how on earth did Ovechkin win the Smythe?

[shtorm2005]

Here is quote from Kuzy's interview (google translate)

"I know that you do not like being singled out, but you admittedly were the main contender for Conn Smythe Trophy." Then the association of journalists published the results of the vote and only five reporters put you in the first place. Only five journalists understand hockey in the NHL.

- Come on, you. If I voted, I would also put Alexander Ovechkin in the first place. He really became different. He managed at this age, after so many years to greatly change his hockey. You see how he added in the rough work. No, no, Ovechkin deservedly took the trophy.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Also leading the playoffs in goals, over a point per game, the physical nature of his play, and leadership.

Yes, sure, it's not like it was an outrage that he won it, he was still excellent. But I am also in the camp of that Kuznetzov was more valuable, but Ovechkin "was due". Still, my criticism is more at the NHL of a whole and not this particular nomination, there have been far worse nominations in the past than this one.

 

[illpucks]

Your crazy lmao. Crosby scores his 27 points while being flanked by two rookies. Ovechkin is a winger as well and has far less defensive responsibility and his center had 32 freaking points. Crosby 2017>Ovechkin 2018. Crosby controls the game far more than Ovechkin does. It’s not just about goals

Ovechkin was far more defensively responsible than Kuznetsov. He was a force at both ends of the rink. Kuznetsov is the worst defensive center on the Caps. Ovechkin had most goals since the 90s. Kuznetsov had a game where he had 3 or 4 pp assists by cycling the puck which highlighted the flaws of points system.
Ovie was easily better than 2017 Crosby. There was an HF poll on this and it wasn't even close. Ovie demolished him.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I do think Kuzy deserved it more, but Ovie getting it wasn't ridiculous or anything. 15 goals in the playoffs is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Ovechkin was far more defensively responsible than Kuznetsov. He was a force at both ends of the rink. Kuznetsov is the worst defensive center on the Caps. Ovechkin had most goals since the 90s. Kuznetsov had a game where he had 3 or 4 pp assists by cycling the puck which highlighted the flaws of points system.
Ovie was easily better than 2017 Crosby. There was an HF poll on this and it wasn't even close. Ovie demolished him.

Link?

 

[GreatGonzo]

Because he assisted on both the game winning and cup clinching goals in 2016. That simple. (Had Kessel did that they would have been forced to vote for him.)

They were not really that far apart, but Sid also played one game less than Geno thanks to Niskanen, and they were one point apart in 2017.

He won because he was the number one center and Kessel wasn’t, as well as it being a popularity contest. Crosby was hardly a factor in the finals until that last game, but the voters decide the Smythe winner before that anyway, and it was his third round that narrowly won it for him.

He had 2 assists in 5 games before game 6. You can nit pick these little moments as somewhat significant, but in the end he won based on reputation.

Ovechkin at least had more to show. 27 points in 24 games with 15 goals(first on team), and a great finals performance. Was Kuzy deserving as well? Of course, but it isn’t a travesty that Ovechkin won it, and he certainly was better and a better choice than Crosby in 2016.

 

[illpucks]

Link?

71.4% of Users think Ovi was better
https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/better-playoffs-crosby-2017-vs-ovechkin-2018.2513805/

 

[GreatGonzo]

-Perhaps Crosby having 3 game winning goals in 2016 with Kessel having zero had something to do with it. Phil Kessel wasnt even in the running in 2016 for a Conn trophy as a 3rd line winger. It was Crosby vs Murray.

Not in the running? Kessel finished second with 7 votes to Crosby’s 9 and 60
Points to Crosbys 63. He edged out Kessel for it in one of the closest Smythe votings in recent memory. Maybe actually research before making remarks you know nothing about.

If that’s all it takes to win a Smythe, then that’s pretty mediocre. Because outside of his precious “game winning” goals, in which only one was the deciding goal....he did little to nothing to show for his Smythe a majority of the playoffs. Kessels line was the deciding factor most of the time, and even Kessel had 6 points and 4 goals in that series, just because none of them were GWers doesn’t mean he wasn’t valuable.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

71.4% of Users think Ovi was better
https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/better-playoffs-crosby-2017-vs-ovechkin-2018.2513805/

That’s nice was a short poll I see tho. Anyways anyone who watched the games can see the difference. Kuzy drove that line. Love to see OV have those stats without kuzy

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Any player wearing the C on their sweater has an automatic head start in the Smythe voting. So if it's at all close, it's likely going to the captain.

 

[illpucks]

That’s nice was a short poll I see tho. Anyways anyone who watched the games can see the difference. Kuzy drove that line. Love to see OV have those stats without kuzy

Anyone who watches the games? Anyone who watches saw that Kuzy got Pp points tagged on for cycling where Ovi was used a decoy on the PP. Ovi would have better campaign if he played with Eller.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Anyone who watches the games? Anyone who watches saw that Kuzy got Pp points tagged on for cycling where Ovi was used a decoy on the PP. Ovi would have better campaign if he played with Eller.

