Stanley Cup Prediction: (1W) Chicago Blackhawks vs (4E) Boston Bruins

It's come to this. We've all waited nine six long months for the Stanley Cup to be presented and the Finals are just a day away. Why not be like the other cool kids and actually make a pick that will be a 50-50 shot because I'm either right or wrong.

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Out of the East are the Boston Bruins, who were pushed to the brink in the first round; but since then have been world beaters. You can almost sense that the first round scare could have been a wake-up call this team needed to stave off the likes of the Rangers and Penguins.

But the Bruins are a scary bunch. They have all the tools to be a successful playoff team and are a team that will battle for every piece of land out there. Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic have lead the charge with their hard-nose play, while David Krejci and Nathan Horton have produced fantastically for the Bruins this post season.

When it comes to defense, you can't bet against Zdeno Chara, who provides pleny of intangibles, but with Torey Krug coming on like a house of fire this post-season has been a great surprise. With Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid holding down the fort in their own end, the Bruins seems impenetrable.

And even if they get past them, Tuukka Rask shut down one of the most prolific offenses in the NHL today last round and has had plenty of support to help him along the way. One big thing is that he has been strong mentally, not letting the junk in front of the net or a bad goal get to him and making him bust out into his rageful mood.

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Out of the West, the team that has been one of the top teams from start to finish-- the Chicago Blackhawks. Much like the Bruins, they've had to come back from a series-- granted they were down 3-1 and not up--and have showed their guile and depth, especially with their top players not filling the net as many would have hoped.

In that, I mean that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane haven't been setting the scoresheet on fire, sans Kane's last game in the Conference Finals with a hat-trick. That said, the scoring has been spread around, making the offense a decent threat regardless of the line out there.

Defensively, the Blackhawks have had it a little rough, with Brent Seabrook not having the best playoffs-- but Johnny Oduya coming up clutch for the Blackhawks in their own zone, as well as making that first pass to create offense. Michal Roszival has also played rather well on the third pairing. Duncan Keith, despite the one-game suspension, has been the offensive leader on the defense.

In net, Corey Crawford is looking like Antti Niemi did when he was in net for the Blackhawks' Cup run in 2010 (observation by Lyle Richardson). While he hasn't been extremely extraordinary-- he has gotten the job done and been able to get the wins needed to get the Hawks to this point. He's not the most flashiest and may give Hawks fans fits, he has gotten the job done in a big way.

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So, prediction time: Boston is very scary. They have all the tools needed in order to actually take this series handily, but Chicago won't let their record start be tarnished with a pathetic showing at the end of the year.

With that all in mind, I feel the Blackhawks will take Lord Stanley's Cup in six games.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Los Angeles Kings

After getting over the hurdles of the first round, the defending Cup champions looked as if they were going to be the team to beat in the West. However, their defense-first mentality just wasn't able to stop the top team in regular season, thus making it 15 years since there was a repeat Stanley Cup winner.

Defensive teams need a solid goalie and that's what the Kings have in Jonathan Quick. After a shaky start-- Quick showed off his Conn Smythe ways in the playoffs and proved himself capable to living up to the long-term deal the Kings signed him to, especially after back surgery in the off-season. The question now lies on whether or not Jonathan Bernier wants to stick around, knowing that he won't get a chance any time soon to be the starter. Of course, he's a restricted free agent and the goalie market will be slim pickings...so odds are he'll stay in LA for the short-term.

Offensively, Jeff Carter was the Cy Young winner in the NHL (much more goals than assists) and helped out for filling the net, while Anze Kopitar kept getting better and better. Overall, the Kings were the solid, evenly distributed team that really had scoring by committee. Outside of Carter, (and maybe Dustin Brown), the goal scoring wasn't too spread out-- which is good for useful getting everyone involved, not allowing opponents to focus on one line or player.

On the blue line, there's a lot of valuable RFAs, but only $11M left. Slava Voynov and Jake Muzzin will probably want their money for their performance this past season, but whether they get it in LA is another story. Yet, with buy-out candidates being mulled over, you can bet the Kings will be able to free up the money to make sure their valuable pieces don't get away from there.

Under Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, the Kings look to be in good hands-- so long as neither of them do anything to divide the room and break apart the great chemistry they have. They were hungry again for the Cup, but just ran into a team with a lot of momentum on their side and a little more fire-power than they could handle.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Pittsburgh Penguins

A top team in the Eastern Conference with all the fire power, leadership, and depth in the world. A hiccup in goal the first series didn't really deter them through the first two rounds, but no one thought they would only get two (TWO) goals in the four-game Eastern Conference Finals. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, you can bet that there may be a new look overall when the puck drops in the 2013-14 season.

