Best player in the world: 2010

[FrankSidebottom]

Two in a row for Ovechkin but Malkin was pretty close. Moving on to 2010 (09/10 season).

Previous polls:
1998 (62% 1 Hasek, 2 Jagr, 3 Forsberg)
1999 (48% 1 Jagr, 2 Hasek, 3 Forsberg)
2000 (72% 1 Jagr, 2 Pronger, 3 Bure)
2001 (33% 1 Lemieux, 2 Sakic, 3 Jagr)
2002 (36% 1 Iginla, 2 Lidstrom, 3 Lemieux)
2003 (52% 1 Forsberg, 2 Naslund, 3 Lemieux)
2004 (23% 1 Forsberg, 2 St. Louis, 3 Luongo)
2006 (31% 1 Thornton, 2 Jagr, 3 Crosby)
2007 (73% 1 Crosby, 2 Lidstrom, 3 Lecavalier/Luongo)
2008 (64% 1 Ovechkin, 2 Crosby, 3 Zetterberg)
2009 (44% 1 Ovechkin, 2 Malkin, 3 Crosby)

Click to read more...

 

[Mrb1p]

Its Ovi again and pretty solidly here. Sedinds inflated A2 are good enough to make him the 3rd best in the world.

Ovi, Sid, Sedin.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Still Ovechkin.

I think the first 50ish games of this season was the highest level of play he achieved.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

OV by a mile this season. Crosby 2nd, Henrik 3rd.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby

 

[DitchMarner]

Still Ovechkin.

I think the first 50ish games of this season was the highest level of play he achieved.

What the hell happened after the Olympics, though?

He was never close to the same player and I don't think we'll ever know why.

He went from being an absolute beast - an ice-tilting, physical, dynamic franchise player to being a great player at times but nowhere close to as dominant.

Two years later he scored 65 points. Obviously a lot changed (bad coaching, reduction in ice-time, injuries to key teammates, change of system etc), but it still doesn't really make any sense all these years later.

He went on to reinvent himself as one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time (if not the greatest), but I wish we could have enjoyed the 2008-2010 Ovechkin a while longer. He was a joy to watch.

 

[goonybird]

What the hell happened after the Olympics, though?

He was never close to the same player and I don't think we'll ever know why.

He went from being an absolute beast - an ice-tilting, physical, dynamic franchise player to being a great player at times but nowhere close to as dominant.

Two years later he scored 65 points. Obviously a lot changed (bad coaching, reduction in ice-time, injuries to key teammates, change of system etc), but it still doesn't really make any sense all these years later.

He went on to reinvent himself as one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time (if not the greatest), but I wish we could have enjoyed the 2008-2010 Ovechkin a while longer. He was a joy to watch.

We know what happened

 

[wetcoast]

Took Crosby won the Richard and Malkin missed time so that "excuse" is out the door.

Was also better in the playoffs and Olympics that Ovi that year.

Ovechkin missed time but it was self inflicted from suspensions.

I have it Crosby, Ovi and Sedin is really back a distant 3rd even though he had the Hart year no one was taking Sedin in the top 3 in a throw everyone in the pool just for the 10-11 season one year draft.

 

[ESH]

There is no reason for Crosby to be this close to Ovechkin in voting right now

 

[Regal]

Ovechkin up to the Olympics was very clearly the best. Stumbled a bit after but not enough for anyone to pass him.

I think this might be Crosby’s best full season and I think he’s a clear second before a drop. Love the Sedins, but Henrik wasn’t on the same level.

 

[Voight]

What the hell happened after the Olympics, though?

He was never close to the same player and I don't think we'll ever know why.

He went from being an absolute beast - an ice-tilting, physical, dynamic franchise player to being a great player at times but nowhere close to as dominant.

Two years later he scored 65 points. Obviously a lot changed (bad coaching, reduction in ice-time, injuries to key teammates, change of system etc), but it still doesn't really make any sense all these years later.

He went on to reinvent himself as one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time (if not the greatest), but I wish we could have enjoyed the 2008-2010 Ovechkin a while longer. He was a joy to watch.

