"But I was so happy when it was a Washington-Vegas final because I know it was going to hurt either way, no matter who won," said Subban, whose Predators were eliminated by the Winnipeg Jets in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round. "I knew I could sympathize with one or the other side. But man, Ovechkin deserves it."
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, who won the Stanley Cup in 2011, said he has gotten a kick out of the celebration by the Capitals and Ovechkin, who first celebrated in Las Vegas after winning the Cup in Game 5 of the Final on June 7 and then took the Cup everywhere he could in Washington.
"Has Ovechkin shared the Cup with anyone else? He's always had it," Bergeron said jokingly. "It's well-deserved. Ovechkin waited a long time for it, and you can tell that with the celebration he's having. It's been in the works for years. I find it amusing to see him celebrating the way he is, but he's earned it."
The NHL Awards will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN).
Subban is a finalist for the Norris Trophy, given to the player voted the NHL's top defenseman (he won it in 2013), and for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership qualities on and off the ice and noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
Bergeron is nominated for the Selke Trophy, given to the NHL forward voted to best excel in the defensive aspects of the game, for a seventh straight season. He has won it four times, a record he shares with Canadiens forward Bob Gainey.
