Winning Play: San Jose’s most valuable forward?

Robert Edwards-USA TODAY SportsFor my money, Joe Pavelski is the San Jose Sharks’ most valuable forward.

Despite his team-leading 31 goals, this isn’t a unanimous sentiment, by any means. For example, Evolving-Hockey’s WAR model tabs Evander Kane. Pavelski is their sixth-most valuable up front, trailing Kane, Joonas Donskoi, Timo Meier, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. In my mind, Couture or Hertl, in particular, also have strong arguments.

But Pavelski made his case with little big play after little big play, especially in the third period, in San Jose’s 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Despite reports to the contrary, Pavelski (8) is far from being the most fleet of foot. But knowing…