Henrik Sedin takes NHL MVP award, ruins Ovechkin’s bid for 3 straight Hart Trophy wins

Henrik Sedin is NHL MVP, snaps Ovechkin 3-peat bid

LAS VEGAS — Henrik Sedin is the newest NHL MVP, but the Vancouver Canucks forward doesn’t feel as though his name should be etched alongside hockey’s greats or the current superstars he beat for the Hart Trophy.

“They’re the faces of the sport,” Sedin said of Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. “Just to watch them play and the things they do — to be standing there next to them and being the old guy — it’s a strange feeling.”

“I’m very proud, so it’s a great honor,” he said.

With a league-best 83 assists, Sedin captured the trophy Wednesday night during the NHL’s awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Ovechkin, the captain of the Capitals, had to settle for runner-up status after taking home the prize each of the last two years.

“I thought the Hart was going to be really, really tough. I thought that was going to be out of the question,” Sedin said. “Maybe the (Ted Lindsay Award), but I’m happy. I’ll take this.”

Sedin received 46 of 133 first-place votes. Ovechkin was second with 40, and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby finished third with 20. Sedin had 894 total points compared with 834 for Ovechkin.

“These players are second to none,” said Sedin, who called Crosby and Ovechkin the faces of the sport.

Ovechkin was honored earlier in the night by his fellow players, winning the award for top player that is presented by the NHL Players’ Association.

“Life goes on, so it’s OK,” Ovechkin said. “Every player thinks that by the players — it’s the most important thing.”

Ovechkin said he was happy to get the Lindsay, which he called the “hardest trophy in hockey” to win.

“You play against the guys, and when they vote for you, it’s the most important thing,” he said.

Ovechkin would have been the first three-peat winner of the Hart since Wayne Gretzky won eight straight from 1980-87.

Sedin posted a career high 112 points, 30 more than his previous best. Crosby tied for the NHL lead with 51 goals and was second with 109 points. He won the Hart in 2007.

Sedin said he never expected his name to be included among the league MVPs.

“It’s all those great players and it’s me that wants to say, ‘I’m sure Alex will be on there in the next couple of years, too,’” Sedin said. “I don’t know what to say. It’s almost like I’m not really fitting there.”

Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender. He topped four-time winner Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Coyotes netminder Ilya Bryzgalov.

Miller won nine of his first 12 games, leading Buffalo to its second Northeast Division title in four years. He ranked fourth among goalies with 41 wins and was a first-time finalist for the award.

Brodeur led the league with 45 wins and nine shutouts. He also was first among goalies in games played and the fewest team goals-against. Bryzgalov set Coyotes season records for wins and points.

“Standing next to Martin Brodeur and Ilya Bryzgalov, after watching them the entire season and being thoroughly impressed, it feels really good to walk away with this award,” Miller said. “I’m looking at all these names. It’s pretty amazing the history on this trophy. So to get my name on there is pretty cool.”

His Sabres teammate, defenseman Tyler Myers, won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year. He beat finalists Colorado center Matt Duchene and Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard.

“I was nervous for my speech,” Myers said. “I can’t believe I’m at this point right now, and to be able to share it with family and friends was a pretty special moment for me.”

Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s most outstanding coach after leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The team set franchise records with 50 wins and 107 points. Tippett received 57 of 59 first-place votes in balloting by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.

Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks won the Norris Trophy as hockey’s top defenseman, and Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward for the third straight year.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most well-behaved player after recording only 12 penalty minutes all season.

Datsyuk had won the Lady Byng previous four years and wants to reclaim it next year.

“I’m kind of jealous. I want to break history,” Datsyuk said.

The show was held at the Palms Casino Resort for the second straight year, in an effort to inject more celebrity and entertainment buzz into the year-end celebration.

Comedian Jay Mohr hosted the show, and immediately poked fun at the teams, their players and fans.

“Laugh it up Bruins fans, we all laughed at you in the playoffs,” Mohr said.

Boston lost the Eastern Conference semifinals after becoming only the third NHL to blow a 3-0 series lead. To make matters worse, the Bruins squandered a 3-0 edge in Game 7 at home and were eliminated.