Jagr absorbed some of Ovechkins powers after Ovy laid him out at the Olympics

 

[WarriorofTime]

What the hell happened after the Olympics, though?

20 points in 18 games, then 10 points in a 7 game Playoff Series.

Nothing happened, it was a relatively cold spell that wasn't that cold, likely just one of those things that comes and goes, 14.6 % shooting percentage became 9.4 %, that's how it goes.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

20 points in 18 games, then 10 points in a 7 game Playoff Series.

Nothing happened, it was a relatively cold spell that wasn't that cold, likely just one of those things that comes and goes, 14.6 % shooting percentage became 9.4 %, that's how it goes.

Yeah Ovechkin played at the same level before and after the Olympics, he just was a little unlucky after and wasn't playing with Semin as he was at the start of the season when that line was dominant.

 

[wetcoast]

There is no reason for Crosby to be this close to Ovechkin in voting right now

Sure there is but you know what there is no reason for?

The add by JC apparel with the US flag banana hammock in the ad at the top of the page.

 

[norrisnick]

Sure there is but you know what there is no reason for?

The add by JC apparel with the US flag banana hammock in the ad at the top of the page.

You get a banana hammock? I had middle aged women with only body paint on...

 

[wetcoast]

You get a banana hammock? I had middle aged women with only body paint on...

Luckily it hasn't come up since thank god.


Now it's golf hats....lol

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

How does Crosby have any votes here? He was 3rd for the hart (3+ years since he last won), lost the lindsay to OV (OV's 3rd straight win), got torn a new hole in GPG and PPG by OV (5th season in a row for GPG, 3rd in a row for PPG), finished tied with OV with 109pts and only had 1 more goal despite playing 9 more games. Playoffs don't change anything as both played well but didn't go far. Funny how suddenly Crosby fans fav stats PPG and GPG don't mean anything.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Ovi

 

[kugelbahn]

How does Crosby have any votes here? He was 3rd for the hart (3+ years since he last won), lost the lindsay to OV (OV's 3rd straight win), got torn a new hole in GPG and PPG by OV (5th season in a row for GPG, 3rd in a row for PPG), finished tied with OV with 109pts and only had 1 more goal despite playing 9 more games. Playoffs don't change anything as both played well but didn't go far. Funny how suddenly Crosby fans fav stats PPG and GPG don't mean anything.

homers from east provinces voted Crosby,
homers from west provinces voted Sedin,
three Russians who hate OV voted for Malkin/Datsyuk
rest 50% reasonably voted OV

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Malkin might have played half the season injured, but he outplayed peak Ovechkin and peak Crosby at the 2010 Olympics, and led that tournament in points-per-game.

 

[Mrb1p]

What the hell happened after the Olympics, though?

He was never close to the same player and I don't think we'll ever know why.

He went from being an absolute beast - an ice-tilting, physical, dynamic franchise player to being a great player at times but nowhere close to as dominant.

Two years later he scored 65 points. Obviously a lot changed (bad coaching, reduction in ice-time, injuries to key teammates, change of system etc), but it still doesn't really make any sense all these years later.

He went on to reinvent himself as one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time (if not the greatest), but I wish we could have enjoyed the 2008-2010 Ovechkin a while longer. He was a joy to watch.

He went off cycle. The olympic commitee is harsh on testing.

 

[LevelingSolo]

I recall Ovechkin absolutely dominating until after the 2010 Olympics

He really wasn't the same again at that point until 2012-2013

Bizzarre

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby. He carried the penguins with malkin missing significant time and having a sub par season while the caps were running a run and gun system with ovechkin playing with 101 point 4th in scoring Backstrom and 40 goal semin as the first line. Crosby led his team in scoring by 32 points ovechkin led his by 8. Crosby also led the league in goals, shootout goals 8/10 and faceoff wins. Was the hero of the Olympics scoring the golden goal and then had a great playoff with 19 points in 13. Well better than either sedin or ovechkin conjured that playoff. When you look at overall body of work. Reg season/playoff/ Olympics. Crosby is the best

 

[Video Nasty]

Ovechkin for the third year in a row.

