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Friday, May 10, 2013

You've Gotta Have Hart! The Skinny on Tavares' Top-3 nomination

The last time the Islanders had a player finish in the Top 3 in the Hart Memorial Trophy balloting, John Tavares wasn't even born.

Tavares today was named one of the three finalists for this year's award, along with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

It's the first time since 1984 that an Islander will finish in the Top 3.  Bryan Trottier was third in that "Drive for 5" season; Wayne Gretzky won the award.

Other Islanders in the Top 3:
1982: (Gretzky won); Trottier was 2nd; Mike Bossy was 3rd
1979: Bryan Trottier won the Hart - the only Islander to do so
1978: (Guy LaFleur won); Trottier was 2nd
1976: (Bobby Clarke won); Denis Potvin was 2nd

The Islanders hadn't had a player finish in the Top 5 since Pierre Turgeon did it in 1993.

No Islander has gotten significant votes since Michael Peca (10th in 2002).
 
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

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