Does Alex Ovechkin Deserve A Third Hart Trophy?
The Great 8 is sure to be mentioned at near the top of this discussion – at any point in any season – for the next decade or two. He’s only 24, has won the last two league MVP awards and is also on pace for what could be his most impactful season yet. But is it enough for a third (in a row) Hart Trophy? First, we need to define what the MVP means, or more importantly, what it doesn’t mean. The award is for the “player adjudged most valuable to his team” in the National Hockey League, not for the Most Outstanding Season. There’s a clear distinction there. The key word is “valuable.” The award isn’t for the highest scorer, or the best playmaker, or even the most exciting in the league. In my opinion, the award should go to the player who is the most valuable to one of the best teams in the league. The big question, of course, is to define “value.” I am going to define “value” as wins contributed to a team above an average player at the same position. The formulas I use to calculate the v
