(Photo by Lisa Gansky)
Patrice Bergeron is one of the most complete players in the NHL: he gets it done in the faceoff dot, he can put a straightjacket on near-anyone in the defensive zone, and he’s producing offensively at a career-high clip. This year, he’s burst onto the scene as a candidate for the NHL’s most valuable player, but despite all that he does for the Bruins, Bergeron won’t win the Hart.
“I don’t have any thoughts on it, to be honest with you. I’m not really thinking about it. There are 30 games left. I’ll leave that up to you guys to discuss. To me it’s not really something…it’s a team game, and that’s how I want it to be.” (Bergeron on what he thinks of his Hart Trophy prospects, via NBC Sports Boston)
The first (and arguably most important) reason is statistics; even if he continues at this seemingly absurd rate of production, Bergeron simply doesn’t have the numbers to seriously contend for NHL MVP. He’s on pace for a career-high in both points and goals, 81 and 40 respectively. Let me read you the point totals for every non-goalie who’s won the Hart in the 21st century (yes, I’m excluding Alex Ovechkin because he only played 48 games in 2012): 100, 106, 104, 109, 98, 112, 110, 112, 120, 125, 94, 106, 118. So as you can see, elite point production is essentially a prerequisite for players looking to win the Hart.
So maybe you could argue that he contributes more offensively than is evident from goals and assists, but that statement doesn’t really hold up. He has 7.4 point shares (defined by Hockey Reference as the total number of points contributed by a player), while all but one of the aforementioned winners have double-digits in this category. So then you could argue that he has a major effect on the defensive side of the puck (which I don’t dispute), but his measly 2.1 defensive point shares (goals caused through defensive play) are fewer than all but two of the previously discussed winners. His only real standout stats are his plus/minus and faceoff percentage, and those metrics don’t win you the Hart Trophy. I love Bergy, but his effect on the game often doesn’t show up in the box score, and voters care about numbers.
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The second explanation is that there are too many difference-makers on the roster around him. He’s on the same sheet of ice as rookie of the year hopeful Charlie McAvoy, Vezina candidate Tuukka Rask, and two exceptionally talented linemates who are producing at a rate that makes the trio the best first line in hockey. Much like Kyrie won’t win the MVP because he plays on a roster with too many significant contributors (Brown, Tatum, Horford, etc.), Bergeron doesn’t get serious MVP attention because he’s surrounded by studs.
The simple fact is that Bergeron’s play is not sexy enough to win the Hart. His stats don’t convey the flashy starpower that NHL MVP voters love; and he doesn’t wow you with his hands, shot, or speed. The man is a ‘bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work’ kind of guy who’s built to play 200 feet down the ice, and in today’s NHL, that’s not enough to be crowned most valuable player.
UPDATE: The Bruins' center finished tied for 17th place in Hart Trophy voting, registering just one fifth-place vote. Bergeron also finished third in Selke voting, behind both Sean Couturier and Anze Kopitar.
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