Conn Smythe Trophy: The Ovechkin Factor

Well ladies and gents, it's that time again. Snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and hockey players and fans around the world throw out their razors.

Yes, it is playoff time.

The question everyone is asking and predicting around this time is "Who will win the Stanley Cup?"

Probably Anaheim. But that has nothing to do with this article. This article is about the Conn Smythe Trophy; who will win it to be exact.

The most simple logic looks for Scott Neidermayer to repeat because he won it last year, and is on the cup favourite again this year. Well serious question here, folks, when was the last time someone won the Conn Smythe two years in a row?

And the Leafs are out so there goes Andrew Raycroft's chance. 

So that leads us to look elsewhere. And look no further than one Alex Ovechkin.

Because to win this award, one doesn't need a Stanley Cup ring when it's all over. No, he just needs to carry the team on his back to the finals.

And who better to do that than Ovechkin?

The speedy Russian sniper lead the league in both goals and points. He should win the Hart by a fairly large margin.

So who's to say he can't win playoff MVP in addition to his regular season title?

Well the Flyers will try, but it doesn't seem like anyone can stop the 22-year-old superstar. Sure, he's European, and Europeans seem to have a bad history with the playoffs, but he has something Marian Hossa doesn't.

A passion for scoring, not just for his wallet. No one gets more excited about winning and points than Ovie. Don't believe me? Watch a Capitals game. Any Capitals game.