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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 20:33:44
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Poll Question:
Who will win the Hart Trophy this year as the regular season MVP?
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Edited by - Alex116 on 03/25/2010 20:34:19
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 20:38:46
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I included an "other" but unless i've had a serious brain fart, i can't think of anyone else who could realistically be included? Maybe a dman, but with the Norris, i don't think any are having a good enough season to even get nominated.
I was surprised looking at the stats of the goalies when i noticed Bryzgalov had better numbers in pretty much every category than Anderson. I almost didn't include Anderson but thought i'd throw him in there anyway. Kelly Hrudy was on the radio today claiming Anderson would get his vote? After seeing the numbers compared to Bryzgalovs, not a chance he'd get my vote if i had one!
Surprising teams like NJ and Chi have no one that really would be in the mix yet their teams are THAT good! Just shows you how good these teams can be by not having one guy going off!
Beans, i almost threw Kesler on there just for you....but you can always pick "other" if you wanna vote for him?  |
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irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
  

Canada
1315 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 20:45:57
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It's down to Bryzgalov & Miller for me, out of this list.
Both Buffalo & Phoenix success are greatly due to the play of Miller & Bryzgalov, respectively.
Without these two in net for their respective teams, I don't believe either are anywhere near where they are at in the standings.
Irvine/prez. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 21:18:19
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Well, while i agree with you, i chose Ovechkin, if for no other reason than the way i worded the question. Who "will" win. Sadly, the voters rarely give it to the guy most deserving as far the definition goes. Washington's numbers are really quite good in the games Ovie missed as they've obviously got a great team around him! As you said, without the performance of those two goalies (and you could prob throw Anderson in there too), those teams would be nowhere! So tough for a goalie to win this award because of the Vezina, likewise a dman with the Norris! Only 6 or 7 goalies have EVER won it and none since Theodore (who'd have thought?) in 02.
Sid's numbers just aren't quite there with Ovie's even if he ends up squeezing out the Rocket Richard trophy and i think Henrik gets a little knock because of the chemistry with Daniel. Then again, Ovie does have Backstrom? Had Daniel not missed those games, he'd quite likely be in 3rd in scoring as he's almost identical to Henrik's ppg!
Still think you have to do something real special to dethrone the defending champ and that's who i think WILL win it! |
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Utemin
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
451 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 21:52:30
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Henrik Sedin and Craig Anderson were the two big options up their; and when it comes to a tie you vote for the Canuck :D |
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polishexpress
PickupHockey Pro
 

