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04-02-2008, 07:31 PM
|  | Defensive Coach | | Join Date: Aug 2005
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I'm going to be the first to say that I look at whether or not a team made the playoffs when I'm looking at the MVP, whether that is the NHL or any other sport. I will be one of the first to admit that I questioned Alex Rodriguez winning the MVP while he was with the Texas Rangers.
So, I understand some of the NHL writers when they say they won't vote for Alexander Ovechkin for MVP if the Washington Capitals don't make the playoffs. After all, the last player to win the MVP from a non-playoff squad was Mario Lemieux back in 1988.
But, to vote against Ovechkin just because of that is plain wrong.
At one point this season, the Capitals were 6-13-1, and fired their head coach on Thanksgiving Day. Not exactly living up to the expectations set for this season, and those set by a 3-0 start.
But, the Capitals, lead by Ovechkin, came back, eventually pushing into the top spot in the Eastern Conference about a month ago. They've been blistering lately, and are going to go down to the wire for a playoff berth.
Ovechkin has 63 goals on the season, and will receive the Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophy for most goals scored on the season. He is currently tied with Luc Robitaille for most goals in a single season by a left-winger. Those 63 goals have accounted for 27% of the offensive output by Washington this season.
Ovechkin also has 110 points, which also leads the league. That means that he has also been involved in nearly 50% of his team's goals.
If that doesn't speak volumes about Ovechkin, I'm sure that what he did yesterday will suffice.
In the biggest game of the year for Washington, Ovechkin was oddly silent on the score sheet, but he did score a goal near the end of the game. However, he received a roughing penalty because he went after a player who had just hit goaltender Cristobal Huet with his stick. He played the role of enforcer in that situation, something very few players of Ovechkin's caliber do.
If the Capitals don't make the playoffs, it won't be for lack of trying. They are scorching, and with the Hurricanes winning tonight, are two points behind them. The Capitals will have to win both of their remaining games and Carolina has to lose their final game for their best chance of making the playoffs.
My advice for the hockey writers is to not hold this against Ovechkin. Instead, look at the many hats he has played this year- dynamic scorer, playmaker, enforcer, leader- and vote him the 2007-08 Most Valuable Player, because he truly is the MVP of this Capitals squad. If you are going to vote against Ovechkin, make it because YOU think another player made more of a difference to their own team, NOT because that player's team did not make the playoffs.
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04-02-2008, 07:35 PM
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http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/SportsRumorMill.com
This has also been posted on our blog at SportingNews. Help me get some more people to read it and possibly join up here. Just register an account and provide my article (and the others) with positive feedback.
Now, feel free to criticize me here though.
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04-02-2008, 07:39 PM
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He's a great player but my vote goes to Joe Thornton.
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04-02-2008, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by eagles15 He's a great player but my vote goes to Joe Thornton. | It better not be because the Sharks are definitely in the playoffs 
Seriously, I like Thornton, and I always have. I feel he brings it every game and he's a great two-way player. But, if the MVP is going to come from the Sharks, it has to be Evgeni Nabokov, who has started 75 of 80 games for this team and has been outstanding in net. Not to mention, he's had the stamina to play this much despite having basically split time with someone else the past few seasons.
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04-02-2008, 07:49 PM
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by ThomasTomasz Quote: |
Originally Posted by eagles15 He's a great player but my vote goes to Joe Thornton. | It better not be because the Sharks are definitely in the playoffs
Seriously, I like Thornton, and I always have. I feel he brings it every game and he's a great two-way player. But, if the MVP is going to come from the Sharks, it has to be Evgeni Nabokov, who has started 75 of 80 games for this team and has been outstanding in net. Not to mention, he's had the stamina to play this much despite having basically split time with someone else the past few seasons. | I dont like giving the mvp to a goalie, thats what the Vezina is for.
