Mark Madden's Hot Take: Sidney Crosby proving to be NHL's most valuable player

Ex-Penguin Colby Armstrong is entertaining, and a rising star in hockey media. When he talks, many listen. Me, too.

But Armstrong is pushing this misguided agenda that Sidney Crosby should get the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward.

Crosby is very deserving. He probably should have won the Selke a couple times by now. Crosby plays hockey’s best 200-foot game.

But the Selke is a low-rent award that real stars shouldn’t want or need. It’s a consolation prize for those who don’t deserve anything bigger.

Consider Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, who retired after last season.

Bergeron won the Selke Trophy six times, including the last two. But the highest he finished in MVP voting was fifth, and that was Bergeron’s only time in the top 10.

Bergeron was a very good player. He deserved something.

Enter the Selke Trophy. It’s Miss Congeniality.

Same goes for the Lady Byng Trophy (skill and sportsmanship) and the Masterton Trophy (perseverance and dedication). Who cares?

Crosby has won the Hart Trophy twice for NHL MVP. He’s won the Conn Smythe Trophy twice for playoff MVP. He’s a two-time scoring champion. He’s led the NHL in goals twice. He’s won the Stanley Cup three times.

Those are the awards that count. Anything lesser is beneath Crosby.

It’s not too early to start pumping up Crosby for his third Hart Trophy. (He should have won at least two more already.)

Crosby ranks fourth in the NHL in goals (19), 25th in points (34). He leads the NHL in faceoff percentage at 60.5. He’s scored the first goal of the game six times.

Addressing the “valuable” part of the equation, he’s carrying a subpar Penguins team on his back.

You can look at several Penguins victories this season and say, “Crosby won that game.” Like Thursday’s 2-1 home win vs. Carolina: Crosby scored the Penguins’ only goal, netted the only conversion in the shootout, and was all over the ice. Here, there, everywhere.

Crosby should get the Hart. Aim for that.

Leave the Selke for lesser lights. Crosby is one of hockey’s five best players ever. He might be hockey’s best right now.