Quote:
Originally Posted by Joborule
Considering how Ovechkin completely amped up his game to get them into the playoffs, I would give him the Hart for that.
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They wouldn't have been out of the playoffs if Ovechkin wasn't playing so subpar to start the season.
And I don't know if it was a complete coincidence that Ovechkin turned his game around late March. That same time his team got to play a self-imploding Jets back-to-back, then the Rangers who were tied for 8th/9th, then the 11th place Islanders, then no chance for playoff teams Buffalo and Philadelphia, then Carolina who had gone into full tank mode, Islanders again and then the disgraceful Panthers and Lightning. That ten game stretch that Washington went 8-1-1 on and Ovechkin got 19 points was the turning point of the season, sure, but it was also the easiest schedule any team had this year. Up until then the Capitals were out of the playoffs and it was Ribeiro who was leading the team in points, as Ovechkin didn't even have a point-per-game and most of them came through the powerplay anyways.
I suppose the short season might be the exception here, but no player should win the Hart based on 1 month of play.