Alexander Ovechkin is without a doubt the best goal scorer of this new NHL era. Watching him take shots all over the ice and putting it in the net is amazing. He plays the sniper role who can energize his team with his goal scoring and hit (in his offensive zone) opponents like it's nothing.
During the past couple weeks, the MVP race has been brought up. During these discussions, I keep reading that Ovechkin will most likely win the award again. I can not seem to understand why he will probably win. The MVP is given to the most valuable player to his team, not best goal scorer in the league. They already have an award for that and Ovechkin will most likely win that. The Washington Capitals have Mike Green, Niklas Backstrom, and Alexander Semin as great players playing along side Ovechkin. Green is closing on 30 goals for a defenseman, Semin has over 30 goals and Backstrom has turned into an excellent 2 way player to help cover up for Ovechkin's nondefensive style of playing.
I do not see how writers can vote for a player who does not regularly backchecks on plays or grinds to win puck battles. I have never seen Ovechkin drop down to block a shot or play more than the last couple seconds of a penalty kill. I watch him "chery pick" on the blue line trying to get an advantage over the defense while his team is trying to clear to puck to him. It is frustrating to hear and read about how people use his hit number to justify him as a complete player.
If we are talking about complete player we can go to many different players around the league. Look at Parise, Zetterburg, and Crosby as perfect examples. All three players play both sides of the ice. Parise might be the best example of most valuable this season. Brodeur continually was given credit for carrying this team to the playoffs; however, this year when Brodeur tore his biceps, Parise, who plays in a defensive style of hockey has put up 41 goals. Not only has he scored a lot of goals but he has contributed over 45 assists to his teammates. Crosby and Zetterburg regularly play the penalty kill for their teams and are always seen behind the opponents nets grinding to win the puck battle to pass to a teammate.
The above mentioned reasons are why I feel that Ovechkin should not win the MVP award this year. I do not have a problem with that he won it last year, but I feel that in order for him to win a second award in back to back season, we need to see something different from him. I have not seen his style of play evolve much from last year to this year, thus making me feel that other players efforts like Malkin and Parise who have greatly improved and helped their team this year feel unrewarded.
Melissa Haro
Shanon Lersh
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Only Malkin has a chance off knocking off Ovie this year...
FoosBall
Total Comments (3494)
Yep, he's been pretty solid all year. He did almost everything while- top 2 D were out, Crosby was "struggling"- no set wingers- poor goaltending. Now look at his stats take off with all those fixed.
Hf4life says lets go…
Latrobe , PA
Total Comments (968)
I agree with both of your comments. I just wanted to point out there are other hockey players who deserve this award more so than Ovechkin. Honestly, I don't think he even deserves to be in the top 3 vote getters.
1. Malkin
2. Parise
3. Steve Mason (if they make the playoffs)
rmustud19
Butler , PA
Total Comments (290)
Mason--he's almost singlehandedly kept his team in the hunt. The rest are ensemble players by comparison. MVP material. However, I think the OP really sells OV short in how he keeps the spirit up on his team. He is the leader since the lame duck Clark is out (another) season--and that's the stuff MVP is all about.
Wingman
Total Comments (1)
Just another whiny Pens fan who doesn't watch any Capitals games. Ovechkin is the leader of a division winning team. Malkin and Crosby couldn't even get the Pens into the playoffs until Guerin and Kunitz came along. The Caps are nothing without Ovechkin and anyone who thinks Semin and Backstrom could lead this team alone and still be on top of the Eastern Conference is just retarded. The reason why so few people have commented on this is because it's an idiotic post. OVECHKIN IS TOP 5 IN THE LEAGUE IN HITS! I'd say that's pretty good defense. When he's on the ice all the other team thinks about is keeping the puck off his stick. He WILL win MVP again this season and he will deserve it. He plays a much rougher style than guys like Zetterburg, Parise, Malkin and (obviously) Crosby.
Don't hate on Ovechkin because you can't cheer for him. He tries to score on every shift and drives the Caps emotionally and physically. Most guys in the NHL won't even take a run at him because they are scared to get nailed by him later in the game. What other current NHL Superstar can you say that about?
ZMann84
Bethesda , MD
Total Comments (53)
Ovechkin is the mvp,as Zmann points out so well.First of all what seperates Malkin from Crysbaby?not much.Both are great players I will give you that but given that the two of them have led the league in points all season and that even minus Gonchar and Whitney the Pens still have better Deenceman than the Caps the Pens still couldnt get over the hump until they added Kunitz and Guerin.Thats sad for a team with two of the the top three scorers.
