04 Conn Smythe Trophy

[Blackhawkswincup]

Anyone else feel that Nikolai Khabibulin was robbed?

I watched a game i found of VHS and he was amazing during the finals and looking at his stats for the playoffs i dont see how he didn't win especially with how he played vs Lightning and Habs.

Brad Richards had an excellent postseason but i think Khabibulin was the reason that they won!

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[Big Phil]

Richards had a record 7 game winning goals that year. If he doesnt win St. Louis was right there with him with 24 points to Richard's 26. But IMO there is no way that Richards does not win that one. If Khabibulin wins it than there would be a thread once a week on this and you could compare it to Lemieux's muggings at the 1989 awards ceremonies. The vibe was that Richards would win it if the Lightning won. I dont remember a lot of Khabibulin pimping at the time.

 

[Dark Shadows]

Richard's was a lock for that Trophy as long as Tampa won.

 

[vikash1987]

Khabibulin was terrific throughout the playoffs, but Richards' clutch scoring and composure with the puck made him a favorite for the Conn Smythe.

Contrary to what some believe in retrospect, Khabibulin did not get robbed with the Richards decision, nor was there any anti-Russianism involved in the decision.

 

[Big Phil]

Anyone else feel that Nikolai Khabibulin was robbed?

I watched a game i found of VHS and he was amazing during the finals and looking at his stats for the playoffs i dont see how he didn't win especially with how he played vs Lightning and Habs.

Brad Richards had an excellent postseason but i think Khabibulin was the reason that they won!

Think of it like the '89 playoffs. Vernon was very good that year and made some great saves but he wasnt the first name you think of from that year. No way was anyone prying that Conn Smythe Trophy away from MacInnis. After that Mullen and Gilmour were probably ahead of Vernon. I put Vernon 4th that year. Kind of the same with Khabibulin, he was good when he needed to be but was not the first name we think of from that year.

 

[seventieslord]

How many playoff GWG does a player need to score before he deserves the Smythe? Wow.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

How many playoff GWG does a player need to score before he deserves the Smythe? Wow.

How great does a goalie have to play?

16-7 5 SO/ 1.71 GAA/ .933 SV PCT

 

[seventieslord]

How great does a goalie have to play?

16-7 5 SO/ 1.71 GAA/ .933 SV PCT

I've seen better.

Brodeur, Hasek, and Fleury, to name a few, have all had better numbers than that and not won the Smythe.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Fleury's numbers weren't as good

 

[yada]

While khabbi was very good that year when you have a player like richards score all the key goals to win games and series its hard to not give him the conn smythe. Marty st louis was the next best player for the bolts and would have been a fine choice after scoring the game winner in double ot in game 6 to send the finals to a game 7. After st louis and richards khabbibulan prob came in 3 among most important lightning players.

 

[Sotnos]

Anyone else feel that Nikolai Khabibulin was robbed?

Nope. He was great (though he did have one game where he got pulled) but Richards broke a record for GWGs and was clutch throughout, it would've been tough to not give it to him. I haven't met a Tampa fan yet who thinks Khabi got robbed, and he was worshipped like a god down here.

 

[seventieslord]

Fleury's numbers weren't as good

How do you figure?

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Marc Andre Fleury 2008 Post Season
14-6 1.97 0.933 3

Comparable, but yeah, wouldn't say as good as the Bulin Wall's run.

 

[Loto68]

How do you figure?

Probably based on the fact that the Pens are an offensive team. I'd have to look up the numbers but he probably could have had a GAA 1 full goal higher and still have won most of those games.