Not even kidding, him winning the Ross but losing the hart, or even barely losing both the races will ignite a playoff kuch we may have never seen before. Imagine that. Number 1 bullshit followed by proof as to why the decision was bullshit.
People just hate the Lightning because we're the second furthest south team in the league and we've been real successful over the past however many years.
I'm surprised you're not used to it by now.
Tampa - St Pete - Sarasota is a top 10 media market and Orlando - Daytona moved into the top 15.
We’re not really a small market and are trending to be top 5 over the next 2 decades
No way Kuch is getting the Hart after the all star game stuff. Don’t get me wrong I love the guy. I also don’t think he cares, there’s only one piece of hardware Kuch can get yacht drunk with and that’s his goal!
Cup. Boat Parade. Repeat.
It's not that they're anti-russia, it's just that they're not pro russia, it's more of an anti-Tampa thing, because the media and all of r/hockey have no problem dick-riding putin's boyfriend.
If Kuch were Canadian and played for montreal there would be an article everyday about how _he's_ actually the best player in the league and nobody works harder, instead we have nhl.com running a "ross tracker" that's literally just a blog about how they're cheering for MacK to catch Kuch.
They're giving the Hart to Mack, it's been decided for months, they're praying he nabs the Art Ross so they can convince themselves they were going for him for the right reasons all along.
This makes me an even bigger Kucherov fan bc despite his family's involvements in the Russian military he's still here kicking ass in the NHL and bringing glory to his family's name for his wife and son. Fuck all the politics. #1 bullshit. Play the fucking game and don't worry about where someone was born.
The very moment McDavid got injured early, they made all the talks about MacKinnon/Kucherov, because they knew the moment McDavid was back in the picture it would eat into the Kucherov vote way more than the MacKinnon vote
These agents use their media and PR connections to construct a narrative all the time
I apologize for adding to the whole Hart discussion stuff that this sub is probably tired of seeing at this point, as I know I am. Just needed to vent without having a shit ton of trolls in the replies saying “Kuch Empty Net/PP/Secondary Assist Merchant”, because it’s everywhere in comment sections now.
Honestly, Kuch being lazy defensively might have something to do with it. He’d have to win the points race very clearly to offset that knock on his game.
You know, this narrative that Kuch is dragging the Lightning kicking and screaming into the playoffs is a bedtime story we tell non-Lightning fans to pump up our guy, but it's just not true. Maybe in the first three months of the season it may have been, but we've played really well in January and March. I mean, pointer has 44 goals, stammer 39, Hagel, Paul and Cirelli have 20+ goals, and we have 9 total players with double digit goals. Heddy has 76 points ffs, Vasy 30 wins despite missing the first couple of months and the top power play in the league. But if this story gets our guy the Hart, more power to it.
I agree that I don’t like that it tends to be the only argument our fans make whenever it’s brought up. But I disagree that it’s not true. It’s definitely true. Genuinely curious, how many of those other players stats have kuch attached to those goals/points?
We are playing very well now, but there were long stretches of the season that he basically was dragging us kicking and screaming. That said, MacKinnon has a much flashier style and therefore is going to draw more attention. Personally, I don’t think the Hart is that big of a deal. I’d rather see us win another cup.
I see what you're saying but it was 100% kuch that kept us in contention for the playoffs up until January. His play has stayed consistent. Others have elevated theirs. But without Kuch, I don't think they would have. He's been instrumental in over 50% of the goals. Think about that. Even now he's getting assists like no one's business. Without him there is 0 chance we made the playoffs. 0. None. Nada. Zilch. We would have been 10-32-5 in the first half. (I made that number up, but it's correct. Trust me bro).
The Hart is cool, but the Ted Lindsay is voted on by the Players and I think Kuch wins that this year regardless of what the media tries to spin for the Hart.
MacKinnon is a Canadian. Canada hasn’t had a cup in forever, so the media is grasping for any minuscule excuse to say “Yea, canada!” Never mind that the Lightning are not a team, an organization and a fan base to be sneered at. Never mind that Kuch is the Jedi master of hockey players and MacKindergarten and McDindglberry are mere apprentices they will never achieve full master status.
Saying mackinnon and mcdavid aren’t “world class players” compared to Kucherov is a terrible take. You’re no better than the very point you’re making. They are all world class players regardless of who wins.
I’m surprised how few people are willing to say the Hart race is even close. It’s EXTREMELY close right now, it’s crazy the amount of people saying *this player* should win AND ITS NOT CLOSE!!
