Abel to Yzerman
Break The Trend: Lidstrom For The Hart
by IwoCPO on 11/19/10 at 10:06 AM ET
Comments (48)
Oh…I know. It’s only November and, traditionally, the NHL doesn’t award its trophies until a few weeks after Gary Bettman’s put away his Christmas elf costume. I’m assuming, of course, that the voting starts then and that winning means absolutely nothing. When I say “winning”, I mean team success. Not making 8 million, avoiding the PK, and avoiding the Cup itself. Up to this year, the Hart has largely been all about personal glory and individual success.
It’s been seven years since a Hart winner’s led his team to what most players claim is important to them, the Stanley Cup.
Ovechkin’s won it a couple times and hasn’t sniffed the Cup. Thornton? Hart…check. Cup? Bitch, please. Rosby won it in ‘07, but not his one-trick year of ‘09. Sedin, Forsberg, Theodore, Pronger…all won it in years that their teams didn’t match the alleged level of the Hart winner.
If the Hart is the MVP, then the MVP should go to a guy who leads his team to success. Unparalleled success.
Through November 19 the Wings are the best team in hockey. Second in overall points, but first in winning percentage and you know the consensus from the smart kids would be that the Wings are hockey’s best. In fact, have been since last year’s break. And they’ve been led by the best team’s most valuable player.
You want a campaign to get behind? Forget Gary’s gimmick-laden barnyard reach around fest in Car’lina. Here’s one that matters and one that (allegedly) rewards excellence, not ass kissing.
Think about it. Shouldn’t the best player on league’s best team, who’s also the best leader in the league be the league’s most valuable player? If he and the Wings continue this pace, I think the answer is obvious.
No longer will we let Nick be overlooked simply because he’s a defenseman on a great team. So let’s start it early. Not just Norris Nick this year:
Lidstrom for Hart, 2011.
That’s Chris from NOHS and he’s joining The Brendan Smithsonian Institution as the early grassroots leaders of this worthy cause.
The MSM, actually, has already started it. Two guys with ties to Hockeytown haven’t mentioned the word “Hart”, but they’re both smart enough to know where stuff like this leads…
“They’ve been tired of writing his name on the ballot for the Norris,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “But he continues to set the standard.”
No wonder the Wings, labeled as too old for so long, are 11-3-1 and still a leading Stanley Cup contender. Despite the age of Lidstrom, this remains the Age of Lidstrom.
If you watch him every night, you’ll see he still plays the game in his head better than any player in the league. He still plays with an uncanny patience, making the right play and the right pass with pinpoint accuracy. He still avoids taking hits while avoiding the need to deliver them with his positioning. And he still knocks pucks out of the air the way Mr. Miyagi catches flies.
You’ll be seeing more of that. And, as former Deep Digger Cotsonika points out? When the power play heats up (and it will), the points will be flooding in even more regularly for TPH…and the out of towners will be perking up. The wins will pile up along with the points and the MSM mentions and next thing you know you’ve got yourself a campaign. Nick for Hart.
And the chances of that happening are pathetically low. Gary let a Swede win it last year and still has to deal with the backlash from his daughter Sidney. Oversight like that can’t, and won’t by god, happen again. Rosby will lead his team to a 4th or 5th place conference finish (despite my predictions of a President’s Trophy…no goaltending), a second round loss and a Hart…while Lidstrom skates the Cup again, for the fifth time, takes home the Conn Smythe, announces his retirement, then takes his 7th Norris back to Sweden where he’ll stay until the jersey retirement the following October.
That’s reality and we all know it. It’s the NHL, where excellence is punished, showmanship is rewarded and a midget commissioner lets the follies continue.
But that shouldn’t stop us from shoving this shit right down Gary’s throat every chance we get, and it shouldn’t stop us from reminding the rest of the league’s fans (who visit but won’t admit it…case in point today at Pens Blog, “I usually dont read the chiefs site but…”) that the league’s most valuable player is in Hockeytown, playing for the league’s best team. Hell, today? Your Hart ballot should probably read like this anyway:
(a) Lidstrom
(b) Datsyuk
(c) Zetterberg
Use a wet one to clean up the vomit, Gary. I know that one hurt.
