Ovechkin poses with the Rocket Richard Trophy, which he won again this year, at the 2014 NHL Awards. (Photo: Harry How)
The Washington Capitals had a domineering regular season in 2015-16, running away with the Presidents’ Trophy by 11 points. On Wednesday evening in Las Vegas, their personal feats from this past season will be honored. Well… most of them.
One Caps player already has hardware locked up: Alex Ovechkin, who won the Richard Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer. It was his third straight 50-goal season. But there will be no crazy blue suits on the red carpet this year. Ovechkin will not be in Las Vegas to claim his prize.
“Alex will not be attending the Awards this year,” a Capitals spokesperson said in an email to RMNB, declining to elaborate further. A spokesperson for the NHL also confirmed Ovechkin’s absence.
Ovechkin is also a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award for the work he did for the American Special Hockey Association. Let’s assume he’s not going to win that one, lest the Awards become even more awkward.
After signing a large endorsement deal with Bank Otkrytie two weeks ago, Ovechkin went on vacation in Greece. Ovechkin’s fiancée Nastya Shubskaya posted a selfie of the couple together at a resort in Crete on Monday.
As for the Capitals players who will be enjoying the 115 degree heat in Vegas, Braden Holtby will be looking resplendent as he, most likely, picks up the Vezina Trophy for goaltender of the year. Holtby is also up for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is given to the league’s most valuable player as voted on by their peers. Barry Trotz is a strong candidate to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year while Brian MacLellan is up for general manager of the year.
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