strange looking picture of Phaneuf...........

Pretty obvious that if the season ended today, Duchene would have this locked up.

Then again...the season didn't end today which is probably best.

Did he take the first half of the season off, or were his shots just not going in?

Do you people play hockey? You really think a player just decided to float around for 25 games, and then suddenly, finally, decide to start actually playing? What the (frank).
- Blackstrom2

No but if a guy doesn't give 100% night in and night out, it can lead to a scoring lull. Seems like Ovechkin can be lazy.

No but if a guy doesn't give 100% night in and night out, it can lead to a scoring lul. Seems like Ovechkin can be lazy.
- jpl0219

No one gives 100% every shift, every night.

ovi is lazy, but to say he took a whole half season off is just inane. His perceived laziness is really because he sucks in all other facets of the game. useless on the forecheck, useless on the backcheck...so why not float around looking for one-timers, since he obviously will never play good hockey.

I don't understand why Ovi deserves the Hart though. He doesn't create his own plays. He has a ridiculous shot..that's about it.

Pretty obvious that if the season ended today, Duchene would have this locked up.


- Fols19

based on?

if crosby plays 80 games, the rest of the NHL is fighting for the runner up slot

way too early for this.............!!!

Crosby, obviously.

Leading a great team. Making two good wingers, great.

20 pts +5 and averages the most TOI of any forward in the league.

How is this even a topic and who the hell would answer anyone else?

No one gives 100% every shift, every night.

ovi is lazy, but to say he took a whole half season off is just inane.
- Blackstrom2

He's lazy, that alone says a lot about his leadership. He's gotten a bit of a reputation as a coach killer and if he's asked to do something that's outside of his comfort zone he tends to get frustrated and disinterested. It's also worth noting that he took time off from training camp for that torch carrying event. You can get away with something like that if you're just a regular guy on the team but not when you're the captain. Let's not forget that he's on the record saying that if NHL players weren't given the go ahead for Sochi he would have left the team and went anyway. I'm sorry, that just doesn't sound like much of a captain to me.

matt Duchene

massive turnaround from 2nd worst to first or second in the league right now. he's the best player on a streaking team. and he's unstoppable right now

Alexander Steen

is the current NHL MVP IMO.

No one gives 100% every shift, every night.

ovi is lazy, but to say he took a whole half season off is just inane.
- Blackstrom2

Granted, I don't get to watch the Capitals as much as i would like to, but this is the impression he gives off based on his numbers, going from a 50 goal guy to a ~35 goal guy (yes, 32, 38, 32) I wasn't necessarily talking about last season honestly, i was talking about the 2 seasons before that. His point production dropped off tremendously, and was less than a point per game guy in 2010-2011. That doesn't happen to an elite scorer unless he's lazy.

I don't understand why Ovi deserves the Hart though. He doesn't create his own plays. He has a ridiculous shot..that's about it.
- Blackstrom2

his stick does half the work unfortunetly.

Alexander Steen

is the current NHL MVP IMO.
- big_dion

Steen and Stamkos are the only 2 worth a conversation about if the vote is not going to Crosby at this point IMO

He's lazy, that alone says a lot about his leadership. He's gotten a bit of a reputation as a coach killer and if he's asked to do something that's outside of his comfort zone he tends to get frustrated and disinterested. It's also worth noting that he took time off from training camp for that torch carrying event. You can get away with something like that if you're just a regular guy on the team but not when you're the captain. Let's not forget that he's on the record saying that if NHL players weren't given the go ahead for Sochi he would have left the team and went anyway. I'm sorry, that just doesn't sound like much of a captain to me.
- Jeffmt

Sigh...lets go through this;
Actually, him and Hunter had and still have a good reputation. As does him and Oates..apparently. BB was going to be fired whether Ovi was on this team and you know that.
Can you show me specific articles, youtube videos, interviews, etc of him getting frustrated or disinterested by being told to do something differently? Because, actually, I can find tons for you about him being positive about the move to RW, Oates, Hunter, etc..
Caps training camp was over when he left.
A Russian player said that he would prefer to play in Russia for the Olympics than honor his NHL contract? Oh man, kill the commie now.


Any more blanket statements you got for me? Or are you actually going to critique his play, which has tons of holes?

Please, he still refuses to play defense and lolly gags around unless he's on a breakaway or has the puck , in the playoffs is the only time he plays d. He does have a wicked shot though , I'll give him that

Granted, I don't get to watch the Capitals as much as i would like to, but this is the impression he gives off based on his numbers, going from a 50 goal guy to a ~35 goal guy (yes, 32, 38, 32) I wasn't necessarily talking about last season honestly, i was talking about the 2 seasons before that. His point production dropped off tremendously, and was less than a point per game guy in 2010-2011. That doesn't happen to an elite scorer unless he's lazy.
- jpl0219

really?

team chemistry?

playing with same line mates?

injury to line mates?

team pp %

different coach?

so many things can be the reason why a play goes from 50 goals to 35 goals

there is so much more to hockey then the stats on the back of a card

his stick does half the work unfortunetly.
- big_dion

\ having a bit more of a curve isn't going to turn your poopty wrister into one of the best in the world.

I hate giving Ovi credit, but to take away from his shot is just silly.

Granted, I don't get to watch the Capitals as much as i would like to, but this is the impression he gives off based on his numbers, going from a 50 goal guy to a ~35 goal guy (yes, 32, 38, 32) I wasn't necessarily talking about last season honestly, i was talking about the 2 seasons before that. His point production dropped off tremendously, and was less than a point per game guy in 2010-2011. That doesn't happen to an elite scorer unless he's lazy.
- jpl0219

But he's on pace to shatter any of his previous records, including his 65.

So...? Is his laziness only determined by how many goals he scored?

his stick does half the work unfortunetly.
- big_dion

Everyone else can use the same stick and it doesn't work like that for them....

Any player in the league could lead Washington to a non-playoff spot....doesn't have to be Ovie.

Did he take the first half of the season off, or were his shots just not going in?

Do you people play hockey? You really think a player just decided to float around for 25 games, and then suddenly, finally, decide to start actually playing? What the (frank).
- Blackstrom2

uh-oh. the "ever played the game?" card.

really?

team chemistry?

playing with same line mates?

injury to line mates?

team pp %

different coach?

so many things can be the reason why a play goes from 50 goals to 35 goals

there is so much more to hockey then the stats on the back of a card
- homiedclown

True.

uh-oh. the "ever played the game?" card.
- Fountain-San

I edited them out, but it's not really to seem like I know what I am talking about over you, more like, I am genuinely curious if someone who has played the sport would make such a statement. Cheers.

Steen and Stamkos are the only 2 worth a conversation about if the vote is not going to Crosby at this point IMO
- homiedclown

how is Duchene NOT in the conversation?

his team isn't meant to be nearly as good as steens. there turnaround thus far is asounding.

even with the avs hot start, is there many people who think the avs are a better team than the blues?

so by definition of mvp......