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Comments
i’m SOOO on board with this. Lidstrom for the Hart indeed!! Not only has it been a long time coming, but there really is no one more deserving.
Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 11/19/10 at 11:55 AM ET
Lidstrom for Hart? Too logical, never happen, not in the NHL.
Dude, have you been hitting the Santa Claus magic dust early?
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/19/10 at 11:57 AM ET
...the Hart would essentially come down to a subjective judgment between the five winners of the above awards. Which would actually make some kind of sense.
Posted by Nathan
new ideas and concepts. even the simplest of ideas when read here has me saying, why didn’t think of that. pure existence. we will never see it happen, it was thought of by someone on A2Y.
Posted by TheRealYooper from within sight of the edge of the Earth. on 11/19/10 at 11:58 AM ET
The best team in the NHL the last 20 freakin years Chief. The gold standard.
Don’t let little Gary.Ass get under your skin. We know the deal, and so does any hockey fan knowledgable, whether they admit it or not.
I guess it is still fun to mess with him and his minions.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 11/19/10 at 12:07 PM ET
Lidstrom for Hart? Too logical, never happen, not in the NHL.
Perhaps a true statement, but then again, why let that get in the way? As the Chief suggested, let’s ram it down Gary’s throat until he gags on it.
Ah but then again, Gary is a professional sword-swallower so that may not be such an easy thing to do. In fact, I imagine we’re probably not even the first people to utter the phrase “let’s ram it down Gary’s throat until he gags on it” only to come away disappointed that he didn’t gag.
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 11/19/10 at 12:14 PM ET
According to Jim Nill, Lidstrom had his best-ever defensive season last year. According to the MSM and Wyshdoucheski he didn’t score enough points to even be considered a Norris nominee.
I called them out on it and made them mad.
This season, Lids is atop the scoring race again among defenseman (and Mike Green); lo and behold “L1D57R0M 4 N0RR15” articles are being scrawled in crayon again by the drooling MSM.
But wait, Wings fans like yourself, Chief, are going to have the audacity to say the most important player on the team which is gold standard of sports teams anywhere deserves the MVP award WITHOUT looking at a single stats sheet or Corsi number? Go fuch yourselves your arrogant tin-foil hat adorned bastards. Godless heathens, all of you. How dare you set the ludicrous precedent of actually watching games and not stats to make these selections?
Clearly you are in need of a long timeout, Chief. Banish yourself out to sea for at least half a year to contemplate the folly of exposing common sense to a league so clearly lacking any at all.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/19/10 at 12:18 PM ET
And VooX has a triumphant return. ‘Sup bitch?
As for TPH, the best defensman ever (notice I didn’t say “of our generation”), he is and has been worthy of the Hart every year since the Captain hung up the blades. Even before then he has been the bond that holds the Wings together. MVP indeed.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/19/10 at 12:40 PM ET
Your Hart ballot should probably read like this anyway:
(a) Lidstrom
(b) Datsyuk
(c) Zetterberg
well, right NOW it should be…
(a) Lidstrom
(b) Cleary
(c) Bertuzzi
that last one makes me shudder…I’ve been hard on him, but he is playing phenomenal so far this season.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 11/19/10 at 12:58 PM ET
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from VAHockeyFan’s sandy vag on 11/19/10 at 11:40 AM ET
Life has been keeping me busier than a two-peckered man in a whore-house, Beaner.
I still haven’t seen a single moment of Wings hockey this season. I did attend attend one Leafs game live, and was the Gamewrecker who caused their first, of what is turning out to be many, loss of the season. Much like the BBBB’s hot start, you can hurl a turd but can’t make it fly. Gravity is a bitch like that.
At this rate, H2H2 may be the first Wings game I see all year, until the real season starts at the end of April.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/19/10 at 12:59 PM ET
Pens/Voox fan here. I can get behind the Lidstrom for Hart vote. If Pronger won a Hart for his 99-00 season, there is really no reason Lidstrom shouldn’t have won one by now.
