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The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin had 50 goals during the regular season.

updated 8:01 p.m. ET June 23, 2010

LAS VEGAS - Russia's Alex Ovechkin is looking to win his third straight Hart Memorial Trophy for the league's most valuable player when the winner is announced at Wednesday's year-ending NHL awards ceremony.

Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals earned the Presidents' Trophy after topping the regular NHL season, but were knocked out of the playoffs by eighth-seeded Montreal in the first round.

"It takes everything out of you," Ovechkin said of the postseason defeats. "Right now, relax and get ready for next year and training camp. Every year, you get more experience. You want to forget about it and worry about next year. It's life."

Ovechkin would be the first to win three straight Hart Trophies since Wayne Gretzky won the last three of eight consecutive MVP awards from 1984-85 to 1986-87.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, who won the award in 2007, and Sweden's Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks are the two other nominees for the Hart. Sedin ended with 29 goals, 83 assists, while both Crosby and Ovechkin had 109 points. Crosby had 51 goals to Ovechkin's 50.

The Chicago Blackhawks' Duncan Keith won Olympic gold for Canada in Vancouver in February, and then helped Chicago to its first Stanley Cup since 1961. He is a nominee for the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the best defenseman.

"It's a pretty neat accomplishment," Keith said of winning the gold and the Stanley Cup. "I felt fortunate to be on a team with a great group of guys."

Keith is nominated with Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Mike Green of the Capitals.

Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy for the outstanding rookie.

"It feels good. It's a very big honor," said Myers said, who was nominated along with Colorado's Matt Duchene and Detroit's Jimmy Howard. "It's nice to be put in that group."

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