Granted, many people believe that coach Dan Bylsma is on the hot seat and I don't think that's necessarily true. While he wasn't able to adjust his team to the defense of the Bruins, the fact they couldn't really hit the net in the Eastern Finals is not really something he can overly teach or re-teach, that's on the player. The Pens brass have a lot to thank Disco Dan for, which is why his job probably isn't as in jeopardy as many others would have you think.

However, Bylsma could have a different look team when it comes to next season. Seven total UFAs on the roster and many thinking that Evgeni Malkin is on the trading block could make the Penguins have a drastic change. Though Malkin will probably get an extension in the summer; the thought that the Pens will have a total overhaul is a bit overblown. Sure, the trade deadline pick-ups they got will probably not come back, as with Matt Cooke, but it's not as if they can't get a suitable replacement for them.

One big point of contention is what to do in net. This playoffs was a flop for Marc-Andre Fleury, who got yanked in the first round in favor of Tomas Vokoun, thus almost completing Fleury's free-fall from grace. While they probably won't use their amnesty buy-out on him this year, should he not be able to get his confidence back, it's a definite option in the summer of 2014. But, you have to imagine the Pens have to rely on Fleury, as Vokoun has one year left and may not be up to the task of being a starter anymore.

The Pens always have a knack for finding the next solid guy to plug into their line-up and still be successful. The system is a good one thanks to Bylsma and it should continue so long as he's there. While there may be a little change here and there, a complete blow-up of the team would be short-sighted and a sign of panic on GM Ray Shero's part. The Pens will be fine later on, but licking their wounds this summer after being swept will be on the top of their priority list.

Iggy and the Off-Season

While the Boston Bruins celebrate and prepare for their second trip to the Stanley Cup in three years, there's some murmurs about what should have Jarome Iginla done in the aftermath of this whole series. Of course, Iginla publicly was going to head to Boston at the trade deadline, only to veto that and head to Pittsburgh instead. Little did anyone know that they would meet in the Conference Finals and that the Bruins would manhandle the Penguins.

But do you really blame Iginla?? For the Penguins, they were the top dog coming out of the East and it was almost unthinkable to believe that they would get steamrolled the way they did. Hell, Iginla had 4 goals and 12 points heading into the playoffs and looked to be that secondary scoring that the Penguins need should the top line get into a funk. No one thought that the Bruins would shut the entire roster down.

Now, with the Penguins out, Iginla a free agent, and the future being unknown-- did Iginla lose his last chance at getting with a real contender?? The Penguins probably won't bring him back unless he takes a massive pay-cut and assumes the role of maybe a bottom-six guy. It's not that Iginla doesn't bring some intangibles, but he'll be 36 next year and if he doesn't find a way to find more speed in his legs; not many contenders will use him to the fullest.

That's not to say a team won't be salivating to get a leader like Iginla on their team, but they could shy away from what he could be asking for in order to be on that team. The league knows he wants to be with a contender in order to win a Stanley Cup, but will he and his agent, Don Meehan, be willing to take the pay-cut in order to get that ring??

For the most part, Iginla's ego won't be hurt to take the decreased pay, but at the same time-- will his agent be able to convince him that a possible low-ball deal be able to get him to a Cup Finals or will Meehan really go for that top dollar and try to sway Iginla for a fringe team on their way up over a sure thing?? A team like the Blues could benefit from Iginla being on the team, but would Iginla benefit from being there and maybe get to the second round rather than being on a top contender?? Maybe the Marian Hossa trick could be it, where Iginla goes to Boston in the summer-- doubtful-- but it could give him a puncher's chance.

It's a tough spot for Iginla to be in, as he is a figure who is almost universally loved by fans because of what he meant to an organization like the Flames and the country of Canada for his play. Not only that, but he was talked about as being one of the league's top players before Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin started the youth movement in the league. Whatever he chooses this summer, Iginla will make a decision after weighing all the options and will most likely go with his heart rather than go with the dollars.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Detroit Red Wings

On the verge of missing their first playoffs in forever, the Detroit Red Wings were able to actually get to the 7th game of the second round, though getting beat in overtime by the Blackhawks. While many thought they overachieved, these are the Red Wings and that's a tradition that never gives up.

