Lundqvist an MVP candidate In Addition to Vezina Front Runner

Right now Henrik Lundqvist may be the most important player to any team in the entire NHL. Only Evgeni Malkin and perhaps Pavel Datsyuk come in to the same discussion. However unlike the Rangers, neither Pittsburgh nor Detroit has the same team wide goal scoring woes as the Rangers. The Wings have scored 27 goals more than the Rangers while the Pens (decimated by injury) have scored over 20 more at time of writing.

No one does more with so little than Lundqvist. It’s this lack of support and margin for error why the Swede should be a front runner for both the Vezina and the Hart Trophy. Everyone knows the Rangers goalie has been spectacular but it’s the reliability and consistency that set him apart from his peers.

Lundqvist leads the lead in shutouts. He is fifth in wins but has played at least 6 games less than everyone ahead of him in that statistic. Of goalies who have started more only one in the league has a better GAA than Lundqvist’s 1.82 and that is Brian Elliot who has played in 14 games less. Of goalies who have played 20+ games no one has a better save percentage than Lundqvist’s .939.

All of the above are incredible numbers, especially when you consider the injuries the Rangers blue line have sustained and the difficult pre-season and start to the year the Rangers had to endure. With only one player (Malkin) on course for a 100 point season it seems reasonable to suggest a goaltender could win the Hart and that has to make Lundqvist the front runner.

Like so much else, a lot could hinge on Marc Staal finding his old form in the next few weeks. With Staal back to full match sharpness the Rangers defense promises to be stingier, not to mention if they get Sauer back this year at some stage. It all bodes well for the King.

Lundqvist has been more aggressive this season. Whether it is a greater level of confidence or a change in approach Lundqvist has challenged shooters more than he ever has and the results have been brilliant. Could it be the extra rest that has seen Lundqvist (somehow) go up a level in his play? Ironically, the season Lundqvist plays his least games in several years could be the season when he bags a host of hardware. No Ranger deserves the recognition more.