Five-Man Race for Top Player Title
May 29, 2009 | Posted by bryan | 0 Comments
The subject of who will be the winner of the best player award this season has been a matter of hot debate in the lead-up to the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin this weekend.
Among the contenders discussed in the Toronto Star are Pittsburgh’s Sidney Corsby and Evgeni Malkin and Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who are described by the website as the “fab four”, who will be appearing in the Stanley Cup.
Add to the mix Alexander Ovechkin and there emerges the possibility of a five-man battle, the Canadian newspaper states.
Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk have shown their talent on the ice this year, having made it to the final stage of the Hart Trophy.
Meanwhile, Zetterberg was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy accolade last spring, while Crosby is currently hot favourite to take away the prize this time around.
While it was previously considered a straight-cut battle for the title between Ovechkin and Crosby, the competition has “ballooned to a five-man race”, the website attests.
The race for the title comes as “star power” is essential to draw in support for the sport across the North America, according to the Star.
Detroit will face Pittsburgh this Saturday (May 30th) in the first game of the NHL Stanley Cup final. American fans will be able to watch the game on NBC, while their northern neighbours will get coverage on CBC.