If he keeps up his pace this season, he’ll deserve it for sure. However, there are too many voters out there who view the Norris as “best d-man” and the hart as “best forward” (as someone mentioned above).
Hell, even if he didn’t deserve it by the end of the season, he should still get it as a lifetime achievement award type of thing.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 11/19/10 at 01:00 PM ET
Voox! Ready to fill in? Sounds like a little bit of bottled up venom just got loose. Break one off on a regular basis will help that…..
Posted by Rdwings28 on 11/19/10 at 01:00 PM ET
i think another way of saying “most valuable” is “most indispensable”
the Wings are super deep, deep enough that if Datsyuk went down (or Rafalski or Franzen or Z), the train would keep rolling. There’d be some line juggling and maybe a little hiccup, but the Wings would continue to roll.
we lose Lids… we are a middle of the pack team. it would have catastrophic effects
that to me is what ‘most valuable’ really means. it’s not about stats, but rather who is SO important to their, ideally, wildly successful team that without them, the team would not be close to as good. and yes, that describes one man for probably the last 10 years.
unfortunately, as I write this I start to get horrific images of the future - maybe next season or one after that when the perennial MVP hangs up his skates and then we… uh…. oh… my… god
NIIIIIIICCCCCKKKK!!!!!!!!
Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 11/19/10 at 01:01 PM ET
Chief:
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
http://subtlelikeseabrook.tumblr.com/post/1584331045/chi-townlove-saved-off-of-youtube-thank-god
Also, Lidstrom for Hart would be amazing, but you think lil’ Gary and his cronies would ever let that happen? DID YOU KNOW SID HAS THIRTEEN GOALS NOW OMG!!!11!!
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 11/19/10 at 01:14 PM ET
Don’t care about the Hart trophy. Its usually been a media popularity contest anyways. Besides, if Stamkos continues on his torrid pace and gets Tampa in the playoffs, realistically no one is going to even come close him.
Posted by UMFan from Denver, Colorado on 11/19/10 at 01:15 PM ET
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 11/19/10 at 12:14 PM ET
I love how NHL teams have to quantify their relevance by showing them score on the Wings in seemingly every commercial.
Now, who is is that has the target on their back? Who has worn that target for the past 20 years?
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/19/10 at 01:26 PM ET
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
Thank you baby jesus.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 11/19/10 at 01:28 PM ET
the link is blocked at work. Is there a youtube vid on the page?
Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 11/19/10 at 01:41 PM ET
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
Posted by FranzensMouthguard
what the ‘ell is that?
Posted by TheRealYooper from within sight of the edge of the Earth. on 11/19/10 at 01:41 PM ET
I love how NHL teams have to quantify their relevance by showing them score on the Wings in seemingly every commercial.
See the rant I posted several days ago.
As long as the Wings continue to be the measuring stick, as long as they are public enemy number one, as long as we cause a hissy fit every time we wear our Red Wings jerseys into the Ass Can, as long as they keep on hating us and building their empty little regular seasons around the possibility that they just might win a game against the might Detroit Red Wings then I’m happy.
Every time I see shit like that, it makes me smile!
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 11/19/10 at 01:47 PM ET
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
http://subtlelikeseabrook.tumblr.com/post/1584331045/chi-townlove-saved-off-of-youtube-thank-god
^ What happens when Quenville neglects to get a babysitter.
Awkward acting, table for two?
Posted by thenumber19 from ND on 11/19/10 at 01:51 PM ET
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
Wow… so now we’re re-creating fifth grade via “social media”?
“Dude!!! Betsy is so in 2 u…OMG!!! R u gonna pass her a note in science class?”
Posted by calquake on 11/19/10 at 01:54 PM ET
Another glossary term that may have been overlooked yesterday…
The Angry Chipmunk
Can’t remember who came up with this gem last season to describe Homer but by God it was a winner.
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 11/19/10 at 01:55 PM ET
It’s a good thing Jonathan Toews is honest, because with how wooden he is, I’m almost positive that lying makes his nose grow.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/19/10 at 02:00 PM ET
Wow… so now we’re re-creating fifth grade via “social media”?
