Gotta Be Willing to Change Your Mind

Somehow a stance against considering players from non-playoff teams for the Hart Trophy got twisted into an anti-Alex Ovechkin position along the way.

Well, no matter. It's not an argument any more.

Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals did make the playoffs, which eliminated the non-playoff team argument.

He's in. They're in. And that makes him the odds-on favorite for the Hart.

Where he fits on a ballot - you have to vote for the top five - depends on many factors, and to acknowledge Ovechkin's excellence while lifting his team to the post-season should not in any way diminish the outstanding achievements of a whole whack of NHL stars.

Nicklas Lidstrom. Martin Brodeur. Jarome Iginla. Evgeny Malkin. Scott Niedermayer. Brian Campbell. Alexei Kovalev.

But 65 goals is a whole pile of goals at a time when a 20-goal man is considered a sniper.

It's clearly good for the game that Ovechkin and the Caps made it, and it will be interesting now to see how the Philadelphia (Why Take One Suspension When You Can Take Five?) Flyers will approach defending the Russian winger. The Flyers had some success against Pittsburgh earlier this season by having Mike Richards get into Sidney Crosby's grill, and you can bet John Stevens' game plan won't be passive.

Moreover, the Flyers had the better record this season, although they weren't nearly as hot down the stretch.

But the Caps are about more than just Ovechkin. Mike Green and his Paul Coffey-like approach to playing defence is a player who just isn't talked about enough. Alexander Semin has great skills. Sergei Fedorov may have some gas left. Cristobal Huet has taken the No. 1 goaltending job away from Olaf Kolzig. And the Caps are the NHL's biggest team.

So this will be a fascinating series to watch.

The Hart vote? Ovechkin will certainly be on my ballot. Just exactly where on my ballot will take some thinking.

But 65 goals are a whole pile of goals, particularly when that hot stick is heading to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Comments

[Clint]

Scott Niedermayer? Seriously? He played in 48 games had 25 points and was -2. If that qualifies as a Hart nominee, then look at Dustin Penner. He played in all 82 games and qualifies as a sniper with 23 goals.

[OddyOh]

Firstly, I hope the Flyers can keep their dirty hits out of the playoffs...course, I know better than that. Then I hope Colin Campbell shows some consistency for once with his suspensions. Course, I know better than that too. Should be interesting.

[mark]

I like Ovechkin for the Hart. All the more shame that someone like Scott Hartnell will likely take him out early in the playoffs. Damien, I know your stand on fighting in the NHL, but don't you think that until the league puts stiffer penalties in place for head shots, boarding, knee to knee and really any attempt to injure that fighting is the only resort for protecting these guys? After watching the Flyers take liberty with Crosby, I expect the same when they play Washington. Personally, I hope someone steps in pummels whoever on the Flyers takes a cheap shot at Ovechkin (and you know it's not a question of 'if'... it's 'when' it happens).

[Navin Vaswani]

Brian Campbell? Give me a break...

[Sanj]

Come on Damien. What is their to think about? Ovechkin needs to be number one on your ballot. With Malkin coming 2nd.

[BTM]

I agree with Sanj - Ovechkin is a no-brainer for the Hart (there's no way that team wins the division without him), and Malkin is a no-brainer for 2nd in voting.

[D Keenan]

"...the Flyers had the better record this season" ???
Simple math - the Cap's 43 wins is better then the Philly's 42 - I don't care how many they lost in OT or the shootout. Isn't winning percentage supposed to determine which team is better? Why isn't anyone talking/writing about this ridiculous situation the NHL has created? Carolina is out of the playoffs even though they clearly had a better record than Boston, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia.

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Like the other posters say, Ovechkin is a no-brainer. Not only does he lead with his skills, but his love and enthusiasm for the game is infectious with his teammates.
He is definitely my favourite player to watch right now. I would love to see the Caps get into the second round against the Pens or Habs. That would lead to some real firewagon hockey.

[Pat Mete]

Ovechking for MVP - Yes. Washington is overrated though. Keep in mind strength of schedule. Washington played 32 games against Atlanta, Carolina, Florida, and Tampa Bay, all non-playoff teams.

[127.0.0.1]

Damien, you used to strike me as an intelligent hockey guy. That was before I knew anything about hockey, now I just know you have a job just to be a poop disturber. when you try to come across as being intelligent, you just seem flagrantly uninformed.

[Brian]

I agree for me Ovechkin reminds me of Mario Lemieux on how he saved Pittisburg, he is the total package in my mind. The Caps made the best trade dead line move in snagging Fedorov, former Selke winner he will bring loads of experience to the table. It would be a dream conference final Pittsburgh and Washington Crosby vs Ovechkin, reminds of Greztky and Lemieux again

[David]

As a Fan of the game I say pencil Ovechkin into that no.1 spot.
As for Brian Campbell, as a Sabres fan I can't see how he could be considered, since he bailed on his former team. How does that equate to an MVP nod? Bolting at the first chance to a contender isn't character driven, it money.

[Roberto Calazar]

So the intriguing question to me is: Given the choice on draft day between Crosby and Ovechkin, knowing what you know now, who would you pick?
I am thinking the Russian.