BeeRYCE

Playoffs aren't even half over, but if this did happen, I'd be happy. I'd be more happy if Datsyuk won it though, after all the doubts he has faced as a true playoff performer in his past... If he could win Conn Smythe, that would whipe the slate clean.

Cleary isn't playing as well as he should be, I'll agree. He plays half of the powerplays every night, and he isn't doing anything. I love Cleary, and players have their slumps. I'm not saying this in disrespect, but Cleary isn't playing as well as he should be.

Doesn't need to be photoshopped, he's already ugly, and already looks like an idiot.

This really does suck. Sean Avery is actually one of my favourite players in the NHL surprisingly. I hope he gets better and this doesn't progress badly.

Seriously, just wanted to bring this up. It's going to be one of the 4 teams, Pittsburgh, NYR, Philly, or Montreal. Probably not the Rags, so take them out of the equation, but either way we are going to actually see a team that has been around since 1967 or before. Ottawa, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and New Jersey are all amongst teams we have seen in recent years... Boring, boring, boring, and oh yeah, boring. Yes, Ottawa bores me too. Just glad to know that one of these East teams are going to be in the finals. I'm pulling for Montreal and Detroit though. Original six, and plenty of fights with close friends. May make for some strong bets as well.

I'm a very nostalgic person, and like to see some vintage teams in the finals. Tampa Bay is the last team I'd want to see in the finals, and even that year, beyond the big 3, they were boring. Jersey has been a fairly boring (but effective) team since they won their first cup. My definition of worthwhile is a combination of fairly old teams (for nostalgic purposes), and skilled, fun players to watch. Montreal, Philly, and Pittsburgh all fit that description. I hate seeing warm climate teams compete for the cup, I realize it's the 21st century, but it still bugs the hell out of me. The only reason I made this thread is because this is finally going to change, pending on the Western team (ahem, DETROIT).

Ouch... So basically if you want to watch a Wings game, you have to usually wait for 1 or 1:30? Yikes.

Holy cow... I just LMAO'd at the D and Z MAGIC!

Sadly, a lot of people would try to make cases for McNabb and Lindros, so that's why I thought it was serious. Glad you weren't though .

Philly should have a statue of Bobby Clarke, Julius Erving, or Mike Schmidt. Did I actually see McNabb or Lindros? Come on now...

Crosby isn't Swedish. I'm only kidding! Kinda...

I would have put Datsyuk before Iginla. A Selke nominee while finishing just 4th in scoring and 1st in +/-? That definitely screams MVP candidate. I'd almost put Nabokov or Lidstrom ahead of Iggy as well, but whatever, I like the guy so I won't be too miserable about this.

The thing I find best about Crosby is that he could possibly be top 5 in close to every offensive asset that a hockey player can have. He has an excellent shot, one of the best releases, the best vision, probably the third in playmaking behind Thornton and Datsyuk, one of the best stickhandlers, one of the quickest skaters, the strongest on his feet, one of the best in the corners, and his defensive ability is not bad at all. He is pretty much flawless. The other great players are missing some key aspect, whereas Crosby isn't missing much.

Yeah, 3 year contract. Ozzie has never been bad, but he hasn't been THIS good since the 90's.

Pavel's contract was made BEFORE he proved himself in the playoffs. If we would have gave him a contract after last year's playoffs, I'd say he'd be worth even more than what he got, so at this point, his contract is a discount seeing as he is one of the biggest threats in the league, but when he signed it, it was fitting.

Finally, a young skilled Canadian in the lineup. I mean, I love Swedes, but gotta keep it real sometimes.

His opinions don't matter, I mean what doesn't he complain about?

Very nice

This is excellent news, totally unexpected too. I knew they were deserving, but didn't expect them to get recognition. I thought I'd see Sharp, M. Richards, and maybe Dats or Z at the other candidate. Not both.

He went a perfect 8 for 8 in the first round on TSN's Off The Record. He just again appeared on OTR predicting the winners. He picked... Avs over Wings, Sharks over Stars, Rags over Pens, and Flyers over Habs. He went 8 for 8 last round, I honestly think he's going 0 for 4 this round. Something to think about though, a guy who went a perfect 8/8 last round goes against the Wings.

Or maybe he will offer Jerry to help him move!

Maltby is a fan favourite, high energy player that would be great in the lineup. He is a player that steps it up in the playoffs and comes up with big hits. Maltby is more effective than Drake, Helm, and dare I say it, McCarty. Maltby's presence would ONLY benefit us.

What doesn't make sense about it?

The NHL awards will be so uninteresting this year. Ovechkin for Hart and Pearson, Datsyuk for Byng, Lidstrom for Norris, Nabokov for Vezina, Kane for Calder... Selke, I don't know, maybe Mike Richards, and Adams is really the only one that seems suspenseful, but I'll give that to Michael Therrien.

Heh, yeah... I just prefer the old vertical striped jersey that they've been using over the last 2 years... Something about it makes players seem better, it's weird.