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04-02-2008, 07:49 PM
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04-02-2008, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Rickus25 | I knew that would be coming. I'm definitely a Brodeur fan, but I just can't see how Ovechkin can be passed over for it after all he and the Caps have done. Call me a homer or whatever, but I remained objective in my first post, and I just can't see it.
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04-02-2008, 08:30 PM
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It should be Ovechkin, and it will be Ovechkin. There shouldn't even be a debate. No SKATER in the NHL is more important to his team than Ovechkin is to the Caps. You can definitely make the argument for multiple goalies, including Brodeur, but like eagles said, that's what the Vezina is for. Ovechkin should be the clear cut winner this year.
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04-03-2008, 06:30 AM
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I don’t think it should be Ovechkin. I am tired of the Art Ross winner automatically getting the Hart. Why don’t they just combine the damn thing? I’m not saying that players that win the MVP need to be on winning teams, but how valuable can you be if you can’t win?
2 other names that come to mind are Malkin and Lidstrom. I pick Malkin because he is only like 6 points behind Ovechkin, and he carried a team that was built around the chosen one. Not only did he score a shit load of points, but right now they are on top of the East.
I named Lidstrom because it is a complete homer pick. But besides the fact that I’m pulling for him; he was the best defensive player on the best defensive team. He could very well be the best player in the NHL. But it is impossible to compare the completely different kinds of style. But I just think it’s wrong that people don’t even mention Lidstrom, even though statistically no defenseman is even close to him. But did you know only 1 defenseman has won the Hart since Orr.
Before everyone jumps down my throat, I will say that Ovechkin will win the Hart this year and there is nothing wrong with that. He is in my top 3 for the award. But in the past several years, the MVP has always been the scoring leader. They need to start looking at other stats other than points. They need to start taking into consideration position, wins, +/-, and individual situations.
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04-03-2008, 06:40 AM
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If I had a vote, Ovechkin would get it.
Not only the goal scoring but also everything he does on the ice to positivley impact his team. Would the Caps be anywhere without him? NO.
I think they should split it into 2 MVP awards like MLB does. In the West, I might have to give it to Liddy in Detroit or Thornton in SJ. It was obvious when Liddy was hurt that he is more to that team than just a body on the blue line. And for Thornton, let's just say I hope the Avs get the #6 or #8 seed, because fuck playing the Sharks next week!
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04-03-2008, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by fiveminutemajor If I had a vote, Ovechkin would get it.
Not only the goal scoring but also everything he does on the ice to positivley impact his team. Would the Caps be anywhere without him? NO.
I think they should split it into 2 MVP awards like MLB does. In the West, I might have to give it to Liddy in Detroit or Thornton in SJ. It was obvious when Liddy was hurt that he is more to that team than just a body on the blue line. And for Thornton, let's just say I hope the Avs get the #6 or #8 seed, because fuck playing the Sharks next week! | I would definitely support two MVP awards for each conference. I like the way MLB does it, and there has never been complaints about combining the two into one. It gives recognition to two players instead of one, and I like that.
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04-03-2008, 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by kringle9 I don’t think it should be Ovechkin. I am tired of the Art Ross winner automatically getting the Hart. Why don’t they just combine the damn thing? I’m not saying that players that win the MVP need to be on winning teams, but how valuable can you be if you can’t win?
2 other names that come to mind are Malkin and Lidstrom. I pick Malkin because he is only like 6 points behind Ovechkin, and he carried a team that was built around the chosen one. Not only did he score a shit load of points, but right now they are on top of the East.
I named Lidstrom because it is a complete homer pick. But besides the fact that I’m pulling for him; he was the best defensive player on the best defensive team. He could very well be the best player in the NHL. But it is impossible to compare the completely different kinds of style. But I just think it’s wrong that people don’t even mention Lidstrom, even though statistically no defenseman is even close to him. But did you know only 1 defenseman has won the Hart since Orr.
