Ranking the Top Candidates for the Hart Trophy in the 2014-15 Season

Two months into the 2014-15 NHL season, and things are shifting in the race for the Hart Trophy. Some of the early favorites are still in the mix, but a number of others have jumped headfirst into the picture.

To get the votes, players typically have to come from playoff-bound teams, or at least within striking distance. But there are some players on this list putting up incredible numbers in a—for now—losing cause.

Only one goalie and one defenseman make the current list, with the likelihood that only the top candidate at those positions will actually be considered for leading their respective trophy races.

The most valuable player to his team is key in these considerations. What would happen if you took these guys out of the lineup? The higher the rankings get, the bigger the predicted effect.

Click ahead to see the list.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.

Honorable Mentions

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Rick Nash, New York Rangers: The Rangers are in the mix for a playoff spot, and it's in part because of Nash's re-emergence as a premier power forward. His 16 goals are second most in the league, and he sits seventh in overall scoring.

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings: Previously unranked, the man with the magic hands has racked up 15 points in 13 games, helping the Wings move within striking distance of top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks: Kane gets the call over Jonathan Toews because of his performance on a six-game road trip for the Hawks. He had four multipoint games in that span, and the Blackhawks won five of six critical games. He's heating up.

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: Price has taken a backseat to Pekka Rinne in the goaile race but is still putting up numbers worthy of consideration should the Canadiens finish atop the division or conference.

8. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

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Previous ranking: Honorable mention

 

By the numbers: 24 games, 14 goals, 12 assists, 26 points, plus-17 rating, three game-winning goals, 91 shots

 

Bottom line: Tarasenko's 10 goals in November helped him earn second-star honors from the NHL for the month. The young Russian is tied for the league lead in overtime goals with two and has scored the deciding goal in shootouts twice. He scores in spectacular fashion and, at 22, is one of the most impressive offensive talents in the league. His plus-17 rating is proof of his all-around development as well, with that mark being the second best in the NHL. 

7. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars

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Previous ranking: Third

 

By the numbers: 24 games, 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points, plus-seven rating, three game-winners, 95 shots, 19:44 average ice time

 

Bottom line: Seguin leads the league in goals and is third in a very tight points race while on pace for more than 100 points. The Stars, though, have a pair of top offensive weapons in captain Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza who make it difficult to heap all the praise on the team's points leader.

Plus, the Stars have faded over the past month, leaving them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. His tremendous individual numbers are the only reason he remains on the list in spite of his team's situation.

6. Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers

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Previous ranking: Honorable mention

 

By the numbers: 23 games, nine goals, 23 assists, 32 points, plus-five rating, 12 power-play points, 74 shots, 18:57 average minutes per game

 

Bottom line: Voracek is becoming one of the league's top players at the age of 25. He's going toe-to-toe with Sidney Crosby for the scoring title and is on pace to destroy his career high of 62 points set last season.

2013-14 Hart Trophy finalist Claude Giroux is taking a backseat to his linemate offensively. Voracek is a huge piece of the Philadelphia Flyers' success, but unfortunately, the team isn't having a whole lot of it—which is why he's not ranked higher given his impressive numbers.

5. John Tavares, New York Islanders

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Previous ranking: Unranked

 

By the numbers:24 games, 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points, two game-winning goals, 73 shots, 20:41 average ice time, 54.1 Corsi-for percentage

 

Bottom line: Tavares has helped the Islanders storm into a tie for the Metropolitan Division lead, and he has climbed up these rankings as well. The team has plenty of young talent and added veterans Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski to take some of the scoring pressure off Tavares, but the Islanders depend heavily on their leading scorer and big-minute pivot for their success.

The captain's minutes per game are fourth among all forwards, and his ice time comes almost entirely on the power play and at even strength. Like Sidney Crosby, he hasn't gone more than two games consecutively without a point.

4. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Previous ranking: Fourth

 

By the numbers: 25 games, 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points, plus-three rating, six power-play goals, 14 power-play points, 82 shots, one game-winning goal, 55.7 Corsi-for percentage

 

Bottom line: Stamkos ranks third in goals and fourth in points. His 14 power-play points are second to Sidney Crosby and his six goals with the man advantage are third most in the NHL. The Lightning captain is looking strong and healthy again. He's riding a five-game point streak and has at least one in 11 of his last 12 contests.

3. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

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Previous ranking: Fifth

 

By the numbers: 16-3-1 record, .933 save percentage, 1.82 goals-against average, two shutouts

 

Bottom line: The league's wins leader is the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy and is right up there in consideration for the Hart Trophy as well. The 32-year-old is second in both individual stats categories—save percentage and goals-against average—and first in the all-important win column. His efforts earned him third-star honors from the league for November.

2. Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames

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Previous ranking: Unranked

 

By the numbers: 25 games, six goals, 19 assists, 25 points, plus-14 rating, 58 shots

 

Bottom line: Giordano had an incredible November, piling up 16 points in 13 games to lead all NHL defensemen, but he's more than an offensive contributor for the Calgary Flames. Giordano has 57 blocked shots, throws his body around and plays against the other team's top players. He's helped blue-line partner T.J. Brodie grow into one of the game's best young players and as captain has the Flames following his lead and playing as hard as possible every night.

He's one of the biggest reasons the Flames are overachieving and sitting in a playoff spot.

1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Previous ranking: First

By the numbers: 23 games, nine goals, 24 assists, 33 points, plus-six rating, 70 shots, 55.7 Corsi-for percentage

Bottom line: Crosby is still at the top of the list, but his lead is narrowing. Both Jakub Voracek and Tyler Seguin are nipping at his heels in the scoring race but neither plays on a team currently in a playoff position. Taking Crosby away from the Penguins would probably not knock the talented club out of the playoffs, but the Pens wouldn't be challenging for top spot in the Eastern Conference and the league without their captain. He's a model of consistency.