Hart Finalists released

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

As I said over on the caps boards...

I know Malkin had a big year, and I know he is a great player, and I guess I don't have a huge problem with it. But if it's meant to be MVP, why was his name not mentioned until Crosby went out. Ovey and Iginla have been getting it done all year. Malkin picked it up when Crosby went down, and kept going after that, but I think it probably should have been

Ovey, Iginla, Nabakov.

I'm not bitter, I just think those 3 were so instrumental in their teams success on years when the team around them (specifically in Calgary and San Jose, since we know what Ovey done here) struggled mightily at times.

The flames first forgot to play defense, then when they did, they struggled to find the net. The sharks had a major down year from their captain, and Jumbo Joe's production dropped too, and they had to rely on 10 GWG from basically a walk on who everyone thought was done in Jeremy Roenick.

It's going to be ovechkin running away with it, but I just thought that Nabakov would have been a better candidate than Malkin

[hockeysc23 0]

Ovie should win it by a landslide. His biggest compliant, at the time was he didn't lead his team to the playoffs. Well he did it.

Bring on the Hart!

[Fletch 219]

Ovie should win it by a landslide. His biggest compliant, at the time was he didn't lead his team to the playoffs. Well he did it.

Bring on the Hart!

Agreed 100%.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

Yeah but he couldn't lead them past Philly, and Iginla couldn't beat the Sharks, so you got to go with Malkin who stepped up when the previous year's scoring leader went down and he picked up the slack and contended for a title. Oh and he's not doing a shabby job in the playoffs.

[mik3 1]

Ovie should win it by a landslide. His biggest compliant, at the time was he didn't lead his team to the playoffs. Well he did it.

Bring on the Hart!

He'll probably win it but by a landslide would be a joke. Last year's MVP gets hurt and Malkin pretty much becomes god for two+ months.

I also wonder if Ovechkin's out of this world number of shots will work against him.

[hockeysc23 0]

Yeah but he couldn't lead them past Philly, and Iginla couldn't beat the Sharks, so you got to go with Malkin who stepped up when the previous year's scoring leader went down and he picked up the slack and contended for a title. Oh and he's not doing a shabby job in the playoffs.

True but this is not the Conn Smyth. This is the regular season MVP. While Malkin did turn it on late where was he at the beginning of the year?

Ovie was solid from game 1 to 82.

[Chadd 916]

Yeah but he couldn't lead them past Philly, and Iginla couldn't beat the Sharks, so you got to go with Malkin who stepped up when the previous year's scoring leader went down and he picked up the slack and contended for a title. Oh and he's not doing a shabby job in the playoffs.

You do realize there is a different award for the playoffs don't you?

[mik3 1]

Ovechkin and Malkin both had 30 points after the first two months of the season, just sayin'.

[Chadd 916]

True but this is not the Conn Smyth. This is the regular season MVP. While Malkin did turn it on late where was he at the beginning of the year?

Ovie was solid from game 1 to 82.

Malkin was stuck in someone's shadow to start the season despite being the best player on his team.

[hockeysc23 0]

Ovechkin and Malkin both had 30 points after the first two months of the season, just sayin'.

Ok and Ovie ended with: 112

Malkin: 106 on a much more loaded roster.

Malkin had a great year but this year Ovie was better.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Ovechkin and Malkin both had 30 points after the first two months of the season, just sayin'.

While points are a good measuring stick, they do not indicate that a player was most valuable.

Put it like this... If Crosby was healthy and malkin went down, would the pens have been in dire trouble? Probably not.

If ovechkin had went down for 24 games this season, where would the caps be? They would have been at the table next to the Lightning hoping to win the chance to draft Stamkos.

It's Most Valuable Player, not best point getter, there is also an award for that.

Ovechkins loss would have been much more profound than Malkins given the roster for each team

[mik3 1]

Yeah, but your point was where was Malkin in the beginning of the year, and I replied to that.

Also, I don't buy into the "Well Malkin played on a much more loaded lineup."

Did you see some of the players they were putting out there for a while? Crosby, Roberts, Kennedy, and Talbot were all hurt for decent periods of time.

