Thirty-one years later, it still stings.

The man himself might not feel it. His fans do. I do.

Accolades came thick and fast during Mario Lemieux’s storied career. But to this day, the one that got away still angers.

In 1988-89, Lemieux had 85 goals and 199 points. He won the NHL scoring title by 31 points over runner-up Wayne Gretzky of Los Angeles. Those 31 points were all goals.

Lemieux scored five goals, five ways on New Year’s Eve vs. New Jersey: even-strength, short-handed, power-play, penalty shot, empty-net. In 2017, that was crowned the NHL’s greatest moment on occasion of the league’s 100th season. No one will do that again.

Lemieux netted a record 13 short-handed goals. No one will do that again. (When the Penguins corralled the puck while short, they would fire slap shots at the opposing point men’s shin pads, and Lemieux would read the carom. That’s not in most playbooks.)

Lemieux had three eight-point games, a seven-point game, a six-point game and eight five-point games. That’s 77 points in 13 games. It seems impossible.

Lemieux was plus-41. The Penguins made the playoffs for the first time in his five-year Pittsburgh tenure, finishing second in the Patrick Division. Gretzky’s Kings came second in the Smythe Division, amassing a whopping four points more than the Penguins.

Every single fact and stat dictated that Lemieux should be MVP.

He didn’t come close.

The Hart Trophy for NHL MVP is determined by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Ballots are cast for first, second and third place.

Gretzky got 40 first-place votes, Lemieux 18. Gretzky got 267 total votes, Lemieux 187.

Detroit’s Steve Yzerman snaked five first-place votes. He was 44 points behind Lemieux.

This wasn’t a slight error in judgment. This was blatant thievery. It discredited those voting and discredited the credibility of the award. The injustice remains remarkable.

The prevailing “wisdom” was Gretzky had engineered a turnaround of the Kings during his first season in Los Angeles. The Kings made the playoffs but lost in the second round. The Penguins did exactly the same. Exactly how was Gretzky more valuable? Lemieux’s Penguins had a much rougher road to respectability than Gretzky’s Kings. Ultimately, Lemieux’s Penguins accomplished more.

Gretzky also was credited with popularizing hockey in Southern California after moving to the Kings that season from Edmonton.

That’s not remotely part of the criteria, but at least Gretzky isn’t French-Canadian. (BTW, the Penguins are playing to 100.8% of capacity at home this season. Los Angeles is at 92.8, Anaheim 92.3.)

The voters changed the rules on Lemieux. The Hart Trophy usually goes to the best player. Except that time. Absurd.

Lemieux once said he measured himself by Stanley Cups and scoring titles because “nobody votes on those.” Amen.

But Pittsburgh knows how valuable Lemieux is.

Lemieux acquired ownership of the Penguins out of bankruptcy in 1999, turning $32.5 million in deferred salary into equity worth $25 million.

He had options.

Lemieux could have settled for 15-20% of the money he was owed, then come out of retirement to make $25 million playing one season for Montreal or the New York Rangers. Those offers were there.

If Lemieux does that, he basically breaks even financially and is clear of the situation while experiencing minimal fuss. If he plays two seasons, he’s way ahead.

But then there’s no hockey team in Pittsburgh. Lemieux loses his jersey.

Stanley Cups and scoring titles duly noted, that’s when Lemieux was most valuable. He’s got my vote, anyway.

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