Crosby will win the 2010-2011 poll while playing just half a season and probably for 2012-2013, so I don’t see why Ovechkin wouldn’t get full marks for:

1. Playing 72 games, not 41, 22, or missing 12/48.

2. Major credit for his first 53 games of the season in which he was ripping the league apart again until the Olympics and another suspension for being “reckless” took the edge off his game.

3. Ultimately finished a close 2nd in Hart voting, won the Pearson for the 3rd year in a row, lost the Rocket race by 1 and the Art Ross by 3 points while missing 10 games.

 

[TheStatican]

Ovechkin once again benefited from a higher number of late game empty net/garbage time goals, though less so than the previous season.

This season Ovechkin had 6 in total, all goals:
October 27 - Empty netter with 46 seconds remaining
January 21 - Empty netter with 26 seconds remaining
January 23 - Empty netter with just 6 seconds remaining
February 2 - Empty netter with 32 seconds remaining
April 6 - Empty netter with just ONE SECOND remaining
January 7 - Late game unnecessary garbage time goal in a blowout win - up four nothing, scores with less than 90 seconds left to play

Ovechkin's primary linemate Nicklas Bäckström meanwhile only assisted on 2 EN goals all year. This clearly shows how much more of a go-getter Ovechkin was when it came to getting cheap easy goals than even his own teammates.

Sedin meanwhile had 5 in total, 4 goal & 1 assists:
November 3 - Empty netter with a minute 24 seconds remining
December 26 - Empty netter with 36 seconds remaining
January 2 - Assisted on an empty netter with 17 seconds remining
March 7 - Empty netter with just 4 seconds remaining
January 23 - Late game unnecessary garbage time goal in a blowout win - up four to one, scores with less than 90 seconds left to play.

Crosby had the least, just 3 in total, 1 goal & 2 assists:
November 30 - Assisted on an empty netter with a minute 40 seconds remaining
December 3 - Empty netter with 31 seconds remaining
January 19 - Assisted on an empty netter with 30 seconds remaining


The numbers aren't huge and I'm not saying empty netters or garbage time goals shouldn't count towards a players total. But when comparing who was the better player, NO I don't think being able to chip the puck into an empty net is something that means much of anything and I certainly don't think it's something that can be used to determine a players true skill.

Does anyone here think it does? I mean I would love to hear the argument for it - How getting the puck and shooting it into a 6 by 4 foot wide empty net is an equal display of skill relative to the vast majority of goals where you need to actually shoot it past a living, breathing person, who's wearing padding that practically doubles their size. Obviously there are some circumstances where a goalie hasn't been pulled and a cheap, easy goal is scored but unfortunately there is no site which tabulates those types of goals. But we do know exactly each and every player's empty net totals. So tell me again what's wrong with taking cheapies out when where considering who was the best player?


Take out all the freebies and this is what we get;
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]

​

[/TD]

[TD]

​

[/TD]

[TD]

Gm​

[/TD]

[TD]

GP​

[/TD]

[TD]

A​

[/TD]

[TD]

Pts​

[/TD]

[TD]

GPG​

[/TD]

[TD]

PPG​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]

Henrik Sedin*​

[/TD]

[TD]

82​

[/TD]

[TD]

25​

[/TD]

[TD]

82​

[/TD]

[TD]

107​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.30​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.30​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]

Sidney Crosby​

[/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

50​

[/TD]

[TD]

56​

[/TD]

[TD]

106​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.62​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.31​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]

Alex Ovechkin​

[/TD]

[TD]

72​

[/TD]

[TD]

44​

[/TD]

[TD]

59​

[/TD]

[TD]

103​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.61​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.43​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]

Nicklas Bäckström​

[/TD]

[TD]

82​

[/TD]

[TD]

31​

[/TD]

[TD]

67​

[/TD]

[TD]

98​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.38​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.20​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]

Steven Stamkos​

[/TD]

[TD]

82​

[/TD]

[TD]

47​

[/TD]

[TD]

44​

[/TD]

[TD]

91​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.57​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.11​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Sedin still wins the Ross, but by a single point now while having half the goal total of the player just behind him. Ovechkin still has the highest point per game scoring rate but by a smaller margin and no longer has the highest goal per game rate. One things for sure it's a lot closer than it looked before.