Kevin Dupont

Like Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull of old, and Brett Hull, Denis Savard and Pavel Bure of not so old, Alexander Ovechkin doesn't allow the viewer to stop watching. Even if the Caps' superstar winger isn't on the ice, the anticipation of his next shift, and maybe his next running leap into the glass after he scores a goal, is enough for A.O. to keep the audience engaged, seated, with clicker left on the coffee table.

Yes, we are talking to you, NBC viewers. I dare you, take your eyes off of him. .. and check back here on NBCSports.com to find out what you missed.

Sydney Crosby, as he good as he is, doesn't do that. Crosby's fellow Penguin, and superb talent, Evgeni Malkin doesn't do that. Crosby and Malkin may reach that status someday, and soon. But for now, there is only one true sensational player in today's game, and it's the 22-year-old Ovechkin. Ink him in right now as this season's Hart (MVP) winner — and be prepared to do the same at least a handful of times over the next decade.

True, the NHL's MVP is not awarded to the most exciting or sensational player. It goes to the player who is ''adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.''

Well, in today's game, with how difficult it remains to score, and how overcoached and straightjacketed the game remains, a lot of guys can be considered under that lone ''team'' standard. Ovechkin still wins on that alone, for how he carried the Caps all season and especially down the stretch, helping them to squeeze out a playoff berth (No. 3 in the East) in their final game of the season. He's all of ''most valuable,'' with the sensation and entertainment factors sort of just added as the pickles and chips on the side.

Ovechkin will be a landslide choice when the NHL award winners are announced June 12 in Toronto. He led the league in goals (65) and points (112), something only five others have done in the last 37 years. He is now in the fine company of Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Jarome Iginla. In case you're counting, that group combined for 16 MVPs, and finished as runners-up nine times.

MVP honorable mentions: Iginla (Calgary), Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa), Alexei Kovalev (Montreal), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit), Evegeni Nabokov (San Jose), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey).

Norris Trophy (top defenseman)
This is getting a little bit monotonous, I know, but Lidstrom (38 on April 28) remains the best blueliner in the game. This will be the sweet Swede's third straight win, and his sixth in the last seven seasons. Only Scott Niedermayer (2004) was able to break the Lidstrom Lock on the hardware.

With Lidstrom their captain, the Winged Wheels finished first overall in the regular-season standings (we'd tell you that's the President's Trophy, but this trophy thing gets confusing, doesn't it?). They also allowed only 184 goals — funny how that happens, huh?

Lidstrom also finished plus-40, tops among all defensemen, in the plus-minus rankings. Only Wings teammate Pavel Datsyuk (41) was higher. Chicago's Duncan Keith (30) was the next closest defenseman. Now 16 years along in his Hall-of-Fame career, Lidstrom also led all NHL defensemen in points with 10 goals and 60 assists. Pittsburgh's Sergei Gonchar (65) was the runner-up.

A sixth Norris will inch Lidstrom, his name already on three Stanley Cups, closer to legends Doug Harvey (with seven Norris wins) and Bobby Orr (eight)

It's easy, if you are down a goal, and need a big goal, you want Lidstrom on the ice. If you are up a goal, and want the lead protected, you want Lidstrom on the ice. That's a pretty good two-fer.

Norris honorable mentions: Zdeno Chara, Dion Phaneuf.

Vezina Trophy (top goalie)
If he comes to the podium short of breath, cut Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov a break, OK? He played in all but five of the Sharks' 82 games, and piled up 46 wins, both of those career highs for the 32-year-old Russian. Brodeur also played in 77 games, but finished two wins short of the Sharks' star 'tender.

Special feature Bellowing Moose Coming soon: The Lurch of the Penguins

Once the Sharks dealt Vesa Toskala to the Leafs last summer, everyone knew that the Nabby would get the lion's share of the workload in San Jose. Truth was, he was handed the entire circus, the Sharks not content to play a backup until they dealt for journeyman Brian Boucher (a brief sensation once with the Flyers) very late in the season.

Nabokov, the 219th pick in the '94 draft, became a workhorse with the Sharks in 2000, playing 66 and 67 games, respectively, in back-to-back seasons. Toskala's emergence the last couple of seasons forced a split of duties, but GM Doug Wilson finally granted Toskala his wish last summer and dealt him away for No. 1 work.

Now we find out if Nabokov, without Toskala along as a safety net, can thrive in the playoffs, where he is a lifetime 24-20.

Vezina honorable mentions: Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist.

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