Deserving Duo Gets No Hype
FROM ERIK ERLENDSSON OF THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
It's that time of year, as the calendar counts down toward the end of the regular season, and thoughts of regular season accomplishments begin to fill the minds of voters around the league.
And much of the talk is often centered around the question: Who is the MVP?
There are worthy candidates this season such as Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur, Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo, Atlanta's Marian Hossa or Ottawa's Dany Heatley.
For some reason, however, when MVP talk comes up in NHL circles these days, there are two noticeable names absent from the conversations - Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.
I'm not sure why they don't get much attention. After all, St. Louis already has won an MVP trophy and Lecavalier was named the MVP of the World Cup of Hockey. They both were integral parts of the 2004 Stanley Cup winning team and received plenty of attention for their feats as both were chosen as video game cover athletes the same year.
And you can't say it's because they play in a small market.
Yet, Lecavalier leads the league in goals (42) and is third in points (88) while St. Louis is third in goals (39) and second in points (89). St. Louis is tops in short-handed points (9) and third in short-handed goals (4); Lecavalier second in short-handed points (8) and second in shorthanded goals (5).
Neither comes up in MVP talk despite these lofty numbers, which is a big factor when it comes to determining who is the most valuable player.
Want more stats?
Lecavalier and St. Louis are tied for the league lead with 51 road points while St. Louis is tops in goals on the road (24) with Lecavalier third (20). Both are top penalty killers and are on the ice in many key situations.
But when the ballots are returned - before the playoffs begin - and the winner is revealed during the awards show in Columbus in June, the likely MVP winner will be the hype-machine that is Crosby, whom some call the best player in the league and consider the biggest reason the Penguins likely will make the playoffs this season. However, more than half (40) of Crosby's league-best 71 assists have come on the power play, he rarely kills penalties and averages nearly six minutes a game on the power play, a minute more than both Lecavalier and St. Louis.
This isn't a case to say Crosby doesn't warrant being at the top of the MVP list this season. It's making a case for two of the top players in the league who aren't getting their just recognition, let alone their just reward.
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Linda's humble opinion...If you dont like dont read it.
THIS IS THE EXAMPLE OF WHY I CANT STAND SIDNEY AND ALEX. THE LEAGUE PUTS THESE TWO UP ON A PEDESTAL AND THINK THE SUN AND MOON RISE AND SET WITH THEM. THERE ARE SO MANY TALENTED STARS IN THE NHL(NOT JUST THE LIGHTNING) THAT DON'T GET THE PRAISE THAT IS OWED TO THEM. I AM SICK OF BETTMAN AND THE LEAGUE THINKING THESE TWO GUYS ARE A GOD TO THE SPORT. NEITHER IN MY OPINOIN COULD CARRY THE JOCK STRAP OF MANY OF THE HOCKEY HEROS THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THEM. THESE GUYS TODAY DONT HAVE THE HEART THAT MESSIER, GRETZKY, HULL, ORR OR FUHR PLAYED WITH. THOSE GUYS LOVED THE SPORT. TODAY PLAYERS(NOT ONLY SIDNEY AND ALEX) ONLY CARE ABOUT THE BOTTOM NUMBER AND HOW MANY ENDORSEMENTS THEY CAN GET. LOOK AT THE LIKES OF RYAN SMYTH FROM EDMONTON THAT CRIED CAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THERE BUT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO WORK THE NUMBERS FOR THE TEAM. AGAIN HE CARED MORE ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE. I APPLAUD KEVIN LOWE FOR DEALING HIS ASS AWAY.
OK MY RANT IS NOW OFFICALLY OVER. YOU MANY RESUME WHATEVER IT WAS THAT YOU WERE DOING. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!
It's that time of year, as the calendar counts down toward the end of the regular season, and thoughts of regular season accomplishments begin to fill the minds of voters around the league.
And much of the talk is often centered around the question: Who is the MVP?
There are worthy candidates this season such as Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur, Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo, Atlanta's Marian Hossa or Ottawa's Dany Heatley.
For some reason, however, when MVP talk comes up in NHL circles these days, there are two noticeable names absent from the conversations - Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.
I'm not sure why they don't get much attention. After all, St. Louis already has won an MVP trophy and Lecavalier was named the MVP of the World Cup of Hockey. They both were integral parts of the 2004 Stanley Cup winning team and received plenty of attention for their feats as both were chosen as video game cover athletes the same year.
And you can't say it's because they play in a small market.
Yet, Lecavalier leads the league in goals (42) and is third in points (88) while St. Louis is third in goals (39) and second in points (89). St. Louis is tops in short-handed points (9) and third in short-handed goals (4); Lecavalier second in short-handed points (8) and second in shorthanded goals (5).
Neither comes up in MVP talk despite these lofty numbers, which is a big factor when it comes to determining who is the most valuable player.
Want more stats?
Lecavalier and St. Louis are tied for the league lead with 51 road points while St. Louis is tops in goals on the road (24) with Lecavalier third (20). Both are top penalty killers and are on the ice in many key situations.
But when the ballots are returned - before the playoffs begin - and the winner is revealed during the awards show in Columbus in June, the likely MVP winner will be the hype-machine that is Crosby, whom some call the best player in the league and consider the biggest reason the Penguins likely will make the playoffs this season. However, more than half (40) of Crosby's league-best 71 assists have come on the power play, he rarely kills penalties and averages nearly six minutes a game on the power play, a minute more than both Lecavalier and St. Louis.
This isn't a case to say Crosby doesn't warrant being at the top of the MVP list this season. It's making a case for two of the top players in the league who aren't getting their just recognition, let alone their just reward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linda's humble opinion...If you dont like dont read it.
THIS IS THE EXAMPLE OF WHY I CANT STAND SIDNEY AND ALEX. THE LEAGUE PUTS THESE TWO UP ON A PEDESTAL AND THINK THE SUN AND MOON RISE AND SET WITH THEM. THERE ARE SO MANY TALENTED STARS IN THE NHL(NOT JUST THE LIGHTNING) THAT DON'T GET THE PRAISE THAT IS OWED TO THEM. I AM SICK OF BETTMAN AND THE LEAGUE THINKING THESE TWO GUYS ARE A GOD TO THE SPORT. NEITHER IN MY OPINOIN COULD CARRY THE JOCK STRAP OF MANY OF THE HOCKEY HEROS THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THEM. THESE GUYS TODAY DONT HAVE THE HEART THAT MESSIER, GRETZKY, HULL, ORR OR FUHR PLAYED WITH. THOSE GUYS LOVED THE SPORT. TODAY PLAYERS(NOT ONLY SIDNEY AND ALEX) ONLY CARE ABOUT THE BOTTOM NUMBER AND HOW MANY ENDORSEMENTS THEY CAN GET. LOOK AT THE LIKES OF RYAN SMYTH FROM EDMONTON THAT CRIED CAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THERE BUT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO WORK THE NUMBERS FOR THE TEAM. AGAIN HE CARED MORE ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE. I APPLAUD KEVIN LOWE FOR DEALING HIS ASS AWAY.
OK MY RANT IS NOW OFFICALLY OVER. YOU MANY RESUME WHATEVER IT WAS THAT YOU WERE DOING. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!