Penguins Hand Out Annual Player Awards

Sidney Crosby highlights Pittsburgh Penguins annual player awards.

PITTSBURGH - With the regular season coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins handed out their annual awards as voted by the players.

For the 11^th time in his career, Sidney Crosby was named as the Penguins’ most valuable player.

With 91 points (33G-58A) and still two games remaining in the season, Crosby was far and away the best player all season and well deserving of the honor.

The Penguins have been led by Crosby since he entered the league in 2005 and now trails only Mario Lemieux for most team MVPs.

Crosby, along with Kris Letang and Jason Zucker, were voted for the Players’ Player Award.

This award is given to the Penguins player, or players, who “exemplifies leadership for the team both on and off the ice, and who is dedicated to teamwork.”

This is Letang and Zucker’s first time winning the award, and Crosby’s fifth.

Letang was previously named the Penguins nominee for the Masterton Trophy and has come out on the other side of a harsh season off the ice.

After suffering his second stroke, and dealing with the death of his father, Letang has only missed 18 games this season and is leading all Penguins’ defensemen in goals (11), assists (28), and points (39).

Zucker, meanwhile, has seen vast improvements in his game this past season, blowing his stats from the last two years out of the water.

It’s not only the best, but it’s the healthiest season, Zucker has ever had with the Penguins.

In 76 games played this year, Zucker has scored 27 goals and 21 assists for 48 points.

P.O. Joseph was also named the Penguins’ rookie of the year in his first full season at the NHL level.

At just 23-years-old, Joseph has shown phenomenal amounts of confidence and ability, posting career-high numbers in every statistical category.

In 73 games played, Joseph has recorded five goals and 16 assists for 21 points.

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