Golden rule of hockey. If a winger and centre have similar stats like 27 points each. Take the centre

 

[illpucks]

Golden rule of hockey. If a winger and centre have similar stats like 27 points each. Take the centre

Only because it benefits Crosby. You say that because you don't want to credit Guentzel for his 21 points in 12 games.

 

[Price is Wright]

I know this playoffs was so long ago but all throughout you could feel it with Ovechkin. We discussed it throughout. But hey.

 

[pezpunk]

The only reason this thread exists is because of a bitter pens fan’s hatred of Ovie. And the only reason he mistakenly thinks he has a leg to stand on is because of pens fans self-serving worship of the ridiculously overrated Points stat. Goals are what matter. Someday once Crosby retires, Pittsburgh and Canada will remember that, and be embarrassed for all the mud they slung at the greatest player of this generation.

Secondary assists, lol.

 

[Tuna Tatarrrrrr]

Only because it benefits Crosby. You say that because you don't want to credit Guentzel for his 21 points in 12 games.

This! I wonder if he would still think the same if Crosby was a winger.

 

[hockeykicker]

all im gonna say is that there are a bunch of people in this thread that argued for months saying crosby was more important to pens championship even though he had less points/goals then kessel. now its less points doesnt mean anything....??

 

[Tage2Tuch]

i watched every washington game and he was not their best player, it was holtby or kuznetsov

worse smythe ever? i say yes

You must of only watched a few Washington games because he literally was the best in probably half of them and at the most important times. There’s only one other player who could of won it and his performance in game seven of the ecf setting the tone on the road a minute in.

Stating that they were going to come back when down 2 0 to the jackets that’s true leadership. He made a believe out of everyone, every cap wanted to win more because they wanted to see h finally do it.

His constant care, energy, passion, and defensive play Especially coming back to stop the breakaway on the cup clinching game, and due to the fact he was the mvp of the team that so the cup. He even scored a huge goal in the cup clinching game and threw more big hits...I’m Canadian but I swear some people are stuck in the summit series war or
Something...

Those things maybe had something to do with it.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Not in the running? Kessel finished second with 7 votes to Crosby’s 9 and 60
Points to Crosbys 63. He edged out Kessel for it in one of the closest Smythe votings in recent memory. Maybe actually research before making remarks you know nothing about.

If that’s all it takes to win a Smythe, then that’s pretty mediocre. Because outside of his precious “game winning” goals, in which only one was the deciding goal....he did little to nothing to show for his Smythe a majority of the playoffs. Kessels line was the deciding factor most of the time, and even Kessel had 6 points and 4 goals in that series, just because none of them were GWers doesn’t mean he wasn’t valuable.

If you replace Kessel with a typical "third line winger" in the 2016 playoffs, how likely is PIT to get by WSH?

And players who don't play on the top line have won the Conn Smythe in the past. Joe Nieuwendyk won it over Belfour and Modano in '99. Justin Williams won it over Kopitar in '14.

 

[Tripod]

this is not even a valid comparison, you guys just like to crap on crosby every chance you get

Kettle....met black.

Pens fan crapping on Ovi.

Oh the irony.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Washington Capitals Versus Pittsburgh Penguins, 2016:

Scoring	Goals	Assists	Ice Time
No.	Player	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GW	EV	PP	SH	S	S%	SHFT	TOI	ATOI
62	Carl Hagelin	LW	27	6	3	4	7	5	4	2	1	0	1	4	0	0	22	13.6	151	101:05	16:51
81	Phil Kessel	RW	28	6	2	4	6	5	4	1	1	0	0	3	1	0	23	8.7	141	102:48	17:08
13	Nick Bonino	C	27	6	2	3	5	5	6	2	0	0	1	3	0	0	9	22.2	154	99:08	16:31
14	Chris Kunitz	LW	36	6	1	3	4	1	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	11	9.1	134	84:35	14:06
72	Patric Hornqvist	RW	29	6	2	1	3	-3	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	18	11.1	137	99:48	16:38
6	Trevor Daley	D	32	6	1	2	3	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	9	11.1	216	142:47	23:48
8	Brian Dumoulin	D	24	6	0	3	3	-1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	11	0.0	201	133:09	22:12
58	Kris Letang	D	28	5	0	3	3	3	8	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	17	0.0	184	158:00	31:36
7	Matt Cullen	C	39	6	1	1	2	0	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	7	14.3	156	87:56	14:39
34	Tom Kuhnhackl	RW	24	6	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	20.0	120	69:12	11:32
71	Evgeni Malkin	C	29	6	1	1	2	1	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	17	5.9	146	109:43	18:17
87	Sidney Crosby	C	28	6	0	2	2	-3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	14	0.0	159	124:26	20:44
43	Conor Sheary	LW	23	6	0	2	2	-3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	8	0.0	138	92:50	15:28
16	Eric Fehr	RW	30	5	1	0	1	1	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	8	12.5	112	63:37	12:43
12	Ben Lovejoy	D	31	6	1	0	1	0	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	10.0	163	98:55	16:29
3	Olli Maatta	D	21	3	0	1	1	-1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0.0	61	38:27	12:49
28	Ian Cole	D	26	6	0	0	0	2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.0	154	102:16	17:03
17	Bryan Rust	RW	23	6	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0.0	103	66:00	11:00
51	Derrick Pouliot	D	22	2	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.0	49	29:22	14:41
4	Justin Schultz	D	25	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.0	43	29:47	14:54
40	Oskar Sundqvist	C	21	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		18	11:57	11:57
Team Total				16	31	47	15	54	13	3	0	4	25	6	0	209	7.7	2740	1845:48	17:05

