Mooney Says Iginla could be Western Conference’s MVP

It's beginning to look nigh impossible for a Western Conference player to garner a Hart Trophy nod this season, what with the remarkable campaigns of Claude Giroux, Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos and Henrik Lundqvist, all of whom look deserving of a win, let alone a nomination. There's no denying that, regardless of which Conference you might think is stronger (it's the West, which has long had better teams and better beasts), the standout players this season have come from the East.

But, if the Hart stipulated representation from each Conference, I'd be inclined to select Jarome Iginla.  More…

Shacks’ Take:  Damn you Mooney, damn you for being right.  I pulled this article because I thought the concept of a player on a team struggling for the eighth seed having the MVP of the conference on it was crazy.  Turns out, it’s not.

Is this the MVP in the Western Conference?

If you look at the five teams that have separated themselves in the standings, St. Louis, Vancouver, Detroit, Chicago and Nashville, the leading scorers are the Sedins and Marian Hossa.  The Sedins are disappointing despite their decent numbers and Marian Hossa like the Sedins, plays on a team that has struggled down the stretch, which usually bears more weight on the MVP race than early success. 

Amongst the top 5 teams Pekka Rinne is probably the best option for the west MVP unless you could combine the St Louis goaltenders into one player, in which case Brioslav Halliott would be the clear winner.  Unfortunately for Rinne and my vote (which wins you a box of Cracker Jack and half a vitamin water) the Vezina is for goalies. The Hart is for not for a goalie unless the tender’s season was so sublime it demands it, which Rinne’s season does not.

This leaves players playing on the teams struggling for the playoffs.  Since the only players with higher point totals come from the underachieving San Jose Sharks, it leaves three players, Loui Eriksson, Jarome Iginla and Teemu Selanne.  Eliminate Selanne because they’re not making the playoffs, and it’s down to two. Iginla has picked the right time to get hot which tips the scales a little in his favour.  Add in the fact Iginla is just a better all around player and Mooney may just be right.  Damn it.