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The Hart Trophy Belongs To…
Alexander Ovechkin and Evegeni Malkin appear to be the front runners for this years Hart Trophy but Pavel Datsyuk is the NHL’s most overlooked superstar and should cross the finish line first. He has been the best player on the league’s best team for years, and it’s about time somebody took notice.
In the past, Datsyuk’s been wrongfully stiffed for such an award because the cupboard in Detroit isn’t exactly bare. This year, each of the candidates had a very productive supporting staff. In Washington Ovechkin had Mike Green and Niklaus Backstrom. In Green you have a potential Norris trophy winner. Backstrom was top five in scoring, for most of the season. The Penguins are well off too. They boast two of the leagues top three goal scorers in Malkin and Sidney Crosby. To argue that one player has benefited more from the surrounding cast is pure insanity.
Datsyuk’s a proven factor at both ends of the ice. He goes into the corners, gets his nose dirty
Datsyuk’s the pulse of his team. He makes his teammates look good and isn’t all about storming the net like his counterparts. For all of Pavel’s greatness he’s also an unselfish player. Sometimes his preference to pass over taking that big game shot hurts him a little. Ovechkin’s taken it upon himself to be the shooter for every trip up the ice on his line. He’s predictable and not an avid passer which makes him a liability to teammates who get caught on odd man rushes. Ovechkin’s success is easily measured by numbers but what about the intangibles? The Caps continue to add complimenting talent around him but he’s still just a one man show.
Datsyuk’s bidding for his fourth straight Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player, and his second Selke as the league’s best defensive forward. Datsyuk’s a proven factor at both ends of the ice. He goes into the corners, gets his nose dirty, but with only 22 penalty minutes he isn’t a liability to his team. Datsyuk’s racked up 32 goals and 65 assists, to go along with a spectacular plus +34 rating, and toss in 89 takeaways. That translates into an all round, versatile player.
Sure Malkin led the league with 78 assists and is one of the leagues top playmakers. Then there’s the leagues sensational goal scorer in Ovechkin, who led the league with 56 goals. They both lead high-powered offences. For that reason if your team’s down by a goal late, all three could be seen on the ice. But if times winding down and you’re leading by a goal late who would you want on the ice? Datsyuk . In a one-goal game in the third period, is Ovechkin out there killing the penalty for his team? I don’t think so!
Datsyuk for the Hart.
For OpenIceHockey.com, I’m Ashley Mabee
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