Alex Ovechkin doesn't win Hart Trophy as league MVP, but is named players' association most outstanding player

LAS VEGAS -- It wasn't the only trophy he had hoped to capture Wednesday, but the NHL Players Association's most outstanding player award will have to suffice for Alex Ovechkin.

The Washington Capitals' star won the Ted Linsday Award, then was denied a third consecutive Hart Trophy by Vancouver's Henrik Sedin, who edged Ovechkin for MVP honors by six first-place votes.

"I have the most hard trophy to get -- the players' award -- so I'm very happy," Ovechkin said after he glumly walked into the interview room at the Palm Casino & Resort. "Still, life goes on."

No one, perhaps, understands that better than goaltender José Theodore, who, through tears, accepted the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey and then revealed what had been speculated for weeks: After two seasons, he has played his last game for the Capitals.

"I talked with [General Manager George McPhee] and we had a good talk," Theodore said. "I enjoyed my time in Washington. Two great years. Winning percentage, stats-wise, it was fun to play for the Caps. But things in the new NHL, they are going to go with the young kids and I respect that. I have nothing but good words to say about this city, especially the fans and the organization. With the way I finished last year, I'm just looking forward to next season."

Coach Bruce Boudreau all but confirmed that the Capitals will turn to 22-year-olds Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth as their goaltenders next season. Varlamov and Neuvirth each will earn $821,667 next season; Theodore, 33, earned $4.5 million.

"José had a great year for us," Boudreau said. "But sometimes you have a guy in the minors [Neuvirth], he's won two Calder Cups and one's an MVP. He was outstanding every time he had to be. But these two young kids have been groomed to be great goalies, and our goaltending is as strong as ever with these guys."

Theodore's revelation of his talk with McPhee capped an emotional night for the veteran, who lost his infant son, Chace, to complications related to a premature birth last summer. He's the first Capital to earn the Masterton.

"It's not an award growing up you aim for because a lot of time it means you had a sickness or a tragedy," said Theodore, who became emotional on stage. "But it's something I always admired the people that won it because they had to make comebacks or fight through a lot of adversity."

Defenseman Mike Green, meantime, finished as runner-up for the Norris Trophy for the second year in a row. This time, the Capitals' top defenseman was beat out by Chicago's Duncan Keith.

Green did not speak to reporters, but Boudreau defended him.

"Mike had better stats all the way around and our team was first overall," Boudreau said. "And we had the best power play in the league. Mike is the leader in all of that stuff. So I don't see why he can't win the award."