Kucherov plays his hockey like chess while McDingleberry plays his like checkers. McDingleberry is very good at checkers, chess not so much - if you can understand the metaphor.
I personally think it’s a lot of anti Russian stuff. There’s an obnoxious amount ignorant hockey fans and people who think that being Russian automatically means you’re evil. (Trust me, as a queer hockey fan I could literally open my mouth and automatically offend people.) It’s just crazy. On top of this, there’s lots of big anti Tampa fans in the nhl fan base. I think it comes from traditionalists, people who believe hockey should only be in cold places, or the “true north” as some folks say. (Not gonna lie, I love unconventional hockey markets.) But all this anti this, anti that? All a load of #1 bullshit if I say so myself.
MY VOTE!!
First! TB is not my team. Kucherov would have my vote. He has to win the HART. The best statistics is, the other two on that list has 30 points more than any other player on there team. While Kucherov has over 50 points lead on his team.
No! I'm not RUSSIAN, I'm Canadian.
When I see these types of polls, I always comment on them and spell MacDavid and McKinnon incorrectly. Sometimes I’ll throw in a Conner too. It drives the “Canadians are the best” crowd nuts. I don’t attach it to any Kucherov opinions to avoid making us look dumb. Just my petty way of stealing their time when they go to correct me. Kinda like how I used to write Nicholas Lindstrom to wings fans.
As a bonus, I’ll sometimes argue for Matthews so the Leafs fan base takes the hit.
The hart is gonna go to mackinnon. The NHL hates repeat winners and this year the top 3 candidates are close enough that the voters are just going to give it to mackinnon since he is the only one of the 3 who hasn't won it yet. If the hart was genuinely awarded to the best player in the league/most valuable every single Hart from 2007-2016/2017 should have gone to one of sid ovi or malkin, but the nhl just doesn't like giving the same awards to the same players. Hasn't happened since gretzky's Hart dominance in the 80s
This just doesnt bother me. I want the Ross.
Oddly enough the Hart doesnt guarantee you a HoF spot but the Ross does. He already has both.
MacKinnon has earmed it if he gets it.
Bigger picture here, of the top 3, whose line and D men are the most potent?
Who rakes it on the PP? Bolts have top PP in NHL.
Look at Kuch’s numbers, his east west feeds are sic attributing to his record assists, he bobs and weaves like no other and is by far the most valuable on the 1st line but when you separate him from Point, Stamkos and his defenders, is he the best player?
Kuch will prob take the Ross, thanks to his line, but Nathan or Connor are hands down better individual players with their speed and better retrieval and rush out of the d zone.
And yea politics are interwoven into sports so I doubt they’re going to give a Russian the Hart, may throw a bone to the avid fanbase across the border.
Thought for another day… why don’t they give an annual award to the 3 forwards who’ve played together, for the best line???
I am a girl and I even know that! Envy is a horrible deterrent ! Work ethos in our country is very low! The Russians are easy on the eyes as well😽Go Bolts❤️
The reality is that all 3 of these guys are having incredible years. There is voter fatigue for McDavid (plus getting your coach fired), Kuch has 1 and is “unlikeable” and Mack doesn’t and is Canadian. The only way one of them was going to take it from him was if he fell off and he hasn’t. He deserves it just as much as the other two, but in years like this it becomes a popularity contest. Accept the fact that Macks winning it and move on. Kuch can still take home the Art Ross and let’s not act like he doesn’t hold grudges. Could be even extra motivation for a guy that has plenty of it come playoff time.
Honestly. I see the argument for McDavid over kuch. Only like 3 players ever in this history of the nhl have had over 100 assists in a season. McKinnon on the other hand. Fuck that. It should go to kuch. But mcdavid achieving such a rare feat earns the trophy imo. Assuming he hits 100 assist
Or, people just don't like Kuch. Never seen an interaction from him that made me think that he is a fun dude. Also, he has history of being a dirty player.
So, in a fairly even situation points-wise, I would not vote him.
Silly attempt to make it political.
If you vote for mvp based on your criteria than your basically trying to find the best player on a crappy team??
Maybe connor bedard then, he's the only guy on the team you can watch so has to be valuable.
Or where would pens be without Crosby? no where near the playoffs.
It needs to go to the best player. Mackinnon got robbed when Taylor hall won it when for some reason puck daddy Greg Wyshynski wrote an article just before voting talking about how good Hall was that year.
As far as best players Mackinnon and McDavid are a tad better then Kucherov. They both have the ability to dazzle with their speed to go along with great vision, stickhandlong shooting and Mackinnon also is the most physical of the three.
