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Top 10 NHL MVP Rankings at the 2014-15 All Star Break

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Top 10 NHL MVP Rankings at the 2014-15 All Star Break

Sidney Crosby (Russell LaBounty)
Russell LaBounty - USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend is in full swing in Columbus, Ohio, and the NHL season is just past the halfway mark, providing a good time to both reflect and predict. The playoff landscape becomes clearer as each day passes, and new players make a difference for their team everyday. However, there are some players who have consistently dominated the NHL this season; here are the 10 players most likely to win NHL MVP.

10. Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Tarasenko
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

10. Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Tarasenko
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The man responsible for multiple highlight-reel goals this season, Vladimir Tarasenko has come into his own in the 2014-15 season. He’s already surpassed his point total from last season, he’s fifth in goals scored with 24 and ninth overall in points with 47. Tarasenko has all the skill in the world to win an MVP award, and on a dominant team like the St. Louis Blues, he may get it done this year.

9. Steven Stamkos

Tampa Bay Lightning v Buffalo Sabres
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9. Steven Stamkos

Tampa Bay Lightning v Buffalo Sabres
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Two awards that have eluded Steven Stamkos in his young NHL career are the Stanley Cup, and the Hart Trophy. Despite winning the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2010 and 2012 as the league’s top goal scorer, Stamkos has never won MVP. He’s fourth in goals so far this season with 26, and 11th in points with 45. Now that his Lightning team is really starting to be competitive, a Hart Trophy may be on the way for Stamkos.

8. Ryan Getzlaf

Ryan Getzlaf Celebrate 1
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8. Ryan Getzlaf

Ryan Getzlaf Celebrate 2
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Getzlaf embodies everything you need to be a No. 1 centerman in the Western Conference; he’s got the size at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, and he’s got the skill, ranking third in assists with 35 and seventh in points with 50. Getzlaf is the heart and soul of the Anaheim Ducks, and with the talent that team has, perhaps Getzlaf will be helped along into an MVP award.

7. Rick Nash

Rick Nash
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

7. Rick Nash

Rick Nash
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Since being traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012, Rick Nash has never found the same dominance he once had, until now. Nash has already surpassed his point total from last season, he’s tied for the league lead in goals with 28, and he’s come in clutch for the New York Rangers this season with five game-winning goals, second most in the NHL. It’s tough to see the Rangers having the success that they’ve had without Rick Nash.

6. Evgeni Malkin

New York Rangers v Pittsburgh Penguins
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6. Evgeni Malkin

New York Rangers v Pittsburgh Penguins
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The NHL MVP of the 2011-12 season, Evgeni Malkin looks poised to earn his second Hart Trophy this season. As usual, he is amongst the league leaders in points, currently ranking third with 51. He’s been consistent in putting up points through out his career, and if he can stay healthy, he is a real threat for the Hart.

5. Pekka Rinne

Nashville Predators v Dallas Stars
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5. Pekka Rinne

Nashville Predators v Dallas Stars
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A goalie who’s had a large work load this season, playing 37 games already, Pekka Rinne has been outstanding for the Nashville Predators. He leads league in wins with 29, and has ridiculous stats considering his workload. A 93.1 save percentage and a 1.96 goals against average are both good for third best in the league. The Predators wouldn't be where they are without Pekka Rinne.

4. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks
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4. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Kane has had a very successful NHL career, with two Stanley cups, and he is only 26 years old. He hasn’t won the Hart Trophy yet, but this season might be his year. He has 22 goals this season when he had 29 all of last year, and he’s third in total points in the NHL with 51. Playing on an always dangerous Chicago Blackhawks team, Patrick Kane has a good chance of winning the Hart this season.

3. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby
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3. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby
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Last season's winner, and two-time recipient of the Hart Trophy, Sidney Crosby is never out of the running for league MVP. He’s ranked second in assists this season with 36 and, third overall with 51 points. He is still the most dominant player in the world, and so long as he’s healthy, still a strong candidate for the Hart.

2. Jakub Voracek

Jakub-Voracek
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2. Jakub Voracek

Jakub-Voracek
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Not many people would’ve expected Jakub Voracek to be in contention for the Hart halfway through the season, but he’s certainly played his way into contention. He’s led the league in points for much of the season still doing so with 56, and is also first assists with 39. If Voracek continues this pace throughout the second half of the season, it’s easy to see him being a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

1. Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin
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1. Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin
Fred Greenslade-USA TODAY Sports

In only his fifth season in the NHL, Tyler Seguin is plain dominant. He’s first in the league for goals scored with 28, and second in points with 52. His Dallas Stars team hasn’t found the success that many thought they would have before the start of the season, but Seguin is still finding personal success. He has four game-winning goals this season, and has shown no signs of slowing down through the half-way mark.

Shaun Lavery is a Calgary Flames writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, or add him to your network on Google. 

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