“Dude!!! Betsy is so in 2 u…OMG!!! R u gonna pass her a note in science class?”
Posted by calquake on 11/19/10 at 12:54 PM
No dude, I made her a fortune teller for study hall and every fortune says we are MFEO.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/19/10 at 02:12 PM ET
The Hart trophy is a joke. If it was really awarded to the “player most valuable to his team,” it should go to defenseman or a goalie about ninety percent of the time. How many teams win without a dominant forward? Plenty. How many teams win without a dominant defender or goalie? Almost none.
And yet, besides for Pronger (*gag*) no defender has won it since Bobby Orr, and he was the first defender to win it since World War Fuching Two.
How is it possible that the most valuable player of the last fifteen years (Brodeur is the only other player even in the conversation, imo) has never even been NOMINATED for the Hart? Inex-freaking-cusable.
Posted by Sven22 from Grand Rapids on 11/19/10 at 02:19 PM ET
Found this today. Enjoy.
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_16644374
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 11/19/10 at 02:34 PM ET
Found this today. Enjoy.
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_16644374
Posted by John W. from one win at a time on 11/19/10 at 01:34 PM ET
How does the Winnipeg Avalanche sound to you?
The Quebec Nordiques sounds so much better.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/19/10 at 02:41 PM ET
This is how the Swedes represented 997 points year by year. Pretty impressive. That’s a lot of tick marks and you can add on all of last year and 17 from this year.
Unparalled longevity and excellence.
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 11/19/10 at 02:41 PM ET
Reading the comments on that story isn’t it funny seeing the same people that rip Wings fans for not going to games are all of a sudden saying they can’t afford to go to the games. When the story is about us it’s because we don’t really care about our team, but now that the tables are turned the economy is all of a sudden a valid excuse. Gotta love irony.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 11/19/10 at 02:43 PM ET
Poang. Is that Swedish for pootang?
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/19/10 at 03:08 PM ET
Posted by John W. from one win at a time on 11/19/10 at 01:43 PM ET
Yep. I think I will save this little site for the next time the Dive fans feel liike coming over here and bashing on Detroit’s economy. The comments are golden.
Posted by WingsFaninCO on 11/19/10 at 03:45 PM ET
Posted by RWBill from boarding The Hasek, beer me v00x! on 11/19/10 at 01:41 PM ET
What strikes me is just how damn consistent TPH has been. Consistently reliable, consistently awesome.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/19/10 at 03:48 PM ET
Posted by RWBill from boarding The Hasek, beer me v00x! on 11/19/10 at 01:41 PM ET
Bill, look at the picture closely… wtf is Kris Kristofferson’s picture doing next to Lids? Is that an old defensive pairing from when Nik was an embryo?
Posted by calquake on 11/19/10 at 04:02 PM ET
The Angry Chipmunk
Can’t remember who came up with this gem last season to describe Homer but by God it was a winner.
Angry Chipmunk came from this ‘08 Playoff Beard Preview article
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08099/871434-383.stm
along with an amazing shot of Z. although the author says “drunk chipmunk”
Brilliant either way, and definitely deserves a mention.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 11/19/10 at 04:05 PM ET
I am wearing my TPH jersey today at work and this older guy came in, a few min ago, and said “Gordie Lidstrom?” “Does he still play?” ..........wow. Chicago never stops amazing me. I thought the 70% increase to my property tax was going to be the dumbest thing that would happen to me this week. It has been topped.
Posted by Behind_Enemy_Lines from the Big House,January1,2013. on 11/19/10 at 04:24 PM ET
http://subtlelikeseabrook.tumblr.com/post/1584331045/chi-townlove-saved-off-of-youtube-thank-god
What the fuch?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/19/10 at 04:41 PM ET
via date-based google search for Angry Chipmunk at A2Y was here
Hossa’s going to pass Homer in goals soon!
But not shooting percentage. Oh, is there anything besides skate the Angry Chipmunk can’t do… gotta love the guys who do the dirty work for the team.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/27/08 at 10:51 PM ET
Honestly I was angry and hammered at my Fish-Eye feed so I don’t remember even giving him the name. I thought someone else did.
