Lidstrom for the Hart?

[toby91_ca 620]

ovechkin is the mvp this year in my opinion whether the caps make the playoffs or not. he's amazing.

I would never vote for a player to be MVP if his team misses the playoffs, I just can't do it.

History suggests he wouldn't have much shot either. I could be wrong, but I think, since 1960 (go back too far and you simply lose comparison), only 1 guy won the Hart while his team missed the playoffs and that was Lemieux in 1988. In that year, he scored 168 pts, the next leading scorer on his team had 79pts. Gretzky only played 64 games that year (149pts), so that was a contributing factor as well.

Ovechkin would have to lead the league by in scoring by a significant enough amount before I'd consider him MVP if his team misses the playoffs. I don't seem him leading the league in scoring, let alone by a significant enough amount.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

If the media acknowledges his +/- and defensive prowess, then he should get some play. Its hard for a defender to win when a guy goes off for 50-60 goals. At the very least he should get another Norris.

I will settle for another Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy for Nick than the Hart, just my preference

Nah, I want a Cup and a Norris for nick

A byng and a Selke for Dats

and a con smyth for either Dats or Z. If we want to win a cup, then Dats or Z better have an MVP worthy playoffs. If they don't, we aren't winning any cup.

i'll be just peachy with Nick's 6th Norris.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Unfortunately Nick will not get the Hart, even though he deserves it. Not as long as everyone thinks Ovechkin and Crosby are the gods of the game.

I also would love to see Pasha win the Selkie, but again, that probably won't happen either.

Artists are never appreciated in their own time.

Does that mean you think AO has no business being mentioned in the discussion for MVP at all?

Why in your mind does lidstrom "deserve it" more than Alfredsson, Iginla, Luongo or AO at this point?

I don't see Nick as the clear cut favorite right now. And frankly, Zetterberg could wind up in the conversation as well. Any team with 2 potential candidates for league MVP automatically gets tossed out in my book. The award is Most Valuable Player (singular), which means without said player, team would not be nearly what it is.

If Lids weren't with the Wings we'd probably still be 1st in the Central and guaranteed a playoff spot. We might not win the cup without him but its clear that he has a ton more help around him than AO in Washington does or Iginla in Calgary does. Iginla and AO are one man shows. On any given night the Wings have Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hasek and Osgood that can be the best player on the ice. The Caps have 1 guy and the Flames have 2, Iggy and Kipper. Without them those teams would be terrible.

Edited February 4, 2008 by GordieSid&Ted

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

your first two cons are the reasons he won't win it.

I don't know about the whole two top 6 goalies. I don't want to take any credit away from the two goalies, but I think a good portion of the reason why Dom and Ozzie are playing so stellar is because of Nick. When you have the best defensemen playing half the game, it's to the advantage of Dom and Ozzie.

[CrossCheck24 2]

...the best defensemen playing half the game...

His presense on the ice is a calming effect for the rest of the line, and a headache for the other team.

Lidstrom 27:16/game, Ovechkin 23:03

+4 minute difference

-15.5 year age difference

What about intangibles? Leadership, hard work, good attitude, etc?

I think it was holmstrom who said that Lidstrom is Perfect, and doesn't want him to change at all, has anyone ever said anything close to that about Ovechkin? He's good but not a legend to his own team.