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Scoring	Goals	Assists	Ice Time
No.	Player	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GW	EV	PP	SH	S	S%	SHFT	TOI	ATOI
8	Alex Ovechkin	LW	30	6	2	5	7	2	2	1	1	0	0	2	3	0	33	6.1	152	136:43	22:47
77	T.J. Oshie	C/RW	29	6	5	1	6	1	2	3	2	0	2	0	1	0	19	26.3	148	120:30	20:05
74	John Carlson	D	26	6	2	4	6	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	24	8.3	206	172:54	28:49
14	Justin Williams	RW	34	6	3	2	5	1	6	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	16	18.8	126	91:36	15:16
19	Nicklas Backstrom	C	28	6	0	4	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	10	0.0	164	126:36	21:06
83	Jay Beagle	RW/C	30	6	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	20.0	129	81:37	13:36
65	Andre Burakovsky	LW	20	6	1	0	1	-1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	10.0	109	78:21	13:04
90	Marcus Johansson	C/W	25	6	1	0	1	-4	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	16	6.3	140	106:45	17:48
25	Jason Chimera	LW	36	6	0	1	1	-1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	15	0.0	124	83:35	13:56
92	Evgeny Kuznetsov	C	23	6	0	1	1	-2	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	19	0.0	146	111:18	18:33
2	Matt Niskanen	D	29	6	0	1	1	-1	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	10	0.0	216	165:12	27:32
43	Tom Wilson	RW	21	6	0	1	1	-3	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0.0	104	67:35	11:16
4	Taylor Chorney	D	28	5	0	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.0	105	63:48	12:46
27	Karl Alzner	D	27	6	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.0	173	120:13	20:02
9	Dmitry Orlov	D	24	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.0	102	69:15	13:51
44	Brooks Orpik	D	35	3	0	0	0	-2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.0	105	72:15	24:05
10	Mike Richards	C	30	6	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.0	104	66:17	11:03
88	Nate Schmidt	D	24	4	0	0	0	-3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.0	72	45:45	11:26
26	Daniel Winnik	C/LW	30	6	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.0	109	64:30	10:45
6	Mike Weber	D	28	1	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		18	10:53	10:53
Team Total				15	21	36	-14	44	10	5	0	2	11	10	0	202	7.4	2552	1855:38	17:11

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[Kranix]

The Smythe is a cool looking trophy, and it's very prestigious. There's no science involved in picking the winner. Ovie was huge in the playoffs. Just let him have this.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

I think it is a very similar case to what happened in 2016, but it is interesting that besides Pens fans, no one thinks it was a big deal this year compared to 2016. Just the usual double standard on HF. Kuznetsov was five points ahead of Ovechkin (compared to 2 with Kessel), and scored big GWGs. Also unlike Kessel who's most important series was second round against WSH, Kuznetsov stepped up the most in SCF which typically has higher value.

 

[Howie Hodge]

I'm sure the "consolation prize" of The Stanley Cup helps ease the pain of the runners up in these matters....

 

[PenguinSpeed]

The only reason this thread exists is because of a bitter pens fan’s hatred of Ovie. And the only reason he mistakenly thinks he has a leg to stand on is because of pens fans self-serving worship of the ridiculously overrated Points stat. Goals are what matter. Someday once Crosby retires, Pittsburgh and Canada will remember that, and be embarrassed for all the mud they slung at the greatest player of this generation.

Secondary assists, lol.

-Goals certainly matter

-But when you shoot 2787893472389742389423794237 times and you have the worst shooting accuracy of any elite player of all time as Ovechkin does and when the Pens constantly beat Washington minus 1 year, I wont remember Ovechkin for anything except him shooting 50 shots per game and the rest of his team shoots 2.

-Ovi doesnt even set up plays. He just shoots. And shoots. And shoots. Then the powerplay and he shoots every shot on goal.

-Ill give Ovi credit. He is far and large the highest volume shooter in any sport all time and its not even close. Not even Michael Jordan when he was unstoppable shot and ballhogged shooting like Ovi. At least he has 1 cup though. Certainly isnt 3 going on 4.