The core of the Red Wings offense is going to be together for a long-time-- especially if they re-sign Pavel Datsyuk to a long-term deal this off-season--but for some reason, they have been able to develop players to fit into their system for years. Many were skeptical of what Damien Brunner could bring to the table, but he could be one of the first European free-agents to make a big impact in the NHL, so long as he sticks to the Red Wings system. Up and down, the Wings filter in and out cogs in order to fulfill their needs.

It's hard to fill the void that Nicklas Lidstrom left, but the Wings are trying with Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson. Kronwall does bring the physical side and Ericsson the defensive side; but they are hard-pressed to have the full package player that Lidstrom was. With only Kronwall, Ericsson, and Jakub Kindl playing over 40 games, the stability of their defense is something that that could be called into question as the years go on.

There are many who call Jimmy Howard elite, but I don't know if I believe that he's the Joe Flacco of the NHL. While Howard's number are decent, is that because of the system or his skill?? Many believe that Martin Brodeur was so good because of the system and scheme he was behind, but people give Howard the benefit of the doubt. Chris Osgood was able to win Cup rings with this Red Wings team in front of him, but Howard so far has zero. I refuse to believe that he's in that upper echelon of goalies without a ring or Conference championship to show for it.

Many questions also surround Mike Babcock's future, as he has a couple more years with the Red Wings. Even if Babcock were to leave, the Wings have always been a team that has been able to replace coaches with relative ease, sans the Dave Lewis experiment. Should Babcock go in a couple years, the brass of the Wings should be able to fit in another cog to the machine-- much like their player roster-- in order to keep a successful franchise going.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 San Jose Sharks

Is there need for a change in San Jose?? After their second-round exit this season, you have to wonder if the cogs that are in place now are actually going to be good enough to move forward and be successful. With a coach that has his job in the balance, you can bet that changes will be made in off-season to give the Sharks a chance....or to rebuild.

With one year left on Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, and Logan Couture's contracts, you can bet those names-- especially the first two-- are going to be looked at to move. Granted, Thornton and Marleau both have No-Move Clauses, as well as Pavelski and Couture being the cornerstones of the future of the Sharks-- it's hard to believe any of them can and would be moved-- though you could always make a case for Marleau, who has his name in the trade rumors forever.

While Antti Niemi is holding down the goaltending duties, the question in net is whether or not Thomas Greiss will be re-signed or stay in the NHL at all. If Greiss, who is an UFA, doesn't choose to stay; the big deal would be to get someone as a back-up to Niemi who could shoulder the load for 10-15 games for next season and give the Sharks quality starts.

Defensively, Dan Boyle turned on his offensive prowess during the playoffs after a middling during the regular season, especially since Brent Burns was converted to forward-- the blue line needed a bigger punch. Marc-Edouard Vlasic was solid on the blue line despite not playing while the lockout happened. However, one guy who is making a name for himself is Matt Irwin, who has played well in the AHL and should make a nice transition as the next offensive producing defenseman once Boyle's contract expires.

While Doug Wilson said that Todd McLellan and his staff would be back for the 2013-14 season, who knows how long into the season they'll be still there, but a lot of that depends on the moves that the Wilson makes in the off-season. For the Sharks, they've always seemed to be the team that's ready to make a big push, but they fall short in the end. There's going to come a time where these results aren't going to be a enough and there will be a huge change.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 New York Rangers

 From a top acquisition during the summer to a power play that went flat, the Rangers had the ups and downs this season, which a couple surprises coming through the way. Yet, even with one of the top goalies in the NHL today-- the Rangers fell short of their quest for the Cup.

Among the Rangers faithful, the big question is whether or not John Tortorella will be back next season. There are some decisions and personnel decision made that many fans didn't like. It remains to be seen if Glen Sather feels the same way the fans do-- which should come down sooner rather than later with the amount of coaching out there for the picking as it is. While the benching of Brad Richards in playoffs could be his last move, Tortorella brought a solid game plan for the Rangers.

As far as the summer move of acquiring Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets, it seemed to pay off instantly. Nash had a 20-goal and 42-point season in 44 games, which are solid numbers for an oft-injured player and someone coming from a team that was in a bit of peril in Columbus. More over, Nash may have awaken the offense of Derek Stepan, who was on pace for a career season in goals and points, as he was only three off the pace in goals and six off the pace in points for a shortened season. This is the combo that could take the Rangers in the right direction.

Henrik Lundqvist was another solid constant for the Rangers and it's not a surprise. It's just a shock that he can never be that "hot" goaltender to help lead the Rangers. He was almost that last season, but the Devils got in their way. If Lundqvist was able to get more support, however, that's what could fuel him. With the Rangers relying on Lundqvist so much, it is a bit wearing and gives little leeway for King Henrik to make a mistake.

