Whew, done will a killer term of school and i get a little time to chat with hockey brain trust we have here at SCF. School has kept that to a minimum since Christmas.

Ok lets talk MVP. I'm a little baffled that all i read is Ovie is the run away winner for the Hart. Not to take anything away from the year hes had. I don't think he is a runaway winner.

So i say hes not the runaway winner than who should be considered.

Darkhorse:

Zach Parise

I barely ever see this kids name come up. He has the quietest 40 goal season in a long time. Why? Who knows. His team has all but cliched the Atlantic division and if trends continue up until the start of the playoffs, the Devils will be the team to beat in the East. Who saw that coming.

On the hunt:

Pavel Datsuyk, Sidney Crosby

Talk about steady as they go. Night in night out 110 percent all the time. They give their teams the back bone to excel when it comes to making their teammates better and playing both ends of the ice. Not to mention both have 87,92 points respectively.

He's got Hart:

Alexander Ovechkin

49 goals, 90 points. Beastly totals, and public enemy number one when your team is down a man. He has led the caps to their second conference title in as many years. He changes teams game pans and you can never over look that.

And the award goes to:

Evgeni Malkin

70 assists, 102 points. Where crosby has provided the heart Malkin provides the soul. The pens are quickly becoming his team, he has stpped into a leadership role for his team and they have responed. A constant threat at both ends of the ice, power play, and penatly kill. You name it this guy can do it.



It may be looked at as bias to put malkin over ovechkin but the guys are virtually identical (you can argue for either guy) if you compare stats alone. Malkin was just the more complete player this year. He picks up a lot penalty kill time and is a beast playing defense in his own zone. Yea comparing a winger to a center defensively isnt apple to apples, but its not just centers that are nominated and win Selkes.

Id like to hear everyone elses arguements. Who did i leave out and who did i not give enough credit to. Its that time of year the MVP chants start comming out.

Mason
Malkin
Ovie

My opinion on top 3 candidates...Ovie, Malkin, Parise

Parise is a sleeper. Most people don't notice his stats.

Obviously they are gonna give it to Malkin, because he has the most points. I don't think he fully deserves it, just for getting 70 assists.

Ovie plays with 100% more intensity and love for the game...and he hits, a lot.

Ovie all around deserves it, but who knows what will happen.

Mason is great but I don't think he'll get MVP. Maybe Vezina, but Calder for sure.

i think mvp will for sure be russian. between ovie and malkin. i think if ovie can put up 60 he wins for sure. who knows. will be a tight race

Well let see how it plays out in the homestretch (last 2 weeks). As that will be the deciding factor as people love goals better than assist and if OVY can lay a number that makes people take notice he has it. If Malkin can put up some sweet numbers like a gme or two he could easily hit 120 which cannot be ignored. Of course with voters it almost impossible to know how they will vote.

DON

My heart goes for Parise (gotta cheer for the quiet work-horse). But, my guess is....well.....I don't have one. I don't think Parise will get it, though. As has been mentioned before...between Oven-chicken and Malkin. :)

if jackets make the 4 seed, they have to consider mason. if not id have to say ovie, because without him the caps are very average. without malkin the pens still have crosby.

if jackets make the 4 seed, they have to consider mason. if not id have to say ovie, because without him the caps are very average. without malkin the pens still have crosby.

Caps also have suspect goaltending, IMO. Their goal-scoring makes up for it most nights when the goalies aren't doing well

its really too close to call! the last 3 weeks will be big

Geno! Geno! Geno!

1. Ovechkin
2. Malkin
3. Datsyuk

Parise, Mason, Malkin all jump to the forefront for me.

Mason could be MVP if the Jackets go on a deep playoff run. Inside Hockey on HNIC last week was on Steve Mason, and Commodore said in the segment "he's basically saved our season".

I'd like to think Parise will win it but he won't. As a Devils fan, I can say he has been excellent, but far from as important to the team as a Malkin or Ovechkin is to theirs. Datsyuk will take the Selke again, and the Vezina is a toss up between Mason, Thomas, Rinne, Backstrom, and Vokoun. Norris wise, how can it not go to Mike Green.

I'd like to think Parise will win it but he won't. As a Devils fan, I can say he has been excellent, but far from as important to the team as a Malkin or Ovechkin is to theirs. Datsyuk will take the Selke again, and the Vezina is a toss up between Mason, Thomas, Rinne, Backstrom, and Vokoun. Norris wise, how can it not go to Mike Green.

If Mike Green doesn't win the Norris trophy, the NHL has some serious problems with their awards. I'd give Mason or Thomas the Vezina, and Mason should take the Calder no problem. But with Mason's stats, and how much he's saved his team, and adding that it's only his rookie year, should earn him the Vezina

I'd vote Steve Mason... and I don't even have any of his RC's LOL

P-C
--

It'll be between Ovechkin and Malkin, I believe.

