A healthy Sidney Crosby should leave no doubt who's the MVP
A look at award winners from the 2011-12 season and Michael Russo's predictions for 2013:
2011-12: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
Russo's pick: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
2011-12: Erik Karlsson, Ottawa
Russo's pick: Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis
2011-12: Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers
Russo's pick: Jonathan Quick,
Los Angeles
2011-12: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado
Russo's pick: Justin Schultz, Edmonton
2011-12: Brian Campbell, Florida
Russo's pick: Jordan Eberle, Edmonton
2011-12: Patrice Bergeron, Boston
Russo's pick: Mikko Koivu, Wild
2011-12: Ken Hitchcock, St. Louis
Russo's pick: Ralph Krueger, Edmonton
2011-12: Max Pacioretty, Montreal
Russo's pick: Josh Harding, Wild
2011-12: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
Russo's pick: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
2011-12: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay
Russo's pick: Steven Stamkos,
Tampa Bay
West
champ: Los Angeles Kings
East
champ:
New York Rangers
Stanley Cup champion: New York Rangers. Lord Stanley returns to Broadway with the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) going to Henrik Lundqvist. (Hey, I picked a Boston-Vancouver final in 2011 and a Kings Cup -- in six -- in 2012.)
The return of NHL players to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 will make the hockey better and the competition tougher.
