Regular season heroics, the MVP

Ended up thinking about the MVP honours and decided to share a few words on that too. There are quite a few angles to look at this, but eventually we're often seeing this trophy going to the biggest scorers in the league. Flashy, celebrated, easy to remember moments. Well, there's other trophies for just that. The Art Ross for scoring title and Rocket Richard for most goals. MVP should have deeper justification criteria. Some thoughts will follow..

Goalies, anyone? Hasek got the Hart twice, for significant heroics, Theodore once for maybe a little less. Some guys in the past decades too, but in general it's been a trophy for the players.

Defencemen then? Chris Pronger is the only one since Bobby Orr to get this. And Pronger at his best sure was a dominating player on the ice. One could argue for Ray Bourgue, Niklas Lidström and such greats. Eventually, were talking about the most important forward here.

Defensive forwards? Top plus-minus, most steals, blocks, checks, penalty killing? Naah, we're really talking about another scoring title here. Which is okay, but on the other hand, we could spread the criteria a bit more. Even Pavel Datsuyk hasn't won this and he's about as complete package as it gets on both offence and defence. All-time. Maybe if he'd still have some crushing checking ability, he would be loved all around.

Last years' hottest, Ovechkin and Crosby have already tasted this prize. Something tells me that these guys will have their names on the vase some more times in the years to come. The Sedin twins seem to be taking over the scoring department with speed, so that surname should appear on the trophy a few more times.

Ovien and Crosby are out this season. Ovie punised for playing more defence and Crosby for the unfortunate concussion. Sidney Crosby would have taken this honour this season without a question if he'd been able to play full season. He would have actually beaten last decade's records on the scoring categories too. Let's hope he comes back strong for the next season.

So, who's going to take it this year? My guess is Daniel Sedin. He'll win the Art Ross with ease and he's really been solid all year long. Doesn't matter that he's playing on the most complete team of the season and with a fantastic line with brother Hank and Ryan Kesler. All of the guys are having tremendous seasons.

Some might throw Martin St. Louis in the mix. And why not. He's definitely most points per pound and has really again showed it's a skill game today in NHL. He's benefitted of the awesome linemate Steven Stamkos, who has somehow dimmed down on the second half of the season. In comparison to the brightest stars, of course.. it's tough to get criticism for scoring "only" about a point per game.

Corey Perry has been mentioned. He'll win the Rocket, and has to give big thanks to great linemates Getzlaf and Ryan. Another impact player on an impact line.

Well, apart of these obvious candidates, some credit should go to the "lonely wolves" department. Not that these guys don't have great linemates, but maybe not in the same category as the aforementioned.

Anyway, Jarome Iginla, another solid year, scoring, checking, fighting, really leading by example. Calgary won't make it to the playoffs, so maybe his stock falls a notch on that. Not his fault, though..

What about Henrik Zetterberg? Another good year on points, but really digging deep to do everything on the ice to make the team win. If Datsuyk would have played healthy all year, They'd both be in the mix for Hart.

Young guns, Toews, Kopitar, Richards, leading their teams as captains, scoring massive amounts of points and really showing that they are today's premier players. Maybe in the following years these guys will find another gear and tear the place apart.

And finally, what about the "old gun", Teemu Selänne. There isn't that many 40-year-olds, playing in the second line of a mediocre team that score over point per game. There actually isn't anyone, nor hardly ever has been. One can just stand in amazement and hope for a sequel. Truly the best Finnish player ever and one of the greatest all time in the history of NHL. And one cannot undermine the effect of Selänne's heroics to the Anaheim team just sitting on the better side of playoff bubble. Go Teemu!

Hopefully the selecting writers will expand their horizon a bit and also consider the heros just outside the brightest spotlight!