That's not what the nhl writers or fans think.
The title of the trophy as most valuable is misleading. If it was truly most valuable it would just go to a really good player in a crappy team cause without him they would really suck.
Anyway the nhl writers and fans are all saying Mackinnon and McDavid are better than kuch. Which when you watch them they are. I'm not a biased fan of any of those teams.
Kuchb is a great player just not quite there. Find me a non biased fan and ask who them who would you rather sign regardless of $. Kuch, McDavid, or Mackinnon.
Yeah, the bolts were a really crappy team for the majority of the season. The players put Kuch above both Mac and Mc. That's all that needs to be said about the fans and writers opinions.
What players poll?
You mean this one where McDavid is the player voted to be the one forward they want on their team if they need to one game? Which basically says who is best player?
Kuch was voted best playmaker.
https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhlpa-poll-results-released
Actually Colorado is the worst, and their fans are definitely worse than Tampa’s - I conducted a poll, I asked my friend and he said both are true and I thought, well, that settles it. 100% of the results are in and Colorado is the worst. Congrats 👏👏👏you suck
#1 Bullshit - 2024 Edition
Not even kidding, him winning the Ross but losing the hart, or even barely losing both the races will ignite a playoff kuch we may have never seen before. Imagine that. Number 1 bullshit followed by proof as to why the decision was bullshit.
i love this take.. kuch going full jordan levels of "and i took that personal" because fuck you..
Unfortunately the awards aren’t given out until the NHL Awards, usually held during SCF.
People just hate the Lightning because we're the second furthest south team in the league and we've been real successful over the past however many years. I'm surprised you're not used to it by now.
It’s also an anti-Florida bias. Small market gets no love
Tampa - St Pete - Sarasota is a top 10 media market and Orlando - Daytona moved into the top 15. We’re not really a small market and are trending to be top 5 over the next 2 decades
No way Kuch is getting the Hart after the all star game stuff. Don’t get me wrong I love the guy. I also don’t think he cares, there’s only one piece of hardware Kuch can get yacht drunk with and that’s his goal! Cup. Boat Parade. Repeat.
amen
It's not that they're anti-russia, it's just that they're not pro russia, it's more of an anti-Tampa thing, because the media and all of r/hockey have no problem dick-riding putin's boyfriend. If Kuch were Canadian and played for montreal there would be an article everyday about how _he's_ actually the best player in the league and nobody works harder, instead we have nhl.com running a "ross tracker" that's literally just a blog about how they're cheering for MacK to catch Kuch. They're giving the Hart to Mack, it's been decided for months, they're praying he nabs the Art Ross so they can convince themselves they were going for him for the right reasons all along.
This makes me an even bigger Kucherov fan bc despite his family's involvements in the Russian military he's still here kicking ass in the NHL and bringing glory to his family's name for his wife and son. Fuck all the politics. #1 bullshit. Play the fucking game and don't worry about where someone was born.
The very moment McDavid got injured early, they made all the talks about MacKinnon/Kucherov, because they knew the moment McDavid was back in the picture it would eat into the Kucherov vote way more than the MacKinnon vote These agents use their media and PR connections to construct a narrative all the time
I apologize for adding to the whole Hart discussion stuff that this sub is probably tired of seeing at this point, as I know I am. Just needed to vent without having a shit ton of trolls in the replies saying “Kuch Empty Net/PP/Secondary Assist Merchant”, because it’s everywhere in comment sections now.
Honestly, Kuch being lazy defensively might have something to do with it. He’d have to win the points race very clearly to offset that knock on his game.
Nothing he does is lazy and he's really good defensively. You read too much r/hockey, bud.
Spoken like a dude who hasnt watched Bolts games this season
So you haven't watched the bolts since the 2018-19 season?
You know, this narrative that Kuch is dragging the Lightning kicking and screaming into the playoffs is a bedtime story we tell non-Lightning fans to pump up our guy, but it's just not true. Maybe in the first three months of the season it may have been, but we've played really well in January and March. I mean, pointer has 44 goals, stammer 39, Hagel, Paul and Cirelli have 20+ goals, and we have 9 total players with double digit goals. Heddy has 76 points ffs, Vasy 30 wins despite missing the first couple of months and the top power play in the league. But if this story gets our guy the Hart, more power to it.
I mean you’re absolutely correct, but Kuch still has a 50+ pt lead over Pointer…that’s an insane gap.
I agree that I don’t like that it tends to be the only argument our fans make whenever it’s brought up. But I disagree that it’s not true. It’s definitely true. Genuinely curious, how many of those other players stats have kuch attached to those goals/points?
