The MVP Question: What's a 60-Goal Season Worth?
"We're trying to score every single shift. But sometimes when you're scoring 50 or 60 you have to cheat (defensively) to do it. If you're a team that relies on one guy to score -- just one guy -- you know how easy it is to knock that team out of the playoffs? Or if you've got a pretty good defensive team, how easy it is to stop him? He's done."With two games left, the Washington Capitals remain one tantalizing point short of a playoff spot – 9th in the East as of Wednesday.
- San Jose Coach Ron Wilson
If they don't get over the hump, is that one point enough to trigger an Alex Ovechkin blackball when votes are cast for the Hart Trophy? Could be. Some media types cling to the notion that the league MVP must come from a playoff team.
Ovechkin, the first man to top 60 goals since 1996, is the story of this NHL season. But old school hockey types can be suspicious of big numbers. Count Atlanta center Bobby Holik among them:
"It means more for marketing purposes than it does for a team... If the team doesn't do well, it gets forgotten very quickly... If you get 60 wins in a season, that's the (60) you should be looking for."
Others are mounting an Ovechkin-for-Hart campaign – here and here, for example - citing the overwhelming evidence in his favor.
The other leading contenders are Niklas Lidstrom in Detroit, Evgeni Nabokov in San Jose, and Jarome Iginla in Calgary. Making a late run are Nabokov's teammate, Joe Thornton, and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, who has rendered Sidney Crosby the second-best player on his own team.
Of the group, Iginla makes the strongest case. Like Alex, he has carried an ordinary team on his back since October. Yet his Flames are only two points better than the Caps right now, with the same number of wins. So by what measure is the Canadian in Calgary a more worthy candidate than the Russian in Washington?
Yes, 60 wins mean more than 60 goals. Making headlines is worthless compared to making the playoffs.
But like it or not, the NHL hands out individual awards at the end of every season. To punish the game's best player because his teammates aren't good enough would look small-minded and petty. It would also ignite a storm of bad press and ridicule.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Comments
MVP, Malkin. I say this with respect for the other worthy candidates for one reason-Sydney. If their roles had been reversed and Sydney had done what Malkin has (quietly done) we would not be debating the league MVP. We would have had Syd headlines and articles up the ying yang and the MVP would be a foregone conclusion. Second choice would be Ovechkin.
1. Ovechkin, 2.Lidstrom, 3.Malkin
I agree with Coach Wilson and others who say the Hart should come from someone who is on a playoff team. What’s 60+ goals worth if you don’t even make the postseason? If the Caps make it in, then Ovechkin should have the Hart.
Another indicator is the percentage of goals a player has been a part of (scoring or assisting). If this is the measure then Thornton should be considered too. If not, Iginla, Nabokov, or Malkin should have it.
April, 6 2008. Ovechkin (1), the rest of the list (0). I might be a little biased, but I think for Coach of the year? Bruce Boudreau. Bringing a team from 14th place in the Eastern Conference and to lock up the Southeast champs. I think that’s pretty good overall. Just saying.