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"Jarome is our leader in every way," said fellow NHLPA member Craig Conroy. "He plays every shift with the same intensity and the same passion. You can't help but follow his lead." ---- NHLPA member Craig Conroy.

When it comes to adulation and admiration from the Players, Jarome Iginla's name is almost certain to be near or at the very top of their list.

Iginla, the Calgary Flames' undisputed leader, once again performed at his highest level in 2007-08, leading his team in numerous offensive categories and acting as the catalyst night in and night out.

His 52 goals and 44 assists not only added up to a big year, offensively, it also added up to seeing his name on the finalists ballot for the 2008 Lester B. Pearson Award, the award given to the ‘most outstanding player’as voted by his fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

Named after the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Pearson Award has been voted on by the Players since 1970-71 when Hall of Famer Phil Esposito was named as the inaugural recipient.

Iginla's teammates will tell you it's a well-deserved honour.

"Jarome is our leader in every way," said fellow NHLPA member Craig Conroy. "He plays every shift with the same intensity and the same passion. You can't help but follow his lead."

Iginla is no stranger to the Pearson Award, having won it in 2002, a year in which he reached the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career.

That year, he also was presented the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy for his league-high 52 goals and the Art Ross Trophy for his league-leading 96 points.

It was during his post-Pearson speech when Iginla marveled at what makes the Pearson such a treasured trophy.

"I want to say that for all those accidental slashes and face washes and the trash talking that I did this season, now I feel a little bad," Iginla said upon receiving the award at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

This year, he is joined by fellow forwards Alexander Ovechkin, of Washington, and Evgeni Malkin, of Pittsburgh, to comprise the three finalists for hockey's most coveted individual honour.

In 82 regular season games, Iginla netted 50 goals and recorded 48 assists. Fifteen of his tallies came on the power-play and nine were game winners.

The Sherwood Park, Alberta native was equally dominating in his own zone, resulting in his posting a career-high plus-27 rating.

In seven playoff games, Iginla was also a major force. He scored four times and had nine points, but the Flames lost in seven games to the San Jose Sharks in the first round.

A sure sign of just how much Iginla is respected? Even some of his biggest rivals can't help but heap praise upon him.

Take Tampa Bay star forward Vincent Lecavalier, for example.

Lecavalier, who dropped the gloves with Iginla in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, put the Calgary leader at the top of his list of the Players he most respects.

"That's nice of him to say it," said Iginla, who was drafted 11th overall by Dallas in 1995. "Definitely, I have a lot of respect for him, and a lot of it came from -- I always knew he was a talented Player and being first overall and those things. I gained a lot of respect from playing against him."

And a vast majority of the Players see Iginla in exactly the same way, especially for his no-nonsense work ethic and pursuit of perfection.

"I think we can all admit that we obviously have to find a way to be better," said the Flames all-time leader in scoring and games-played, who has spent his entire NHL career doing just that.

Outside of the game, Iginla is equally as committed to making a difference.

His celebrity status and demands on his personal time have not stopped Iginla from becoming one of hockey's most dedicated charitable personalities.

Iginla supports several initiatives, including acting as spokesperson for the Shoot For A Cure campaign. In 2004, he was awarded the NHL Foundation Award for Community Service as well as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in recognition of his humanitarian contributions.

And though he's heralded for such contributions, those closest to him know Iginla does so without any want of recognition.

"Jarome does a lot of things that people never see and he won't ever talk about them," said his mother, Susan Schuchard. "He does things because he genuinely likes people and wants to help out. He's not in it for glory or for the headlines. That's just not his way."

Rather, Iginla's "way" is to create an impact on the lives of others * teammates, family, fans, or complete strangers.

So, whether his name is called or not at the Pearson ceremony, Iginla won't need to be reminded of the significance associated with the award.

"To have the respect of your fellow players is beyond words."

Something one of the game's greatest citizens will always be afforded.

