If we are speaking analytically, there is a very, very convincing argument to be made that Evgeny Kuznetsov should have been the one flapping his obnoxious wings on up to the next level of stardom after using his talons to snag a trophy that represents individual importance from the slimy hands of Gary Bettman. After all, in leading the playoffs by a handful of points, he did have a postseason coming out party that could put to shame a post-grad coming party thrown by a gender fluid boy who just moved out of his strict parents' repressed household. The kid was unbelievably electric, and I don't just mean in his proclivity to poorly feign foreign ignorance while dropping expletives into a live mic. If we are taking positional impact into account, some might say that Braden Holtby earned the opportunity to distract everyone from his grotesque neckbeard by accepting an award for the performance that was ultimately responsible for his lengthy transformation into teen wolf. After all, it was his insertion into the lineup that almost directly coincided with the first of many times in which the Capitals rewrote their reputation by proving resilient in storming out of an 0-2 hole against the Blue Jackets. During a time of year in which superior goaltending is of the upmost importance, Braden Holtby provided it with his paddle in flipping a Stanley Cup Final that, as hard as it is to believe now, was very much at risk of getting away from Washington. All that being said, when it comes to the player that most deserved to be celebrated in setting the stage for the ultimate prize in team sports, it was Alexander Ovechkin. Just take one look at the picture above, and you can't possibly tell me it wasn't always Ovi. If not because a poll of his own locker room would probably tell you the same then because fully negating the nauseatingly repetitive narrative that's followed him throughout the vast majority of his career is more important than dissecting the definition of value. Whether it was emotionally or physically, there's no doubt who was leading an incredibly cohesive Capitals' team, and I think it's relevant to point out that it was the person that was also bearing both the brunt of over a decade of disappointment and a 'C' that's served as a scarlet letter to Russian-born players. We have a way of tearing down even the most transcendent of superstars regardless of whether or not it's their teams or unforeseen circumstances that fail them. No player encapsulates that quite like the greatest pure goal scorer of all time who has long carried the 'loser' label despite posting playoff numbers that provide a much different second opinion. The original spirit of the Conn Smythe award undoubtedly had nothing to do with the media, but given their vulture-like tendencies, I have no problem with them factoring their guilty conscience into the vote. The truth is that I don't really care whether or not Alexander Ovechkin was indisputably the best player on the ice for the Capitals throughout their championship run and neither should you. With how often we've taken it upon ourselves to lessen his legacy, finally giving it a boost, be it a questionable one or not, is but a slight progression to the mean that's been 13 years in the making. The legend of Alex Ovechkin has managed to grow through no shortage of piss and vitriol, it's about goddamn time we were a bit liberal in offering it some water. Even if it would prefer vodka after a title-worthy two-way performance that put the boldest of exclamation points on both his Conn Smythe candidacy and his career...
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