MVP: What does it mean and who should it be?

I know it has been a while since my last post (college can get busy...and lazy), but I felt the need to post about something that has been irking me. Who should get the Hart Trophy? And by who, at least for this part of the post, I don't mean which player, I mean how should it be determined. There needs to be a set definition for this. The real question is, should it be given to the player that would be most valuable to any team (i.e. the best overall player) or the player most valuable to the success of the team that he is on. I think it should be the latter. If necessary, although it may be a stretch, to appease some people, there could be an alternate trophy for best all-around player. Actually, that is who the Lester B. Pearson Award should be given to ("outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHLPA").

While this need for a definition seems to come up in my mind annually, sparking it this year was discussion of Nicklas Lidstrom being the top Hart Trophy candidate. As some of you know, I am an Avs fan and therefore hate the Wings, but I will concede that Nicklas Lidstrom is probably THE best hockey player in the world. He is incredibly consistent and makes difficult plays look easy. He doesn't always get the praise he deserves because he isn't flashy and is, from what I've watched and read, a pretty down-to-Earth guy. If you took Lidstrom off of Detroit's roster they would probably not be at the top of the league, but would likely still be in playoff contention. So, if they did give out a trophy for the best all-around player, he would likely get my vote, but he would not get my vote for the Hart Trophy.

The most valuable player to his team's success could be a few people, but my top two picks would be the Caps' Alex Ovechkin and the Canucks' Roberto Luongo. Ovechkin plays the game with as much passion as I've ever seen anyone play with. It's clear that he is out there to play his hardest at all times. Look at him after he scores a goal, you'll get it (especially an OT winner...) Without the ridiculous, yes, absolutely ridiculous play of Ovechkin, the Capitals would not only be out of playoff contention, but would likely be dead last in the league. I am not saying that there aren't some other contributing players, but when you watch some of the Caps' wins, it's pretty obvious. For example, last night's two-goal performance by Ovechkin that included the OT winner in a game in which Washington had been trailing 2-0 (and Ovechkin's first goal sparked the comeback). I remember another game earlier in the season in which Ovie scored the tying goal in the dying seconds of the 3rd period only to go on and get the OT winner. Also, his 45 goals are nearly 30% of Washington's goals for this season, not to mention the second leading goal scorer on the team is defenseman Mike Green with 14. If that is not most valuable, I don't know what is.

My inclusion of Luongo is partly an extension from last year when he really deserved the award just as much as Sidney Crosby. He was almost the sole reason the virtually goalless Canucks made it into the playoffs. While his game hasn't been as incredible as least season, Luongo is still providing the solid goaltending Vancouver needs to make a playoff push.

I am going to throw in a curve ball here as well and include Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas as an example of extremely valuable. Living in Boston, I get to attend quite a few Bruins games, and I am telling you that this team would be nowhere without a goaltender as solid as Thomas has been for the B's. Despite improved team-defense, the B's still allow a barrage of shots on Thomas nightly, and it seems he stands on his head in every win and loss to give the Bruins a chance.

As I stated earlier, if the criteria for the Hart Trophy is deemed to be "most valuable to one's team," then the best way to determine that is to imagine that team without that player and where they would be in the standings. So, while Nicklas Lidstrom probably gets the Pearson Award award, I absolutely don't see how, on a team like the Wings, he could be deemed any more valuable to his team than Alexander Ovechkin is to the Caps.

Just for fun, I am going to give my MVP picks for each team. I am making the decision based on which player's removal from the team would make that team the worst (if that makes sense...) Feel free to dispute them in the comments:

Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer
While his return may have been disputed, his affect on the Ducks can't be

Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk

Boston: Tim Thomas

Buffalo: Brian Campbell

Calgary: Jarome Iginla

Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour

Chicago: Patrick Sharp
5 GWG, leads team in +/-, seems to play well when no one else does

Colorado: Paul Stastny
Although the team hasn't played as poorly as expected since losing him, it'll be tough to make the playoffs

Columbus: Rick Nash

Dallas: Mike Ribeiro
Stars would only have Morrow's scoring without this guy

Detroit: Nicklas Lidstrom

Edmonton: Shawn Horcoff
Might become obvious now that he's out for the season

Florida: Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles: Alexander Frolov
While his point production may be below expectations, he's one of the few guys on the team that shows up on the scoresheet and his own end of the ice

Minnesota: Marian Gaborik

Montreal: Alex Kovalev
His increased confidence and two-way play this year has been invaluable to Habs

Nashville: Jason Arnott

New Jersey: Martin Brodeur

NY Islanders: Rick DiPietro

NY Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

Ottawa: Dany Heatley
Argument could be made for Alfredsson, but the Sens have really hurt while Heater's been out

Philadelphia: Mike Richards

Phoenix: Ilja Bryzgalov
Proof: Look at the improvement of this team since he arrived

Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin (since Sid's injury, Crosby prior though)
Malkin has really stepped up his game since Sidney Crosby got hurt; Pens would be lost without both of them

San Jose: Evgeni Nabokov/Joe Thornton (couldn't decide)

St. Louis: Brad Boyes
Lighting it up and 3rd on the team in +/-

Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier

Toronto: Mats Sundin

Vancouver: Roberto Luongo

Washington: Alexander Ovechkin


My next post (and there really will be another one prior to the trade deadline) will be about possible trades and what a few teams should be looking for.