“Rosby” deserves a place in the real HHOF as the internet’s greatest contribution to the game.
Is putting Jobu in the glossary tempting fate?
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/19/10 at 04:42 PM ET
Fuch Jobu. That conchsucker can die a slow death.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/19/10 at 04:46 PM ET
http://subtlelikeseabrook.tumblr.com/post/1584331045/chi-townlove-saved-off-of-youtube-thank-god
What the fuch?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/19/10 at 03:41 PM ET
How else can you explain that these guys ended up in the back of a limo with their tops off and girls fully clothed. The only Game the Hawks’ players have is The Crying Game. Pussies.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/19/10 at 04:47 PM ET
- Best defensive forward
Selke Trophy, Nathan. 
Yep. If someone has a petition online or a blood donation center in the name of Lidstrom-for-Hart, I’m in.
Chief:
I’m sorry I have to break stride here real quick, but my hawks buddy sent me this today….is this the most awkward commercial ever?!?!
http://subtlelikeseabrook.tumblr.com/post/1584331045/chi-townlove-saved-off-of-youtube-thank-god
Also, Lidstrom for Hart would be amazing, but you think lil’ Gary and his cronies would ever let that happen? DID YOU KNOW SID HAS THIRTEEN GOALS NOW OMG!!!11!!
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 11/19/10 at 12:14 PM ET
Dammit, FM. That was a fine, fine cup of mocha I spat out. Thanks, man.
Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 11/19/10 at 04:52 PM ET
I think we are all setting our sites a little low…
After all, Nick for the Hart Trophy is a no-brainer.
I think we should step it up and go after little Gary with this:
Put on your tin foil hats and support:
Todd Bertuzzi for the Ted Lindsay award.
Posted by w2j2 on 11/19/10 at 04:55 PM ET
VooX! Welcome back, Tarbender. You’ve been missed.
Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 11/19/10 at 04:58 PM ET
“Despite the age of Lidstrom, this remains the Age of Lidstrom.”
The Perfect Hart-candidate. I’m going to gouge out one of my testes in support.
Posted by The Meal on 11/19/10 at 05:08 PM ET
Pens/Voox fan here. I can get behind the Lidstrom for Hart vote. If Pronger won a Hart for his 99-00 season, there is really no reason Lidstrom shouldn’t have won one by now.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 11/19/10 at 12:00 PM ET
This is an incredibly good point. Lidstrom has had a handful of better seasons.
VooX, been a while! Stick around.
Selke Trophy, Nathan.
I said:
The NHL needs to add trophies for the best all-around forward and the best offensive d-man. Then we’d appropriately have trophies for:
- Best all-around forward
- Best defensive forward
- Best all-around d-man
- Best offensive d-man
- Best goalie
For the record, I am not arguing with Lidstrom for the Hart. He deserves one. Just pointing out that this is the reason he won’t win it in all likelihood.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 11/19/10 at 05:23 PM ET
Thanks Nate, and others, for the welcome. I’ll try and pop by when I can, although I’m a couple weeks behind on your comments. You bitches move fast.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/19/10 at 05:56 PM ET
I speed read like a bitch sometimes, Nathan, but you’re right. Sorry ‘bout that.
The Quebec Nordiques sounds so much better.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/19/10 at 01:41 PM ET
Or Winnipeg Jets.
Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 11/19/10 at 06:35 PM ET
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I actually don’t blame the voters for the way the Hart is usually awarded. The problem is that there’s no subjective award specifically aimed at the best forward in the league. Yes, forwards obviously will always win the scoring trophies, but those are soulless.
D-men have the Norris, and so I think the perception is that the Hart is best left to forwards, with the exception every so often where a goalie has an undeniably dominant season that he deserves more than a Vezina.
The NHL needs to add trophies for the best all-around forward and the best offensive d-man. Then we’d appropriately have trophies for:
- Best all-around forward
- Best defensive forward
- Best all-around d-man
- Best offensive d-man
- Best goalie
Then, the Hart would essentially come down to a subjective judgment between the five winners of the above awards. Which would actually make some kind of sense.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 11/19/10 at 11:31 AM ET