[Chadd 916]

Yeah, but your point was where was Malkin in the beginning of the year, and I replied to that.

Also, I don't buy into the "Well Malkin played on a much more loaded lineup."

Did you see some of the players they were putting out there for a while? Crosby, Roberts, Kennedy, and Talbot were all hurt for decent periods of time.

Malkin skated with Malone and Sykora pretty much the entire time Sid was out. They still had a potent first PP unit as well. I don't think anyone should win the Hart when they aren't considered the number one guy on the team. You would have to make a case that he is better than Sid in order for Malkin to be a legit MVP.

[mik3 1]

Malkin's output after Crosby fully came back could work for or against him. With Crosby in the lineup his production seemed to go down.

And, you can win an MVP and not be the best player on your team, it happens a lot in all sports. Especially if it's a 1a and 1b situation.

[hockeysc23 0]

Yeah, but your point was where was Malkin in the beginning of the year, and I replied to that.

Also, I don't buy into the "Well Malkin played on a much more loaded lineup."

Did you see some of the players they were putting out there for a while? Crosby, Roberts, Kennedy, and Talbot were all hurt for decent periods of time.

Ok so make the case for Malkin being mvp. He didn't have the most goals or points, isn't the MVP of his own team, didn't show up or play at MVP caliber for the whole season?

I'm not saying Malkin isn't good as I would take him on my team. But he isn't the MVP. Not even close.

[mik3 1]

How is he not the MVP of his own team? Crosby played 53 games, is he the mvp? Your throught process to say it's not even close can be summed up with your avatar.

[hockeysc23 0]

How is he not the MVP of his own team? Crosby played 53 games, is he the mvp? Your throught process to say it's not even close can be summed up with your avatar.

True I am a Caps fan. I am not denying that. But prove to me how Ovie is not the MVP based on what I said early.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

How is he not the MVP of his own team? Crosby played 53 games, is he the mvp? Your throught process to say it's not even close can be summed up with your avatar.

I would say conklins play when crosby and fleury were out was every bit as good and better than malkin.

18-5-5 with a 2.51 GAA and .923 save %.

He may have been the most important (if not valuable) player for the pens this year when they got hit by the injury bug.

As far as injuries. Ovechkins RW from last season, Chris Clark, scored 30 goals, and was out for all but 18 games. Top line Center Nylander was out for 42 games (he had 37 points in the 40 games he played this year)

And still ovechkin put up more goals and points than anyone

[rubberduckie 0]

Not a lot of talk about the third candidate here... Iggy is just under the radar a lot. Always puts up points, but never overly flashy.

I agree with the above... conklin was just as instrumental to the pens success as malkin was over that stretch of time. Malkin wasn't even an all-star till he got in due to injury.

Ovie does have the advantage of having the spot light on him, and bring much more 'dramatic' then malkin and iggy. So his achievements are highlighted more so. But I think the goals and points speech for themselves, even though he plays in a weak division, he put up points and got the caps in the playoffs.

[dietzie27 0]

Why do you go by the all star game? He was shafted 2 years in a row. I think ovey will win, but its not a landslide like you guys are saying.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Why do you go by the all star game? He was shafted 2 years in a row. I think ovey will win, but its not a landslide like you guys are saying.

I think in terms of first place votes, it will be completely lopsided to ovechkins favor.

Who brought up the all-star game?

[adam14 182]

ovechkin should get it, simply because he basically carried the team this year, took a huge step as a leader and his motivation brought the team together. like allsmoke said, without him, the caps would have been saying five hail marys and five our fathers, hoping to get stamkos...

[DarkStar50 679]

Ovechkin. Landslide. Wrap it up with a bow. The vote will not be close.

[QandA 0]

One of the sport shows was saying Iginla was flattered but Ovechkin was going to win it.

[Chadd 916]

Not a lot of talk about the third candidate here... Iggy is just under the radar a lot. Always puts up points, but never overly flashy.

They had to nominate someone from a Canadian team and someone from the west. With Iggy they can cover both bases in one shot.

Excellent point about the way Conklin played during the stretch drive for the Pens, he was a huge factor in how they finished the season.