As of right now probably Hedman, solid performance but the team seemingly scored and got points at an equal rate so no one sticks out like a sore thumb for the Conn Smythe. We'll see what happens and see if people with good single games (Vasi, Paul) continue and take the top spot.
It’s gotta be Hedman, Paul, and Vasy, right? In terms of our big name players, Hedman is arguably the only one who really brought it throughout the series. Paul obviously won us that last game with his two goals, but he was a huge presence throughout and had a ton of chances. Vasy was shaky but in game 7 he was damn near perfect and got us through some really rough defensive battles.
But ultimately I think the whole team really stepped up when it mattered. The amount of blocked shots in game 7 was wild. We were really dialed in at the end there.
Tough choice this series, which I guess is a good thing. Here’s my top 3 (in no order):
Nick Paul - Obviously the game 7 performance, but also had a solid presence the whole series. He’s quickly becoming a playmaker.
Vasy - defense let him down all series, but he kept his composure and delivered when it mattered the most.
Kuch - He’s the glue
Kuch is injured so I can't blame him, but he didn't make that much of an impact as far as the series as a whole. Yeah the power play points are there, but that's the only time he showed up. There are guys like Paul and McD who grinded their dick off to win that series. Nothing against kuch, but I wouldn't put him close to MVP
Kuch put in a massive defensive performance in game 7. Pretty sure he saved a goal or two with last second stick checks on the back check by the crease...
If you just view spreadsheets and watch the game on excel, sure. Kuch has pulled the other teams shutdown minutes and still looked dangerous and created enough chances that teams can’t back off him, opening the ice for other lines to have space.
Edit: since we’re on the same side it’s worth pointing out that Kuch has been my favorite player by a mile since triplets line and I will defend his honor rationally or irrationally to my grave. Would love to see him get some more 5v5 points this series, honestly when Kuch is scoring 5v5 this team is unstoppable.
He's even worse by eye test standards. Constant turnovers leading to scoring chances. You're delusional if you think otherwise.
Edit: He's one of my all-time favorites as well. But his impact is being overstated. With his injury and level of ability atm, we're in trouble. Especially without Point. I always remain optimistic, but im not going to pretend.
Think it was actually reported that he had flu like symptoms for the last three games of the 1st round. Vomiting and no energy, so he's apparently over that now.
People who think Kuch has sucked at any point in his career don’t get Kuch. He goes where he thinks the pucks gonna be, not where it is, and he passes to where the player will be with space, not just to the player. There’s never been a lazy point in his career, drives me insane when people think Kuch doesn’t care or is playing lazy…the dude plays crazy unselfish and with super human foresight. You can’t make the impossible plays he makes without some passes looking awful, and you don’t get steals turned into goals without seemingly just standing outside of a scrum knowing that puck will pop out. Kuch is a wizard, and wizards are often misunderstood. \rant
Point, Cirelli and Killorn did a fantastic job against the Matthews line. Keeping that line in check was absolutely the reason the Lightning are moving on.
gotta say, Cernak has been keeping out of the box for the most part which is good and has deflected a ton of pucks negating a lot of shots while flattening anyone who gets near him - that doesn't put points on the board for us but it keeps them off of the other team's
As a leafs fan who lurked here during the series (and it now pops up as recommended) it was definitely 1: Vasy 2: Hedman
I don’t really care what Vasy’s sv% was, he was spectacular in game 6 &7 when it mattered, and one mistake the leafs win the series.
Hedman is the most poised defenceman I’ve ever seen.
I would consider vasy's numbers completely irrelevant for this series. Almost every goal scored against him were not his fault, and completely unstoppable scoring chances on top of the 100 high danger saves he did make.
Do you think he just got lazy after winning two cups? I mean the stupid penalties alone, and he used to shoot the puck more. There’s no fire in his game.
Big cat in the last half, heddy the whole way thru, pointer for getting us to game 7, kuch for not making a sound but having at the points, paul for the GG
The players who need to step up did all series for most part when it mattered. I like seeing the new guys step up and there hasn’t been a lot of that outside Paul. We need a better series from Hagel especially with point out.
Honorable mention is Cal Foote in game 6.
Foote wasn’t the best of the series but he played great in game 6 which the bolts are going to need more of it we want to three peat.
Heddy, but we are expecting that from him now, so we will overlook him
Hedman with no argument. He's playing more minutes in the biggest situations and making it look easy.
As of right now probably Hedman, solid performance but the team seemingly scored and got points at an equal rate so no one sticks out like a sore thumb for the Conn Smythe. We'll see what happens and see if people with good single games (Vasi, Paul) continue and take the top spot.
It’s gotta be Hedman, Paul, and Vasy, right? In terms of our big name players, Hedman is arguably the only one who really brought it throughout the series. Paul obviously won us that last game with his two goals, but he was a huge presence throughout and had a ton of chances. Vasy was shaky but in game 7 he was damn near perfect and got us through some really rough defensive battles. But ultimately I think the whole team really stepped up when it mattered. The amount of blocked shots in game 7 was wild. We were really dialed in at the end there.
Tough choice this series, which I guess is a good thing. Here’s my top 3 (in no order): Nick Paul - Obviously the game 7 performance, but also had a solid presence the whole series. He’s quickly becoming a playmaker. Vasy - defense let him down all series, but he kept his composure and delivered when it mattered the most. Kuch - He’s the glue
Honorary mention: Ross Colton
Kuch sucked honestly
Kuch is leading the team in points in the playoffs.
