NHL All-Star Weekend: Could Toronto Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel Be the MVP?

While there aren't likely many in the hockey world that think Phil Kessel has any chance of earning the MVP honors at the 2011 NHL All Star Game, there is always the possibility that 12 other players may not show up.

In all seriousness, the Toronto Maple Leafs have done fairly well in regard to having representative of our beloved Leafs earning that particular honor.

Alexi Kovalev (then of the Montreal Canadiens), won the award at last years game and this year with no Sidney Crosby it's anybody's game.

Actually, the truth of the matter is Sid the Kid hasn't won the honor yet neither has Alex Ovechkin for that matter, arguably the tow best players in the league over the last few seasons.

The Toronto Maple Leafs as a team have seen four roster player over the years receive the MVP nod. 

Here, we' will have a look at all for in order of first to last, and no, the last one wasn't in 1967.

1962 Eddie Shack

In the first year that the MVP award was handed out, it was won by none other than Eddie "The Entertainer" Shack, though the all star game itself actually almost didn't happen.

Back in the good ol' days, the format for the NHL All Star Game was the previous years league champion would take on a team made up of the best of the rest so to speak.

This particular season however, just days before the 16th annual All Star Game was to be played, the Leafs only had two players under contract, ironically, Shack was not one of them.

The Leafs and Eddie Shack would eventually work things out in time to play the game, Shack would score a goal and serve two penalties en route to his on All Star MVP nod.

1963 Frank Mahovlich

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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Frank Mahovlich attends the ceremony honoring Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on February 22, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Bruce

Senator Frank Mahovlich as he is now known, won the All Star MVP honors in 1963 and was the second consecutive Toronto Maple Leaf to earn the honor.

In a game that hockey legend Gordie Howe was gunning to set new All Star Game records in both goals and points, one would have thought it impossible to steal his thunder, but that is exactly what Frank Mahovlich did.

Mahovlich would score not once but twice and add an assist in the third period.

Howe would assist ironically enough on Henri Richards tying goal in the first period goal allowing him to pass Maurice Richards,  (Henri's older brother) career points total in the All Star Game.

Frank would achieve the honor once again in 1969 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

1968 Bruce Gamble

Bruce Gamble was awarded the honor in 1968 while helping the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the NHL All Stars.

Gamble made 37 saves on the way to a victory that was marred by the passing of great Bill Masterton the day before the game.

The Masterton Trophy was created shortly there after and is awarded each year "to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey"

Both former Leafs Jason Blake and current Leaf Phil Kessel have received the award.

1991 Vincent Damphousse

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1 Feb 2002: Vincent Damphousse of the North American Team poses for a portrait in his All Star jersey during NHL All Star week in Los Angeles, California. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images/NHLI

It's a little difficult to imagine that Vincent Damphousse was awarded MVP Honors at the 42nd Annual NHL All Star game in 1991, 14 years before he would retire from the NHL in 2005 at the age of 37.

Damphousse was a good player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and obviously had a long and relatively successful career, though his scoring four goals at an All Star Game earning him the MVP nod over the likes of Wayne 'Greatzky', Steve Yzerman, and Mark Messier.

The Campbell Conference would go on to defeat the Whales Conference by a final of 11-5 and this would mark the most recent MVP honor for a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.