First Round MVP

[JayUp88 1]

It has to go to Cleary or Hasek. both played great games and helped motivate the guys to win this series

[superstarsingh 23]

Wings - Dan Cleary.

Flames - Kipper.

Overall - Cleary, plus his penalty shot changed the series in our favour.

Without Kipper the Flames would have been swept...or have lost in 5.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

Without Kipper the Flames would have been swept...or have lost in 5.

I suppose your right ,But I pick Cleary because Kipper is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and is expected to play at a high standard. Nobody would ever have imagined that Cleary would have stepped up to be such a strong force against Calgary.

[Elshupacabra 0]

I wonder how things might have been different if Kippers poke check worked on Cleary on the penalty shot?

[cr00d 26]

I can't believe Shneids isen't getting any love.

Dude is leading the playoffs in shots, and he's a defenseman. He has a cannon of a shot (ask Giordano, if he remembers).

He's been absolutely rock steady on D, and by far our most physical presance on the blue line.

I know alot of people got on Schneider in the regular season, and didn't want him back here next year.. but i hope to god we re-sign him.

[kozac 10]

Shrek

[Kp-Wings 3]

Cleary or Franzen. Both of these guys played some great hockey. Both of them were very physical out there, and scored key goals at key times.

Honerable mention goes to Lidstrom. He did a great job shutting the Flames down, especially Iginla.

On the Flames end, no doubt it's Kipper. He is just a hell of a goalie. Watching him sometimes, I just wonder how he does it. He had a fantastic series, and really kep the Flames into it the whole time.

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

1st star: Mike Babcock. I don't know what he did but after the two piss poor displays in calgary and all the momentum shifting their way he ralied the troops who put together a great couple of games. sure the players did the work and i give them A TON of credit, dont get me wrong here, but the man behind the bench can swing things and i think he made great decisions.

2nd Star: CLEARLY CLEARY. duh. he was an animal. at the outset of the season he was firing on all cylinders. towards the end he was less than top line material but still produced. BUT HOLY CRAP did he turn it on in the first round. amazing.

3rd star: LILJA. haha. he was great but thats a bit of a stretch. LIDS/DATS split for 3rd star. they were both great in creating offense and shutting down the other teams.

great work all around though and a hard fought well deserved series.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I think it's unfair to other to consider Lidstrom MVP of this series. He played good, but he made unusual mistakes for his calibur (particularly game 3 and 4 obviously) and I think those two games alone should take his considerations away. He wasn't bad at all, but not the best, point-wise yes, but still not the best.

The best was Cleary. In the playoffs, it's a whole new style of game, the dump and chase style, as oppose to the flat out puck possession game. Dan Cleary adapted to that style in every way, beating players to the corners and simply not giving up. Cleary was solid every second he played, including games 3 and 4.

Chelios even played a hell of a series.

[ZatasGirl40 0]

Wings-Cleary hands down...what a beast.

Flames-Kipper. I almost feel bad for him...almost.

[KATIEBARTHEDOOR24 426]

Lidstrom, Cleary, Dats for his williness to go into corners againest Iggy and Phaneuf, I don't think he would Biggest surprise--Lilja--easy

Edited April 23, 2007 by KATIEBARTHEDOOR24

[norrisnick 1]

I think it's unfair to other to consider Lidstrom MVP of this series. He played good, but he made unusual mistakes for his calibur (particularly game 3 and 4 obviously) and I think those two games alone should take his considerations away. He wasn't bad at all, but not the best, point-wise yes, but still not the best.

The best was Cleary. In the playoffs, it's a whole new style of game, the dump and chase style, as oppose to the flat out puck possession game. Dan Cleary adapted to that style in every way, beating players to the corners and simply not giving up. Cleary was solid every second he played, including games 3 and 4.

Chelios even played a hell of a series.

Unfair? Lidstrom wasn't just good. He was dominant. Those 2-3 unusual mistakes he made in a 6 game series are mistakes every other defenseman makes a handful of times a game. We are spoiled to the point that Norris/Conn Smythe quality play (which Lidstrom displayed) looks bad compared to Nick at his absolute best.

Cleary and Franzen played about as good as any 2nd/3rd line winger can in the playoffs, but that still doesn't make them more important or valuable or better than Lidstrom. Even if he doesn't score he limited a 94 point power forward to 4 points in the playoffs. But Nick did score. Two GWGs and the primary assist on the other two and a total of 8 points. He doubled Iginla's offensive output. For some perspective only one player in the LEAGUE has scored more in the playoffs than Nick. And Gomez isn't a shutdown defenseman.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

Top three for me:

Cleary = obvious, checks, skates hard, reads plays, digs in corners, involved in all the scrums, took hard checks and came back for more, etc, etc.

Franzen = Big banger, goal scorer, nifty passer, etc.

Lilja = Logged mucho minutes and didn't give up anything atrocious, most improved player on the team IMO.

Nice job by all, but these three really stand out and don't usually get the big media attention.

Honorable mention = Chelios (how f***in' old is he?)

esteef

agreed :!:

[drw1319 0]

My MVP of the first round is definitely Cleary!

[Vincanni 1]

Lidstrom for making Iggy almost invisible out their offensively for 95% of the series. Also for netting over a point per game and being a damn good captain. Cleary and Franzen were great and if I were to judge things based on previous play Clearyt's take the honor but through and through no one made the impact Lidstrom did for us.

[Vladinator 0]

Unfair? Lidstrom wasn't just good. He was dominant. Those 2-3 unusual mistakes he made in a 6 game series are mistakes every other defenseman makes a handful of times a game. We are spoiled to the point that Norris/Conn Smythe quality play (which Lidstrom displayed) looks bad compared to Nick at his absolute best.

Cleary and Franzen played about as good as any 2nd/3rd line winger can in the playoffs, but that still doesn't make them more important or valuable or better than Lidstrom. Even if he doesn't score he limited a 94 point power forward to 4 points in the playoffs. But Nick did score. Two GWGs and the primary assist on the other two and a total of 8 points. He doubled Iginla's offensive output. For some perspective only one player in the LEAGUE has scored more in the playoffs than Nick. And Gomez isn't a shutdown defenseman.

Nothing more needs to be said in this thread. MIght as well lock it up...