Between Lupul and Pacioretty I think Lupul has the edge. They both were injured and had to work towards a return but Lupul's recovery took a lot longer and from what I recall there was quite a grim outlook for him. For him to return with a career year is some pretty serious dedication.
All that really happened to Pac was he got injured by an illegal hit, luckily the injury wasn't as bad as it could be, he rehabed over the summer and was ready to go for this year.
Not to take anything away from Pac but I think most players would have made a similar recovery if they were in his shoes. I'm not sure I can say the same thing about Lupul's injury. I think some players may have thrown in the towel.
On a side note, shouldn't Crosby have been a finalist? When I think of his situation, I can't help but think about how dedicated he's been to his recovery. It's pretty remarkable. I think he may deserve it over all those guys.
