Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had one of the best seasons of his career during the 2017-18 campaign. After last night’s NHL Awards show, The Great 8 posed with a bunch of trophies, but three of the four were team awards. Ovechkin led the league in goals (49) and won his seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, adding to the titles he won in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012‑13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. But the Russian machine was uncharacteristically left off the NHL’s first and second All-Star Teams and finished low in voting for the Hart Trophy.
What a season for @ovi8. His 49 goals are good for yet another Rocket Richard Trophy. #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/wy03EF33xS
— NHL (@NHL) June 21, 2018
After celebrating with the Stanley Cup in the Fountains of Bellagio, Ovechkin, at the end of the night, presented the Hart Tto 2018 league MVP Taylor Hall. Despite owning the largest percentage of team goals for any NHL team, Ovechkin received no first place votes and finished ninth in voting overall.
Ovechkin was also voted the third best left wing in the game, finishing behind Hall and Claude Giroux.
Several other Caps stars received votes for awards.
Nicklas Backstrom finished 18th overall in voting for the Selke Trophy this season, receiving one fourth place and two fifth place votes. Anze Kopitar won the trophy for the second time in his career, recognizing “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”
John Carlson finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting as the league’s best defenseman.
Barry Trotz finished 11th in voting for the Jack Adams Award, as the league’s beach coach, receiving one second place vote.
The Capitals’ Brian MacLellan also finished sixth in voting as the General Manager of the Year award. Former Capitals GM George McPhee, who built most of the Caps core that won the Stanley Cup this season, won the award for his work in Las Vegas.
Headline photo: @NHL
