NHL Most Valuable Player Talks
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by user Gmaddux04
With the NHL season winding down, I feel like I have to give it the utmost respect for producing yet another exciting season. How competitive has it been this year? Consider this:
Last season's two Stanley Cup representatives-- the Oilers and Hurricanes-- both are out of the playoffs as of right now. The Oilers are mathematically eliminated and sitting dead last in the Northwest Division and as of tonight the Canes sit two points behind 8th place in East.
Now, to the Most Valuable Player candidates...
Joe Thornton, Center, San Jose Sharks - Thornton is just flat out an amazing player and happens to be the reigning league MVP, so he of course has to be mentioned. In my opinion, Thornton is the most dangerous player on a power play because he can control the puck beautifully and dish it off to one of his linemates with ease. This may be why his 83 assists are tops in the league and 50 power play points is second. Thornton has only been held scoreless in 24 games this season and his Sharks are in a fight with the Ducks and Stars for first place in the top heavy Pacific division.
Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins - Sid the Kid is finally looking like the phenom everyone said he was destined to be. Crosby has brought interest back to the city of Pittsburgh and this week the team clinched their first playoff spot in six seasons. They enter tonight in a dead tie with the Devils for first place in the Atlantic with 98 points. Crosby (35 goals, 78 assists) has been a scoring machine this year, with a league best 113 points, including 58 power play points, also a league best. Would you believe he has only been held off the score sheet in only 17 games this year? It could be very difficult not giving the trophy to him.
Martin Brodeur, Goalie, New Jersey Devils - Considering his age, this is one of the more amazing stories. With shutouts in hockey becoming scarce, his 12 this season look like a typing error. How so? The next closest goalie in the league sports a mere seven shutouts. Not only that, but the rest of the veteran's statistics are mingboggling (44 wins, 2.24 GAA, .921 SV%). Brodeur singlehandedly gives the Devils a great shot of winning every night, which is something hard to say about a single skater.
Roberto Luongo, Goalie, Vancouver Canucks - Luongo receives my "Change of Scenery" exemption for goalies. While his numbers aren't as great as the ageless Brodeur's, you have to factor in that he left the city of Miami and the Florida Panthers and was traded to the other corner of the continent to play for the Canucks (a trade that also sent Todd Bertuzzi to the Panthers in exchange for Luongo, but who I believe never played a shift for Florida due to injuries, and was just recently dealt to the Red Wings, where he is back and kicking). Regardless of all of this, Luongo still dominated in net, yielding 44 wins and a .923 SV%. The Canucks are also a first place team this year, which is always a consideration for the award.
Teemu Selanne, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks - Another veteran, age 36, who is tearing up the ice. His 44 goals and 42 assists may not be stunning, even for Selanne's standards (Selanne scored 76 goals in the 1992-93 season), but his team has been one of the most talented all season, and many ESPN personalities say this is the team to beat in the West. The future Hall of Famer probably won't win it this year, but just the consideration is enough to honor his performance.
What about Vinny LeCavalier? Well, his 49 goals scored are leading the entire NHL (Heatley is 2nd with 46), however his Tampa Bay Lightning are barely holding on to the 7th spot in the East and one must remember...
The MVP does not mean the best player in the league.
So who will take it down? I would be very surprised if someone other than Crosby or Brodeur win. I forget when they announce it, but whoever gets their team farther in the playoffs deserves the hardware.
