It may be premature to start citing my pick for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, but I think this season there is little doubt that the most deserving candidate is Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
What Ovechkin's done this season is nothing short of amazing. He's not only the league's leading goalscorer with 46 goals (as of this writing), 7 more than his nearest rival, he's also presently the leading point-getter with 73, one point ahead of Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson.
He's also got 16 power-play goals, only five short of the 21 he had last season, and has 8 game-winners, tying his personal best of last year.
Ovechkin is also on pace for 67 goals, which would not only make him the first player to reach the 60-goal mark since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96, but he's also within striking distance of 70 goals, which would make him the first player to reach that plateau since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny did it back in 1992-93.
He's also perhaps one of the most physical goalscorers in the NHL, one who never shies away from the rough going, willing to take a lot of physical punishment to get himself into a quality scoring opportunity.
The only knock against Ovechkin is that he's not a good playmaker (he only has 27 assists and is on pace for only 39 this season), but that doesn't mean he's a selfish player, merely one built for goalscoring, like Pavel Bure and Maurice Richard.
He's also perhaps the most exciting player in the NHL right now, one that if the league had any sense would start hyping Ovechkin more. He's every bit as talented, exciting and important to the NHL as Sidney Crosby, his only true rival.
Had Crosby not been sidelined by an ankle injury for six weeks, he'd be battling with Ovechkin for the Hart Trophy and it might be a close race, but in the end, it would still be one that Ovechkin would win.
What separates Ovechkin from the pack this season is that his efforts have carried his rebuilding Capitals team into playoff contention.
Two months ago, the Capitals were dead last in the Eastern Conference and considered out of playoff contention. What changed was two things, a new head coach in Bruce Boudreau, and Ovechkin taking his game to another level.
Boudreau's coaching style appealed to the Capitals, especially Ovechkin. Since the coaching change the talented Russian winger has been tearing it up offensively, sometimes winning games for his team almost singlehandedly.
What's even more impressive about Ovechkin's performance this season is that he's done it on a Capitals team that's still lacking depth at almost all positions.
Granted, things are getting better for the Caps this season in that regard. Rookie center Niklas Backstrom is a Calder contender, defenceman Mike Green is emerging as a quality offensive blueliner, and some veteran additions like Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov have bolstered the lineup.
But look at Ovechkin's stats compared to his teammates, and it's obvious who's the driving force behind the Capitals battle for a playoff berth. Take him out of the roster, and the Capitals don't get within sniffing distance of the playoffs.
The Capitals still have a lot of work ahead of them and a playoff berth is no guarantee, but I believe Ovechkin deserves the Hart even if the Caps fail to make the playoffs. Nobody is more valuable to his team this season than Ovechkin.
Hard to argue with 'Ovie for the Hart'. Alex even has a fair +/-. If he had linemates to rely on consistently, like Alfredsson?Spezza/Heatley and Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom do... there's no telling how huge his numbers would be, at this point in the season.
Ovechkin already makes his teammates better, just by lacing up and skating with them. Imagine how much better AO would be if Washington could put another player on his line that scored consistently. Alex's numbers in the assist column would improve dramatically.
The Capitals were wise to sign Ovechkin to that long term deal. He and Green (if WAS resigns him) will be the players to attract MORE skilled players to the franchise. If the Caps are contenders in the next 3-5 years, Leonsis is going to look like a genius.
Ovechkin is the real deal and deserving of all the attention but don't count Malkin out just yet. The Penguins are not only in the thick of the playoff race but are at the top of the standings even with all of the injuries to the team. Since Crosby's injury,Malkin has 22 points and has become a real dominant force on the ice and unlike Ovechkin,Malkin is a more balanced play maker/goal scorer.I may be wrong but at last check,Malkin is only 3 points behind Ovechkin in the scoring race as of today also.
If Malkin manages to keep the Penguins afloat he's GOT to be a candidate for the Hart, but I'd still give it to Ovechkin because they penguins have more depth.
BUT that'll give Malkin his own ... I dono image? He won't be living in Crosby's shadow if he can keep the team afloat and he'll have no problem getting 7-8 million a season when his contract is up. Imagine that dude signing a 10 year 80 million dollar deal. Insanity you say? This guy's big, talented and is still gonna get stronger physically. Monster.
1) Good point about Malkin Thadd! Quietly he has put up some very impressive numbers AND no one can say its due to The Kid
2) As for Ovechkin's 'weakness'. Only those who haven't seen him play much would say that he doesn't have strong play making ability. If he were placed with a strong supporting cast he'd get plenty more Assists. His passing is first rate, but when you're the most dynamic goal scorer in the league that's apt to be easily over looked.
