HockeySedin should get the Hart nod

Beginning of Story Content

In the last 20 years, we've seen some really close Hart Trophy races. In 2002, Jose Theodore and Jarome Iginla tied, with the goalie winning because he finished first on three more ballots. In 1990, Ray Bourque had the same number of first-place votes and two more seconds than Mark Messier, but lost to the then-Oilers centre because Messier beat him 10-2 on third-place balloting.

I don't know if this year's result will be that tight, but can anyone remember the last time there were five legitimate candidates? You couldn't be faulted for picking Ilya Bryzgalov, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Miller, Alexander Ovechkin or Henrik Sedin.

There's no need to discuss Crosby or Ovechkin, who've combined to win the last three times. You can't fault anyone who votes for them.  They're the best players in the NHL; no one sells tickets like they do.

Goalies have made a case

Like numbers 8 and 87, Miller is a franchise cornerstone. He may not be a captain like Roberto Luongo, but he might as well wear the C in Buffalo. He sets the tone - driven and focused. He also understands the off-ice responsibilities of an organization that must be family friendly.

Last year, a major sponsor brought his son to the rink to meet Miller. It was pre-arranged, and you could imagine the boy's excitement. Miller forgot. He went home. A Sabres staffer called him in a slight panic, and the superstar netminder raced back to the rink, never even thinking about rescheduling. Not everyone would return. Miller understood.

If you're responsible off the ice, you'll be responsible on it.

However, as great as Miller played this season (his Olympic performance might get him a few extra points, even though it's not supposed to), Ilya Bryzgalov deserves the goalie vote. Phoenix had five more wins and seven more points than the Sabres, playing in the tougher conference. Mainly, though, Bryzgalov gets the edge for the Vezina for the same reasons Dave Tippett is a shoo-in for the Jack Adams.

There is a belief that goalies should not be eligible for the Hart because they have their own trophy, which is as insane as saying a pitcher cannot be a Major League MVP. (I should clarify that I don't have a vote.) Bryzgalov, this season, is as valuable as Theodore in 2002 or Dominik Hasek in 1997 or 1998.

This is Henrik's year

That said, this should be Sedin's year. Henrik is being thrust into the spotlight because he won the Art Ross, but it goes deeper than that. There's a reason that the Vancouver Canucks did everything possible to keep the twins. It's the same reason Brian Burke travelled to Sweden to knock on their doors at 12:01 am (ET) last July 1; the same reason the Montreal Canadiens were also ready to throw a wad of cash at them.

One year ago, I did a sit-down with them for Inside Hockey. One of the questions I didn't use was about their struggle for acceptance, how they were criticized heavily earlier in their careers. When I asked, they looked at each other like they didn't know what I was talking about. They were surprised and responded, "We've always been treated well here."

Afterward, a member of the organization said the Sedins wouldn't have any idea of that criticism, because anything outside the rink is just white noise to them. They honestly don't know what's said.

In this business, you hear that a lot. And, you learn that most of the people who say it are kidding themselves (and you). That's not the case with the twins. They aren't affected by the media, sports-radio callers, bloggers or anyone else.

You can't underestimate how important that is in Canada. It's getting harder and harder for Canadian teams to find players who can insulate themselves against the intense scrutiny of playing in this country.

Senators coach Cory Clouston talked about that as he hit his one-year anniversary. He said the toughest thing about adapting to the NHL was the media pressure on his players. "You can't slump here," he said. "If you go five games without a goal, you've got microphones in your face asking why."

Consistent under watchful eyes

American hockey fans/media goof on us for this kind of stuff, but the passion is a double-edged sword. If you're great, you're a king. If not, you're a bum. Every Canadian hockey fan can name five players who couldn't handle it and had to go. Every Canadian team can name five guys it thinks it lost for the same reason.

(For example, one free agent the Canadiens chased said he decided not to sign there because another player told him when the team was going badly, his brother had to lock his office door so co-workers couldn't barge in and demand answers.)

Montreal is the most intense spotlight, but Vancouver's pretty tough, too. (Pat Quinn used to tell the Toronto media, "You guys are bad, but they're worse.") With his brother injured, the blue-line hurting and the goaltender struggling at different points in the season, Henrik Sedin held the Canucks together.

The other contenders don't have to deal with that stress. It's a tough, tough call - especially in Bryzgalov's case - but Sedin's ability to handle Canadian angst sets him apart.

30 THOUGHTS

1. Other award winners: Duncan Keith (Norris). Second in points among defencemen, plus-21, played most minutes in NHL this season. Bryzgalov (Vezina). Tippett (Adams). Wrong year to be Clouston or Joe Sacco. Calder is a total toss-up. Chose Tyler Myers over Matt Duchene and Jimmy Howard; and not because Howard is older. He shouldn't be penalized for that. Jordan Staal (Selke).

2. If there was an assistant coach of the year, it should be to Sean Burke. He taught Bryzgalov to take things more seriously, to prepare for every game like he was starting, even if he wasn't. Bryzgalov is a pretty funny guy, but he needed this lesson.

3. Didn't enjoy watching Crosby and Ovechkin going for trophies in meaningless games Sunday afternoon. (Did understand why Crosby would want 50, though.) It struck me as being beneath both of them.

4. Think a few people in the Lightning organization felt badly for Rick Tocchet, but feeling is the organization needs a complete makeover. As mentioned last month, the league really wants Roy Mlakar to be president and several reports indicate Doug Risebrough is GM front-runner. But, wouldn't be surprised if this team - and others with a vacancy - asks Steve Yzerman if he's interested.

