Playoff Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes
Who will win the Cup?
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 12:00 PMPICKING A CUP WINNER:
People ask me who I like in the Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit or Pittsburgh?
At the start of the season, I figured the Red Wings would make the Finals and win The Cup. No, this was not based on any complicated scientific analysis, but rather a simple theory: never bet against The Champs.
But that was then and this is now.
Who could figure on the injuries that have afflicted the Red Wings? Who could guess that the Penguins would rise from the ashes after naming a no-name like Dan Bylsma as head coach?
So, we are faced with a classic collision of classy clubs.
The Defenders boast a well-balanced, experienced lineup with the most underrated goaltender in modern memory, Chris Osgood. Trouble is that they have been hurting. Nik Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk are as good as you can get at their position, but if they're not healthy, the entire population of Pennsylvania will be laughing.
The Pretenders have everything in their favor, from a sizzling Sid Crosby-Ev Malkin duet right down to the mature goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury, who's fronted by a surprisingly solid defense.
Nevertheless, The Maven picks Detroit in seven games.
ON THE SUTTER WATCH:
The sands of time are running, and just about every New Jersey Devils fan is wondering how long it will take before Brent Sutter declares his intention to stay with the Devils, or exit Newark.
One new element has intruded, and that took place at a press conference in Calgary, orchestrated by Brent's big brother, Darryl.
Asked about a new coach to replace the exited Mike Keenan, Darryl replied that the best available coach happens to be himself. Well, that may be true for the moment, but it also smells like a stall to enable brother Brent to slide into the slot somewhere down the line; like July 1, or something like that.
Nobody's fool, Lou Lamoriello is acutely aware of all the angles. What's more, you can be darn sure that he already has positiioned himself for all eventualities, starting with a possible bye-bye for Brent.
And if that happens, the line already has formed at the right in terms of a successor.
The Maven has bruited the subject about with some keen Devs-watchers. One name they favor is Ted Nolan, a chap I closely watched when he was with the Islanders.
Intriguing, wot! But we're getting ahead of the game since the Sutter silence continues.
One can only wonder why it's taken so long for Brent to decide; unless he's playing for time.
CHOKE OR WHAT?:
Before the Pittsburgh-Washington playoff began, defenseman Mike Green was regarded as a favorite to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman. After Game Seven of the series, Green's report card read something between D-minus and F (for Failure). His offense was invisible and his defense was inept. If Green had played to his notices, the Capitals might still be in the playoffs.
Prior to the Pittsburgh-Carolina series, the spotlight was on Eric Staal of the Hurricanes. If the Raleigh sextet was to prevail, Staal would have to be the marquee man for the Canes' offense. When the dust had cleared and Carolina ignominiously exited Stage Left, Eric's numbers sadly ressembled a fourth-liner, if that.
Imagine this: Chad LaRose – once a fourth-liner – played about twenty-five times better than Staal. Meanwhile, kid brother, Jordan Staal, was about fifteen times better than Eric.
Or, as they say in beautiful Downtown Raleigh, "Wha' happen, baby?"
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