People point to OVIs less defensive style I say BS!First of all the fact that opposing players can't put there head down for a second when #8 is on the ice his hitting also causes others to take stupid penalties and we all know how good the Caps are on the pp.Ovi has played in 3 less games than Malkin and the ones he has missed have not gone so well for the Caps.True he has a great supporting cast,the caps are a great team.But lets not forget Semin has also missed almost 20 games,if semin stays healthy the points race is a runaway at this point for OVI and Semin would probably be in the top 3 also.If OVI doesn't miss three games he probably has 3-5 more points also and I haven't yet given up on him catching Malkin altogether yet.Also I take a finisher over a setup man anyday,and if I hear another STUPID argument over the amount of shots OVI takes I will PUKE! I guarantee you those extra shots only earn him more points with the writers when voting for the award they certainly don't hurt.Alex Ovechkin is the best player in the world even Don Cherry has said such ,and he is the NHL MVP.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
http://www.nhl.com/ice/threestarsstandings.htm
pretty telling.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
zman, whining generally involves complaining about the situation. I explained why I think Ovechkin should not be the MVP this year. How has he improved his team this in comparison to last year? All of his numbers are down. He is not going to score 60 goals. He doesn't have as many points and he isn't even in the top 5 in hits like you suggested. He's in 8th. How does Ovechkin back check on his plays? Is he leading the league in takeaways like Malkin does?
Malkin is back on the defensive side of the ice so much that he is able to steal the puck, carry it down the ice, and feed his teammates after he draws enough guys to him. Tell me that having him on the ice doesn't make him more valuable than Ovechkin. Who has Ovechkin had on his lines this year? Semin and Backstrom. Malkin has Sykora and a 4th liner. Plus Ovechkin had Mike Green blasting pucks at the net which drew more attention to him. Gonchar has only played in like 15 games this season and Malkin has been playing and scoring like this the whole season.
Look, the point of my article was not to rip on Ovechkin or say he is a horrible player. My point is that he does not deserve to win the MVP this year. How has his game improved? How he evolved as a player? I'm not seeing it. I have other players like Parise and Malkin change their team and keep them in the race all year.
rmustud19
Butler , PA
Total Comments (290)
Just as a side note, Ovechkin is leading the league in giveaways with 100.
rmustud19
Butler , PA
Total Comments (290)
lets see what the analysts think,the ones who vote for the award.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/04/01/nhl_awards_predictions/
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
How about the turnaround happened when Therrien was fired. How do you have one of the best players in the league and focus your game on defense? That is why the Pens were struggling. If you don't think Malkin held them in there especially when Crosby was out of the lineup, you're sadly mistaken. Luckily analysts are not the ones voting on the award, so hopefully the writers of the NHL aren't voting based on popularity.
rmustud19
Butler , PA
Total Comments (290)
lets be clear,your a pens fan and thus biased towards Malkin,which is OK.But I ask you what spereates Malkin from Crysbaby?a few points?Every top defence pairing is on the Ice for Crysbabys line.Malkin is a quality 2 way player I give you that.But he doesn't have the game changeing ability Ovechkin has last night he showed the biggest spark of the season and it was great but that would be a typical good game for Ovechkin.He only had I think 1 poit but the way Malkin played last night was MVP caliber,he doesnt bring that every night.Bottom line is NHL spors writers see this for what it is they see what you don't.Alex Ovechkin is so far ahead of Malkin its scary hes behind by a marginal amount of points he has so many more game winners he has 100s more shots on goal,which some people think is a minus but is a huge plus.He draws the best Dmen every shift which Malkin does not.Had Semin not spent 20 games injured Ovi would have 20+more points and Ovi and Semin would be 1 and 2 in the scoring.Look bottom line Malkin is great he deserves mention,but he won't win it and its not because of politics or popularity(he is plenty popular)its because OVI took a team that barely made the playoffs to the top and Crysbaby and Malkin who reached the top could barely hold on.OVI faces the best and Malkin 2nd tier I would not be surprised if Crysbaby gets more votes than Malkin.Parise and MAson wont help Malkin either,they will take from his sympathisers.I wont be mad should Malkin win but would be a little shocked.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
did you look at the three star rating?for the whole season?How is it that Malkin not once was a one star?not once?NEVER!!number 17??17?? noy 3 not 4 not 5 not 6 not 10,,,17!!Ovechkin #1 and CRYSBABY #2.How could Malkin be MVP and if not OVI who Parise?MAson ? c'mon??
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
the turnaroud didnt happen with Therrien being fired For Malkin the turnoaround never happened.He's been steady throughout.For the Pens the turnaround happened with a coaching change and some MAJOR additions but for Malkin he has been steady as she goes all year which is great but still hes no MVP.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
After last night Alex Ovechkin is averageing more ppg than Malkin and I still think he has a good chance to overtake him there too.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
by the way you write that Semin has more than 30 goals but he hit 30 last night ,so credibility ,shot!SORRY.
REDSKIN1
Total Comments (18)
Actually Malkin was a #1 star a couple times. Check the last home game of the season. He was # 1 then.
As for the turnaround, I said Malkin has been solid the whole year. He helped them from being worse than they were.
Luckily these two teams are now playing each other in the playoffs. You'll get to see first hand how two great players, Malkin and Crosby, can dominate a game and play a complete game from blue line to blue line.
rmustud19
Butler , PA
Total Comments (290)
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