Alex Ovechkin. Steven Stamkos. Joe Pavelski. That’s the complete list of players with more goals than Max Pacioretty since his big breakout season in 2011-12.
It’s a list notable by its absences. Five of the league’s last six Hart Trophy winners have been forwards; only one of those, Ovechkin, has scored more goals than Pacioretty. Corey Perry is neck-and-neck with Pacioretty but has played five fewer games and comes up one goal short; Evgeni Malkin’s absences have been more frequent, and he’s 15 goals back.
The star power sitting behind Pacioretty on the goals list is stunning.