Alex Ovechkin was named a finalist for the NHL's Hart Trophy (aka the MVP) at the end of April, along with Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, making a Russian triumvirate of nominees.
While the award won't be decided until the 2009 NHL Awards banquet on June 18, DC's 'Great Eight' hopes to become the first non-goalie repeat winner since 'Great One' Wayne Gretzky, who won the Hart eight times in a row from 1980 to '87. Goalie Dominik Hasek won the MVP in '96-97 and in '97-'98.
So what are Ovie's chances? Well, depends on who you ask. If it's ESPN's Bill Simmons, then Ovechkin is a "villainous" mean-natured S.O.B. (as relayed by the DC Sports Bog). If you are as confused as Dan Steinberg at the assessment, then join the club ... not sure how many villains go through life in such a happy-go-lucky manner, supporting local sports teams and scooting around in utility carts.
Otherwise, the mainstream media seems to like Ovechkin (the Professional Hockey Writers' Association does do the Hart Trophy finalist voting), but what about the fans? Again, it depends. USA Today held a 16-player March Madness-like bracket for NHL MVP and Datsyuk walloped Ovechkin 89 percent to 11 percent. On the other hand, a poll on NHL.com currently has Ovie the Great leading both Datsyuk and Malkin with 36 percent of the vote.
But we all want to be judged first and foremost by our peers, right? A recent Sporting News poll of 292 NHL players dubs Ovechkin the SN Player of the Year award, running away with 147 votes, and giving Ovie back-to-back honors.
In the end, this is just another accolade for a great player, something Ovie would gladly give up for a shot at the Cup. Not much of a consolation for losing to the Pens... but hey D.C. sports scene, at least it's something.
