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2010-2011. The Year of the NHL MVP Goalie? |
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The NHL MVP is more often than not considered to be "The Best NHL Forward" award. After all, we have the Norris and the the Vezina, do why don't we have "The Howe" The Howe could go to the top NHL forward each year. I say we make that so...
As for this year, when looking at MVP it is hard to look away from what Stamkos has done in Tampa, or the Sedins once again in Vancouver...and had Crosby not been hurt he was likely to run away and hide with this trophy...Lately Jonathan Toews has been on an epic run and looking as valuable as he has been productive...
However if we are to take the trophy at its word, it technically shouldn't go to the best NHL player, but rather the "most valuable" player, and while it is rare this trophy gets handed out to the one guy who plays the entire 60 minutes, this year three players are making a case.
In my opinion you would be hard pressed this year to find five MORE VALUABLE players than Tim Thomas, Carey Price, Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Niemi.
On Tim Thomas...
Timmy has cooled a bit, some would say back to mere mortal superstar levels, after starting the season at a pace almost never seen in NHL history. Currently Thomas numbers are still staggering. Remember when a save percentage over .900 was considered impressive? Well Thomas has toyed with the .950 mark this year. Right now he is a paltry .938. Remember when a GAA under 2.5 meant something? Tim hasn't been over 2 in months, and sits at a 1.97 currently. Simply baffling numbers for a guy who was, once again, pushed to a backup roll last year, and several teams could have acquired him in the off-season if they were willing to pick up the cap space.
On Carey Price...
Is there ANY doubt the Canadiens wouldn't be a playoff team without this guy? Has a goalie EVER performed better under greater pressure and longer odds? This past summer, following Halak's miracle run, the Habs made the unpopular choice to deal Jaro away and go with Price, a goalie with whom last year they were afraid to play a single game down the stretch. All Price has done is shut everyone up with clutch play at the most pressure filled position in the most pressure filled hockey market that exists. His 31 wins not only match his sweater number, but lead the NHL.
On Roberto Luongo...
Unfortunately for Luongo, until he does anything in the playoffs he is destined to be overlooked. However, he has led the Canucks, a team often distraught with injured NHL defensemen, through the tough times and appears to have them on the cusp of a long playoff run... I wonder how many people know Luongo is #3 in Save Percentage at .925, #4 in GAA at 2.21 and has won only one game less than Carey Price at 30? His MVP votes could be split by the Sedins, but Roberto is having one hell of a season on the best team in the NHL. That usually deserves MVP consideration.
On Henrik Lundqvist...
What Price means to the Canadiens, Lundqvist clearly means to the Rangers. He ranks 4th statistically among NHL goalies, but the number that really stands out: Nine, count em, nine shutouts. That is truly a remarkable accomplishment with much hockey left to play.
on Antti Niemi...
Yes Antti Niemi. After a slow adjustment to a very different group of defenders in San Jose, Niemi has been stellar. His October and November will keep him from winning this award, but check out these numbers since then:
Month Save% GAA
Dec .919 2.38
Jan .934 1.99
Feb .934 1.89
Mar .932 1.63
You would be hard pressed to find anyone else in that period of time with those kinds of numbers and in terms of valuable, the Sharks are a different team since he started putting those kinds of stats together...Niemi could be the kind of player who wins a Cup and everyone is surprised he didn't win the MVP or the Vezina. What he brings to San Jose's playoff hopes is remarkable.
On Pekka Rinne...
He is the second best overall stats goalie behind Thomas and doing so on a team that has been involved in a constant rebuild. Rinne's .929 and 2.10 are truly remarkable when you consider he plays for a team that has trouble scoring and therefore Rinne's margin of error is almost non-existent. Ask any Western Conference hockey fan what team you don't want to face in the opening round and the answer is clear. Rinne and the Predators. They are downright dangerous.
What's the Buzz?
1. Do you think this is the year one of these goalies could win the MVP?
2. Which goalie would you vote for?
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