Canadian Team MVPs, Eh!

Each team in the National Hockey Leauge consists of different players with different roles. Up and down the lineup and you will find no two players with the same ability; each brings something different to the ice. There are the scoreres, the playmakers, the offensive defencemen, the energy guys, the fighters.... the list goes on and on. However, each team has that one player they value more than any other; the player who not only carried the team during the good times, but helped pick the team up during the bad times. A player who night-in and night-out left everything on the ice, and ultimately, had the biggest impact on their respective team. Only a quarter through the season and it is easy to see who has been each Canadian team's MVP.

The Calgary Flames

In Calgary, the Flames currently sit 12th in the Western conference with 21 points in 22 games; not a great start considering Calgary was expected to win the northwest division. That being said, Jarome Iginla has carried the team at an exceptional level through the team's rough start...preventing things from going bad to worse. Iginla has done it all for the Flames this season. You name the category, and he's at the top; Goals, points, plus/minus, shots, game winners, ice time among forwards, and face-off percentage...oh, and don't forget that he can drop the gloves, too. It is without question that Jarome Iginla is the leader of the Calgary Flames. No matter where Calgary is in the standings, the hockey world knows all to well that Iginla is the face of the Calgary Flames.

The Edmonton Oilers

After a disspointing start to the season where the Oilers sit in the basement of the western conference, there aren't too many positives to draw on. Nonetheless, things could be worse without the strong play of centre Shawn Horcoff. The Oilers have mustered a mere 7 wins in 22 games, but most of those 7 wins can be attributed to the Trail, British Columbia native. Horcoff had 6 goals, 6 assists, and a +3 rating in those games, and has been the Oilers most consistent player. Even though most of the Oilers offence has run dry, Horcoff's hasn't.

The Vancouver Canucks

If one was to ask before the season began who needed to be Vancouver's MVP, goaltender Roberto Luongo would be the answer of many. After coming off a spectacular season in 2006-07, Luongo has not been the man between the pipes Vancouver had hoped for. The problem for Vancouver is that Luongo has been good... but not great. Currently sitting 5th in the western conference, this probably doesn't matter to Canucks fans as long as the whole team is putting up W's in the win column. And most of those W's can be attributed to the Sedin twins. Which one in particular you ask? Both, but judging by his performance thus far, Daniel takes the MVP honor. Daniel Sedin and his brother, along with a rejuvenated Markus Naslund have been Vancouver's offensive threats all season long. However, Daniel Sedin is clutch when it matters most, and that is what most valuable players simply are. Leading the team in powerplay goals, overtime goals, game winning goals, and second in points behind Henrik, Daniel certainly knows how to finish.

The Ottawa Senators

Like Jarome Iginila of the Calgary Flames, Daniel Alfredsson knows how to get it done on the ice. Alfredsson has been the face of the Senators for over 11 years and nearly guided them to the Stanley cup last season. This season, he's back with a vengeance and is looking to take the Senators one step further. Sitting atop the NHL standings, the two most valuable players for Ottawa have been Alfredsson and Martin Gerber. However, when Spezza was absent from the lineup, Alfie stepped it up to another level. The offesnive package that he brings to the ice every night is spectacular. Alfredsson leads the Senators in points, goals, shorthanded goals, and shooting percentage. In other words, when he has the puck, teams better watch out.

The Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have not had a single standout player that is a hands down favorite for team MVP. They have three, instead. Alexei Kovalev, Saku Koivu, and Andrei Markov have all had big impacts on the team's early season success. With 9 players having point totals in double digits and all players but 2 having a goal, the offense has been a well balanced attack. Thus, we look to the backend with Andrei Markov anchoring the blueline. Markov is having a stellar coming out party this season after signing a 4-year deal in the offseason. With 17 points, 4 powerplay goals and a shortanded goal to boot, Markov provides stability to the Canadines blueline that otherwise might not be present if not for him. It's no wonder he leads all eastern conference defenceman in all-star voting.

The Toronto Maple Leafs

Struggling is the team, but not Mats Sundin. Lighting it up in the early going is putting it lightly. With 28 points in 22 games, Sundin is on pace to crack the 100 point mark for the second time in his career. Leading the team in goals, points, assists, and a +/- of +8 on a minus plagued team, Sundin is the pillar that holds the Leafs up when things are rocky. Without him, the Leafs wouldn't even be close to the playoffs.

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