Hockey News names Crosby top player

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sidney Crosby, who secured the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer with 120 points and is a front-runner for the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player, picked up the top two annual honors from The Hockey News as the Penguins dominated the publication's awards list.

Crosby, 19, was named the league's best player and MVP and was selected as the center on the first-team all-star lineup by The Hockey News. Teammates Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal and coach Michel Therrien also were honored.

Malkin, a forward who led all rookies with 85 points, was named best first-year player and selected to the all-rookie team. Staal, who was sixth among rookies with 42 points and led the NHL with seven short-handed goals, finished in the top five among best first-year player and top penalty killer ratings.

The publication named Therrien best coach after he led the Penguins to 105 points in his first full season with them.

Finalists for the NHL's annual awards will be announced today.