The 10 Most Valuable Players in the NHL

Robin to Sidney Crosby's "Batman", Geno is soft-spoken without much to say—but his presence is felt everywhere.  He became a superstar last season, picking up the slack in Crosby's absence, giving Pittsburgh not one, but two of the most marketable hockey players in the world.

It's hard to say what would happen with him out of the lineup as it hasn't really happened thus far, but the team would take a step back a bit.  Malkin makes Crosby and those around him better, simply by his presence alone. 

Malkin showed last season what he's capable of on the ice.  A big, young lad with good skating ability and tremendous scoring touch, Malkin was the man when Crosby went down with an ankle injury. He showed his ability to dominate the competition and placed himself as one of the best players in the game.

2. Alexander Ovechkin

AO is the most charismatic player in the league—and that's even with his poor English skills. Imagine what he could do if he were a good 'ol Canadian boy.  His exuberant celebrations and passion for the game are rare and something that should be coveted.

What can you say about the Caps without Ovechkin?  They'd be vying for the top pick in the draft.  There is no one on that roster than can make up for him should he miss time, nor could the team sell tickets without him.

On the ice, Ovechkin is a ball of fire.  He scores goals in a fast and furious attack, celebrating each one like it may be his last.  He carries the Caps on his back and takes them as far as he can, while bringing the NHL to new heights. 

1. Sidney Crosby

With all due respect to Ovechkin, Crosby is the face of the NHL. Everyone knows who he is.  He's charming and personable, an asset in any sport. Most of all, he's a once-in-a-lifetime talent who draws fans—even the casual ones—to the sport.

We all saw the answer to the "What are the Pens like without Crosby?" question last season when he went down with an ankle sprain.  The Pens, lucky for them, had Malkin there to step up and take over games, so they didn't slip much. But by no means do the Pens want Crosby out of the lineup for even a second.

On the ice, he combines rare vision, tremendous skating, deft passing skills, a good shot, and a nasty edge. He changes games all by himself, coming up big in moments when he's needed most. 

He is simply the best player in the game today—both on the ice and off.

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