Alexander Ovechkin: Two Harts, No Cup... Yet

by J.P. on Jun 19, 2009 9:47 PM EDT

In the wake of Alex Ovechkin's second-consecutive Hart Trophy victory, the question was asked, "Can you name me one other two-time MVP player that isn’t in the Hall of Fame?"

And since there's no such thing as a rhetorical question on the internet (or is there?), it was quickly answered:

Well, 17 players have won the Hart Memorial Trophy at least twice, including newly-minted two-time winner Alex Ovechkin. Of the other 16, how may have done so who are not in the Hall of Fame?

One... Dominik Hasek, and he's a lock to get in.

Alex Ovechkin would appear to have more to look forward to in his hockey life.

Indeed it would appear so, and perhaps long before the Hall comes calling. You see, there's something else that the sixteen multi-Hart winners prior to Ovechkin have in common; try to guess what it is from the following list of the legends who've taken home the trophy award at least twice:

Player	Hart Trophies	Stanley Cups
Wayne Gretzky	9	4
Gordie Howe	6	4
Eddie Shore	4	2
Howie Morenz	3	3
Bobby Clarke	3	2
Mario Lemieux	3	2
Bobby Orr	3	2
Jean Beliveau	2	10
Mark Messier	2	6
Guy Lafleur	2	5
Bill Cowley	2	2
Phil Esposito	2	2
Dominik Hasek	2	2
Bobby Hull	2	1
Stan Mikita	2	1
Nels Stewart	2	1

Need a minute? I didn't think so.

Every single player in NHL history who was named Most Valuable Player of the League more than once won at least one Stanley Cup in his career (and most of 'em were multiple winners there, too). Winners win. Period.

At some point, someone will probably be the first player to win a couple of Harts and go Cup-less. And it might be Alex Ovechkin who does it. Then again, after four Hart Trophies and no Stanley Cups, they may have been saying the same thing about Wayne Gretzky back in 1983.

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Now I'm jazzed up for next year!

Thanks JP! Those statistics jump right off the page and make me so grateful for what we have and hopefully have coming!

"Here lies David St. Hubbins... and why not?"
...David St. Hubbins from the movie "This Is Spinal Tap"

by Izzyforeal365 on Jun 19, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions

While I was hopeful about what was possible this year, I also knew it might take several tries to finally win the Cup. I believe that our owner and GM have done pretty much everything right, and Ovechkin is the type of player who CAN lead a team to greatness.

I’m already amped up for next season!!!

As a side note, thanks to JP and everyone else involved for a fun time at Bailey’s on Thursday! … even if I didn’t win a prize.

by PaintDrinkingPete on Jun 19, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

I didn’t know about Bailey’s until it was over. Are there any get togethers like this in Maryland near the PG County area?

There's always more to learn about Hockey.

by WordsOnIce on Jun 20, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Worth noting that, of all of those listed, only Hasek has earned any of his Cup victories in a 30-team era?

by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

So you're saying there's a chance?!

Wishin’, hopin’, prayin’ AO beats Beliveau’s cup number. Emphasis on wish, hope, and pray.

Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.

by CapitalsKremlin on Jun 19, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

I din’t start watching Hockey until the mid 80s, so I didn’t realize how many cups Beliveau won with the Habs. Holy shit, will that record ever be broken? I am an atheist, but I am down on my knees with you CK.

by CaliCapsFan on Jun 20, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

...will that record ever be broken?

three words…

not…a…chance

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jun 20, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

As a challenge...

…name the player with the most Cup Wins who played in the 2000’s.

It’s Mark Messier with 6.

With 30 teams and 4 rounds of playoffs, it takes a lot more to win the Cup then it did back when Beliveau and H. Richard were winning Cups.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jun 22, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

It was a different time…Fewer teams and the rules were heavily skewed to the Habs.

"You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of [18] thousand fists in the air" -Disturbed

by snowburnt on Jun 20, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Obviously. I think we were just goofing around. I thought that should be obvious when an atheist prays.

I certainly don’t have an understanding of hockey from the 50s to the 70s, but it is still totally amazing that Montreal won roughly half of the championships over a 30 year span.

by CaliCapsFan on Jun 20, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

That's not even the record.

Henri Richard, also of the Canadiens, claimed eleven as a player: five in a row (1956-60), then six in nine years (1965-73).

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jun 21, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

This is encouraging.

http://dclandingstrip.blogspot.com/

by ninefttall on Jun 20, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

Great pull on the stats. I believe that the Caps are probably about two-three years away from the SC – the Hershey guys need some time to develop. Once they get that first Cup, though, I think more will follow.

I expect the next ten years will erase alot of the fan frustrations from the previous thirty-five years!

by Moonage Daydream on Jun 20, 2009 7:08 AM EDT reply actions

Hasek didn’t earn his cups with the first team he was on, either, or even the 2nd team he was on. Hopefully we can keep Ovechkin and we can reap some of the rewards. I know he’s got a long term contract, but if we can’t get the pieces around him it’s pretty pointless.

by killianskid34 on Jun 20, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

that's a good point

In this capped era, it is even more incumbent on management and ownership to carefully craft a team. Not everyone is going to slap together a #1 line for a Cup winner at the deadline like PIT did this year, and while I give major props to Shero and Lemieux for what they got done this year, I think our model is fine and will eventually produce.

But the heat is going to be GMGM here forward—any slip (to sub-playoffs, etc) in the coming 2-3 years…

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Jun 20, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

The Peerless has done a great follow-up post on this over at his place.

by cuqui on Jun 20, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

Link is here:

http://peerlessprognosticator.blogspot.com/2009/06/but-window-isnt-open-long.html

by cuqui on Jun 20, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Fantastic list to be a part of, first off. I harbor no questions that 8 will be in the upper tier of this group before the end of the road, in terms of Harts.

I’ll take just one Cup—that’d be enough for me.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Jun 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Well that’s good news… If I got my quick thinking hat on right it get’s him out of the “Eric Lindros, Jose Theodore and Joe Thorton” list of one time winners (since the original six era) without their names on the Cup.

by superjuan on Jun 20, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Then again, after four Hart Trophies and no Stanley Cups, they may have been saying the same thing about Wayne Gretzky back in 1983.

They were. The ignorant puck media masses who thought the Oilers didn’t have enough defense and goaltending to win (Exhibit A is Stan Fischler who wrote after the 1983 finals that Edmonton would never win the Cup and that the Isles were destined to break the Habs record of 5 in a row.). They would have said it about Mario too, had he been able to win the Hart Trophy (being in the same league as Wayne at the same time kept Mario from winning too many of them… Mario was a great player, Wayne was better.)

AO will win Cups. The Caps are not that far away…remember where they were 2 and 3 years ago vs. now… their time is coming, maybe even in 2010.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jun 22, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

And the documentary can be called “2010, A Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Odyssey”… I beseech the Hockey Gods to please let us see OV raise that blessed chalice in our building!

Interesting quote from Fischler, reminds me that “never” is a very long time, even for Capitals (and Seahawks) fans. But with OV, they’re certainly closer than they’ve ever been to one.

by war_capitals on Jun 22, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

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