Sidney Crosby has defined what it means to be a Hart Trophy winner this year with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins enter the final week of the NHL season needing a perfect two games and outside help to reach the playoffs, but they’ve gotten standout work from their captain. Sidney Crosby is doing everything in his power to carry the Penguins into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it’s put him in a position to be in a pretty big discussion.

Earlier in the season, Crosby’s name floated around the Hart Trophy conversation as the NHL’s most valuable player. Those talks faded when the Penguins struggled to find wins and were looking closer to a lottery pick in the draft rather than the playoffs.

Crosby and the Penguins breathed new life into their chances, however, and Crosby’s name appeared right back among the year's top players. In his last 16 games, Crosby scored nine goals and 17 assists for 36 total points.

The Penguins recently saw a 10-game point streak come to an end, but they are still in the hunt for the playoffs.

Thanks to Crosby's work, the MVP discussion has gotten pretty interesting. According to TSN's Craig Button, there is a deep list of possible nominees, but Crosby is setting himself apart.

“Then you get to Sidney Crosby,” Button said on The Talking Point. “Maybe he defines most valuable player to his team. As the Penguins would be nowhere near where they are today without the accomplishments and greatness of Sidney Crosby.”

The definition of the Hart Trophy says it shall be awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”

Without Crosby, who knows where the Penguins would stand? There was a stretch around the trade deadline where Crosby lost his favorite winger, Jake Guentzel, and you could see in the numbers something wasn’t right.

Crosby had only two assists in eight games, and the Penguins were 1-6-1 in that run.

All season long, the Penguins have gone wherever Crosby could take them. If they bounce back from their loss and reach the postseason, it’ll be thanks to Crosby, and he will deserve to be in the MVP conversation.

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