The Final NHL MVP Ballot
The playoff spots are settled in the NHL as a tight race at the bottom of the East was settled (Washington in, Buffalo out) and a wild race at the bottom of the West is sorted out (goodbye Dallas, Calgary and Colorado, hello Phoenix, Los Angeles & San Jose). There are some modest changes regarding seeding that will hinge on the final day of play today, but we know the 16 teams who will fight for the Stanley Cup. What we don’t know is who should win the Hart Trophy, the honor given to the NHL’s MVP, so taking a look at that order of business is how TheSportsNotebook will wrap up the hockey regular season.