Ovechkin’s third Hart Trophy his first on right wing
WASHINGTON — George McPhee had to take a call. Alex Ovechkin was on the other line, reaching out to the Washington Capitals general manager shortly after winning his third Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
Ovechkin’s message to McPhee was that this latest award wasn’t just another trophy for his case.
“This one means more,” McPhee said, “after what he’s been through recently.”
After a sluggish start to the season saw the Capitals captain draw a lot of criticism, Ovechkin proved coach Adam Oates right for suggesting a move to right wing with a stellar second half.
It was a tumultuous season for Ovechkin, as moving to right wing after playing on the left side his whole life took time and plenty of adjustment.
It was Oates’ way to get the Russian star to change his game for the better, and McPhee saw this MVP honour as validation of the switch and Ovechkin’s “coachability.”
“He did not get enough credit for the willingness to change positions, security, what he knows, for the good of the team,” Oates said. “Yeah it was good for him, no question, but he had to have the faith that he was going to do OK and it was going to help the team because that’s how I sold it to him.”
Early on, it wasn’t a hard sell because Ovechkin’s offensive production had fallen off the previous two seasons. After being a perennial 50- goal scorer, he had 32 goals in 201011 and then 38 in 2011- 12 only after a late tear.
Ovechkin finished with 23 goals in his final 23 games for an NHL- best 32 in the 48- game season. Asked if the 27- yearold would’ve been able to do that on left wing, Oates said: “I don’t think so.”
“Right wing is the right wing,” Ovechkin said. “I’m pretty happy we made the switch.”