Before everyone jumps down my throat, I will say that Ovechkin will win the Hart this year and there is nothing wrong with that. He is in my top 3 for the award. But in the past several years, the MVP has always been the scoring leader. They need to start looking at other stats other than points. They need to start taking into consideration position, wins, +/-, and individual situations. | I appreciate all that you say about it. Believe me, I took a lot of consideration of other players into it.
Fact remains, Ovechkin has scored 27% of his team's goals. He has been in on 47% of the team's goals. He has had to perform as the captain and leader this season because Michael Nylander and Chris Clark went down in December. He has 10 game winning goals, a +27 rating and has brought this team back from dead last in the conference.
Just because he might also end up the leader in points doesn't diminish what else he has done for this team, which also includes playing the enforcer role at times.
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04-05-2008, 08:14 PM
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So, will there be any argument from you guys about Ovechkin now that Washington has made the playoffs, and as division champs? I think he's a sure bet for the MVP now.
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04-05-2008, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by ThomasTomasz So, will there be any argument from you guys about Ovechkin now that Washington has made the playoffs, and as division champs? I think he's a sure bet for the MVP now. | No way he doesn't win MVP this year in my opinion. The guy has been flat out amazing this entire season and has just been just as amazing down the stretch in getting the caps into the playoffs for the first time in a while. You can't argue against his 65 goals this season. Sure Malkin played great this year especially in Crosbys absence but Ovechkin has meant much more to his team than Malkin. I think him getting the Caps into the playoffs will get him this award easily.
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04-06-2008, 07:41 AM
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by ThomasTomasz Quote: |
Originally Posted by Rickus25 | I knew that would be coming. I'm definitely a Brodeur fan, but I just can't see how Ovechkin can be passed over for it after all he and the Caps have done. Call me a homer or whatever, but I remained objective in my first post, and I just can't see it. | I am with you... Ovechkin should get it this year, especially since they are now a 3 seed, it seems like an easy vote... Marty should have gotten it last year, but was robbed by all the Syd the Kid hype... Marty was deffinitely more valuable then Syd was last year...
I would still have Marty in consideration though.
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04-06-2008, 05:20 PM
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I agree with Thomas......Ovi is my selection for MVP. What a great dynamic and exciting player....Greatest Hockey Player from Russia I've ever seen.
He's a pure complete player!
Great article by the Thomas....impressive!
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04-06-2008, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Seoulkid I agree with Thomas......Ovi is my selection for MVP. What a great dynamic and exciting player....Greatest Hockey Player from Russia I've ever seen.
He's a pure complete player!
Great article by the Thomas....impressive! | Seoulkid whats up man???? The hockey forum has really picked up since you have been gone and you would be such an addition if you stay around
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04-06-2008, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Seoulkid I agree with Thomas......Ovi is my selection for MVP. What a great dynamic and exciting player....Greatest Hockey Player from Russia I've ever seen.
He's a pure complete player!
Great article by the Thomas....impressive! | He's been great this year, he really has. I don't think anyone has meant as much to his team. He may also even win the Pearson Trophy. Thanks for the comments man, I appreciate it.
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04-12-2008, 01:09 PM
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*HOMER ALERT HOMER ALERT HOMER ALERT HOMER ALERT HOMER ALERT*
I've only seen it mentioned once or twice, but I really think the MVP this year ought to go to Nick Lidstrom. Talk about bringing it every night--he's been bringing it every night for so long, and he is so critical to the success of the Wings, ESPECIALLY now that he's wearing the 'C.'
Ovechkin is definitely worthy of it, as is Malkin--both have been great this year.
Think about this: w/o Lidstrom in the lineup, we lost, what, nine out of ten? Now THAT'S a major piece missing from the lineup.
I won't complain if someone else gets it, but I just think it's about time this guy got recognized for his value at every level of the game.
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04-12-2008, 01:25 PM
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Just check out Ovi's game winner in the playoffs yesterday against Philly. Who else has that kind of skill and juice on a consistent basis this year?
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