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Friday, February 26, 1999
Hart to beat
Little question of Theo's value to Flames
It is, of course, difficult to consider Fleury for recognition as the league's most valuable player against the likes of Lindros, Jagr, Hasek and Leclair.
But for a player who has spit into the face of long odds all his career, Russell, Man.'s, Theo Fleury can't be counted out as an early candidate for the Hart.
The Flames little big man sits sixth in league scoring on a team that hasn't had a sniff of .500 since early November.
At 30 years old, the 5-ft. 6-in. dynamo is having what he calls, "the most satisfying season of his career."
He is single-handedly at times throwing this thinly-talented Flames team onto his shoulders and carrying them to victory. And this team he leads has written itself into a playoff position with an improbable run of its own, going 6-1-6 in the last 13 games.
Remember, the Hart Trophy goes "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." And he leads his team in scoring by 30 points.
Hockey writers in the NHL cities pick the winner, so Fleury has a handicap right off the bat in that the Eastern media rarely gets to see him.
But if coach Brian Sutter had a vote, there is little doubt he'd give it to Fleury.
"I don't think you can think of a guy more valuable to his team this season," said Sutter. "Theo is a guy who makes a difference night in and night out. Theo last year, I thought, was one of the most valuable players in the league because I thought he outplayed the other teams' top players.
"Even on his worst nights, people come in and say he's one of the best guys on the ice when we know shift to shift he's not as sharp as he should be. The best way to describe him is that everyone said he's been sick the last month. Well, the illness he has every coach should want to give to their top players because when he wasn't feeling good, he was still the best player on the ice. That's what makes him special, a most valuable player. He wants to be a difference every night."
He has made a difference most nights, and he's done it with the distraction of unrestricted free agency likely ending his playing days in Calgary. He's also overcome significant personal challenges in the past couple of years.
Fleury smiles when he's asked about the Hart Trophy. You know privately he'd love a shot at the game's ultimate individual recognition.
"It's been talked about before lots of time, but it's never actually happened," said Fleury of Hart consideration.
"It's always an honour to be considered in that company. I don't know what I'd do if that was to happen. It would probably be, next to the Stanley Cup, the highlight of my career. It's gone so well this year considering everything else that has been going on.
"Absolutely, this is my most satisfying season ever. I was able to bury some ghosts this season, and really get focused on the task at hand.
"I've even surprised myself. I thought I'd have a good year and we'd see what happens, but I never thought that people would talk of me in the same breath with the Hart Trophy."
For Fleury to rate serious consideration, he must, of course, continue his offensive production and the team must have success as well.
It's still a longshot , but if the Trophy was spelled Heart instead of Hart, Theo Fleury would have won it a long time ago.