And the defense is a major part in the Rangers playoff plan, mostly with their shot-blocking. While Ryan McDonagh did provide a lot of the defensive side, the lack of Marc Staal in the line-up may have hurt the Rangers in the second round series. Staal will be coming back and will probably produce just in the same way he is, as I don't think he will shy away much from dirty stuff in front of his own net.

There's always a hope of the Rangers when it comes to the season, but falling short could cost them a coach, which may screw up the entire progress they had built up in the past couple of seasons. However, with the core still being in tact for next season, that same mentality should be there and they shouldn't be lead too far astray. Broadway should be solid for next year's Rangers and if they can get a little more offensive in the playoffs, it could do them a world of good.

Thanks for Coming Out, 2013 Ottawa Senators

The last Canadian team is out of the NHL playoffs and they extend the Stanley Cup drought for the nation to 20 years. Of course, this Senators team as a 7th seed would have been one of the most unlikely teams out there to take the Cup, but even with an injury riddled roster through the season, they were still good enough to actually make the playoffs thanks to a big enough point lead built between themselves and others.

Yet, the biggest question will be whether or not Daniel Alfredsson will come back for one last hurrah. His actions after Game Four (picking up the puck at the end, doubting a comeback) were blown out of proportions (shock), but it could be the inevitable ending to a storied career of a franchise player. Sticking with the Senators through thick and very thin-- Alfredsson will probably leave, passing the torch to Jason Spezza and hoping that his body can hold up to taking that franchise tag.

Overall, though, this is a pretty young team with a lot of unknown names to those who didn't spend a lot of time studying the Northeast Division all that much. While Spezza, Kyle Turris, and Milan Michalek are recognizable names to most; the new breed of Cory Conacher, Colin Greening, and Jakob Silfverberg are going to start making a name and if Ottawa can hold onto them, could prove to be a huge home-grown revival for the team. Add Mika Zibanejad and Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the mix of young guns and this is a team that's loaded....so long as they stay together.

Defensively, this Sens team is Erik Karlsson's as he has been brought up well by Chris Phillips and Sergei Gonchar in order to get him accustomed to the NHL game. His quick adaptation (and healing powers) is something that will help him lead other young guys like Jared Cowen and Patrick Wiercioch. Much like the forwards, the defense has a chasing of the guard coming, but luckily have the right parts in place in order to make it a smooth transition.

Goaltending is solid, with Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner being the tandem going down the road. One of the things will be how much time Lehner will get with Anderson healthy for a full slate of games. The development of Lehner has been up and down, but it seems it's finally settling in for now.

A young team that has somewhat overachieved in the last two seasons, but building blocks for the future is what the focus is on now. With Paul MacLean being a solid coach for the young guys, the Sens should be able to get even better, though they'll have a lot more competition in the new divisional setting.

Pointless Playoff Prognostication: Second Round

Only got three right in the first round, which shows-- I know nothing. But I'll try again.

ROUND 2 
EASTERN CONFERENCE 

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
Prediction: Senators in 7
Reason: The Senators are healthy, rested, and handled their first round match-up somewhat easily. The Penguins barely survived the Islanders and goaltending is in doubt.

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (6) New York Rangers
Prediction: Rangers in 6
Reason: Henrik Lundqvist is on point and the Rangers are a shot blocking sensation. While the Bruins are carrying high emotions, they are beatable.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6
Reason: This last match-up of Norris Division rivals in the Conference should be a doozy, but the Hawks are a top team and the Red Wings could be easy prey for them.

(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
Prediction: Kings in 7
Reason: Both teams are hot and this could be the best match-up we see out there, but the Kings are out on a mission and the Sharks could very well be too rested for this Battle of California.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Washington Capitals

In a season that looked like it was lost in the first half of it, the Washington Capitals came back with a vengeance and should have been on pace for a strong Cup run. However, the scouting report of getting in front of the shots is something the New York Rangers took to heart and in almost a repeat of the 2009 series against the Penguins; a close played series ended with the Capitals being blown out in Game Seven.

A big part of this was how Alex Ovechkin, who was up and down with his own scoring, was shut down and really ineffective in most aspects. That's not to say he didn't show his worth, throwing his body around-- but that's not his job and regardless of what is to be said-- he didn't show up. Nicklas Backstrom said that his performance was embarrassing and when Joel Ward is the leading scorer in the playoffs-- you can say that the rest of the offense needs to heed this as a big wake-up call.

