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Columbus Blue Jackets: 2019 Postseason Trophy Candidates

By Lansing Murphy

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets poses after winning the Jack Adams Award as 'the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success' during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets poses after winning the Jack Adams Award as 'the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success' during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Hart Trophy

Columbus Blue Jackets
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 4: Artemi Panarin /

The Columbus Blue Jackets have three players who could put together a Hart Trophy candidate level season. One plays between the pipes and the other two are on the top line.

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Sergei Bobrovksy was a finalist for the Hart just two seasons ago after having a career season in 2016-2017. It is next to impossible in today’s day in age for a goalie to win the Hart. Bob had almost the same season in 16-17 that Carey Price had in his Hart trophy year and didn’t even come close to winning the Hart. He finished a distant third behind Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

Bob did finish last season with some Hart consideration along with Artemi Panarin. Panarin has the star power and scoring numbers that will grab enough national media attention to put him in the discussion. It isn’t hard to envision a scenario where the Jackets power play isn’t garbage and Panarin tacks on another 10 to 15 points onto his total. That would certainly put him in the Hart discussion.

Finally, Cam Atkinson looks ready to roll his amazing second half of the 17-18 season into this year. Atkinson scored at a point per game pace and without his scoring punch, the Jackets would have missed the playoffs.

This year Cam, alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois and Artemi Panarin, could score 35 goals. Maybe even 40. Those numbers would put him in the Hart conversation as well.

The problem with all of these guys is that Connor McDavid still plays in the NHL and as long as he is on the ice, he will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Hart.

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