st place vote, 5.19% total vote points

By best forward, this is a no brainer.

Verdict:

Probably not controversial.

1995* – Eric Lindros, C, Flyers (4th by points, 8th by SRS)

• Best Player by PPG: Eric Lindros (1.52PPG, 70P)
• Art Ross: Jaromir Jagr (70P)
• MVS by PS: Paul Coffey (9 PS, 58P)
  • MVS by PS factoring in playoffs: Peter Bondra (6.2 PS, 43P)
  • MVF by PS: Eric Lindros
  • MVF by OPS: Eric Lindros
  • MVD by DPS: Scott Niedermayer (5.1 PS, 19P, +19)
• MVG: Dominik Hasek (10.3 PS, 19-14-7, .930%, 2.11 GAA, 36 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Best Player on Best Team (Red Wings)
  • by Points: Paul Coffey
  • by MVS by PS: Paul Coffey
• Best Player on Best Offensive Team (Nordiques)
  • by Points: Joe Sakic (62P, 6.1 PS)
  • by OPS: Joe Sakic
• Best Player on Best Defensive Team (Blackhawks, by 2 goals)
  • (skater) by PS: Gary Suter (7.1 PS, 37P)
  • by DPS: Chris Chelios (6.9 PS, 38P, +17)
  • by GPS: Ed Belfour (6. PS, 25-15-3, .906%. 2.28 GAA, 5 GSAA, 5 SO)
• Lindsay (Pearson): Eric Lindros
• Norris: Paul Coffey
• Selke: Ron Francis (59P, +30, 5.8 PS)
• Vezina: Domink Hasek
• Jennings: Ed Belfour

Best Player Race

Player	Team	GP	Goals	A	P	GC	PS	GPG	APG	PPG	GCPG	PSPG	Hart	Lindsay
Bondra	Capitals	47	34	9	43	21	6.2	0.72	0.19	0.91	0.45	0.13	No	No
Coffey	Red Wings	45	14	44	58	19	9	0.31	0.98	1.29	0.42	0.20	4th	No
Francis	Penguins	44	11	48	59	19	5.8	0.25	1.09	1.34	0.43	0.13	No	No
Jagr	Penguins	48	32	38	70	27	8.3	0.67	0.79	1.46	0.56	0.17	2nd	No
Lindros	Flyers	46	29	41	70	27	8.8	0.63	0.89	1.52	0.59	0.19	Yes	Yes

Voting Breakdown:

1. Lindros: 10 1st place votes, 84% total vote points
2. Jagr: 2 1st place votes, 36% total vote points
3. Hasek: 3 1st place votes, 30.67% total vote points
4. Coffey: 0 first place votes; 20% total vote points
5. Theoren Fleury: 0 first place votes; 9.33% total vote points

Interestingly, Brett Hull appears to have been listed on the ballot but received zero votes.

No 1st place votes for Coffey? That’s ridiculous.

Verdict:

A least a little bit controversial.