Henrik Sedin is NHL's 2009-10 Scoring Champion

[VodkaFish]

NEW YORK - Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin captured his first career Art Ross Trophy as National Hockey League scoring champion, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos respectively each won his first Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL goal-scoring leader, while New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur collected his fifth career William Jennings Trophy as the goaltender for the club finishing the season having surrendered the fewest goals.

Sedin finished the 2009-10 regular season with a League-leading, career-high and Canucks franchise-record 112 points (29 goals, 83 assists) to edge Crosby (51-58--109) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (50-59--109). Sedin becomes the first Canuck in franchise history and the ninth player in the past nine seasons to capture the Art Ross, joining Jaromir Jagr in 2001, Jarome Iginla in 2002, Peter Forsberg in 2003, Martin St. Louis in 2004, Joe Thornton in 2006, Sidney Crosby in 2007, Alex Ovechkin in 2008 and Evgeni Malkin in 2009.

Sedin, Crosby and Ovechkin waged a neck-and-neck battle for the NHL points lead throughout the second half of the season, with Sedin regaining the lead by tallying four assists in a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames in his season finale Saturday. Ovechkin, needing three points to overhaul Sedin in his season finale Sunday, was held without a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. Hours later, Crosby nosed past Ovechkin into second place by tallying five points (two goals, three assists) in a 6-5 overtime win over the New York Islanders.

Crosby's two goals today also were enough to earn his first career Maurice Richard Trophy. Entering the game third in the goal-scoring race, Crosby's 50th and 51st tallies of the season vaulted him past Ovechkin and, temporarily, Stamkos. Crosby, who reached the 50-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career, becomes the first Penguins player to reach the milestone since Jaromir Jagr posted 52 in 2000-01.

Stamkos grabbed a share of the NHL goal-scoring title in the dying seconds of his sensational sophomore season today, matching Crosby's 51-goal total by scoring an empty-net goal at 19:47 of the third period that sealed a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers. He had reached the 50-goal mark Saturday by scoring twice in a 4-3 shootout win over the Panthers. Stamkos, who turned 20 on Feb. 7, became the youngest 50-goal man since Los Angeles' Jimmy Carson in 1987-88 (19 years, eight months) and the third-youngest ever (Carson, Wayne Gretzky). He also is the youngest player to lead the NHL in goals since Columbus' Rick Nash (19 years, 10 months) joined Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk in winning Maurice Richard Trophy honors in 2004.

Brodeur appeared in 77 of New Jersey's 82 games this season -- the third time in the past four seasons he has played that many -- as the Devils finished with NHL's fewest goals against (191). Brodeur's five Jennings wins match the total of Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy for the most among all goaltenders since the award was introduced in 1981-82.

All three trophies will be presented at the 2010 NHL Awards, to be held in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 23. The NHL Awards will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada.

[bengino]

Congratulations are in order for Henrik. I don't care that people don't like the twins, i'm not even a fan of the Canucks and i actually like the fact that Sedin won. I can only imagine if Daniel would have been healthy all year if both of them would have passed the century mark.

[Godly_goon]

meh... great year seen him play live wasnt that impressed compared to crosby or ovech

[canuckfan]

First Canuck ever to win the Art Ross, and he broke Pavel Bure's team record for most points in a season at the same time. I'm very proud and happy for Hank, after all the abuse and doubt the twins have endured over the years, it was great to watch them bust out this season and earn those shiny new contracts they got last summer. Patience with the Sedins has finally paid off - now, if only he can keep it going in the playoffs.

But I always wondered what the Sedins could do if the Canucks had more offensive depth, more support around them. They finally got that this season (6 20 goal scorers on this team), and look what they were able to do with it. The Sedins aren't able to carry a team by themselves, but when they have the right players around them, they're capable of being scoring champs. Congrats to Hank on a terrific season - but it ain't over yet!

[Ciccarelli]

Funny that so many on here didn't want to call the Sedins "elite-players". They have been called good players but no way elite...guess as the scoring leader in the NHL you can call yourself an elite-player.

[chilly666]

umm actually no that does not make him an elite player...as was argued before between many of us, one great season does not make you an elite player.

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

Funny that so many on here didn't want to call the Sedins "elite-players". They have been called good players but no way elite...guess as the scoring leader in the NHL you can call yourself an elite-player.

I have to agree with Chilly here. One good season doesn't automatically qualify you as an elite player. If Henrik can put up consecutive 100 point seasons, then yes, he would be elite.

Do you think Bernie Nicholls was an elite player because he had a 70 goal season?

[Habs # 1]

Amazing talent... I want his skills.

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by chilly666

umm actually no that does not make him an elite player...as was argued before between many of us, one great season does not make you an elite player.

Jonathan Cheechoo disagrees.

If they start stringing together and keep having years like this, then for sure. but right now They're really good players.

[GIANTSFAN]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

I have to agree with Chilly here. One good season doesn't automatically qualify you as an elite player.

Exactly. Does that mean Cheechoo is an elite player then? He did lead the NHL in goals a few years ago. Oh yeah, he's in the AHL.

[acdcrocksno1]

Congrats to Henrik really stepped up his game this year Daniel did'nt do half bad either

[GIANTSFAN]

HA, beat me to it Theknuckler!

[Shasta McNasty]

Although I've never been a really big fan of the twins I never saw this coming when the season first started definitely a tough thing to do in this league these days with the likes of Crosby and Ovechkin also in the league. Nucks fans must be proud! congrats

[Ciccarelli]

It's not like Sedin had his first good season, but I guess scoring 426 points in 410 games not missing one game in 5 seasons doesn't make you an elite player in today's NHL.

He scored more points in the last 5 seasons then Iginla, E.Staal, Lecavalier, Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Patrick Elias, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf and many others.

[IcePlayer]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

It's not like Sedin had his first good season, but I guess scoring 426 points in 410 games not missing one game in 5 seasons doesn't make you an elite player in today's NHL.

He scored more points in the last 5 seasons then Iginla, E.Staal, Lecavalier, Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Patrick Elias, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf and many others.

Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe trophy last year.

Out of your entire list I would personally say that only Zetterberg is a truly elite player anymore.

Eric Staal has flashes of brilliance as does Iginla and LeCavalier, Getzlaf is still young, Hossa is not an elite player in my opinion. Iginla looks like he's on a downward spiral to me?? Elias, Parise are in the same bracket as the Sedins, really good players. Only in my opinion.

Congrats to Henrik to Daniel to Henrik to Daniel to Henrik on his scoring trophy but their still a pair of gaylords who I will never like, I don't think they'll repeat it next year either.

IMO

Elite = Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Zetterberg