Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have already claimed a Hart Trophy in their young NHL careers as league MVP, while the only member of the new big three to not take home the hardware is Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. Is this the year? Or will Ovechkin claim his second in a row?The NHL announced the finalists for the award on Wednesday, as Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk joins Malkin and Ovechkin in the top three.
While Crosby and Ovechkin get all of the national attention, Malkin quietly went about his business and led the league in scoring, seemingly wire-to-wire, with 113 points -- three more than Ovechkin, 10 more than Crosby, and 16 more than Datsyuk. He not only led the league in points, he also led the league in assists (78) and takeaways (94). He's a complete player, and it might be worth pointing out that each of the past five scoring champions also went on to win the Hart Trophy. The last scoring champion to not be voted MVP was Calgary's Jarome Iginla, losing out to Montreal's Jose Theodore in 2001-02.
Ovechkin led the league in goals for the second straight season, and just like last year, it wasn't even a race. After becoming the first player in over a decade to score 60 goals a year ago, he followed it up this season with a 56-goal campaign, beating Philadelphia's Jeff Carter by 10 tallies. Nobody is even competing with him, and assuming he stays healthy, it's doubtful anyone will manage to keep pace in the future. It's not just that he scores a ton of goals, it's that he's capable of doing things like this.
Ridiculous.
Datsyuk is a rather familiar face among the award finalists this season, as this is the third award he's been nominated for (Selke and Lady Byng) which might mean he's finally starting to get the attention he deserves for being one of the games best players. Is he on the same level as Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin? Without question. I'm not even sure what to say about him here because we've already gone over his accomplishments this season.
So, who takes it? Personally, I'd cast my vote for Malkin, but I honestly don't think he has a chance against the runaway freight train that is Ovechkin. For most of the season he's been regarded by many (if not all) experts as the best, most dominating player in the world, and I think that's going to translate into votes and give him his second straight Hart Trophy. Honestly, you can't make a bad choice here. Put all three names in a hat, pick one out, and you're going to be happy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-29-2009 @ 1:33PM
John said...
Mike Babcock put it best when he stated a few weeks ago that if you are down one in the final minute, you could throw anyone one of those three on the ice to try to tie it, but if you are up one, you'd want Pav out there over the other 2 to prevent the tying goal. To me that is Most Valuable.
I'm not naive however, and realize Pav really has no shot at this due to the popularity contest. So let Ov or Geno get the Hart, Datsyuk will be plenty happy with the Lady Byng, Selke, and Stanley Cup.
On another note, it just has to kill Don Cherry that the 3 Hart finalists are all Russian.
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4-29-2009 @ 7:28PM
rwing said...
Agree with you John...Malkin and Ovechkin will win it, although Datsyuk is QUITE WORTHY as well. But Pavs should be a sure bet for the Lady Byng. Yes, let them take the Hart, and the Red Wings and Pav will be more than HAPPY with the biggest fish of all...THE STANLEY CUP!!
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4-29-2009 @ 9:11PM
Poo-poo-undies said...
It's a no-brainer...Pavel Datsyuk is by far the best two-way player in the league, the best all-around player and the first player I would select were I building a team. The other two tend to "phone it in" on occasion but, never number 13 in the red and white winged wheel.
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4-30-2009 @ 9:17AM
claytor said...
I'm also in the bag with this one on the any-one-of-them-deserves-it deal.
Seriously, this is can't lose stuff. Honestly Malkin is a better all around player than Crosby, but hasn't whined about his role, only enhanced his game. It's his willing second fiddle stance that hurts him, however. Datsyuk for all of his greatness is also an unselfish player, and sometimes his preference to pass over taking that big game shot hurts him as little. Alex is a goal Machine. The Caps have improved year by year as he improves and they add complimenting talent around him, but he's not an avid passer.
I'm an Ovy fan, but even i think Malkin should have it. Without him, the Pens wouldn't even be talking playoffs, and this isn't the first season that can be said of either. Seriously, whoever wins makes me, a hockey fan, proud :)
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4-30-2009 @ 5:43PM
gordon ashton said...
Yep, another popularity contest! Datsyk could take the puck away from any of the others. Best defensive forward in the NHL. How many steals? I lost count. All they want to do is sell more Crosby, Malkin, and Ovie jersies. Let's vote for the truly best player, Dats. He doesn't have to make the same plays because he's on a truly superior team. You other guys are right, though, Pav Dats will take the Cup over any of the personal prizes. And you can bet he will!!! Sidney goes home empty handed and crying again!!!
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