MVP

[GenoSidStaalsy]

Is Crosby still the favorite with all the time missed? Likely he'll still end up top 3-5 in scoring.

[scals37]

I believe so, many of the other top performers this year aren't even making the playoffs

[mikey287]

He will be. But these last few games will be crucial. If someone goes hog wild, Crosby might lose it...just like Jagr did when he missed (as I recall) exactly one-quarter of the season...some voters have the "how valuable can you be when you're not on the ice...?" mindset.

[Troy Loney]

I bet Ovechkin gets it. Voters love Goalz.

[newarenanow]

The only guy I worry about is Ovechkin.

Fair or not, the end of the year is more fresh in the minds of people, and even though he was nonexistent for 1/2 the season, he has been on fire. And with Crosby out, people may forget how truly dominate he was for 3/4 of the season.

[Gaucho]

Sid missed 6 games so far and is still 8 points ahead of AO. So to anyone who dares to vote for Fat Alex: **** you.

[Shakes]

Sid Not on Steroids is campaigning hard for AO. Of course he has to back his player, but it still irks me.

“Obviously Sidney Crosby is another candidate, for sure,” said Oates. “He had such a scoring lead, but I think you have to factor in the fact that he missed a lot of games.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/alex-ovechkin-nhl-mvp-coach-adam-oates-says-030947151--nhl.html

I could buy several others but not freaking Ovie. Not for 4 to 6 weeks of "passion."

[MRandall25]

Someone must be forgetting the entire first half of the season that Ovie missed...

[largegarlic]

I hate to say it, but if I had a vote, I think I would vote for Ovechkin at this point. I always think the Hart should be awarded to the player who means the most to his team, not necessarily the player who had the best season. Ovechkin has almost single-handedly brought the Caps back from the dead and put them in position to be the 3-seed (granted, it's a crappy division, but still). Take him away from that team, and they're probably in the lottery for the top draft pick.

On that same line of reasoning, I would give serious consideration to Anderson and Bobrovsky, since Ottawa and Columbus have no business doing as well as they are and so much of that success is due to goaltending. However, I don't like giving the Hart to a goalie, since they have the Vezina.

[Rylan]

NHL Network said its Crosby's to lose still based on a survey of coaches, so take that for what its worth.

[llipgh2]

Sid Not on Steroids is campaigning hard for AO. Of course he has to back his player, but it still irks me.

“Obviously Sidney Crosby is another candidate, for sure,” said Oates. “He had such a scoring lead, but I think you have to factor in the fact that he missed a lot of games.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/alex-ovechkin-nhl-mvp-coach-adam-oates-says-030947151--nhl.html

I could buy several others but not freaking Ovie. Not for 4 to 6 weeks of "passion."

Ovie basically "missed" most of the season by contributing absolutely nothing. His getting hot the last month of the season doesn't define a "MVP" season.

[skullman80]

A coach is going to support his own player. I don't see why people are suprised at that. Oates isn't going to say... "Crosby is the best player, hands down the MVP". He is going to back his own guy, and I don't see the issue with that. He's wrong, but I think most coaches would do the same thing.

[Penspal]

Sid is the MVP.

[Gaucho]

I hate to say it, but if I had a vote, I think I would vote for Ovechkin at this point. I always think the Hart should be awarded to the player who means the most to his team, not necessarily the player who had the best season. Ovechkin has almost single-handedly brought the Caps back from the dead and put them in position to be the 3-seed (granted, it's a crappy division, but still). Take him away from that team, and they're probably in the lottery for the top draft pick.

Sure, when AO completely tanked the first half of the season it became painfully obvious how much the team is dependent on him. The Pens meanwhile find ways to win even they're missing Sid and/or Malkin. If you look at it that way, Ovechkin should win the Hart.

[Kovy27]

If Columbus makes it, Bobs should win it.

[Gaucho]

I think the only real candidates to challenge him are Toews and Tavares.

[meow]

[no name]

The award is supposed to goto the player who means most to his team (not the best player in the league) but of course every year it goes to the best player in the league which this year is Sid hands down. Voters love goals, but Sid is the face of the league.

[Gaucho]

The Hart definiton is rubbish anyway.

meow, those numbers are pretty impressive.

[Kovy27]

The award is supposed to goto the player who means most to his team (not the best player in the league) but of course every year it goes to the best player in the league which this year is Sid hands down. Voters love goals, but Sid is the face of the league.

So, how can you deny Bobrovsky hasn't meant the most to the Columbus Blue Jackets?

[meow]

The Hart definiton is rubbish anyway.

meow, those numbers are pretty impressive.

I stole it from The Score. If there is a measurability to being a big game player, this might be it.

[headh]

MVP is different things to different voters.

There is a great argument both for and against Sid and for and against Ovey. Personally I think Stamkos has to get some consideration. To each his own.

[CERV96]

I wish I could sleep 3/4 of the year at work and still win employee of the year.

[meow]

I wish I could sleep 3/4 of the year at work and still win employee of the year.

If you were by far and away the best employee when you were working, you might.

[headh]

I wish I could sleep 3/4 of the year at work and still win employee of the year.

I work in a setting that rewards the person who produces the most in a given year. They care less about how and more about results.