Carl Hagelin

Embed from Getty Images According to the NHL, the Conn Smythe Memorial Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player for his team during the postseason. The award is presented annually and is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. A player is judged on his performance throughout the entire postseason, not a…

Embed from Getty Images The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals last met in the second round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That year, the Capitals were the Southeast Division Champions, but they were ranked fourth in the league. While Alex Ovechkin lead the NHL in goals with 56 and won the Hart Memorial, Ted Lindsay, and Maurice…

http://gty.im/510106548 From Plucked to Plucky In December, the Anaheim Ducks were all but plucked. They were three points out of the last place in the NHL, and they were not doing anything to make fans think they could pull themselves out of it. They were in a tailspin. Their high priced front lines were faltering out of the gate with Ryan…

http://gty.im/494394814 Duck, Duck, Disaster Before the start of the season, there were very few people who would bet against the Anaheim Ducks leading the Western Conference, in dominant fashion.  After all, this team made few changes from the team that took the eventual Stanley Cup Champion, Chicago Blackhawks to seven games in the Western…