Workin' Overtime: 2008 Conn Smythe Winner Could Surprise

So the NHL Playoffs are upon us, and with that comes the speculation: Who's going to win the Cup, where will the big surprises or the big upsets come from, which series will surprise and which will disappoint, and the question being asked across Bleacher Report by some of its finest NHL writers is: Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Now it's an intriguing proposition—who will be the playoff MVP in your opinion? I mean that's a hard enough question to answer in the Stanley Cup final, let alone the first round of the playoffs, and as Brian Kates pointed out in his teaser article, it's quite common that the team that wins the Stanley Cup is the home of the Conn Smythe winner.

So who do I think will win the Stanley Cup, and more importantly the Conn Smythe?

Well, unlike Brian and Ian Verhey, I don't see the Cup moving back to Motown, or a Red Wing being honored with the Playoff MVP award.

Although I agree with Ian Zymarakis in the thinking that Henrik Lundqvist could prove himself worth of "elite goalie" status with a strong playoff performance, I don't see the Cup setting up shop on Broadway either.

So who do I think will win the Cup?

I won't lie to you—I flat out don't know.

Whenever someones asked me this past week, I've told them that—of all the series—the winner of the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars series has the best shot. But even I'm not sold on that.

So I'm going to take a little bit of a different approach. My pick isn't necessarily a mainstream kind of guy, but more of a player who deserves some well-earned recognition for everything he's done throughout his career.

Besides, if the NHL Community Leader were to win a Bleacher Report T-Shirt, a few things would happen:

1) The levels of outrage and allegations of cheating would mirror that of Spygate. Arlen Specter would be knocking at my door for a urine sample and a copy of every hockey game I've ever watched, while I'd have to attend the Bleacher Report State of Address and offer a heartfelt apology while Robert Kraft stood knowingly next to me.

2) I'm told I have way too many clothes, mostly because I rarely throw something out and I don't think twice about buying obscure jersey's (Trevor Hoffman camo anyone?). The Bleacher Report T-Shirt would most likely become the only thing I wear for a period of weeks (perhaps months) which would cause the laundry industry to go downhill—I wouldn't need soap or detergent because I'd never wash the thing, and people would start following my lead. Eventually Downy would go (Oh jeeze...here it comes) down the drain.

3) If I were actually able to choose the Conn Smythe winner this early on, my head may actually explode. Fortunately enough, I'm not the doctor performing surgery on Sean MC's elbow in the event that my head does explode. 

So now we know why I can't (or at least shouldn't) win, but now let's find out why I probably won't...(envelope please)

And the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is—so long as his team makes it that far...

From the Calgary Flames, Stephane Yelle!

Seriously, did anyone see that coming?

Ok, I'll admit it—I'm a sucker for guys who "do it all". I did write an entire article about Larry Izzo after all.

A two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Yelle can kill penalties, throw hits, grind it out in the corners, and block shots. Come playoff time he becomes one of the most useful players in the league.

If you watch him, he's got no quit come playoff time. He skates hard to beat out icings, and he'll throw himself in the shooting and passing lanes just to be able to help the team.

Granted he'll never put up a lot of points, but he's a great two-way forward who is a career +2 in the playoffs (which doesn't tell the whole story) and a +3 in the years that he's made it to the Stanley Cup final.

Even in the Flames' current series, Yelle is showing that drive to get to loose pucks, and the determination you need from role players at this time of year.

Is it a realistic pick? No. Hell, I didn't even choose the Flames to get past the first round (to everyone that thinks I did...it was Frank Drebin who chose that), but everyone deserves a little recognition sometimes, and I don't think there's a more-overlooked two-time champion than Yelle.

Who knows? Stranger things have happened I'm sure, and I could claim one of those Bleacher Report T-Shirts still.

If not, I'll just add a Yelle jersey to my collection, I guess.