Sidney Crosby calls Steven Stamkos 'best natural goal scorer in the league' By MIKE ZEISBERGER, QMI Agency

Tampa's Steven Stamkos got a huge Hart Trophy endorsement from Sidney Crosby. (Reuters)

When it comes to discussing Hart Trophy candidates, one name immediately comes to the mind of front-runner Sidney Crosby.

“I can’t talk about myself but, to me, the guy I think about right away is Steven Stamkos,” Crosby told the Sun. “He is the best natural goal scorer in the league.”

Can you imagine Crosby setting up Stamkos as linemates on the Canadian Olympic team next February in Sochi? It arguably could be the most dynamic duo in all of hockey.

Stamkos, a native of nearby Markham, always gets pumped up whenever his Lightning comes to the Air Canada Centre to meet the Maple Leafs, as will be the case on Wednesday. For him, this is as close to a home game as it gets.

Stamkos enters the game leading the NHL with 21 goals. At 23 years, 41 days of age, he became the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to reach the 200 goal mark on Monday, trailing just Wayne Gretzky (21 years, 256 days), Mario Lemieux (22 years, 148 days) and Dale Hawerchuk (22 years, 266 days).