The Stanley Cup Final is back! There will be fans in the stands, and Canada is no longer a bubble. It’s a different feel, but the one constant is, the Tampa Bay Lightning are back. They made it all the way back, something many other previous cup winners were unable to do over the years. Here are the ten best players in the Final, in no order:
Nikita Kucherov
Kucherov is healthy enough to play. The Tampa winger was stretching and keeping a shoulder loose? That’s what I think, and my guess is he is wearing a harness. He was taking bumps and shooting as well as passing. His presence was massive for his club. Kucherov is behind Gretzky in playoff assists the past few years. The Great One has records of 31, 30, and 29 assists in the postseason. Kucherov had 27 last season, and he currently has 22. Being second in this category is still tremendous.
-
Ep 57: Conference Finals, Dubas Out, Coyotes Wandering
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 11:38 am
Jim and Chris discuss the Conference Finals, the departure of Kyle Dubas […]
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy is the best goalie on the planet. He has been for two seasons running. The talented Russian doesn’t need awards to prove that. He is the people’s champion. No goalie has ever had the post-to-post speed to be a step ahead of shooters and while down in the splits have the core strength to seal the post. He’s 12-6 with a .932 save percentage this season. His career postseason save percentage is a stellar .923. He’s only 26. He is the greatest home-grown player in the history of the franchise.
Victor Hedman
There were murmurs that Victor Hedman has been playing injured in these playoffs. Well, join the club, most are, but we only noticed when he made a defensive mistake in this series. In game seven, the towering Swede had no points. However, Hedman played over 24 minutes. But in the corners and especially on the penalty kill, nobody was getting the puck away from him.
Latest Stanley Cup News
- 2023 Stanley Cup Final Opens Saturday June 3rd – TV Schedule
- Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk Send Panthers Back to Stanley Cup Final
- Matthew Tkachuk Has Clutch Gene For Panthers
- No Need To Change Overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Final Betting Odds
Steve Stamkos
Stamkos is the captain. He’s their emotional leader and the bloody face he endured after eating part of the dasher was a symbol of what this guy brings on every shift. Last year he gutted it out and got his Cup. Stamkos is only 31, and he has 17 points in 18 postseason games this year.
Ryan McDonagh
McDonagh is a different kind of guy. I did a book signing with him once and got to know him a bit. McDonagh is a man of few words and mostly action. He has the highest hockey I.Q. for any defenseman in the tournament. McDonagh gets some points, but his timely blocks and smart plays with physicality make him one of the best defensemen in the Stanley Cup.
Carey Price
Price needed to carry his team in the playoffs to cement his reputation as one of the best netminders of his era. The Habs don’t get this far without him. Just ask Jake Allen who’s had the best seat in the house. Price has a .934 save percentage in this postseason. It’s the highest for good reason. Price makes the right save at the right time.
Nick Suzuki
Suzuki is a worldly rookie. He is an old soul, and his talent is continuing to grow. He’s second on the team in scoring and third in shots. Suzuki was drafted by Vegas and developed by Montreal.
Cole Caufield
Caufield provided the initial spark for the Canadiens when their offense was sagging. He was benched, mostly because of his youth, early on, and ever since then, Caufield has become a game-breaker.
Joel Edmundson
Edmundson was the best under-the-radar signing Marc Bergevin provided in the offseason. At 27, this rugged blueliner is in his prime physically and mentally. He changes the course of the opponent’s offensive plays in every game.
Phillip Danault
Danault is an impending UFA. How much will he earn in the offseason? For now, he’s one of the best face-off men in the playoffs, and his shutdown defense has been invaluable.
Loading...
-
Ep 57: Conference Finals, Dubas Out, Coyotes Wandering
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 11:38 am
Jim and Chris discuss the Conference Finals, the departure of Kyle Dubas […]
-
Ep 56: Leafs, Oilers, Eastern Conference Preview
by Full Press Coverage on May 16, 2023 at 12:21 am
Jim and Producer Ian discuss the Leafs and Oilers early exits and they […]
-
Eastern Conference and Western Final Previews and More NHL Talk
by Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Full Press NHL Podcast with Jim Biringer and Vox Media AM/FM NHL Analyst […]
-
Taking a Trip Around the NHL as Changes Fill The Air
by Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Russ Cohen of Sportsology and Buffalo […]
-
Ep 83: Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Here; Can Bruins Keep Up Pace?
by Full Press Coverage on April 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Ian and Chris are back to give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
-
Ep 82: Bruins Set Wins Record, Pasta Hits 60, Playoffs Around The Corner
by Full Press Coverage on April 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Bruins 63rd win of the season, David Pastrnak's […]
-
The Hockey World Revolves Around Toronto
by Jim Biringer on May 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey as he is […]
-
S4Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Final Preview
by Jim Biringer on May 16, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Jim is back for the fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey previewing […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Stars at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 25, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Hurricanes at Panthers
by Broken Controller Media on May 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Episode #141: Tend The Goal
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 2:24 pm
The 2023 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs have reached its final four teams, and […]
-
Episode #140: Stone Cold's 4th Line
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm
And then, there were four. The 2023 AHL Division Finals have concluded, […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Monday, May 29th
by Full Press Coverage on May 29, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Looking back at Shane Wrights’ first season and the future. Learn more […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 766
by Charlie Saunier on May 28, 2023 at 7:01 am
Ep 766 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 2 Preview Game 3 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 765
by Charlie Saunier on May 26, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Ep 765 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 1 Preview Game 2 Milwaukee […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Thursday, May 25th
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The Carolina Hurricanes are eliminated in four games in the Eastern […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Thursday, May 25th
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Taking a look at Vince Dunn’s season Learn more about your ad choices. […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Thursday, May 25th
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 1:15 pm
What team blueprint should the Blackhawks follow and what is will the […]
-
5/26 - Celtics Force Game 6; Mahomes QB List
by Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big Game 5 win the Top 5 quarterbacks of […]
-
5/25 - Panthers Advance To Stanley Cup Finals; Celtics/Heat
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics and the Heat and welcome in Jim Bringer […]
-
5/24 - Lakers Eliminated, Celtics Force Game 5
by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss the Lakers loss to the Nuggets in the Western […]
-
5/22 - Celtics, Lakers Face 0-3 Deficit
by Full Press Coverage on May 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John react to the Celtics and Lakers being down 0-3 in their […]