With Mike Green being injured and still being able to produce is a good sign for him personally, while John Carlson is still growing and a great asset, especially paired with Karl Alzner. Alzner is a RFA and if the Caps want to have a stalwart stay-at-home guy; they'd be wise to sign him before an offer sheet can happen. That money could come with Jeff Schultz's falling out with the organization and probably getting him amnestied out of his last year of his contract.

Goaltending should be a great duel, as Michel Neuvirth and Braden Holtby will be doing battle and considering they are both in DC for the next two years, it could be a great tandem or just a battleground for controversy. Not to mention, Philipp Grubauer coming up the pipeline, the Caps goaltending stockade is solid-- but is it enough to give them a solid Kolzig-esque presence??

If the Caps were to get a full year out of Adam Oates's system, it could be a solid year from start to finish for the Caps, should they all buy in. You could see how they bought in during the season and it worked wonders. It's a matter now of whether or not the Caps can actually get it done in the playoffs, something they haven't truly done since 1998.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs

It was nine seasons since the Toronto Maple Leafs made the playoffs and they almost made a huge comeback when they came back from down three games to one. They were up 4-1, but then it just all collapsed and the Leafs are left with questions on how to build from this rather than loom on it.

There's no doubt that James Reimer is the guy for the Maple Leafs. He's kept them in the games, he was able to help carry them through the season, and while he may not have stopped the last shot-- he was able to give the Leafs a chance in every game. Nothing will stop momentum more than if the Leafs were to trade for a goalie who could threaten his starting position.

Another big bright spot is the tandem of Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri, both who carried the offense of the Leafs, especially with Joffrey Lupul out with injuries during the season. James van Riemsdyk also was able to prove his meddle during the season, which should be solid when he gets a full season under his belt with the Leafs. To compliment those scorers is the grinders who are actually going provide a balance of mixing it up and potting some points here and there.

Defensively will be interesting to deal with this summer. Only Dion Phaneuf, J-M Liles, and Jake Gardiner are under contract and the Leafs could be able to upgrade or at least sign Cody Franson and then fill it out from there-- but for a team like the Leafs-- you know they'll probably gun for the top price free agent and hope that it works out-- though culture change could have come with Brian Burke out of the GM position.

Overall, it was a great season for the Leafs, albeit during a shortened season. The fans are back and they have life now, which should be annoying for most people out there dealing them, but to have that market back in the playoffs should be profitable for all that are involved. So long as they can close out a Game Seven with a three-goal lead, of course.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Anaheim Ducks

While it looked like they were primed to be a contender out of the West, the Anaheim Ducks met with the stalwart of the Western Conference in their last hurrah, as the Red Wings took them out in the full seven making the Ducks wonder how a dream season turned into a nightmare at the end.

One of the interesting moves was the decision to play Jonas Hiller over the Viktor Fasth. While Fasth didn't have the experience Hiller had and may not have had the drive for it, there's no denying that Fasth was a hot hand most of the season. Their numbers were identical in most aspects, but since Bruce Boudreau wouldn't platoon the goalies in the playoffs-- we won't know what would happen if Fasth went in there.

An upside to it all was the emergence of guys like Kyle Palmieri, Nick Bonino, and Emerson Etem for the Ducks, even though they picked up the slack for Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne; both who didn't have the best playoffs in their careers. For Selanne, it could be his last playoffs as his future again hangs in the balance on what he may do with his career after this season. Fellow Finns Saku Koivu could be in the same situation, as his season wasn't overly memorable, but I doubt the two guys don't want to go out like they did.

Defensively, the core will be there for a while, with two veterans in Sheldon Souray and Francois Beauchemin to guide the likes of Cam Fowler and Luca Sbisa to lead the next direction of things. The tightness of the play will be definitely a question, as outside of Souray and Beauchemin, Ben Lovejoy (+4) and Bryan Allen (+1) were plus players of the regular defensemen. A cause for concern, but something that should come with time.

With Bruce Boudreau at the helm, the Ducks could very well be a force to be reckoned with, if they can actually play in the playoffs with the vigor they did in the regular season. Their main players are locked up for the long-haul and will be in Anaheim for a while, so they'll have time to work together and find their niche....or blow up entirely.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 New York Islanders

While they kept it close with one of the Cup favorite, two OT losses and two blow-out shut-outs is what killed the New York Islanders hopes to pull off the upset special and continue their trend of beating the Penguins in the playoffs. And while many people believe this young team finally put themselves on the map, I don't know if I'm so optimistic.