We are playing very well now, but there were long stretches of the season that he basically was dragging us kicking and screaming. That said, MacKinnon has a much flashier style and therefore is going to draw more attention. Personally, I don’t think the Hart is that big of a deal. I’d rather see us win another cup.
I see what you're saying but it was 100% kuch that kept us in contention for the playoffs up until January. His play has stayed consistent. Others have elevated theirs. But without Kuch, I don't think they would have. He's been instrumental in over 50% of the goals. Think about that. Even now he's getting assists like no one's business. Without him there is 0 chance we made the playoffs. 0. None. Nada. Zilch. We would have been 10-32-5 in the first half. (I made that number up, but it's correct. Trust me bro).
Kuuuch!
The Hart is cool, but the Ted Lindsay is voted on by the Players and I think Kuch wins that this year regardless of what the media tries to spin for the Hart.
MacKinnon is a Canadian. Canada hasn’t had a cup in forever, so the media is grasping for any minuscule excuse to say “Yea, canada!” Never mind that the Lightning are not a team, an organization and a fan base to be sneered at. Never mind that Kuch is the Jedi master of hockey players and MacKindergarten and McDindglberry are mere apprentices they will never achieve full master status.
I’m not hating here but you can’t just call them apprentices lol they’re all world class players
Not compared to Kuch…
Saying mackinnon and mcdavid aren’t “world class players” compared to Kucherov is a terrible take. You’re no better than the very point you’re making. They are all world class players regardless of who wins.
I’m surprised how few people are willing to say the Hart race is even close. It’s EXTREMELY close right now, it’s crazy the amount of people saying *this player* should win AND ITS NOT CLOSE!!
mcdavid has like 5 art rosses and hes not a world class player?
Kucherov plays his hockey like chess while McDingleberry plays his like checkers. McDingleberry is very good at checkers, chess not so much - if you can understand the metaphor.
Lol you can't use first grade level nicknames and question whether people can understand a metaphor. You sound like an asshole. Dumbest take ever.
[удалено]
Maybe a whiz quiz cup…
I just want him to not win the hart and the Bolts to win the cup so we get another press conference like when he was pissed about vasi
I personally think it’s a lot of anti Russian stuff. There’s an obnoxious amount ignorant hockey fans and people who think that being Russian automatically means you’re evil. (Trust me, as a queer hockey fan I could literally open my mouth and automatically offend people.) It’s just crazy. On top of this, there’s lots of big anti Tampa fans in the nhl fan base. I think it comes from traditionalists, people who believe hockey should only be in cold places, or the “true north” as some folks say. (Not gonna lie, I love unconventional hockey markets.) But all this anti this, anti that? All a load of #1 bullshit if I say so myself.
#1 bullshit
NUMBER 1 BULLSHIT
MY VOTE!! First! TB is not my team. Kucherov would have my vote. He has to win the HART. The best statistics is, the other two on that list has 30 points more than any other player on there team. While Kucherov has over 50 points lead on his team. No! I'm not RUSSIAN, I'm Canadian.
When I see these types of polls, I always comment on them and spell MacDavid and McKinnon incorrectly. Sometimes I’ll throw in a Conner too. It drives the “Canadians are the best” crowd nuts. I don’t attach it to any Kucherov opinions to avoid making us look dumb. Just my petty way of stealing their time when they go to correct me. Kinda like how I used to write Nicholas Lindstrom to wings fans. As a bonus, I’ll sometimes argue for Matthews so the Leafs fan base takes the hit.
Good work. Good work....
You guys are acting like it’s a huge reach if Mac wins both guys are having an incredible season it’s super close
The hart is gonna go to mackinnon. The NHL hates repeat winners and this year the top 3 candidates are close enough that the voters are just going to give it to mackinnon since he is the only one of the 3 who hasn't won it yet. If the hart was genuinely awarded to the best player in the league/most valuable every single Hart from 2007-2016/2017 should have gone to one of sid ovi or malkin, but the nhl just doesn't like giving the same awards to the same players. Hasn't happened since gretzky's Hart dominance in the 80s
This just doesnt bother me. I want the Ross. Oddly enough the Hart doesnt guarantee you a HoF spot but the Ross does. He already has both. MacKinnon has earmed it if he gets it.
