As Expected, Ovechkin Named Finalist for Hart Trophy

Alex Ovechkin has been named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." His competion is none other than his old nemisis, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, and the Vancouver Canucks' Henrik Sedin.

Much to Ovie's chagrin, Crosby won his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's goal-scoring leader, splitting the honor with Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Sedin captured the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point accumulator.

Ovie has won the award the last two seasons. The only other Caps to finish in the top five in Hart Trophy voting are Olie Kolzig (1999-2000) and Rod Langway (1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85).

Ovechkin finished second overall in points (109, tied with Crosby) and second in goals (50, one behind Crosby and Stamkos). He led the NHL in points per game (1.51), goals per game (0.69), shots on goal (368), even-strength goals (37) and goals on the road (24). He finished behind teammate Jeff Schultz (plus-50) for the NHL lead in plus/minus rating (plus-45) and tied for sixth in assists (59). It was perhaps his most complete season, his fifth in the NHL.

The Caps were 40-8-8 when Ovechkin recorded a point and went 30-4-7 since he was named captain on Jan. 5. Ovie joined Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players with four 50-goal seasons in their first five years in the league, and joined Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Peter Stastny, Dale Hawerchuk and Sidney Crosby as the only players with four 100-point seasons in their first five years.

It's somewhat ironic that this news comes today, less than 24 hours after the Caps were eliminated in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens. It seems that Ovechkin won't three-peat and perhaps Sedin will capture this award because, quite frankly, without him, the Canucks wouldn't have enjoyed the success they did.