Why the NHL Still Needs a Most Improved Player Award

The NHL loves its trophies, but it still leaves a pretty obvious gap when it comes to rewarding a player's jump from useful to indispensable. A Most Improved Player award would give voters a cleaner way to recognize growth that does not fit neatly into the MVP or comeback buckets. Right now, a lot of breakout seasons get reduced to side conversations when they deserve a bigger stage.