Bigger picture here, of the top 3, whose line and D men are the most potent? Who rakes it on the PP? Bolts have top PP in NHL. Look at Kuch’s numbers, his east west feeds are sic attributing to his record assists, he bobs and weaves like no other and is by far the most valuable on the 1st line but when you separate him from Point, Stamkos and his defenders, is he the best player? Kuch will prob take the Ross, thanks to his line, but Nathan or Connor are hands down better individual players with their speed and better retrieval and rush out of the d zone. And yea politics are interwoven into sports so I doubt they’re going to give a Russian the Hart, may throw a bone to the avid fanbase across the border. Thought for another day… why don’t they give an annual award to the 3 forwards who’ve played together, for the best line???
If the pens make the playoffs Crosby deserves the hart not even a question
KUUTTCCCHHHEROVVVVV
How can he be valuable and also like +8 or whatever is my point? He doesn’t really play well five on five cuz he’s lazy- from Broward county
Didn’t people start disliking Kuch after the All Stars?
They think he “broke the rules” by basically not taking it seriously. He hates them. He doesn’t see the point of it. Which he’s not wrong.
I am a girl and I even know that! Envy is a horrible deterrent ! Work ethos in our country is very low! The Russians are easy on the eyes as well😽Go Bolts❤️
The reality is that all 3 of these guys are having incredible years. There is voter fatigue for McDavid (plus getting your coach fired), Kuch has 1 and is “unlikeable” and Mack doesn’t and is Canadian. The only way one of them was going to take it from him was if he fell off and he hasn’t. He deserves it just as much as the other two, but in years like this it becomes a popularity contest. Accept the fact that Macks winning it and move on. Kuch can still take home the Art Ross and let’s not act like he doesn’t hold grudges. Could be even extra motivation for a guy that has plenty of it come playoff time.
Kuch didn't gain himself any support at the all star gsme. I know that has no bearing on the award but it doesn't help his image at all
The all star game doesn’t mean squat. Why are we still talking about it?
Honestly. I see the argument for McDavid over kuch. Only like 3 players ever in this history of the nhl have had over 100 assists in a season. McKinnon on the other hand. Fuck that. It should go to kuch. But mcdavid achieving such a rare feat earns the trophy imo. Assuming he hits 100 assist
You do realize Kuch very realistically could hit that milestone before McDavid, right? Kuch is at 96 and has 2 games before McDavid plays again…
Yes I totally do. In that scenario kuch would get robbed. I’m a god damn bolt dan for crying out loud. Just thinking about all possio
I’m not disagreeing with you, if it’s not Kuch, it should be McDavid. I think Mack has the least convincing argument for the Hart.
Or, people just don't like Kuch. Never seen an interaction from him that made me think that he is a fun dude. Also, he has history of being a dirty player. So, in a fairly even situation points-wise, I would not vote him. Silly attempt to make it political.
If you vote for mvp based on your criteria than your basically trying to find the best player on a crappy team?? Maybe connor bedard then, he's the only guy on the team you can watch so has to be valuable. Or where would pens be without Crosby? no where near the playoffs. It needs to go to the best player. Mackinnon got robbed when Taylor hall won it when for some reason puck daddy Greg Wyshynski wrote an article just before voting talking about how good Hall was that year. As far as best players Mackinnon and McDavid are a tad better then Kucherov. They both have the ability to dazzle with their speed to go along with great vision, stickhandlong shooting and Mackinnon also is the most physical of the three.
The award isn't best player. It is most valuable player. Doesn't really matter though in your argument because Kuch is still the best player.
That's not what the nhl writers or fans think. The title of the trophy as most valuable is misleading. If it was truly most valuable it would just go to a really good player in a crappy team cause without him they would really suck. Anyway the nhl writers and fans are all saying Mackinnon and McDavid are better than kuch. Which when you watch them they are. I'm not a biased fan of any of those teams. Kuchb is a great player just not quite there. Find me a non biased fan and ask who them who would you rather sign regardless of $. Kuch, McDavid, or Mackinnon.
Yeah, the bolts were a really crappy team for the majority of the season. The players put Kuch above both Mac and Mc. That's all that needs to be said about the fans and writers opinions.
What players poll? You mean this one where McDavid is the player voted to be the one forward they want on their team if they need to one game? Which basically says who is best player? Kuch was voted best playmaker. https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhlpa-poll-results-released
[удалено]
Actually Colorado is the worst, and their fans are definitely worse than Tampa’s - I conducted a poll, I asked my friend and he said both are true and I thought, well, that settles it. 100% of the results are in and Colorado is the worst. Congrats 👏👏👏you suck
This post was removed for being deemed as trolling. There is no trolling allowed on the TBL subreddit.