One of the big things that will need to get fixed for stability of this team is between the pipes. Despite acquiring Tim Thomas('s salary) and sending down Rick DiPietro, you have to wonder if they believe Evgeni Nabokov and/or Kevin Poulin is the answer. The good thing is that the Islanders will have a low payroll and could be a destination for a team trying to sell off a goaltending controversy on their roster. Considering both goalies who ended out the season on Long Island are free agents, it makes you wonder if the Isles will go for the trade market or if they'll pin their hopes on Nabokov for one more go-around.

From one of the unstable things to one of the stable things for the Isles, the forwards. John Tavares finally is stepping into the national scene and has taken this team on his back to get them to this point. Odds are the future captain of this team will be given more of a look in a full season and get the press he deserves as a former #1 overall pick. Plus, he has a solid cast around him in Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, and so on. That's pretty much one thing that the Isles don't have to worry about, unless they want to bring a veteran onto the roster for the youngsters.

Defensively is pretty hit or miss. Mark Streit is 35 and while an offensive contributor; not so good in his own end. Lubomir Visnovsky, though much maligned, was very solid and has two more years on the Island, which could prove to be the best for him to shine. Andrew MacDonald, Travis Hamonic, and Thomas Hickey are going to be the new wave, but they'll be more on their own end than leading the rush-- at least at this time. With their six defensemen drafted in the 2012 Draft, the Islanders know it's a weak area and are trying to address as much as they can.

While they did make strides in advancement, who knows if this is a team that could keep up to the full grind of a season. If they tie up the loose ends, they could be in the hunt-- though they'll be in one of the tougher division in the NHL, which could be quite the challenge for this growing team.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 St. Louis Blues

Despite not getting swept, the St. Louis Blues lost four straight to eliminate them this playoff season by the same team that took them out last playoffs-- the Los Angeles Kings. While it looked a bit promising to start off with, the Blues couldn't carry the momentum from their first two games to the rest of the series and the Kings took that momentum and got a few lucky bounces to go their way. 

Bounces or not, the fact that Ken Hitchcock wasted no time calling out his team after the series ended showed that he knew that it wasn't just the bounces that got him-- his team just didn't deliver, especially the "home grown" players the team was building their nucleus around. Though the players are still young, this is their third playoffs together and by now, they should have the experience in order to know how to adjust their game on the fly. 

Brian Elliott did he all he could to keep the team in the game, putting up a solid 1.90 GAA during the series and returning to his All-Star form he once had, though he did have some shaky spots and only got his role back with an injury to Jaroslav Halak. A question is whether or not Jake Allen has proven himself enough for the Blues to get rid of one of the current goalies to get a shot at being a full-time back-up or a 1-B starter. 

More over, how much will they be able to give to their RFAs?? Both Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo will get their money, but after that-- will there be enough left to give to Kris Russell, Ian Cole, Chris Stewart, and Patrik Berglund?? Do the Blues actually want to keep all their RFA guys around?? With the money they are pay to Jay Bouwmeester for another year and Andy McDonald a free agent, the Blues can either make a choice of keeping the money in-house or trying to get some bodies in that know how to win with a younger team. 

Wherever they go next year, Ken Hitchcock has a whole training camp to get his message through to these guys that there needs to be a sense of urgency for his team if they want to make and succeed in the playoffs. With two short stints the last two seasons-- you can bet the team and Hitch are going to be on the hot seat. 

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Minnesota Wild

After making a big splash in the summer with two big free agents landing-- the stumble the Wild had at the start of the season and then barely squeaking into the playoffs makes many wonder how much they are going to be overrated for the years to come.

Granted, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter did come along as the season happened, they both seemingly disappeared in the playoffs combining for a single point and a minus-12 rating. Of course, not many showed up for that series, seemingly-- only seven goals scored by the Wild in the five games-- but that's not the bread and butter for the Wild. Even with that, the support of P-M Bouchard and Matt Cullen helped-- but both are unrestricted free agents. Despite the Wild being under the cap as it is, they could sign both and be at the cap risking their moves during the season.

Plus, with the youth movement of Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker coming up through the pipeline, the need to sign Cullen and Bouchard is probably not as urgent as it once could have been. Zucker did create a lot of offense, despite it not showing up in goals and assists. With having Cal Clutterbuck as a RFA, odds are Coyle and Zucker will have an advanced role next season as Bouchard and Cullen will probably be cut loose.

One of the big questions is whether or not Niklas Backstrom will be re-signed. While he did have a solid season and the health of Josh Harding and stability of Darcy Kuemper may make the Wild give him a one or two-year deal with the Wild. Nothing too long-term and something that would make him easy to unload if it comes to that point.

