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Is This The NHL MVP So Far? |
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This is not a bash Alex Ovechkin blog. Understood?
This is a question: Does AO's torrid start make him the most valuable player in the NHL? OK, well, right away the "What is MVP?" question has to be addressed. Just to be silly we will define MVP as the most valuable player. Not the BEST player in NHL, the most valuable player. The two things are not always one and the same.
There really is no question that Ovechkin is currently the best goalscorer in the NHL. As the NHL Network put so well, his goal-per-game pace in the last 30+ games DOUBLES anyone else's. He sits now with 10 goals in 12 games and has taken an almost unfathomable 75 shots.
The Capitals sit in fifth place in the Metro Division and Ovechkin is a -6. Okay so it's not AO's fault they have given up 38 goals 11 games. And I have also long felt that the MVP should on occasion be a player who isn't on a great team but whose team would be absolutely terrible without him.
The Washington Capitals would be a terrible team without Alexander Ovechkin. At least that's my thought but I will also be the first to admit that when you look at the big picture it's impossible to evaluate the Capitals without Ovechkin. He defines the team and plays more minutes and every situation. Take those minutes away pass around some of the other responsibilities and maybe the Capitals really aren't a terrible team after all.
Despite us spending way too much time talking about suspensions the beginning of the NHL season has had its share of great performers. Is Ovechkin the most valuable?