2007-2010 Ovechkin was the most dominant (post lockout era) forward ever

[mitchmagic]

Yeah he's pretty great -- but didn't win a cup unfortunately.

 

[ESH]

I really hope Ovechkin wins a Cup before he retires. As of right now, I would say he's the best player ever to not win a Cup.

 

[Frosty415]

I really hope Ovechkin wins a Cup before he retires. As of right now, I would say he's the best player ever to not win a Cup.

Thornton is up there too

 

[daver]

I'd argue Datsyuk 05-09 was it.

317GP, 118G, 250A, 368P, +137

404 Takeaways (2nd best: St.Louis at 282)
54.9% on faceoffs (10th among those with 3000+ FOs)

Imo the most dominant possession player post-lockout. Impossible to take the puck from, on another level at taking the puck from others. Almost never penalized, best defensive forward in the league, and one of the very best offensively (4th in points during that time).

His 3rd place Hart in 2009 really backs up your argument.

 

[authentic]

From 07-09 I would have taken Datsyuk and Ovechkin over Crosby or Malkin. From 2010 on though it's Crosby, and Malkin in 11/12.

 

[Sureves]

Yes, I endorse the OP.

 

[Revelation]

You can't use the "if" excuse for Ovechkin. He didn't miss all those games due to injuries, he brought it on himself with his suspensions

The suspensions were subjective.

You might as well say Crosby wouldn't have swept the awards his concussion season when he had 66 points through 41 games because you can't what-if things

 

[Revelation]

McPhee not building a defense capable of supporting him those years is the most egregious management waste in the last 20 years or so. Ovechkin had Green and 5 AHLers that could neither defend nor move the puck. If McPhee put together even a middle of the road defense capable of playing on either side of the rink Ovechkin would have another 10-15 points those seasons and probably a cup. But once the caps got Ovechkin and Backstrom McPhee and Leonsis decided to just half ass everything else and wait for Ovechkin and Backstrom to drag them to their anointed cup once or twice over a 10 year span.

The fact that McPhee has another GM job lined up is infuriating. Mike Milbury is more deserving. But at least the rest of the league doesn't have to worry about a competent GM poaching their players.

 

[The Panther]

Okay, can I ask why the OP used the word "ever" in the title?

It's like saying: "McDavid: The best rookie since 2014 ever"