525 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 22:35:59
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I don't know if you could say Ovie is league MVP this year, with the controversies, suspensions, and injury. In fact, Wash did fine when he wasn't there, and usually used his absences as a rallying point.
I only watched Miller in the olympics, but judging his by his stats, he has about the same number of wins(37 vs 36), less games played by two(62 vs 64)slightly better save percentage(.929 vs .921), and better GAA(2.20 vs 2.53) than Anderson. So I would like Miller win the Hart.
Sadly, goalies don't win the award to often: Theodore(mtl) 01/02, Hasek (buf-coincidence?) 96/97 & 97/98, then look way back to Jacques Plante in 61/62.
If the Hockey Writers still vote for the award, there is no doubt that they will to at least some extent be influenced by Olympic and playoff performances, even though it should only be for the regular season. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 22:53:32
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I'm a little surprised Bryzgalov's not getting any love. Look at that lineup in Phoenix, and i understand he's won a lot of shootouts which would be ties in "the old days", but you have to think his team is not as good as the one Miller plays behind? Then again, they're ahead of them?
I would love to see someone other than Ovie win the award, but i still think there's too many voters out east who will be influenced by the "aura" that is Alexander Ovechkin? We'll see..... |
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n/a
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4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 05:14:51
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Real tough this year, and of course we will get a lot of controversy again because of the goalies listed. Myself, I have never been a proponent of having goalies being considered alongside forwards as MVP, because the argument can easily be made that it should always be a goalie, as it is undoubtedly the most valuable and important position. Ovechkin and Crosby might be able to decide a game or two on their own once in a while, but a goalie does that every game for the most part.
If going by the actually definition of most valuable, I'd say it should be Bryzgalov, Miller, Anderson, Quick, Crosby and Henrik Sedin in that order . . . but we all know that three goalies are not getting nominated with Ovechkin and Crosby in the mix.
So, my guess is that the three choices will be Miller, Ovechkin and Crosby, with Bryzgalov and the rest of the Western conference getting the stiff arm. And I bet Miller wins by a nose.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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HawkinOilCountry
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
318 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 07:22:06
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This is the year of the goalie for MVPs I think. Here's my top 5 MVPs:
1. Miller 2. Bryzgalov 3. Anderson 4. H. Sedin 5. Quick
Miller gets my overall nod because I truly beleive he is literally carrying Buffalo on his back.
Henrik is having the best season of his life. But Vancouver was goin to the playoffs anyways. Colorado, LA, and especially the Coyotes wouldn't be in the top 8 without stellar play from the goalies.
Ovie and Crosby are right outside of my top 5. But like someone said earlier, there's likely no way the top three will all be goalies.
The arena wall in chicago should be credited with a goal. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 08:09:28
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Very true, pretty much no chance that even 2 goalies are nominated and as much hype as Miller got early in the season and through the Olympics, i still think i'm more impressed with Bryzgalov and his accomplishments on a team that i expected to go nowhere. I will concede, he's won more than his fare share of crapshoots, errrr, shootouts and as much as that says he keeps his team in close games, it also says those would be ties back in the day or could very easily been losses!
I think we're gonna see Ovie, Henrik and Sid the Kid. I don't think Henrik's got much of a shot at it but the thing that may go in his favour is that Daniel was out for 18 games and he continued to perform PLUS, Luongo's having an off year. If Luongo was at his best, there'd be a huge debate over the Canucks MVP which would make it tough to nominate Henrik for the Hart. |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 08:17:40
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Of the forwards, i think Ovechkin has to be the favorite. His numbers are pretty impressive this season, 45 goals & 98 points, +44...all while only playing in 64 games (10 less than Henrik Sedin). |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 08:21:23
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That said, i think we might see Ryan Miller take it this year. I've seen quite a few Coyote games recently & i've been really impressed with Bryzgalov, but he doesn't seem to be getting the love this season that Miller has. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 08:42:22
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quote: Originally posted by ryan93
Of the forwards, i think Ovechkin has to be the favorite. His numbers are pretty impressive this season, 45 goals & 98 points, +44...all while only playing in 64 games (10 less than Henrik Sedin).
Of course, to no one's surprise, the local "scribes" around here are beginning to lobby for Henrik and they did bring up a couple of very interesting points. One was to do with taking away all the goals Ovie is a part of and Wash still avg's something like 2.59 goals a game? Take away all of the ones Hank is involved in and the Canucks avg drops to around 1.93? But, the more interesting point they make is although it's 10 or so games he's missed, Ovie's only played around 55 mins less than Henrik. Not only is that just under 3 games (based on Ovie's avg TOI), he plays far more time on the PP and far less on the PK!
On a side note, when i was comparing their TOI numbers, it shows avg TOI per shift! Kovalchuk and Ovie are tied for the league lead at 66 seconds per shift (Henrik's at 47sec). The Russians really like to skate i guess? Reminded me of the time in NY that Kovalev, who was notorious for taking really long shifts, came back to the bench after a long shift and Keenan wouldn't let him off the ice! Told him to keep going and did it a couple more times till Kovalev had been on for about 7 mins straight! I wonder if there's a vid out there? Not sure, couldn't find one but found a story about it! http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=cb1cebe3-086d-4fa8-8bfd-6d963a2353a4 |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
   

3670 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 09:16:01
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I voted Miller, and I agree with others who have said Miller or Bryzgalov, both are simply the reasons that their teams are doing as well as they are. At the beginning of the season no one expected either team to be in the top 10 in their respective division, never mind playoff bound, never mind in the hunt for the top of their divisions and conferences. Thats what the Hart trophy is supposed to award.
I'd like to say Hank, because he's had a stupendous season, and it is getting noticed outside of Vancouver for a change, but he comes 3rd to the two goalies.
OV and Crosby have been good (esp Crosby, glad he found his scoring touch), but have not meant enough to their team's success to warrant this award. |
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Utemin
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
451 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 11:12:08
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quote: Originally posted by ryan93
Of the forwards, i think Ovechkin has to be the favorite. His numbers are pretty impressive this season, 45 goals & 98 points, +44...all while only playing in 64 games (10 less than Henrik Sedin).
Alex116 pretty much said my response to the comment already, making it more clear Henrik has played more games but only had a bit more time on ice total making it even..... if you think it should go to ppg player Daniel Sedin team has been nothing but good since he has got back!
adding on- If goalies are all being really good this year i can't see one winning because this seems normal this year; we also seem to be really underestimating Vokoun, he may not have the wins, with the save % he has though it means his team is really horrible. Let's not also take players like Stamkos out of the picture, a bigger surprise then Miller; I actually believe Colorado Phoenix and Buffalo have been more of a surprise then their goalies, its not a one man sport... as for the shoot out wins for Phoenix it only means they wont make it past the first round of the playoffs. (put in the 3-2-1-0 point game stats who is in the lead of the west CANUCKS) |
Edited by - Utemin on 03/26/2010 11:19:30 |
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Beans15
Moderator
    

Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 14:39:53
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Couple of things.
Firstly, it's unlikely that a goalie will win. They rarely win. Only 7 goalies have won the Hart in the 63 times it was awarded. Furthermore, between 61/62 and 96/97 no goalie won the award. Think of the amazing goalies in that period of time. Only Hasek (back to back during the dead puck era when he was head and shoulders above everyone) and Theodore(in one of only three seasons since 68 where the leading NHL scorer was less than 100 points) have won the Hart in the past 35 seasons.
Secondly, the Hart will often go to the Art Ross winner. At least 1/2 the time the leading scorer is considered the MVP. At the least, it's nearly always an offensive player. With the exception of Hasek(twice), Theodore, and Pronger, every player since that 61/62 has been an offensive machine. Take a look:
Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, Stan Mikita, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke, Guy LaFleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Mark Messier, Sergei Fedorov, Eric Lindros, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Martin St. Louis, Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby, and Alex Ovechkin.
We are not building many all defensive teams out of that group!!
Thirdly, the NHL uses their awards more for marketing than anything else since the early 80's. Much like Mario and Gretzky, who split the Hart 12 out of 17 years, as long as Crosby or Ovechkin are near the top of the league in anything one of them will win it.
So, based on the wording of the question as to who WILL win the Hart, my vote is Ovechkin or Crosby. That really depends on how much the Professional Hockey Writers Association are going to ding Ovechkin for the suspensions this season. Like him or not(like me), Ovechkin is the most exciting player in the game today. |
Edited by - Beans15 on 03/26/2010 15:52:55 |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 15:22:27
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Well said Beans. Like me, it all comes down to who WILL win it and i think you're right. I too chose Ovie. I hope Henrik at least gets a nomination, but there's a shot that Miller may at least get that and that might leave Henrik outta the mix. Having said that, if Henrik outscores Ovie over the last 8 games, it may be enough to at least garner him a nomination, though i still don't see him stealing the award. With what you said, it's hard to believe he wouldn't at least get a nomination if he in fact did win the Art Ross?
Amazing thing, and i love when things are close, is Ovie could very well miss out on the Art Ross AND the Rocket Richard. Without those, he may still win the Hart? Crazy last couple weeks ahead and i don't think Henrik will hold him off as i believe Washington has an easier sched down the stretch. |
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Beans15
Moderator
    

Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 15:56:32
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I would not be surprised to see Ovechkin, Crosby, and H. Sedin nominated. I would have called him Henrik, but I don't know him well enough to call him by his first name.
It would be interesting to see Crosby with the Richard, Sedin with the Art Ross, and Ovechkin as the leader of the President's Trophy winning team.
I think Miller might be odd man out. He was really good through Christmas as was Buffalo. Since then, he(and the team) have not been much better than average.
Miller would have been my 1st half MVP, but I think his performance has dropped. |
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redneck76ca
Rookie


