Over this past weekend, as my buddy and I enjoyed a cold one - or two, perhaps even three - the talk, as it invariably does, turned to hockey.

This week's discussion argument revolved around whose name will been inscribed on the Hart Trophy later this summer.

Of course, our wives know better and were staked out in the living room, ignoring the conversation in the same manner I would if I was caught in the middle of their dialogue concerning Desperate Housewives and the blowout sale down at the local shoe store.

Now, my pal happens to be a die-hard follower of the Montreal Canadiens, and trust me when I say nothing is more poignant than discussing hockey with a fan of the bleu, blanc and rouge when his team is rubbing shoulders with the NHL's elite, as is the case these days.

Before the conversation was ten seconds old, he

Read Full Post: Hart Trophy race is more than one-horse sprint

Love the article today. Although I have to add that Brodeur is not old. I know for a fact he sips ambrosia and from the fountain of youth.

If the Caps make the playoffs, I think Ovechkin is a shoe-in.

Thanks for the opinions!

For the record, I believe OV is the clear-cut frontrunner...imagine where the Caps would be without him.

As much as I know goaltenders get their just desserts with the Vezina voting, I don't think they get nearly enough consideration for the Hart, although both Hasek and Theodore have won it in the past 11 years.

Ovechkin, without doubt, is the guy to beat, but trying to picture the Sharks without Nabokov, the Devs without Brodeur or the Flames without Iginla, a case could also be made for those players. Heck, the Canucks would probably be nowhere near a playoff spot without Luongo.

Had Lecavalier kept up the pace he was on for the first half of the season, he may have warranted some serious consideration as well, IMO...

Where's the love for Kovalev? All he has done is put up 70+ points on one of the best teams in the East. It's not always about scoring as much as what you bring to a team. Even though Kovy is top 15 in scoring, his leadership is what should make him a candidate, especially when has been viewed as selfish in the past.
He won't win, but Kovalev should get props.

Ovechkin will win it going away. He is the most dominant player in the world and is without question the MVP of his team.
Luongo has been great for us as usual but doesn't come close to what Ovechkin has done in Washington. The voting shouldn't even be close.