Ovechkin at this point should be a lock for the Hart. There is no one in the league (outside of Luonogo) who do more for their team than Ovechkin.
It's mind boggling to think how the Capitals are close to the playoffs with their current roster... a testament to how good Ovechkin really is.
Also, I agree with the Malkin statement. Lost in Crosby's shadow, it's time for the hockey world to recogonize Malkin as an extremely talented two-way player. Even without Crosby in the line-up he's been on an absolute tear recently.
PS. In international play Malkin, Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Kovalchuk round out the team's top 2 LW and C.
At this point, OV is the overwhelming favourite. Not to take anything away from Malkin, but nearly everyone picked the Pens to be the East's leader. That would indicate that, as a Team, the Pens are great including/excluding Crosby. No one gave the Capitals a shot early on. Ovechkin has literally willed that team into first place. Some credit, actually plenty goes to Boudreau. But without OV, the Caps would be duking it out with TB and LA for Steve Stamkos..
Zetterberg is the most complete player. His stats would be much higher if he didn't kill penalties. On a productivity per minute of even strength ice time, Zetterberg is every much as good as Ovechkin. Zetterberg will play any position on any line and never complain. He is deadly on faceoffs. Plus, his team is winning, which is what counts most.
Ovechkin is a special kind of goal scorer. He isn't getting tap in's or "garbage goals." He has to create room and create his own shot. But Ovechkin doesn't make his teammates better, doesn't kill penalties, doesn't win faceoffs and hasn't led his team to contention.
I would vote Ovechkin most exciting, but the MVP is Zetterberg.
Zetterberg's very good, and one of many cogs in Detroit, but he's got great talent around him too. Ovechkin's practically a one-man show. He does what he's made to do better than anyone else in the league destined for the same, and his stats prove it. Detroit would still have some pretty spectacular depth were Zetterberg injured.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Hart trophy goes to the player most valuable to his team, right? Luongo stands on his head in Vancouver, but he's got a pretty defensive-minded team in front of him. They were still a heck of a team with Auld. Zetterberg is very important to Detroit, but they wouldn't be lost without him. Washington's would be a lost cause without Ovechkin.
Well, if we're really talking about a team falling apart without a player, then you have to look at Alfredsson and/or Heatley, too...
And I honestly don't buy the Luongo arguement. They were a decent team without him and are a good team with him. I mean, they're a 500 team with him and are one game under 500 without him...
AND, this is with a defense that many people were saying was on paper the best defense in the league.
Ovechkin is a greater percentage of his team's offense than Zetterberg is of the Wings' offense. But Zetterbeg is a machine.
Zetterberg has registered a point in all but four of Detroit's games where he appeared. He has a negative +/- in only 8 of 56 games and has only once been -2 in a game. Ovechkin has been held off the scoresheet 11 times and has been negative in 13 games with five of them being a -2 or worse.
In a Cup run, you need a player like Zetterberg who delivers that consistent effort against any time on any night. Ovechkin is explosive and capable of having the best night of any player in the NHL. He can do stuff that many Hall of Famers could not even dream of doing. But, in my opinion, Zetterberg consistently makes his team better through his play on the wing, at center, at even strength and shorthanded. Winning faceoffs and killing penalties doesn't make the highlight reels but it gets division championships. Five on five, minute per minute, Zetterberg is a better scorer than Ovechkin. If Zetterberg didn't play shorthanded and got as much powerplay time as Ovechkin, he would be the scoring leader.
Last edited by habsnyc on February 11th at 3:08 PM.
Jan 19, Malkin 14th in scoring. 52pts.
After just 10 games minus Sid, 73pts., T-3 in scoring.
Carried Pens to 1st place in Div, 2nd in Conf.
Also, bounced the physical Ovie like a rag doll along the way!
Ovie's definately gifted, but I'll take a playmaker and scorer like Malkin anyday.
While Ovechkin is valuable, there is no doubt about that. I would like to throw another Russian name into the mix. Evgeni Malkin. He has been lights out all season.
I stated before that Ovechkin is an unbelieveable player and deserves all the accolades he gets.I know I'll here it for this but with that said,I really believe he could work on his game to become an even better player.He appears to be content with being a pure goal scorer.I really hate to compare him to Crosby or Malkin because they have a completely different style than he has.Imagine though, what his worth to his team would be if he became a better playmaker.I don't think the greatest players carry their team on their shoulders,I think they use their play and leadership to make those players around them better.
Great point there Arnold, making players around you better. Rob Brown, Warren Young are just two examples I am sure you remember! Ovie needs to start showing examples like those, and he may very well be capable, we'll see. He sure has talent and is very gifted. Ovie has 48 goals and the next closest teammate has 16. Lyle is right, though, he's probably got the Hart wrapped up already.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