Going into next season, Mike Yeo will have to do a lot with the talent of the team or else he could be on his way out of there. Chuck Fletcher has done a lot to make hockey in Minnesota competitive again, but for that to happen-- he'll need to have the right person at the helm for that. Yeo may or may not be the guy for that, but if he's not-- you can bet it won't be long for Fletcher to pull the trigger on bringing in someone who can do the job the way he wants.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Montreal Canadiens

Even though the Senators helped them get to that 2nd-seed, the Montreal Canadiens may believe now that it was a trap, as the Sens handled the Habs in five games in the series which had the most gamesmanship in the first round by a long-shot. Verbal jabs aside, the Habs couldn't get anything working past Game Two and despite some bad breaks along the way-- they could get over them and now look ahead to next year.

It wasn't a total lost year for the Habs, as they did rebound nicely from the dismal season they had last year and utilized a youth movement with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher playing a big role in the Canadiens rebuild this season, especially with all the injuries they had to deal with (13th in Man Games Lost). Max Pacioretty came back with a vengeance  leading the team in scoring with the returning Michael Ryder almost being a point-per-game player (21 pts. in 27 games) when he moved back to Montreal. Yet, the Habs are probably not going to be a high scoring team when they get back to a full season, but they do get a lot of contribution from the defensive side of things.

That's where PK Subban and the oft-injured Andrei Markov come in, both putting up 30 points and having 10 or more goals and 20 or more assists in their columns. Had Raphael Diaz played a full season, he'd be up there, too-- but injuries definitely held him back. There's a lot of promise in Diaz, so that's a high spot.

And there not much more you can say about Carey Price, who had a solid first season with his new contract in tow. More over, Peter Budaj showed how much of a valuable back-up he could be with his 8-1-1 record and coming in to perform solidly and give Carey Price a rest.

Even with all of this success and what Marc Bergevin has done with this team, the mishap in the playoffs will be what most fans will remember, especially with the bit of a slip-up they had in the last weeks of the season. It's always a grind in Montreal, a bigger one when they fall out of the playoffs in a premature fashion.

Long-Layoff in a Short Season

In most cases, teams may dread a long layoff in the playoffs. It's too much time between series for them to get rusty to the game action and for them to lose an important game to start, which could kill their hot streak. Yet, in a truncated season like this-- it could actually go on to help the San Jose Sharks.

The grind of a short season is something that affected all the teams, most of which had to have a playoff mentality through the midway point of the short season to make it to the playoffs. For the Sharks, this would also help in the healing of players like Martin Havlat, Tommy Wingels, Jason Demers, and Adam Burish, who heal up from their wounds from Round One. Luckily for the Sharks is that they ranked 21st in Man Games Lost (249), which should just allow a small breather for players like Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Antti Niemi, and Joe Pavelski.

But can the momentum be regained quickly?? With the hot hands of Pavelski and Logan Couture; the thought that if they don't get out there sooner rather than later would lose the magic touch is out there, regardless of the grind they went through during the season. Also, with the Sharks as a 6-seed, they'll start on the road unless Red Wings and Wild pull of upsets. The lack of home-ice advantage would be rough in order to shake the rust off for a long-layoff, but at least knowing their destination ahead of time will leave great time for them to travel to either Chicago or Anaheim.

Throwing to the comparison of the 1995 Playoffs; the Devils, Flyers, and Red Wings won their first round match-ups in five games; their second round match-ups had the Flyers and Wings sweep with the Devils winning in five; then the Devils over the Flyers in six, with the Wings beating the Blackhawks in five, then the Devils sweeping the Wings. All the early movers in the first rounds used the rest to their advantage, and maybe the Sharks can draw off of that tidbit of short-seasons past.

Whether or not the rust will be there for a minute, a period, or a game-- the Sharks do have some time to actually breathe and rest up and regroup-- as they luckily didn't get hurt by losing three of their last four regular season games, they just need to not get too rested or else they could get caught in the first couple games against their opponent who may have weaker legs, but more recent game-play experience.

Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Vancouver Canucks

Well, that was quick and unexpected. The Vancouver Canucks are the first team to shake hands in defeat as they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in one of the many controversial calls made in the playoffs, which would sink them in overtime in Game Four.

