Print

Mail

wiki links

NHL: Ovechkin captures MVP, Datsyuk wins defensive crown

Alex Ovechkin captured the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player and his Russian compatriot Pavel Datsyuk was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward on Thursday.

Ovechkin, of the Washington Capitals, also picked up the Lester B. Pearson Award which goes to the top player in the National Hockey League as voted on by his peers during Thursday’s awards show at the Elgin Theatre.

Ovechkin received 128 of 134 first place votes for the Hart Trophy. In 82 games last season he scored 65 goals and 112 points giving him the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer and the Maurice Richard Trophy as the leading goal scorer.

“I want to win everything next year,” said Ovechkin, who beat out Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla for both the Hart and Pearson. “I want to win the Stanley Cup.”

Like Ovechkin, Datsyuk was also a double winner Thursday, collecting the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for low penalty minutes and fair play. Datsyuk played last season for the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

Datsyuk’s Detroit teammate Nicklas Lidstrom won his third straight Norris Trophy for best defenseman. It was the sixth time Lidstrom has won the award.

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils captured his second straight Vezina Trophy as top goaltender and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks was named rookie of the year. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau was presented the Jack Adams Award as the best coach.

Cancer survivor Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. He was one of only three players to play all 82 games for the Leafs last season.

Legendary hockey icon Gordie Howe was given the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ovechkin was also named to the NHL’s first all-star team on Thursday along with other forwards Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.

Lidstrom and Calgary’s Dion Phaneuf were selected as the defensemen while Evgeni Nabokov was named the goaltender.
This story has been viewed 809 times.