The Hockey News: Mike Brophy's blog: THN.com Blog: Four contenders neck-and-neck for NHL's MVP

THN.com Blog: Four contenders neck-and-neck for NHL's MVP

New Jersey's Martin Brodeur is a no-brainer for Vezina consideration, but should also get some votes for the Hart. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mike Brophy
2008-03-17 11:20:09

It’s almost time to vote for the Hart Trophy and I’ve got to be honest, I am not even close to picking my winner.

I will say, though, I have narrowed it down to four candidates – goalies Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, left winger Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and right winger Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.

I firmly believe, had Sidney Crosby not missed so much action with that high ankle sprain, he would have repeated as the Hart winner. Oh well.

There is a big part of me that wants to make Ovechkin No. 1 (out of five) on my ballot, but I am struggling with the fact his team may not make the playoffs. Part of me thinks he should win it because without him the Capitals wouldn’t even be in contention for a playoff spot.

And if the award were for the best player this season, he’d win it hands-down. Voters are supposed to reward “The player adjudged to be most valuable to his team.” Has anybody been more valuable to his team than Ovechkin?

Then again, I have admired the way Iginla has played for the Flames. Through 72 games he ranked third in NHL scoring with 45 goals and 87 points. With the exception of a 10-game goalless drought from Jan. 8 through Feb. 4, he has been marvelous. He leads by example, often dropping his gloves to make his point.

Luongo has been spectacular once again for the Canucks. Is it his fault they don’t offer him scoring support? Of course not! Like Ovechkin, he may fall into the category of great season, but no playoffs. It should be noted, however, without Luongo, the Canucks would be gunning for a lottery draft pick and not a playoff spot.

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Brodeur just may be the sentimental favorite. Gone are the days when he relaxed between the pipes while Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski kept attackers at bay. Now, he makes stops with the likes of Colin White (who has improved drastically, but was a No. 5 defender in the glory days), Johnny Oduya and Mike Mottau patrolling the blueline.

With a few weeks to go, the Hart Trophy is still wide open from my perspective. So wide open, in fact, Daniel Alfredsson might sneak into the pack with a strong finish.

Mike Brophy, the co-author of the book Walking with Legends, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor on THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and his column, Double OT, appears Wednesday.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (48)

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Stu Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:37)

Malkin or Ovechkin are the only real choices but Malkin only plays his best when Crosby is out. Caps have moved from last place to a point out of the playoffs with 6 games to go. Without Ovechkin they would still be in last.

Alexander Cohen Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:28)

A player can only be valuable to a their team when the team is good. The Habs are battling for first in the East and Alex Kovalev is leading the effort. Their biggest compeditor are the Devils with Martin Brodeur at the helm. But where are the Capital lead by Alexander Ovechkin? Battling for the top spot in the SouthLEAST division, because they know they won't be in the playoffs without winning beating such dynasties like the Atlanta Thrashers so they can get in the exclusive tournament by virtue of a crappie rule that should be iliminated. Good team=Valuable Player (Alex Kovalev, Martin Brodeur) Bad Team=Invaluable Player (Alexander Ovechkin!) GO HABS GO!! KOVALEV FOR HART!! (GRETZ EVEN SAYS SO!)

Granger Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:18)

Baffled why Luongo and Brodeur would be MVP candidates with less wins, shutouts and average than Nabokov. Also, the player that no pundit has mentioned but should have, is Chara. Has been a beast all season for the Bruins with points and hits. Boston loses 18-3 to Toronto and Washington, with nine even strength goals allowed and Chara was plus-1 overall.

Joseph Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:17)

I think we seem to associate the Hart with the player with the most points or goals...I believe it should go to the player who's play has inspired the team to reach its goal...Without that player the team would not be where it is currently...Kovalev is my choice for a MVP this year...his inspired play has inspired a whole Montreal team....

Ryan Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:15)

Nabokov has had a struggling offensive team in front of him all year and is the reason they were in position to take the division lead. There's your MVP.

Michael Kramer Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:15)

Crosby's not even the best player on his own team, let alone the whole league. Malkin's just too humble a player and person to upset the Canada -centric NHL's clearly ordained status quo that Crosby is the (NEXT?) "next one". This year we have 3 of the top 5 points overall leaders being Russian (as well as 6/10 being Europeans) and yet the NHL and THN says nothing. Further, 3 of the top 5 in scoring are also Russian (6/10 Euros) and again, nothing from the NHL or THN. And even with 3 of the top 4 in goal scoring leaders being Russian (and 10/17 Euros) the clearly Canada-centric NHL and THN says or notes nothing about such a clearly intriguing and revealing trend in the game...!?! Why is everything "Crosby", "Crosby", "Crosby" when 1) he isn't even in the line-up (another "next-Lindros" in the making?) and 2) those who are, are simply ignored because of, what, their non-Canadian heritage? The NHL and THN had no problem whatsoever touting Vincent Lecavalier and Jarome Iginla when they were on top -- GEEZ, what's your problem with giving the same due credit for Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, etc...???

Michael Kramer Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:15)

Crosby's not even the best player on his own team, let alone the whole league. Malkin's just too humble a player and person to upset the Canada-centric NHL's clearly ordained status quo that Crosby is the (NEXT?) "next one". This year we have 3 of the top 5 overall assit leaders being Russian (as well as 4/5 being Europeans) and yet the NHL and THN says nothing. Further, 3 of the top 5 in overall scoring are also Russian (with 6/10 Euros) and again, nothing from the NHL or THN. And even with 3 of the top 4 in goal scoring leaders being Russian (and 10/17 Euros) the clearly Canada-centric NHL and THN says or notes nothing about such a clearly intriguing and revealing trend in the game...!?! Why is everything "Crosby", "Crosby", "Crosby" when 1) he isn't even in the line-up (another "next-Lindros" in the making?) and 2) those who are, are simply ignored because of, what, their non-Canadian heritage? The NHL and THN had no problem whatsoever touting Vincent Lecavalier and Jarome Iginla when they were on top -- GEEZ, what's your problem with giving the same due credit for Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, etc...??? And you wonder why the game doesn't get any "American" (or more specifically, "non-Canadian"?) ad/sponsor/media exposure and support...!?!

todd walker Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:15)

malkin should be in the top 3, he has carried the pen's since crosby went down. mvp means most valuable player, where would the pen's be without malkin? probably right next to the flyers.

Harvey Webb Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:13)

Too bad there is so much voting from the East where they have all gone to bed before the good & tight games in the West have even started. Give some of those voters some Geratol so they can see all of some Western games and they will see that Luongo is the best and only reason Vancouver isn't on the golf course already!!

Chris Sides Posted
(2009-04-30 06:06:13)

Voters are supposed to reward "The player adjudged to be most valuable to his team." Has anybody been more valuable to his team than Ovechkin? I hate to say it but Yes and he isn't in your top five selections!...Alex Kovalev has demonstrated that he has been more valuable than Ovechkin has to his team. No Kovalev has not scored the points that Ovechkin has, but that is what the Art Ross Trophy is for...Kovalev has led, by example, the young group of talented players the Canadiens brought up from Hamilton and it is clear that he is the difference. Every season prediction said the Canadiens could not make the play-offs...well, Kovalev disagreed and the prove, as they say, is in the pudding...the Canadiens sit tied with New Jersey for the top spot in the East...no major trade, no real major off season free agent signing...they did not fire their coach, or their general manager...they just continued with the program they had in place and received the leadership that Alex Kovalev could bring to the team...