NHL Player of the year - from the espys...

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3492599

Sidney Crosby (Best NHL Player)

x infinity

[RadioGaGa 162]

It's not for "Player of the Year" is for "Best Player". Subtle differences in the naming of the award...but many (maybe not many here) would argue that even though he had injury problems last year, Crosby is STILL the BEST PLAYER in the League.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

It's not for "Player of the Year" is for "Best Player". Subtle differences in the naming of the award...but many (maybe not many here) would argue that even though he had injury problems last year, Crosby is STILL the BEST PLAYER in the League.

It's voted on annually. Therefore, its the Best Player in 2008.

Ovechkin 65 goals, 112 points, Richard, Art Ross, Pearson, Hart, guiding the caps to their first playoff berth in 5 years.

Crosby wasn't even the Best Player on the pens this year, either in the regular season OR the playoffs. I'd say Malkin in the regular season, Fleury in the playoffs, or Hossa, or malkin up until the finals.

[WSjo22 1]

I'm a die hard pens.....and I think this is a joke, Ovie puts up stats like that and doesn't when the best player? Granted, it's just the ESPY's but still....Crap like this is way everyone hates Crosby

[psh 25]

If "best" means best across all aspects of the game, I'd say Zetterberg or Lidstrom, and I pulled for the Avs in every final that the Avs and Red Wings met.

Ovechkin deserves consideration, but if you're looking at all aspects of the game, you can't say he's a great, or even competent, shut down guy. Zetterberg is, so I'd go with him.

[WSjo22 1]

If "best" means best across all aspects of the game, I'd say Zetterberg or Lidstrom, and I pulled for the Avs in every final that the Avs and Red Wings met.

I'd agree with that maybe, but when you watch these award shows and they are giving out the "Best" player awards you could say the always go to the top offense player ex: leading rusher,passer, touchdown for football; homeruns, rbi's for baseball and so on....You would think with the NHL the award would go to the best offensive player for the year. How you can be the one of the best goal scorers right now, put 65-47-112 and lose the best player award to someone who missed 30 games doesn't make sense to me

[tro 4]

It's the ESPY's so not a great amount thought went into it, I always like the points per game stat

Ovie- 1.37

Sid-1.36

I think Ovie's the "Best Player", crazy skill, take over a game, kinda of like Bure

I think Sid's the MVP of the league, he'll win cups, go to the finals, kinda of like Gretz

Shit I didn't want to get into a whole- Sid vs Ovie thing

[mrusse01 0]

It's who's the best player, not who had the best season.

If you polled most GM's in the league saying that they needed to win one game, who would they draft, I think Sid goes before Ovy does. That being said, I also think Lidstrom would go before anybody, so there's that, but Lids never gets any dap so it's nothing new.

[kosydar 0]

Its the ESPYs, they don't mean anything.

[chippa13 1844]

How about we just enjoy the fact that we can look forward to having this debate for the next decade and more.

[Trooper 8]

I'm a die hard pens.....and I think this is a joke, Ovie puts up stats like that and doesn't when the best player? Granted, it's just the ESPY's but still....Crap like this is way everyone hates Crosby

It's people hating players over stuff that the player has no control over that leads me to believe that people need to get a life and realize it's just a game and entertainment. And I don't think everyone hates Crosby, what you read on the internet is not everyone.

[gxc999 7]

I read an article saying more GM's would select Ovy first now than Sid and I agree. Alex dominates a game all by himself, Sid cannot come close to doing that. Watch how Ovechkin's play completely fires up the whole team and arena, even if they're on the road sometimes. Sid might sneak in one of those awesome stick handling moves and everyone laughs or goes wow for a half second, then it's done. Ovechkin is what Lindros was hyped to be and with the same level of talent around him as Crosby, will win more championships.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Malkin, Kovalev and Datsyuk were the most dominant players in the league last year.

Kovalev has led an average Habs team first in east, Malkin was probably the most dominant player in the entire league after Crosby got injured, and no Datsyuk, no Stanley Cup in Detroit.

[stick9 891]

It's not for "Player of the Year" is for "Best Player". Subtle differences in the naming of the award...but many (maybe not many here) would argue that even though he had injury problems last year, Crosby is STILL the BEST PLAYER in the League.

And I am sure there are some people who would agrue that Crosby isn't even the best player on his team, let alone the league.

[cxo 0]

It's neither. It's the ESPY's, which = popularity contest.

[interpathway 9]

Its the ESPYs, they don't mean anything.

Unfortunately for 99% of Americans, the ESPYs are the only hockey award show they watch. I thought Ovie should've taken it, but Sid is still one hell of a player.