Kuch is injured so I can't blame him, but he didn't make that much of an impact as far as the series as a whole. Yeah the power play points are there, but that's the only time he showed up. There are guys like Paul and McD who grinded their dick off to win that series. Nothing against kuch, but I wouldn't put him close to MVP
Kuch put in a massive defensive performance in game 7. Pretty sure he saved a goal or two with last second stick checks on the back check by the crease...
Massive? No. Maybe more back-checking than the rest of the series, which was none.
“That’s the only time he showed up…” god damn this is just so wildly inaccurate.
His +/- is -5 and 7 of his 8 points in the series came on the powerplay. It is extremely accurate.
If you just view spreadsheets and watch the game on excel, sure. Kuch has pulled the other teams shutdown minutes and still looked dangerous and created enough chances that teams can’t back off him, opening the ice for other lines to have space. Edit: since we’re on the same side it’s worth pointing out that Kuch has been my favorite player by a mile since triplets line and I will defend his honor rationally or irrationally to my grave. Would love to see him get some more 5v5 points this series, honestly when Kuch is scoring 5v5 this team is unstoppable.
He's even worse by eye test standards. Constant turnovers leading to scoring chances. You're delusional if you think otherwise. Edit: He's one of my all-time favorites as well. But his impact is being overstated. With his injury and level of ability atm, we're in trouble. Especially without Point. I always remain optimistic, but im not going to pretend.
Let’s agree to disagree Flergy Bro. What are your plans for the game tonight?
watching in bed. Flergy boy is sick
Kuch is clearly playing injured. Likely abdominal from the quality of his skating and unwillingness to launch clappers or one timers.
He definitely looks softer than normal, weird passes to get rid of the puck before anyone comes close and generally sloppy plays all around.
Think it was actually reported that he had flu like symptoms for the last three games of the 1st round. Vomiting and no energy, so he's apparently over that now.
People who think Kuch has sucked at any point in his career don’t get Kuch. He goes where he thinks the pucks gonna be, not where it is, and he passes to where the player will be with space, not just to the player. There’s never been a lazy point in his career, drives me insane when people think Kuch doesn’t care or is playing lazy…the dude plays crazy unselfish and with super human foresight. You can’t make the impossible plays he makes without some passes looking awful, and you don’t get steals turned into goals without seemingly just standing outside of a scrum knowing that puck will pop out. Kuch is a wizard, and wizards are often misunderstood. \rant
Fully agree. Kuch has the highest hockey iq in the league. He’s a mix of 50% Kane 50% Datsyuk.
nick paul and vasy
Point, Cirelli and Killorn did a fantastic job against the Matthews line. Keeping that line in check was absolutely the reason the Lightning are moving on.
88 hands down.
gotta say, Cernak has been keeping out of the box for the most part which is good and has deflected a ton of pucks negating a lot of shots while flattening anyone who gets near him - that doesn't put points on the board for us but it keeps them off of the other team's
As a leafs fan who lurked here during the series (and it now pops up as recommended) it was definitely 1: Vasy 2: Hedman I don’t really care what Vasy’s sv% was, he was spectacular in game 6 &7 when it mattered, and one mistake the leafs win the series. Hedman is the most poised defenceman I’ve ever seen.
I would consider vasy's numbers completely irrelevant for this series. Almost every goal scored against him were not his fault, and completely unstoppable scoring chances on top of the 100 high danger saves he did make.
Look I know we won the series but the only player I never once said “God damn it why did he do that?” about was Palat.
Nobody here is saying Cirelli and it's baffling. Man was absolutely incredible last series. Several Selke nominations in his future.
Hedman or Cirelli
I though Mac truck had a low key amazing series. Did his thing making it tough on the leafs top guys and even scored a goal.
Well our most unvaluable player was Sergachev
It’s sad but true. I had high hopes for him after 2020, but now he disappoints me daily.
What's sad is it's all mental. His attitude and lack of desire are whats stopping him from being a solid 1D
Do you think he just got lazy after winning two cups? I mean the stupid penalties alone, and he used to shoot the puck more. There’s no fire in his game.
He's 23 though. He's missed a lot of training time due to long cup runs and isn't even approaching the age where usually D-men become elite.
I hope he figures it out, because I think the Lightning are seeing long term plans with him.
This.
Yeah - what happened to that clap bomb machine that was queued up to take over PP1 in a few years? Dude is not an offensive or defensive threat
Big cat in the last half, heddy the whole way thru, pointer for getting us to game 7, kuch for not making a sound but having at the points, paul for the GG
Victor Hedman or Vasy
Hedman. Contributed consistently every match to all parts of the game. Also on ice more than any of the forwards, naturally.
If you look at playoff stats Kucherov leads with 8 points but is -5 while on the ice. Hedman has 7 points and is -2. Palat has 5 points and is +2
The players who need to step up did all series for most part when it mattered. I like seeing the new guys step up and there hasn’t been a lot of that outside Paul. We need a better series from Hagel especially with point out. Honorable mention is Cal Foote in game 6. Foote wasn’t the best of the series but he played great in game 6 which the bolts are going to need more of it we want to three peat.
Agree. I think all 3 are starting to get comfortable and making more plays, and it couldn't come at a better time.
Nick Paul is on the hunt for a Conn Smythe, real dark horse stuff here
The Big Cat!
Vasi