April 30, 2008
Caps Briefing: More Honors for Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's 2006 rookie of the year, has already won 2008's Art Ross trophy and Rocket Richard trophy as the league's top point scorer and goal getter. Now he's finally been named a finalist for the Hart trophy as the league's MVP.
Ovechkin, meanwhile, is waiting to join the Russian national team for hockey's World Championships. The team, of course, would love to have him, but it's taking some time to find insurance that will cover his $124 million NHL contract in the event that he is injured.
Former Capitals captain Jeff Halpern, on the other hand, has suffered no such holdup. The Bethesda native had no trouble finding insurance for the paltry six million dollars remaining on his contract. He has even been named Captain of Team USA. Given that Team USA is coached by Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella, our dream of the Capitals trading to get Halpern back from the Lightning is probably not going to come true any time soon. Still, it's great news for Jeff.
Photo by ctankcycles.
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Not to take anything away from Ovechkin (or Iginla), but Malkin is still playing and likely to be a force deep into the playoffs. While certainly up to the task, Ovechkin wouldn't have put up such gaudy offensive numbers with better scorers around him.
Ovechkin will probably win it (deservedly), but Malkin is zeroing in on a Conn Smythe, which beats a Hart trophy any day.
It' too bad that he won't be with the Capitals next year as he has been called up to the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
NHL Star Called Up To Big Leagues To Play For NFL Team
It's good to see the IIHF Worlds getting some respect. Especially since this has badmouthed the tournament in the past.
Technically, the awards are for the regular season. However, I don't trust hockey writers to respect that, since they have a dirty habit of handing the Conn Smythe to a player on the losing team.