Henrik Sedin named Sporting News' NHL player of year

Centre Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks was named the Sporting News' 2010 NHL player of the year Thursday.

Voting for the award was conducted by a panel of 363 league players, coaches and executives.

Sedin garnered 108 first-place votes to outdistance Washington's Alex Ovechkin, who was second with 86. Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby finished third with 72.

Sedin led the NHL in scoring this season with a career-high 112 points. He also had 18 points -- including 10 goals -- in the 18 games identical twin brother Daniel missed with a broken foot.

"Some guys thought it was the two of them or nothing," said fellow Swede Niklas Kronwall, a defenceman with the Detroit Red Wings. "He really proved everyone wrong."

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  Vancouver Canucks' Henrik Sedin, of Sweden, smiles during team practice in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday April 14, 2010. Washington Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin, Vancouver Canucks playmaker Henrik Sedin and Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby will battle it out for the Hart Trophy after finishing in the top three in scoring this past season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck