IafrateOvie34
Registered User
- May 14, 2009
- 12,312
- 9,203
I respect it but also disagree with it strongly.
Lindgren was integral to the Caps making the playoffs. So were Ovechkin (22 goals from February to April), Strome (over PPG from February to April), and Carlson (played nearly 26 minutes a night at 34 years old) .
Lindgren deserved (and got) some Vezina recognition. While he finished 14th in GSAA, you can argue him above everyone except Hellebuyck (deserving winner) and Demko (clear #2). But in terms of MVP? I'm not even sure Lindgren is the outright MVP of the Caps in 23-24 (though he's certainly on the shortlist).
Especially in this past year.. there were SO many deserving candidates who didn't even make the top 3 (so ignoring Mackinnon, McDavid, Kucherov; not necessarily ordered): Matthews, obviously, Panarin, Hellebucyk, Demko, Q. Hughes; Pastrnak. Maybe (hard maybe) you could argue Lindgren 10, but I'd still probably put him behind the next group which includes JT Miller, Josi, Crosby, Draisaitl, Rantanen, Reinhart, Nylander, FF, Kaprizov (and others).
Sure, there are plenty of candidates for MVP. I don't dispute that at all, but the voters will normally stick with safe picks and usual names. Was Lindgren going to win it? No, but it's nice to see people actually do independent voting. While I don't believe Lindgren had a chance, the other guys mentioned have a strong support core. Those kind of things should be considered, imho, for MVP voting. Some of these voters will stick to their preseason choices and not deviate. Of course I cannot prove that, only speculate.