Who is Carrying Who? Malkin Deserves MVP
I just read this blog post: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4111297 and I have to say, I am pretty dumbfounded. Alexander Ovechkin, while by far the best goal scorer in the league, is not the MVP this year and the statistics and circumstances all point to it. Yet, articles like these are practically giving it to him. Let me state my case why the MVP should be Evgeni Malkin.
Circumstances
Last year, Ovechkin won the Art Ross and Evgeni Malkin finished second. Ovechkin led a team that was not looking much like a contender into the playoffs before they lost in the first round in a great series. Malkin was on a team that breezed into the playoffs and into the Stanley Cup finals. This year the roles are completely reversed. Malkin is the Art Ross winner and was the key player in leading the team that was 10th in the standings to the second round of the playoffs, and maybe furhter (as of writing this the second round is about to begin). Ovechkin finished second and is on a team that breezed into the playoffs this year. This alone warrants Malkin the MVP unless the voters are nothing more than hypocrites.
Upon Further Statisical Analysis
We always hear from moron fanboys like Pierre McGuire how Ovechkin carries the Capitals more than anyone on any team. He is their best player, no doubt but, he did not do more for his team this year than Malkin did for the Pens. Look at the statistics:
- The Caps have 5 50+ point scorers and the Penguins have 2.
- The Caps have 5 20+ goal scorers, the Penguins have 4.
- The Penguins have 11 10+ goal scorers, the Caps have 9.
These statistics tell a few things. First, they both play on talented teams that they make better and neither is lacking help. But, the argument that Ovechkin carries the Caps more than Malkin does for the Penguins because he is on a team with Sidney Crosby is ludicrous, and all statistics point directly to it. Lastly, the statistics tell me that Malkin, in my mind, actually makes his teammates better. A big reason for the Pens having so many 10+ goal scorers is because of his 78 assists (and Crosby’s 70). I am not going to say Ovechkin does not make the Capitals players better because he is one of the three best hockey players in the NHL and as such he does. But, honestly, to say Ovechkin did more than Malkin this year is laughable.
Conclusion
The three MVP finalists all deserve the award. Some more so than others and Evgeni Malkin should be the choice. Anything else would be criminal in my mind.
Couldn’t agree more. Best goal scorer != best player. The best player makes his whole team better, not shooting every time he touches the puck.
I think after last series Pens vs. Caps Malkin will be the winner. I also think it is a shame that Crosby is not the 3rd candidate and Datsyuk is since Crosby clearly means more to the Pens than Pavel.