Gulitti, NHL.com's Washington-based staff writer, joined co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke to discuss the Washington Capitals success this season, the return of forwards Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson, and why Alex Ovechkin might be the Hart Trophy favorite as NHL MVP at the midpoint of the season.
Both Rosen and Roarke said they had Ovechkin first on their Hart Trophy tracker ballots in the NHL.com midseason voting. Gulitti did not.
The conversation with Gulitti also focused on the Metropolitan Division and how it appears there will be six teams vying for five spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs unless the Florida Panthers or Buffalo Sabres can make a move up the standings in the Atlantic Division.
The question of which Metropolitan Division team won't make the postseason was discussed and debated.
Rosen and Roarke opened the podcast talking about the red-hot Seattle Kraken, who have won all six games they've played in 2023, including five in a row on the road.
They debated the bigger surprise of the season, Seattle or the New Jersey Devils. They also talked about the bigger disappointment, the Panthers or Colorado Avalanche.
Rosen said the one player he would send to All-Star Weekend is Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. Roarke countered with Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen.
Roarke dominated Rosen in the discussion about the Norris Trophy and why Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is the runaway favorite. They agreed on Ovechkin for the Hart Trophy, Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery for the Jack Adams Award and Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark for the Vezina Trophy. They also talked about the Calder Trophy.
Finally, Rosen and Roarke ranked the seven Canada-based teams from closest to furthest from a Stanley Cup championship.
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