Contributing does not equate to scoring, first of all. The goalie that plays the puck out quick and gets his team a odd-man rush 'contributes', and probably doesn't get a point.

All we can say is that OV scored 51 goals and was involved in another 28, and your friend Sid scored 36 and was involved in another 68. Given that you have a 2:1 advantage in getting an assist over a goal, getting more assists isn't all that remarkable.

This also helps us consider team stats:

Pits outscored Wash by 17 goals (242 to 225).

That's an additional 17 goals that Crosby could have been involved in (and likely was).

Pits Goals Against for the season: 204 | Wash: 229

Washington Shots per game: 29.4 | Pits: 29.9

Wash Shots Against per game: 33.5 | Pits: 28.8

You can see that Washington was abysmal defensively this year - when you face more scoring chances than you generate, you should be OUTSCORED and lose in the long run.

The fact Wash was only outscored by 4 goals is largely due to OV; the fact they generated nearly as many scoring chances as Pits is definitely due to OV.
He makes this team look better than it is.

Let's ask every GM if they would like a 50+ goal scorer on their team - not a single one would say no. This puts OV in his own category of star to begin with, as no-one else fits that build this season.

His short-comings this year I feel prevent him from being in the MVP race, but let's not downplay what scoring 50 does for a team.
- ghostibator

I meant contributing offensively, not so much contributing to a win. And obviously getting more assists than goals isn't that remarkable but, having more assists than goals likely means your team is scoring more when your out on the ice. I think most teams would rather have more goals scored with a player like Crosby setting up his line mates, than a guy who scores more but doesn't distribute as much and results in less goals scored.

Crosby, malkin, toews, stamkos, kopitar, datysuk, weber, keith, chara, doughty, suter all players I take on my team before ovie. And those are just the no doubters.
Still a numbers of players id consider strongly before him-tavares, getzlaf, mcdonagh, oel, bergeron, giroux...

Crosby, malkin, toews, stamkos, kopitar, datysuk, weber, keith, chara, doughty, suter all players I take on my team before ovie. And those are just the no doubters.
Still a numbers of players id consider strongly before him-tavares, getzlaf, mcdonagh, oel, bergeron, giroux...
- hugefemale dog77

Alexander Ovechkin: 51G 28A 79Pts

---------------

Claude Giroux: 28G, 58A 86Pts
Ryan Getzlaf: 31G, 56A 87Pts
John Tavares: 24G, 42A 66Pts (-6)


Both Giroux and Getzlaf contributed to more offence for their TEAM then Ovi did. John Tavares had a -6 on arguably one of the worst teams in the NHL and still put up 66 points, a mere 13 behind Ovi's totals.

I would gladly take those 3 and OEL and McD over Overchicken.

Alexander Ovechkin: 51G 28A 79Pts

---------------

Claude Giroux: 28G, 58A 86Pts
Ryan Getzlaf: 31G, 56A 87Pts
John Tavares: 24G, 42A 66Pts (-6)


Both Giroux and Getzlaf contributed to more offence for their TEAM then Ovi did. John Tavares had a -6 on arguably one of the worst teams in the NHL and still put up 66 points, a mere 13 behind Ovi's totals.

I would gladly take those 3 and OEL and McD over Overchicken.
- Consequence

Getzlaf plays on a line with Perry. Hart nominees should have been Crosby, Giroux, and Bishop.

Getzlaf plays on a line with Perry. Hart nominees should have been Crosby, Giroux, and Bishop.
- Blackstrom2

How they skipped (frank)ing Giroux is what stuns me. NO-ONE drove his team towards the post-season like he did, and that's not even debatable.

I suppose his first two months of mediocrity were considered, but OV was pretty bad to begin last season and kicked into to overdrive late on and won...so...meh.

How they skipped (frank)ing Giroux is what stuns me. NO-ONE drove his team towards the post-season like he did, and that's not even debatable.

I suppose his first two months of mediocrity were considered, but OV was pretty bad to begin last season and kicked into to overdrive late on and won...so...meh.
- ghostibator

Giroux is nominated for it. I just don't think Getzlaf should be there, since he plays on the same line as Perry. However, if you take Bishop out of Tampa, I don't think they look nearly as good as they did.

Contributing does not equate to scoring, first of all. The goalie that plays the puck out quick and gets his team a odd-man rush 'contributes', and probably doesn't get a point.

All we can say is that OV scored 51 goals and was involved in another 28, and your friend Sid scored 36 and was involved in another 68. Given that you have a 2:1 advantage in getting an assist over a goal, getting more assists isn't all that remarkable.

This also helps us consider team stats:

Pits outscored Wash by 17 goals (242 to 225).

That's an additional 17 goals that Crosby could have been involved in (and likely was).

Pits Goals Against for the season: 204 | Wash: 229

Washington Shots per game: 29.4 | Pits: 29.9

Wash Shots Against per game: 33.5 | Pits: 28.8

You can see that Washington was abysmal defensively this year - when you face more scoring chances than you generate, you should be OUTSCORED and lose in the long run.

The fact Wash was only outscored by 4 goals is largely due to OV; the fact they generated nearly as many scoring chances as Pits is definitely due to OV.
He makes this team look better than it is.

Let's ask every GM if they would like a 50+ goal scorer on their team - not a single one would say no. This puts OV in his own category of star to begin with, as no-one else fits that build this season.

His short-comings this year I feel prevent him from being in the MVP race, but let's not downplay what scoring 50 does for a team.
- ghostibator

This is great. Obviously some of the logic could be quibbled with,but overall, this is the kind of discussion I was hoping for.