Obviously, the elephant in the room until next season is going to be what to do with the goaltenders, mainly Roberto Luongo. Is there a team that will actually take a chance and trade for him or will they leave the Canucks out on the lurch in order to force their hand to buy them out?? Will they even consider putting Cory Schneider out there for a bigger return?? The quicker and more effecient the Canucks take care of that,  the better they do moving forward to filling out the other parts of their line-up.

Picking Luongo as the obvious choice to move, what can you do with the money freed up there?? Currently, the Canucks are over their cap limit for next season by $100,00 and have 17 players under contract. If they do trade someone, they need to do it for less payroll coming back and more bodies. You can imagine that Chris Tanev and maybe Mason Raymond get re-signed, then you'll have to find a way to move some parts around in order to get under the cap and get the full roster out there.

Another point of contention is probably to get some support for the Sedins. While Daniel and Henrik are the offense for the Canucks, the secondary scoring is quite scarce. Jannik Hansen could be a guy to pick up the slack, but how long can he be consistent?? Alex Burrows will most likely be called upon to bump up his production with his new contract, same going for Chris Higgins. Yet, you get Ryan Kesler for a full season and he can be the difference maker for that second line scoring.

While many of the Canucks faithful will scratch their heads over the quick elimination, the off-season could be just as dramatic with many unknowns and plenty of silliness to come through it. There won't be any dull moments from the front office and maybe the team on the bench and behind the bench will be just a touch different from this year's team.

Pointless Playoff Prognostication: Round One

Everyone else is doing this, so why can't I?? Don't worry-- this will be quick and dirty.

ROUND 1
EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8) New York Islanders
Prediction: Penguins in 5
Reason: Even without Sidney Crosby, the Pens are too deep to allow the Islanders to play the spoiler for their season.

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
Reason: Despite the slipping towards the end, the Habs should be able to wear down the Sens, despite them trying to put up a good fight.

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
Prediction: Capitals in 6
Reason: Third straight odd-numbered year these two teams will face in the first round and the Caps have won both. With their new confidence, they'll find a way past King Henrik.

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Reason: As much of a great story as the Leafs have been, the Bruins will turn up their playoff expertise in order to get past the first round.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Blackhawks in 5
Reason: With a big season and resting their players during the last game, the team who has been great all season should have a solid first round pairing.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Ducks in 6
Reason: With the Red Wings barely getting in, the Ducks should be able to pluck off an already tired team and get their offense rolling well.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
Prediction: Canucks in 6
Reason: Trying to exercise the demons of last playoffs, the Canucks will need to prove early and often they are a team on a mission.

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Blues in 7
Reason: Brian Elliott has been on a roll this season and hot goaltending is the name of the playoff game. Plus, they feel to avenge last year's loss to the eventual Cup champs.

No Gimmicks Necessary: Jackets Gain Respect On Their Own

Part of me was pretty excited to see the Columbus Blue Jackets get into the playoffs. Of course, that was before the whole "Lumbus" thing which make everyone so very obnoxious. At that point, I wanted them to tank worse than any tanking from a scene out of "Patton."

And GM Jarmo Kekalainen saying that he hopes people don't think they arrived at something because they hadn't-- which rekindled my enjoyment for the Blue Jackets beyond some gimmick that wore out it's welcome like so much B-Sharps. Yet, they did arrive at the point that they are a team that is to be taken seriously, which is a huge step for a team that was in the shadows of THE Ohio State University.

Looking back, what the front office has done with the Blue Jackets in one shortened-season and one summer has been fantastic. John Davidson is working is magic once again by getting rid of one of the big problems in Scott Howson, despite Howson making bold moves to get rid of Rick Nash and bring in the likes of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and of course-- Sergei Bobrovsky. One of the bigger moves was to snag Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline, something that showed people actually wanted to be in Columbus.

More over, the move that will happen next year will be a huge one for the Jackets. Going to the Eastern Conference will help the Jackets in terms of finances and will maybe give them a better chance at making the playoffs on a consistent basis-- barring another realignment due to teams moving. Granted, they'll have to play in the same division as four current playoff teams in the East; dealing with lack of travel could make this young team a fresher team which will make them a dangerous team.

Gimmicky things aside, the stir that the Jackets brought amongst hockey fans near and far was one for the ages. It was an underdog team that was all but written off and gave them life. Players who were casted away revitalized themselves, while the front office tries to repair a reputation that has been drug through the mud for a majority of the franchise's existence.

The biggest thing for the Jackets now is to keep it going. Take away from this season what to do to get better next season. Granted, the test will be what a full 82-game slate will provide this team and how much endurance they have-- but from the glimpse we saw this season; there's a good chance they won't let this misstep completely derail the next season.