Since Hart is most valuable player to his team, I think it will go Ovechkin, but I also believe that his showmanship may either hurt him or help him, depending on perspective.

Mason is a possibility, but I just don't see him winning anything aside from Calder and perhaps Vezina

I still think Kippr wins vezina due to the fact he wins games. Dont think mason has a shot in heck to win MVP

Ovie or Malkin is my prediction. Ovie deserves it more. He's the best all around player. He scores, he actually shoots the puck, he hits, he backchecks, he has the most genuine love for the game in the entire NHL, and is by far the most entertaining to watch.

I say Ovie, but do to all the negative talk surronding his celebrations, he will for sure get snubbed and Geno will get it. Just my 2 cents

doesn't matter who wins the MVP because Datsyuk is the only one with 2 stanley cups. As for norris, I still believe Nick Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the league. Mike Green scores a lot of goals because he pinches in way down low all the time. He cant blast goals home from the blue line like Nick does. Also, hes' not a great defensive defenseman by any means, and hes on for plenty of goals against. And he doesnt have 4 stanley cups either ;)

doesn't matter who wins the MVP because Datsyuk is the only one with 2 stanley cups. As for norris, I still believe Nick Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the league. Mike Green scores a lot of goals because he pinches in way down low all the time. He cant blast goals home from the blue line like Nick does. Also, hes' not a great defensive defenseman by any means, and hes on for plenty of goals against. And he doesnt have 4 stanley cups either ;)

Sorry but 4 stanley cups mean nothing in that vote as it should be based on the season the defencemen had. And Mike Green I think personally had a better season. Also there is only a +5 difference between Mike Green and Niclas Lidstrom. (Green is +23, Lidstrom is +28) and Green is leading Lidstrom by 14 points. And when you think about it Green has 32 points on the powerplay which don't count towards +/-. He has also played in 9 less games. So my vote goes to Green.

Honestly it'll go to Ovechkin or Malkin.

Personally I'd like to see Steve Mason be looked at seriously. Honestly if it weren't for him this season I don't think Columbus would be in the playoffs. With the worst ranked power play in a special teams league, and the tight Western playoff race...it'd be tough.

Also, Mike Green for Norris. His record breaking performance this year has probably clinched that. Solid stats in all categories also helps him be the guy this year, IMO.

Sorry but 4 stanley cups mean nothing in that vote as it should be based on the season the defencemen had. And Mike Green I think personally had a better season. Also there is only a +5 difference between Mike Green and Niclas Lidstrom. (Green is +23, Lidstrom is +28) and Green is leading Lidstrom by 14 points. And when you think about it Green has 32 points on the powerplay which don't count towards +/-. He has also played in 9 less games. So my vote goes to Green.


All I have to say is that this award goes to the best defenseman, not the best offensive defenseman. Green is a crappy defenseman, but hes good offensively. To be honest I dont know why the guy is even playing D!

All I have to say is that this award goes to the best defenseman, not the best offensive defenseman. Green is a crappy defenseman, but hes good offensively. To be honest I dont know why the guy is even playing D!

Mike Green is a good defenseman, I think you are just saying that because Lidstrom is going to get beat by him, and you are a Wings fan

For me it's definitely got to be Zach Parise or Malkin, no explanations needed.

For me it's definitely got to be Zach Parise or Malkin, no explanations needed.

Yep, I hope somehow Parise ends up winning, but personally I'd have to go with Malkin. The one thing I have learned over the years, is that the Devils more so than most other teams, are a true team. No one player has ever really been that much more important than others (except maybe Brodeur). Parise has been great and I love the way he plays, but I could still see this team hanging around without him (maybe I'm crazy). Look at where Pittsburgh was in 06 without Malkin. I get the feeling that if Malkin wasn't on that team, Crosby would still get his 100 points, but would not be able to take that team to the playoffs.

Mike Green is a good defenseman, I think you are just saying that because Lidstrom is going to get beat by him, and you are a Wings fan

LOL..that obvious huh. Either way...I dont think there is any team in the league except the caps who would want to have mike green instead of nick lidstrom.

Yep, I hope somehow Parise ends up winning, but personally I'd have to go with Malkin. The one thing I have learned over the years, is that the Devils more so than most other teams, are a true team. No one player has ever really been that much more important than others (except maybe Brodeur). Parise has been great and I love the way he plays, but I could still see this team hanging around without him (maybe I'm crazy). Look at where Pittsburgh was in 06 without Malkin. I get the feeling that if Malkin wasn't on that team, Crosby would still get his 100 points, but would not be able to take that team to the playoffs.

Very true, but it's pretty **** impressive when you can score close to 40 goals a season in a defensive orientated system like they have in New Jersey.

Very true, but it's pretty **** impressive when you can score close to 40 goals a season in a defensive orientated system like they have in New Jersey.