186 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 16:00:30
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Personally, I think Miller deserves the nod for all the same reasons that Theodore won it. He is the reason why the Sabres are where they are in the standings and his play has been stellar.
Much like everyone has said, few goaltenders have won the award and likely this year will be much of the same. Ovie will likely take the award unless Sedin can outpoint by 5-10 points by season end.
Would never have thought that Sedin would be mentioned in the topic at the start of the year. |
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Guest9494
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Posted - 03/26/2010 : 17:25:56
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lulz i voted for crosby for laughs |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 19:23:05
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We are in for some exciting races these last few weeks. Playoff spots are still very much up in the air, theres a 3 way tie for the Richard Trophy, a single point seperating Sedin & Ovechkin in the race for the Art Ross, Hart Trophy is still very much up in the air. The last few games for players like Matt Duchene & Tyler Myers to stake their claim to the Calder, etc.
And for myself, i'm flying to Toronto tomorrow afternoon & going to the Rangers/Leafs game tomorrow night! Can't wait!! Anyone on here familar with the ACC? We're in Section 117, Row 16...just wondering what the view is like from there. I'm just glad the Rangers were able to pull off that comeback win last night (trailing 3-2 with 18 seconds to go) to stay in the playoff race, definitely makes tomorrows game that much more exciting as a Rangers fan. |
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Guest3356
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Posted - 03/26/2010 : 19:53:27
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I have always believed that MVP was the most valuable player to the team and usually yes the guy who wins is that teams best player but I like looking at guys who aren't at the top of the races but deserve the nod in their own right for their team. Gaborik for me is a great example of this I see this team more near the basement of the east without his performance this year the only thing that would be keeping them a float would be Lundqvist. Anyone else with nominations for players that won't this award but believe their team would be nowhere without their play this year? I would like to not see the award go to Crosby or Ovechkin this year so I'm pulling for Henrik and Stamkos to win the Rocket. All comes down to the remainder of the season though and how strongly these guys finish and of course points and goals will always be a key factor in voting. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 20:50:49
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quote: Originally posted by Beans15 Miller would have been my 1st half MVP, but I think his performance has dropped.
Beans, exactly why i mentioned Bryzgalov. Miller got ALL the hype up to the half way point, faltered slightly pre-Olympics, found his game in the Olympics (which everyone obviously remembers vividly) and has since performed mediocre.
ryan93..... http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/SeatingMap.asp?section=117&row=16&eventID=9
Enjoy the game! |
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irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
  

Canada
1315 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 23:04:01
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I agree with those who said a goalie will not win it.
With my original post, I narrowed it down to two players. Both being goaltenders, but I was not saying they would actually win it. I was simply stating, they would be my two top picks of who I'd vote for.
With that being said,
I can certainly see Ovechkin & Crosby being the two finalists, and Henrik Sedin that third nominee, that just does not receive all of the respect/votes that he deserves.
Ovechkin plays a passionate game (Crosby too), but we notice it more in Ovie due to his outgoing personality.
I can see Ovechkin taking it, but sadly, not solely based on his play (and actual value) to the Capitals.
Unfortunately, even more so today, politics play a big part in who wins these awards. Not always the most deserving.
Irvine/prez. |
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n/a
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4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2010 : 10:13:50
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I don't know . . . the more I look at Miller and Bryzgalov, the more I see a "splitting hairs" scenario, similar to Crosby or Ovechkin this year in terms of numbers and worth. But if we are talking the REAL mvp - most valuable to his team's success - I have to throw Crosby in there . . . without him, the Pens don't make the playoffs this year. Malkin has not been the player we know he can be, and it has been much more of a one man show this year. He has as many goals as Malkin and Staal combined, the next best players statistically . . . and he has been the real leader, the motivator - everything Ovechkin is except he doesn't have a linemate of Backstrom or Semin's calibre and doesn't quite have the supporting cast that Ovechkin does.
I don't know, I am starting to lean towards Crosby.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
    

Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2010 : 15:35:26
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Here is my issue with a goalie getting nominated this year. There really isn't a goalie that has been head and shoulders above the rest for the entire season. I know the award is for the Most Valuable Player to their team, but let's face it. It is not who the award normally goes to.
Last year was a perfect example. While Luongo was injured, the Canucks were statistically worse than any playoff team. They lost more than they won and it's pretty easy to say that they would have missed the playoffs. However, with Luongo, they were one of the top 4 teams in the NHL and made the playoffs.
If that is not the definition of what a true MVP is, nothing is.
So one could say all they want about Miller and the success of the Sabres or Bryzgalov and the success of the Coyotes and it's really irrelevant. Firstly, there are a group of players in Buffalo (Pominville, Vanek, Connelly, Myers, and Miller) that make that team tick. Not just Miller. Same goes for Phoenix as that TEAM has played great overall. Furthermore, you want to look at a goalie that means more to his team than any other team, look at Vokoun in Florida. However, not making the playoffs means no Hardware.
We are not talking about Hasek in 98, where he won just 33 games, but faced over 2000 shots (most in the league), had the best save % (.932), and had 13 shutouts playing on a team with their highest scorer having 46 points.
I would bet a reasonable sum of money that you will see the nominee's come out without a goalie on the list. More specific, it will be H. Sedin, Crosby, and Ovechkin. Unfortunately, even if Sedin had the best season and was most important to his team, he will no win. Since 1990, only Messier and Forsberg have won the Hart playing in time zone west of Central. In fact, take away Wayne Gretzky and those are the ONLY players west of the central time zone that have won!!
The award is given by sports writers and there are more votes east than west. When Henrik Sedin is lighting up a team, the sport writers in the east are in bed and read about it the next day.
This takes Sedin out and leaves Crosby and Ovechkin. The question is, flash and power or humble and skill??? |
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Guest6894
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Posted - 04/09/2010 : 10:23:03
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you guys all forgot about martin brodeur. He's having a legendary season, and he's the reason why the devils are there.
But still, I'd gor for Bryzgalov as the mvp of the season. Wow, their scoring leader has 54 points (besides wolski but wasnt a coyote all season) and the team is having their best season ever.
If a offensive player has to win, it's gotta be henrik sedin. Ovechkin and Crosby are playing with some of the best players of the league...Backstrom, mike green, fleischman, knuble, laich, semin...the capitals would win as much with or without ovechkin... same for the penguins. But in vancouver, daniel sedin missed a big part of the season and still is in the top 20 scorers because he plays with henrik...ryan kesler, he would never be as good without henrik sedin's help, and the team is no longer about luongo |
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Guest4158
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Posted - 04/09/2010 : 11:36:10
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i am on the no goalie band wagon also. They have the Vezina and it will be interesting to see who takes it Bryz or Miller.
If Sid or Ovi passes Henrik for the Art Ross then that player will also take the Hart - no question. IF Henrik hangs on to win the Art Ross then he has a chance at the Hart - no guarantee since the nucks play so late on the east coast and is not a name guy like the other two.
My vote is for Henrik - cuz I am a homer. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 15:17:46
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@6848..... Didn't really forget about Brodeur, he's just simply got very little if any chance to win it. Not taking anything away from him but he's still got a good team and system around him. Don't underestimate that NJ team and it's depth!
The closer this gets, the more i think Miller will get a nomination and still could win it. Buff really is a team that'd be lucky to be in a playoff spot without him! I still think he's in tough to win it only because it happens so seldomly (goalie winning the Hart) and it seems a goalie has to have beyond a great season to do it?
As much as i'd love to see Henrik get a nomination (and of course win it), if it came down to Crosby, Ovie and Miller, as disappointed as i'd be, i could live with it. Let's face it, if there were 4 or 5 nominees, he'd be in it for sure. That's not so bad for a guy millions figured was never gonna amount to more than an average second liner! |
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n/a
deleted
   

4809 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 02:57:00
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It'll be a real close vote, and it honestly is tough to choose.
Reading though this thread again, even "outsiders" like Brodeur, Gaborik are also deserving of a nomination . . . but there are only three nominations and only one winner.
The thing is, a lot of us here are evaluating players that are most valuable to their team, when in actuality the evaluation is usually based on who is most valuable toany team. This, coupled with the fact that nominations are very rare for goalies, defencemen and players looking outside of the playoffs, means it will probably be this for nominations: Ovechkin, Crosby, Henrik Sedin
Then, roll the dice.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 08:59:25
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Gaborik is having a good season, but he's not even close to being the MVP of his own team. That honor goes to Henrik Lundqvist by a landslide. Lundqvist has had a superb season from start to finish, and without his goaltending they have no business being in this crazy playoff race. |
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Guest9165
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Posted - 04/10/2010 : 09:39:00
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I don't really like the argument about the Vezina being a reason for leaving goalies out of the voting. I know there's an award for lowest goals against during a season, but I think that is not telling the whole story. A 4-2 loss with 50 shots against a 3-2 win with 15 shots against... that's why the Vezina is even there, just so we have an idea of the goaltender who really played the best, and in my mind acts more as a save percentage award.
I think an MVP is an MVP, not the highest scorer necessarily. I think it was slozo who said "MVP to ANY team" was the real definition, by i always think of it as MVP of A team. Maybe they should split this award and give 2 different ones, giving the chance for non leadig scorers, leaders, to get their due. Plus you can give players on a non playoff team a chance to win too.
That's why I usually would chose Crosby before Ovechkin: two-way play, leadership (which I think Ovechkin lacks sometimes) and much less of a supporting cast. I like the Gaborik argument, that to me is more MVP worthy than H. Sedin. Luongo, D. Sedin, Burrows, M. Raymond, Kesler, Erhoff, have all been really good this year, and I could say the same for Green winning the Norris...
Heck, even Stamkos could be up there, (if Tampa made the playoffs) all he's got is St-Louis and an off-year Vinnie Lecavalier. Both the supporting players aren't amazing scorers by themselves. |
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Beans15
Moderator
    

Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 10:14:48
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The reason that people use the most valuable to their team is because that is the definition of the award.
That being said, I completely agree with Slozo as it is most often viewed as the best players in the NHL and therefore the best players on any team. Meaning if you took this players from their current team and placed them on any team in the NHL, they would most likely be that teams best players.
Remove Miller, Bryzgalov, and various other goalies now. There are legitimately 10 keepers in the league that would keep their jobs, or at least compete with any other keeper in the game.
The 3rd nominee really is irrelevant. It will more than likely be Sedin because of the production, but he can't beat either Ovechkin or Crosby.
The interesting this is that this award might literally be decided in the next 2 days. Ovechkin currently leads the league in goals and points. If that reads the same on Monday, Ovechkin will win. However, if Crosby knocks off the concensus best goal scorer in the league and takes the Richard, the argument comes back again.
The style of Ovechkin's play would come into question at that time. Could the NHL really give the award to a player with 2(could have been 3) suspensions in one season???
At the same time, even for pro-Crosby guys like me, it's hard to argue that Ovechkin is not the most dynamic players in the game.
(Another thing I was just looking at was Daniel Sedin. He was injured for 20 games and I am in no way stating he should be considered for the Hart. However, did anyone notice that his PPG is virtually identical to Henrik Sedin's?? Could you imagine both healthy this season?? When was the last time team mates(let alone brothers) had over 100 points in a season before this season??? If Sedin's and Malkin were healthy, there was an opportunity for 3 sets of team mates to do it! I'm not sure that has ever happened before.....) |
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willus3
Moderator
  

Canada
1948 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 17:27:40
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If it does indeed come down to Ovechkin and Crosby there is no way Ovechkin should win going by the definition of the award.
Replace each of them with average NHL'ers and where would there teams be? Ovechkin missed time this year and the Capital's didn't miss a beat. Compare rosters. It's not really even close. Crosby has been dinged in the past because he had Malkin, well the same thing goes for Ovechkin this year but he has even more wealth oh his team. Anyone suspended twice in a season for dirty play shouldn't even be eligible for the Hart trophy. As for goals scored, 5 of Ovechkins have been empty netters and we all know who empty net goals are for.
Crosby has scored about 20% of Pittsburgh's goals. Almost twice as many as Malkin(who has apparently been injured most of the season). He's 30 points ahead of the closest player on his team. But most importantly what Crosby has done is prove that he is willing and capable of integrating into a team. A player at that talent level who is willing to do whatever is needed for his team to win is the ultimate MVP. Ovechkin has yet to do this. Which is why I would be very surprised if Washington won the cup this year.
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Edited by - willus3 on 04/10/2010 17:28:21 |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
   

3670 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 17:54:29
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Beans, if you want to see something even spookier, look at the Sedin stats up to the beginning of the year (g/a/pts), they are virtually identical over their entire career. I think they were within a few points of each other. With Daniel being injured and not getting as many points this year those numbers will be off, but they are still identical in a PPG way. Its freaky. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
    

6113 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2010 : 01:23:33
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Willus, i'd have to agree, by definition, it'd be Crosby over Ovie for sure! Both are incredible players but Washington is 7-2-1 without Ovie. That translates to a 56-16-8 (approx) record! Pretty good numbers for any team!
Having said that, way to go HANK! 4 pt night to put the pressure on Ovie! Bring us home the Hart!!! |
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willus3
Moderator
  

Canada
1948 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2010 : 08:46:22
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I also forgot to mention Ovechkin has the good fortune of playing in the worst division in the league. |
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Nucks07
Top Prospect

Canada
45 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2010 : 12:23:58
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Ovechkin didnt win the Art, If he dosent tie for the Rocket do you think this will kill alot of his MVP votes?? |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
 

Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2010 : 15:18:32
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He didn't win the Richard either, Sid just scored #51. |
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n/a
deleted
   

4809 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2010 : 15:33:23
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Crosby gets his 50, kudos to the kid (finally!), and then surges into the lead. Midway through both games (Pit andTB) Crosby has 51 and Stamkos still sits at 50 (and Ovie is home and cooled at 50).
The Richard tophy going to Crosby would be a huge, huge feather in his cap, and certainly is a big part of his nomination for the Hart I'd think. I really think it's his year, and in my mind he'd be the most deserving of it.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest6816
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Posted - 04/25/2010 : 07:40:58
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HEy alex happy poster I like how you choose who you think not who you like still you dont have to reply to everyones comments |
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