An Arbitrary List: My Favorite Player on Each NHL Playoff Team

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At the time of this writing, the playoff race is still on. It's on hard! Well, it's sort of on. It's on in the Atlantic division. Ugh, the Atlantic division. That's like trying to figure out what company makes the best ranch dressing. It's all a nightmare.

Anyways, I digress. I thought, while things are still in swing, I would take a peak at the NHL teams that were decent enough to be good all year in tough divisions and pick a favorite player. Get myself nice and invested for a good, LONG, post season. No matter who goes all the way, I'll have someone to root for. Ok, let's go!

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is by a large margin, the best player on this team currently, and likely of all-time. He is a huge, angry Russian goal scorer. He takes no prisoners and he loves Putin. All of these...charming qualities make him a fan fave in Washington, but he's the boring pick in my book.

I'm going with Holtby. The Washington goalie is quickly becoming one of the best in the league, and along with Dubnyk and Price, is leading a renaissance of Canadian goalies. No longer is it the day of Rask, Lundqvist and a bunch of other weird names from weird countries. No, it's the land of the free and home of the apologetic. He stands on guard for a chance at the Vezina. 

Columbus Blue Jackets

A little bit the opposite of Washington, in Columbus, the obvious choice has got to be Bobrovsky. The vezina candidate goalie, swagger, charm, he's got everything...except a spot on this list!

I have two choices, Scott Hartnell for being a lovable veteran who does great work with charities, or Ryan Murray, who I still feel I was right about...

Murray. 

Drafted #2 in 2012 behind Nail Yakupov, he was everything Edmonton needed. A smart, responsible, offensively minded defenseman. What they did though, was drafted another sniper. Smart.

If they drafted Murray, Toronto likely could have got Connor McDavid. Bastards.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Easy. The thrill. 

This guy was ran out of the biggest hockey market on the planet, only to have a Conn Smythe worthy playoff run and win the cup. Hot dogs are power food!

New York Hockey Rangers

I am so indifferent to this team.....uh, Michael Grabner? Sure, Michael Grabner.

Chicago Blackhawks

This is a weird one and solely because of where I was raised. Ok....Jonathan Toews is from Manitoba, Duncan Keith too.

No, it's Jordin Tootoo.


If you grew up anywhere near the 2001-2002 Brandon Wheat Kings, you know what I'm saying. He was a fucking maniac in junior. One of the most exciting players in the history of the CHL. A quarter of the crowd would bring signs...SIGNS...to a junior hockey game. The Bruise Bros. Tootoo and Randy Ponte. Randy Ponte was no good and had bad facial hair.

Jordin Tootoo would rip clap bombs from just across the blue line one minute, and then beat the living piss out of someone the next. He was a riot. Not just my favorite Blackhawk player, but one of my favorite hockey players period. I believe in Jordin Tootoo.

Anaheim Ducks

Rickard Rakell is the Duck of the future, but honestly, I give so few duck fucks.

I choose....Jared Boll. 3 assists in 49 games. Awful.

Minnesota North Stars Wild

A couple years ago, this would have been an easy one. Josh Harding was an incredible player, and an inspiring person. Coming back from an MS diagnosis to put up some of the best numbers in the NHL is a story worth re-telling. Even if just on a silly little hockey blog. 

Another goalie can take his spot now though. 

Devan Dubnyk was laughed out of the NHL. He was a joke. He couldn't catch a cold, a taxi. He couldn't stop a beach ball. You've heard it all. 

That guy's gonna win a Vezina this year. 

San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton has been one of the best players in the NHL for years. Traded from Boston...as the TEAM CAPTAIN. He took the team to a Cup Final last year and could do it again this year. 

He is a possession monster and one of the best players in the league when the puck is on his stick. He does all of the little things right. First ballot hall-of-famer.

Edmonton Oilers

Umm, is that right? The Oilers are a playoff team? Ok...

I'm a big fan of Eberle. He's small, tough, plays hard in the offensive zone. But nah.....

It will always, only be this beautiful Canadian bastard!


God bless you Ryan Smyth. Forever, Captain Canada!

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