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“..I knew Evgeni was ready for it. I played with him even before the last year in Russia during the (NHL) lockout. I can see what he was able to do at that time, you know, when his comfort level was high. I remember how good he was playing, what he's capable of.” - Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman, Sergei Gonchar

When the Player widely regarded as the best on the planet went down to an ankle injury, it was Evgeni Malkin who stepped up and carried his team on his shoulders.

It was on the night of January 18 when Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh's superstar leader, crashed into the end boards in a game against Tampa Bay and came up limping.

Diagnosed as a high ankle sprain, Crosby was sent to the sidelines for an undetermined period of time.

A swoon by the Penguins was soon the talk of the hockey world. After all, who would be able to rally the Eastern Conference team in their captain's absence?

That's when Evgeni Malkin decided to take action.

"When Sidney went down, obviously it was tough for us because he's one of the best players in the world," said teammate and fellow Russian, Sergei Gonchar. "You know, you're not going to easily replace him.

"At the same time I knew Evgeni was ready for it. I played with him even before the last year in Russia during the (NHL) lockout. I can see what he was able to do at that time, you know, when his comfort level was high. I remember how good he was playing, what he's capable of. So I knew anyway when Sidney was out, I knew Evgeni is going to have more ice time obviously. Because of it, he's going to be more comfortable."

Drafted second overall in 2004, the Russian native skated into the spotlight and shone in his second National Hockey League season.

Malkin appeared in all 82 regular season games and led the team in goals (47) and assists (59) while finishing second in the NHL in total points (106).

His 15-game point streak earlier in the year is the longest ever for a Russian born player. The 21-year-old has seen his name compared to the top talents in the game, including those on the shortlist for this year's Lester B. Pearson Award, namely countryman Alexander Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla.

The 2006-07 Calder Trophy winner, as the league's top rookie, is looking to become the fourth member of the Penguins to win the Pearson, following in the footsteps of Crosby, Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.

And although the Pens came up short in their Stanley Cup championship bid against Detroit, the Atlantic Division squad, just like Malkin, has a promising future.

"I think we have a great team," said Malkin, who scored 33 goals and had 85 points in 2006-07. "We learned a lot. We learned, first of all, we can compete with anybody. And the most important is we can play against anybody and hopefully we're going to have a good summer and we'll be ready for next season. And I think we have a good future."

There's no denying that Malkin will play a huge part in Pittsburgh's pursuit of the Cup.

His skill, strength, size and soft hands around the net have elevated him to the upper echelon of scorers. And though much has been made of his outstanding individual season, Malkin points to his teammates and the fans as big factors for his success.

He also admits to feeling more comfortable both on and off the ice in his second season.

"He's saying that he's feeling better this year compared with last year," said Gonchar, who has taken on the role of translator for Malkin. "It was much tougher for him last year. You know, he's feeling much more comfortable now playing here.

"He's saying thanks to my teammates and the people around Pittsburgh because I can see how hockey is for them and how it's very important for all of them. Because of it, they are making it easy for us. You know, they are helping us a lot everywhere in Pittsburgh."

Malkin helped his own fortunes by being meticulous about his pre-season preparation for the 2007-08 season.

After what he accomplished in his rookie campaign, Malkin didn't need anyone to tell him he'd be the target of the opposition every time he stepped on the ice.

"This year he had a much better not only camp but summer workout," offered Gonchar. "He knew what to expect. He knew what is waiting for him. That's why he's much better, much stronger now."

And that's exactly why Malkin finds himself as one of the three finalists for the Pearson.

It's fitting company for a Player that proved he's more than capable of being a one-man show who can change the face of the game in a split-second.

And a Player that is the epitome of a Pearson finalist through and through.

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"Getting a chance to play with him this year and seeing how he can change a game on his own has been incredible. He is a very special player." ---- 1993-94 Lester B. Pearson Award recipient and Capitals teammate, Sergei Fedorov

He's a dream teammate, a menace to the opposition and one of the game's most prolific stars. No wonder Alex Ovechkin is on the short-list for hockey's most prized individual honour.