He should end up close to 45 at the end of the year and i know NJ will always have that defensive-minded reputation but since Sutter is the head coach , i can tell you they are scoring goals and are taking way more chances offensively . Of course they have Parise , Elias , Gionta but they also have depth with veterans like Rolston , Shanahan and Langenbrunner. Add Zajac and Madden to the mix and you have 3 lines who can score goals .

Want a proof they are not the good old devils ? Brylin is now playing somewhere in Russia , Pandolfo ice time never been so low in his entire career and Sutter put Parise vs. the opponent 1st line every nights.

He should end up close to 45 at the end of the year and i know NJ will always have that defensive-minded reputation but since Sutter is the head coach , i can tell you they are scoring goals and are taking way more chances offensively . Of course they have Parise , Elias , Gionta but they also have depth with veterans like Rolston , Shanahan and Langenbrunner. Add Zajac and Madden to the mix and you have 3 lines who can score goals .

Want a proof they are not the good old devils ? Brylin is now playing somewhere in Russia , Pandolfo ice time never been so low in his entire career and Sutter put Parise vs. the opponent 1st line every nights.

Yea what else people forget is that being good offensively is also a great way to play defense. Look at what Detroit did to Pittsburgh last year in the finals. Having possession of the puck for 40 minutes a game is naturally going to reduce the amount of time the other team has on offense. Add that philosophy of Sutter's coupled with the fact that New Jersey is stacked with great 2 way players, and other teams are not going to score much. So in comparison to the mid 90's teams which pretty much relied on the trap, and compare them with the more recent teams, and defensively they both rank near the top of the league, although the way they go about getting those results is completely different.

But of course to the casual fan they see New Jersey at the top of the league in defense, and they automatically assume it's cuz they are a defense first team.

He should end up close to 45 at the end of the year and i know NJ will always have that defensive-minded reputation but since Sutter is the head coach , i can tell you they are scoring goals and are taking way more chances offensively . Of course they have Parise , Elias , Gionta but they also have depth with veterans like Rolston , Shanahan and Langenbrunner. Add Zajac and Madden to the mix and you have 3 lines who can score goals .

Want a proof they are not the good old devils ? Brylin is now playing somewhere in Russia , Pandolfo ice time never been so low in his entire career and Sutter put Parise vs. the opponent 1st line every nights.

Honestly I'm not really in the loop when it comes to what system they're running over there, but as you say they've always had the reputation as a defensive style team and out of the few games I've seen this year they played a really tight game.

Yea what else people forget is that being good offensively is also a great way to play defense. Look at what Detroit did to Pittsburgh last year in the finals. Having possession of the puck for 40 minutes a game is naturally going to reduce the amount of time the other team has on offense. Add that philosophy of Sutter's coupled with the fact that New Jersey is stacked with great 2 way players, and other teams are not going to score much. So in comparison to the mid 90's teams which pretty much relied on the trap, and compare them with the more recent teams, and defensively they both rank near the top of the league, although the way they go about getting those results is completely different.

But of course to the casual fan they see New Jersey at the top of the league in defense, and they automatically assume it's cuz they are a defense first team.

See that's exactly what I was talking about in the other thread, it's nearly impossible to judge a team/player based on watching 3 or 4 games.

I've rarely seen New Jersey on TV (and I have about 7 channels to watch Hockey) but out of the 4 games I've seen, the way they played I came to the conclusion that they are playing more defense first. A quick look at NHL.com will provide what would be perceived as "proof"... Top 3 lowest GA in the league, missing their franchise goalie for a chunk of the season, Top 3 GAA per game in the league, top 3 in GA when 5 on 5, second in the league in plus/minus as a team etc..

I've rarely seen New Jersey on TV (and I have about 7 channels to watch Hockey) but out of the 4 games I've seen, the way they played I came to the conclusion that they are playing more defense first. A quick look at NHL.com will provide what would be perceived as "proof"... Top 3 lowest GA in the league, missing their franchise goalie for a chunk of the season, Top 3 GAA per game in the league, top 3 in GA when 5 on 5, second in the league in plus/minus as a team etc..

No doubt they are up at the top, as they usually are in terms of defense, but this year, the way they are doing it is very similar to last year's Detroit team, in that they are relying on puck possession to limit the opposing team's chances.
For instance, they are 9th in the league in goals scored, while getting the fewest powerplay opportunities of any team, with an average powerplay % to boot, indicating they are getting most of their goals at even strength, thus the 5 on 5 ratio is more so influenced by offense. They average the 5th most shots per game, another indication of a puck possession team. On the other end they allow the 10th most shots on goal per game, which again shows that perhaps defense is not always the relied upon method, which I have noticed particularly to be the case as this year they use the defensemen fairly often in the offensive zone, especially to pinch. The penalty kill also, usually a staple, has been pretty bad (18th).