Postseason Awards Begin To Pile Up for Ovechkin

Although the Washington Capitals' playoff run ended more than a month ago, Alex Ovechkin's postseason trophy haul has just begun -- or so he hopes.

Yesterday, Ovechkin was presented with the Art Ross and Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies for leading the NHL in points and goals with 112 and 65, respectively, during a ceremony in downtown Pittsburgh before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals. He's the first Russian to win the Ross and the first Washington player to win either trophy (the Richard was introduced following the 1998-99 season).

"I always want to be the best," Ovechkin said by telephone. "When I was a little kid, I wanted to win all of the personal awards, and right now I win a couple. I win this year, and next year I want to win more and I want to win with my team."

Ovechkin hopes yesterday was merely a tuneup for next month's NHL's award show in Toronto, where the 22-year-old hopes to take home the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award, given to the most outstanding player as voted by fellow players. Ovechkin will be joined at the June 12 show by linemate Nicklas Backstrom, who is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, and Coach Bruce Boudreau, who is up for the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach of the year.

Ovechkin's competition for the Hart and Pearson are Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. Should Ovechkin sweep both, he could become the first player to win the Ross, Richard, Hart and Pearson. He also could become the first Capital to win the Hart or Pearson and only the second Russian MVP (teammate Sergei Fedorov won in 1994).

"It will be cool," Ovechkin said. "All players want to win. I'm glad I'm nominated and I have a chance to be the player to win all four."

Several other players also were honored during yesterday's ceremony. Detroit goaltenders Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek received the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded to the team that yields the fewest goals (184 in 82 games). Toronto captain Mats Sundin was awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and Vancouver's Trevor Linden were the recipients of the NHL Foundation Player Award, which recognizes commitment, perseverance and teamwork.

It has been a banner year for Ovechkin, who broke the franchise record for goals in a season, carried the Capitals into the playoffs for the first time in five years, signed the most lucrative contract in the game's history and earlier this month scored six goals to help Russia edge Canada for the gold at the International Ice Hockey Federation's world championships.

Ovechkin planned to watch the Penguins-Red Wings game with Commissioner Gary Bettman from a suite at Mellon Arena last night.

"I am happy for them," Ovechkin said of the rival Penguins. "I wish them good luck. But that's life: Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. I hope next year we will be in the Stanley Cup finals."

Capitals Note: Ovechkin said Fedorov told him during the world championships that he is not contemplating retiring and hopes to return to Washington. "I talked to him, and I know for sure [that] he wants to stay in Washington," Ovechkin said. "He wants to play -- not just with me -- but with [the] Capitals." Fedorov, 38, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.