The Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the postseason, could have gone to several players on the Washington Capitals based on performance alone. Yet it really could not have gone to anyone but captain Alex Ovechkin. Yes, he led the postseason in goals and set a franchise record in playoff goals as well, but really this is indicative of the role that Ovechkin played as the locker room leader for the Capitals and the best player in franchise history.
En route to the team’s first ever Stanley Cup championship, Ovechkin scored 15 goals and totaled 26 points, the second most on the team to Evgeny Kuznetsov. He logged major ice time, played a physical game, and overloaded opposing goaltenders with shots. Ovechkin did everything right, on and off the ice, to finally get the Caps over the hump and to the Cup.
This Conn Smythe is also very much a career achievement award. Ovechkin is a career-Capital, the first overall pick in 2004 and the long-time captain. He is not only the face of the franchise, but one of the best players in the NHL since the turn of the century. He is a surefire Hall of Famer eventually, but undoubtedly has already earned the title of the best player in Washington history. Ovechkin is the franchise leader in goals and points, single season and career, and games played. He is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, a seven-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner, an Art Ross Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner, and seven-time All-Star; but he now has the ultimate prize, a Stanley Cup, and that is what he needed to go down as one of the best. A well-deserved Conn Smythe win for Ovechkin.
You knew the Conn Smythe had to go to Ovi even if Kuznetsov deserved it. Although he didn’t lead the team in scoring Ovi was the leader on and off the ice and that is immeasurable.
Not sure how a guy can win the Conn Smythe and not be trusted to be out on the ice at the of a game. Especially when that player has the “C”. Congrats to Ovi and the Caps. But he was not the MVP for them at all. Kuznetsov or Holtby should’ve gotten it without a doubt
He played a bunch of minutes that game and had a long few shifts up until the 2:30 mark. He was gassed coming off the ice and that doesn’t normally happen. With a number of high energy defensive forwards to fall back on, that caps didn’t need him in the final couple of minutes. But they sure as hell needed him in that game and every other.
If you watched any number of games you’d know that Ovechkin deserves this. Kuznetsov led the team in points but Ovechkin did everything for this team. He got in passing lanes, blocked shots, and hit anybody he got close to. Kuznetsov was great but Ovi put it all on the line