Corey Hirsch column: And the Hart Trophy goes to ...

The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the "player judged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League.

With so many deserving players this season, who is most worthy of the Hart Trophy? Here are my top eight candidates:

Eastern Conference

C Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Ho hum, another fantastic season by the Penguins' captain. Crosby has 43 goals coming into the week, leads the team in scoring, and is dangerous every night. This is the first year in his career he may finish with more goals than assists, as he has his highest goal tally since he scored 51 in 2009-10.

G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

A good goalie can get a team 5-7 more wins in a season - and a bad one can lose you 5-7 more. With Bobrovsky, the Blue Jackets have at minimum 10-12 more wins than they should. They don’t even have a scorer in the top 30. Think back to last year when he was injured - this team was gasping for air and didn’t make the playoffs. The same team this season, with a healthy Bobrovsky, has 106 points and counting.

C Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 19-year-old rookie broke Wendel Clark’s team rookie scoring record in the world’s toughest hockey market in Toronto, and he has the Leafs pushing for the playoffs. Players like Matthews and Connor McDavid eventually win Cups. That’s right, Toronto, your Cup is coming. I just can’t predict when.

LW Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

Are the Bruins in the playoff picture if this guy isn’t having a career year? Probably not even close. Marchand has 39 goals and is sitting in third place in the NHL scoring race with 85 points.

Western Conference

C Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

All I can say is wow. I could watch this guy play every night of the year. Something always happens when he is on the ice. The Oilers are headed to the playoffs, and it’s because of this guy. Superstars like him win Cups eventually. Dust off the parade route - it might not be this year, but the Cup is coming back to Edmonton soon.

D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

Really? Burns, a defenseman, sits in ninth place in league scoring, rubbing shoulders with the league's best. With today’s defensive systems and shot blockers, this is truly a remarkable feat.

RW Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

The human highlight reel. One could argue his team is nowhere near as good without him. And by winning the Hart Trophy last season, Kane showed that he doesn't have to worry about being in teammate Jonathan Toews' shadow.

C Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

I don’t care that he’s not among the top 10 scorers in the NHL. Year after year, game after game, this guy brings it. He has this Chicago team on a path to win another Stanley Cup. When it comes to leadership, he’s in Mark Messier territory as far as I’m concerned.

And the winner is ...

The easy pick: McDavid. He probably will win his first of many Harts, and deservedly so. But my vote is for Toews. Last I checked, the Hart Trophy isn't restricted to on-ice success - what a guy does off the ice matters.

No player is more valuable to his team than Toews, whether on the ice or in the locker room. He battles - and his teammates have no choice but to follow.

The absolute winner, though, is the NHL and its fans, who have been treated to some truly memorable hockey this season.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)