5. How can Mike Modano play again after those awesome send-offs from the fans in Dallas and Minnesota? It would be totally anti-climactic.

6. That one in Minnesota was really special because, during the skills competition at the 2004 NHL All-Star Game, those fans booed him. I'll never forget the look on his face when he was asked about it afterward. It really hurt him.

7. Great ovation, too, for Daniel Alfredsson. Jacques Martin said, when he got to Ottawa, he was blown away by Alfredsson's work ethic. Martin added that the two still speak pretty regularly.

8. As awful as it was to see a shootout decide who goes to the playoffs (I would rather have seen a tie settle things), you couldn't help but feel good for Brian Boucher. If aliens landed at the Liberty Bell two weeks ago, the Flyers would have put pads on them.

9. There are a few hockey people who think Patrick Marleau will have a huge playoff. Getting him on the wing and taking the letter off his chest have done great things for him.

10. The Sharks will never have a better opportunity to show killer instinct. Colorado looks spent by its incredible effort to reach the playoffs.

11. Higher seed getting no respect: Phoenix. Biggest upset potential: Los Angeles, Nashville and Ottawa. Kings are tough, Predators are due to break through and Pittsburgh going down early would be huge, even as well as Ottawa's played. The Senators have a shot, though.

12. Player with the most to gain: Ilya Kovalchuk. His best chance to prove he's a team-oriented winner. Do it, and his value skyrockets. Second: Dan Hamhuis. UFA will get a big raise and this could really drive the bidding.

13. Young player needing a strong finish: Milan Lucic. The empty-netter Saturday afternoon was his first goal at home all year.

14. Geez, did Slava Kozlov ever light up John Anderson in The Atlanta Constitution-Journal yesterday. After calling this year's Thrashers the best team in the franchise's 11-year history, he said, "I think we are missing from the coaching staff. Looks like they have fun, but unfortunately in the NHL you have to work. You have to prepare for every game."

15. That sounds like bitterness, considering the winger's benching. But Pierre LeBrun reported in the Hotstove that Anderson is in serious trouble. That would give credence to Kozlov.

16. Around this time of year, you always look for players who break from routine. Who does something a little different, and what does it mean? That's why there was concern when Andrei Markov had back-to-back 21-minute games against the Islanders and Hurricanes. His season average? 23:48. Was he hurt? Exhausted? Neither, said Martin, who proved it by throwing him out there for 25 minutes on Saturday.

17. Also in that vein: very surprised to see Jaroslav Halak - a real stand-up guy, honest and accessible - not speak to the media after Montreal clinched the playoff berth. Please recognize: this is not a complaint. It's just weird when the first time it happens is as the playoffs approach. Usually not a good sign.

18. Halak needs a strong start against the lethal Capitals. If it goes badly, the same fans that booed Carey Price off the ice two weeks ago will be calling for him. The Canadiens need Halak to settle down, not only to win, but also to avoid a total gong show.

19. Mike Cammalleri played his best game since returning from injury, simply because he started shooting the puck. He also had a great shift in the last minute of regulation, fighting hard along the boards for about 10-15 seconds, preventing Toronto from getting the puck deep.

20. And, I get the impression there are about five players on the Montreal roster the other Canadiens don't trust on the ice.

21. How long can the Canadiens hold on to Guy Boucher? AHL Coach of the Year has a soaring reputation.

22. One view of Dion Phaneuf: "He's not playing 'nasty' enough. To be great, he's got to be nasty."

23. We all knew Keith Tkachuk as "Walt." As a high schooler, they called him "Zeus" because he was so much bigger and stronger than anyone else.

24. Mike Zeisberger of The Toronto Sun wrote a story a couple of weeks ago with quotes from Doug Gilmour saying Leaf fans should forgive the retiring Kerry Fraser for not calling Wayne Gretzky's high-stick in Game 6 of the 1993 Campbell Conference Final. Zeisberger got some of the most hateful emails he's ever received in response.

25. Classy move by the Canadiens and Maple Leafs to shake hands with Dan Marouelli, another retiring ref.

26. Wonder if the Bruins liked seeing Tim Thomas go after Jason Chimera Sunday afternoon. Bet the answer is yes. The edge has been missing all year.

27. Jamie Langenbrunner was so upset Jacques Lemaire rested him for one game that he stewed about it for three days. The terrific forward doesn't forget easily. He didn't like discussing his trade from Dallas for years, because he felt the Stars were dishonest about the process.

28. Don't know what Doug Armstrong is going to do with Davis Payne. But, if he does make a change, the question from outside is: Which Dallas guy doe he hire? Ken Hitchcock or Guy Carbonneau?

29. If this season proved anything in Minnesota, it's that Jacques Lemaire knew what he was doing. The Wild aren't ready to win by playing aggressively. They're going to need time to build. Maybe that's not what ownership wants to hear, but it's the truth.

30. Winner for worst way to end the season: Buffalo's Patrick Lalime. The Sabres pulled him in the last seconds against New Jersey, but he tripped over referee Steve Kozak and never reached the bench. Therefore, when Langenbrunner scored into the empty net, it counted against Lalime's GAA.

BONUS:

31. Last week, the NBA signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Bacardi. It is, reportedly, the first time any of the four major team sports have signed a league-wide deal with a liquor company. (Individual teams have done it.) Will we see this in the NHL? And, will broadcasters get in-game samples?

End of Story Content