Jason Lewis: Drew Doughty for Norris, Quick for Vezina...Why Not Kopitar for Anything?

played a remarkable 652 games in his first 5 NHL seasons

That is 130 games a season. He must have been tired.

How about Kopitar for 3-time Stanley Cup champion?

That is 130 games a season. He must have been tired.
- nikoli1206

On the next edition of "When math doesn't make sense"

featuring. Jason Lewis.

Thanks for the catch.

I've been wondering this for 3 years now on why Kopitar never gets the recognition. Do I believe it has something to do with the east coast people not being able to watch west coast games, hell yeah I do. I mean don't get me wrong, giroux is a good player but for him to be a better hart canditate, I don't think so. If you look at one of the bloggers on this site, I believe it's the "hot stove" topic one where he is throwing out canditates for ALL the major awards it seems 99% of the players are in east coast teams. It's rediculous, yet the west is the conference that had come out on top 4 out of the last 5 years in stanley cup terms.... Kopitar SHOULD have won the Selke this year, his numbers were either very close to bergerons if not better in some categories. Plus, Kopitar had a tougher conference to go through last year. But these are just my opinions.

I've been wondering this for 3 years now on why Kopitar never gets the recognition. Do I believe it has something to do with the east coast people not being able to watch west coast games, hell yeah I do. I mean don't get me wrong, giroux is a good player but for him to be a better hart canditate, I don't think so. If you look at one of the bloggers on this site, I believe it's the "hot stove" topic one where he is throwing out canditates for ALL the major awards it seems 99% of the players are in east coast teams. It's rediculous, yet the west is the conference that had come out on top 4 out of the last 5 years in stanley cup terms.... Kopitar SHOULD have won the Selke this year, his numbers were either very close to bergerons if not better in some categories. Plus, Kopitar had a tougher conference to go through last year. But these are just my opinions.
- RobitailleFAN20

East coast bias definitely hurts some of the guys out West. Outside of the Penguins, some of the teams I would like to watch the most I never get to see because it is just too late. I would watch a lot more Ducks, Kings, and Stars games if they weren't on so freaking late. Even when the Pens are travelling out there, I struggle some times to finish the games. Stupid time differences!!

I've been wondering this for 3 years now on why Kopitar never gets the recognition. Do I believe it has something to do with the east coast people not being able to watch west coast games, hell yeah I do. I mean don't get me wrong, giroux is a good player but for him to be a better hart canditate, I don't think so. If you look at one of the bloggers on this site, I believe it's the "hot stove" topic one where he is throwing out canditates for ALL the major awards it seems 99% of the players are in east coast teams. It's rediculous, yet the west is the conference that had come out on top 4 out of the last 5 years in stanley cup terms.... Kopitar SHOULD have won the Selke this year, his numbers were either very close to bergerons if not better in some categories. Plus, Kopitar had a tougher conference to go through last year. But these are just my opinions.
- RobitailleFAN20

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the disparity in the voting between Kopitar and Bergeron only shows bias. He should have won the Selke, if not the voting should have been a lot closer than it was. I wonder if Gretzky coming to L.A. still has something to do with it? Not sure, I know the majority of writers are in the east but with the internet and Satellite T.V. you'd think they wouldn't be so lazy and not at least know about the great West Coast players. It's all worth it though if they keep representing L.A. well. Cups beat all awards period. Go Kings!!!

I hate the kings, but Kopitar is a cutie

Interesting that Drew Doughty was not included in the top 30.....then the playoffs start, and you keep hearing "these teams are pretty even.....except the Kings have Drew Doughty"......

East coast bias definitely hurts some of the guys out West. Outside of the Penguins, some of the teams I would like to watch the most I never get to see because it is just too late. I would watch a lot more Ducks, Kings, and Stars games if they weren't on so freaking late. Even when the Pens are travelling out there, I struggle some times to finish the games. Stupid time differences!!
- PensFan1103

I completely understand. Being on the west coast myself, I love how I can pretty much watch any game I want, having center ice and all. I watch the east games until the kings start playing their own game... But for the writers and analysts to not give credit to most west players is rediculous. They say how good the west is bit apparently the players aren't ever as good as the east players. Does the east have Crosby, ovechkin, and Lundquivst And rask YES. But the west has Kopitar, Perry, Toews and quick(just to throw in a goalie from the west).... Yes I know there are a lot more players in both conferences that are good but I wanted to mention these names. Toews does get the most attention from the players I mentioned from the west though.

How about Kopitar for 3-time Stanley Cup champion?
- jmatchett383

Yup. This is all that matters to Kopi. Well, that and getting at least $10 million/year on his next contract.

Jason Lewis: Drew Doughty for Norris, Quick for Vezina...Why Not Kopitar for Anything?
- Jason_Lewis

Jason, thank you, well done on the write up. Kopi is my favorite player because of his team ethic and unselfishness. He's always been one of the few I would build a team around not only for his play but for his leadership abilities.

I can say that I have followed Kopitar ever since he was drafted and always thought he was elite, but this is pretty much only because I am also Slovenian. I really didn't expect him to get to the level he did that quickly and to be mentioned as an elite centre in the league. If not for our shared heritage however I can say for sure I probably wouldn't have paid as much attention to him up until their first cup win - due mostly to me being on the east coast and more specifically Toronto.

Was amazing to see Slovenia beat Slovakia this past Olympics and he is going to inspire lots of kids to get into the sport. Hell, I was beyond pumped when another player of Slovenian ancestry (Matt Stajan) was drafted for my leafs lol so it shows my bias pretty clearly.