What did Ovechkin do in 2007-08? Just about everything the Washington Capitals dreamed he would.

The native of Moscow, Russia, appeared in all 82 games for the Caps, ruling the roost as the NHL's leader in goals (65) and points (112).

On March 21, Ovechkin scored his 59th and 60th goals of the season against the Atlanta Thrashers. With those tallies, he became the first NHL player to score 60 goals in a season since 1996. On March 25, he tallied his 61st goal to net the Washington Capitals team record for regular season tallies, previously held by Dennis Maruk.

He would break Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille's record for most goals by a left winger in one season on April 3, 2008, lighting the lamp twice, his 64th and 65th of the season.

A finalist for the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award, Ovechkin is up for the trophy once again, this time with fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin and Jarome Iginla.

In just his third season, the 22-year-old three-time All-Star led Washington on an improbable playoff march, after an incredible run that saw the club clinch the Southeast Division crown.

Should he or Malkin win the Pearson, they would become just the second Russian born player to receive the honour, following in the footsteps of Washington teammate Sergei Fedorov (1993-94).

The Lester B. Pearson would also be Ovechkin's third major trophy win of 2007-08, following the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points and the Maurice Richard Trophy for topping all goal scorers during the regular season.

But, in the eyes of Ovechkin, any of his personal success is based on the contributions of others.

"I think it's not me," said Ovechkin, of his brilliant campaign.

"It's my team. And so coaches, Players, all that stuff. For me it was great. We changed coaches. And with what happened in the League, we weren't last. And after we just figure out what's going on, we just say to each other, okay, it's only the beginning of the year. It's only 20 games. So it's not about me, it's all about my team."

Still, it's hard to imagine where Washington would be without Ovechkin.

The first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin began his NHL career in the 2005-06 NHL season.

He played his first game with the Capitals on October 5, 2005, scoring two goals in a 3-2 victory over Columbus.

On January 13, 2006, Ovechkin recorded his first career hat trick against Anaheim.

Three days later, the right winger scored what has been termed "one of the greatest goals of all time." Knocked down by Phoenix blueliner Paul Mara, Ovechkin slid on his back facing away from the net, but somehow managed to hook the puck with one hand on his stick and slide it into the net.

On February 1, 2006, Ovechkin was awarded NHL Rookie of the Month honours for his performance in January and was also named Offensive Player of the Month, becoming only the third player in NHL history to earn both honours in a single month.

Ovechkin led all 2005-2006 NHL rookies in goals, points, power-play goals, and shots. He finished third overall in the NHL in scoring and tied for third in goals. His 425 shots led the league, set an NHL rookie record, and was the fourth-highest total in NHL history.

His point total was the second-best in Capitals' history and his goal total tied for third in franchise history. He was also named to the NHL First All-Star Team, the first rookie to receive the honour in 15 years.

At season's end, Ovechkin received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie.

After what they achieved as a team in 2007-08, Ovechkin feels Washington is ready to make inroads towards a Stanley Cup championship.

"I think it was a huge step for me and for my teammates," said Ovechkin, of last year's success. "Especially when we won the division. It was really a good experience for us. In the playoffs, we just couldn't win the experience. We lost a 3-1 series. And we lost in overtime. It was a great year for me and my team. But I hope next year will be better."

The very thought that Ovechkin, who was part of Russia's recent gold medal-winning side at the World Championships, is likely to be even better in 2008-09, gives Caps' backers even more reason to be optimistic about their team's fortunes.

Ovechkin would love nothing more than to deliver a championship to the city.

"It was a good year. But it was not my best year. With the Stanley Cup, I say it's my best year. I'm happy I take this Cup, but the biggest cup is not in my hands."

And with a big smile, he added, "Soon, probably."