What would put Ovi in contention for a Selke?

[Eisen]

Based on what? Reputation?

If you watch him he's better defensively than Backstrom who is a Selke contender. *I'm only talking this season.

But one season alone doesn't cut it. Selke is often based on reputation. He needs a different body of work.

 

[SotasicA]

He'd have to become the best defensive forward.

Essentially, yes, that's it.

So right now he's the polar opposite. He'd need to prevent goals instead of scoring them.

 

[hatterson]

Based on what? Reputation?

If you watch him he's better defensively than Backstrom who is a Selke contender. *I'm only talking this season.

If by "contender" you mean that he's been in the top 10 once in his career, then sure.

 

[Martinez]

Have Bergeron change his name to ovechkin

 

[King'sPawn]

Let's start by having him average more than 2 seconds on the PK per game.

 

[22FUTON9]

I watch the caps a lot but he's no where near a selke level. He'll have a nice back check here and there but other than that he's pretty average and thats probably being pretty generous

 

[Hennessy]

But why?

 

[ESH]

No it wouldn’t. This thread is a good example of the way his reputation precedes him. Like the OP posted, Ovie is not Selke-caliber but he has reinvented himself and shown as strong a commitment to defense as anyone on this team.

So what do you suggest instead as an answer?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Ovechkin has played pretty good defense this season with some flashes of greatness, but I don't think Trotz's system requires him to prioritize defense over offense.

Selke is a reputation trophy. There are scrub forwards who play solid defense. They aren't going to win it though.

 

[Trap Jesus]

If a winger is ever going to get the Selke again, it sure as hell would never be Ovechkin. Even as a pipe dream, this is too crazy to even mention.

 

[rent free]

Failing to get the puck out of the defensive zone isn't defense? I am sorry but that's almost unequivocally false.

Wrong. Defence is when you don't have the puck. He has the puck that play

 

[Devil Dancer]

Let's start by having him average more than 2 seconds on the PK per game.

Here's an actual measurable data point. Ovie would have to play a hell of a lot more PK, and improve the team's overall PK in the process.

 

[Keeptdos]

He's about as likely to win the Selke as Antti Niemi.

So you are saying there is a chance? #WildPlayoffAvatar

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Wrong. Defence is when you don't have the puck. He has the puck that play

Nope. They were loose puck situations in the defensive zone. Retrieving and chipping pucks out of the defensive zone absolutely falls under 'defense'.

 

[LordNeverLose]

If by "contender" you mean that he's been in the top 10 once in his career, then sure.

He's been top 10 twice (including last season). Still wouldn't call him a perennial contender though.

 

[Alwalys]

it'll never happen. if thornton can't even be a finalist as a dominant shutdown center facing the league's hardest competition, no way ovechkin ever wins it.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

it'll never happen. if thornton can't even be a finalist as a dominant shutdown center facing the league's hardest competition, no way ovechkin ever wins it.

pretty impressive to turn a thread about Ovechkin into a point about how dominant your favourite player is

 

[Nervousbreakdown]

Bergeron would have to go down to the court house and change his last name.

 

[Deficient Mode]

Not a question of being a winger, nor of an undeserved reputation. He's bad defensively and the Capitals leak chances against when he's on the ice according to almost every measure (shots against, chances against, expected goals against, you name it).

 

[AvroArrow]

NHL 18 GM Mode

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Turning into Yzerman?

 

[BinCookin]

Simple answer: he would need a +40 or +50 season on plus/minus (i know its not a good stat) ... but he would need that stat to be sparkling.

(that would get a conversation started)

 

[Rebels57]

Hard enough for wingers to get nominated, let alone ones that arenr elite defensively.

 

[Rich Nixon]

prly defense

 

[Pia8988]

To start playing center. Then somehow have Bergeron, Kopitar, Barkov, Backlund and numerous others all spontaneously retire.