NHL Playoffs: 1 Player from Each Team Who We'd Love to See Hoist the Cup

Although every hockey fan would like to see their home-team win the Stanley Cup and no one else, there are certain players who we can all agree deserve to be rewarded for their work. Each team has at least one player where fans everywhere will smile at the sight of them hoisting the cup.  

The following identifies one player that fits that criteria on each NHL team.  

Anaheim Ducks

Saku Koivu

While many would argue it would be nice to see Teemu Selanne raise the cup before retirement (and it would), I've got to go with Saku Koivu on this one.  

Unlike Selanne, Koivu has never won a Stanley Cup, and is headed to retirement as well. 

Among the numerous injuries Saku has dealt with in his career, he's also had a battle with cancer during his 16-year NHL career. After all he's gone through to get to where he is, it would be the perfect end to an admirable story if he could win his first Stanley Cup before retiring.  

Boston Bruins

Marc Savard

It's difficult to find a player on the Boston Bruins who deserves a cup but doesn't have one, as they won it all last year.  

Although Savard's name was engraved on the cup, his 25 regular season games and absence from the playoff run would have lessened the thrill of winning it. 

Marc Savard is one of the most talented and classy players in the league, and after all his concussion problems it would be great to see him win a cup while being a difference maker in the process.  

That said, with the recent update on Savard's status, we must identify that this will likely never become possible.  

Buffalo Sabres

Derek Roy

With the oldest player on the team just 34-years-old, there aren't exactly any Buffalo Sabres who you can say have played long careers without a cup.  

Derek Roy, however, has played all eight seasons of his career with the Sabres, and for most of them he has been one of the best players on the team. After a disastrous season this year, many fans were calling for him to get traded.  

It would be great to see him get a chance to stay with the team and prove he is still a valuable asset by helping the Sabres earn their first Cup since the team was founded 41 years ago. 

Calgary Flames

Jarome Iginla 

The Calgary Flames' captain is a class act and one of the most talented and consistent players in the game. 

As the team's all-time leading goal scorer and point scorer, serving captain since 2003, and season point leader since 2000, it would be a great story to see Iginla win a cup with the team he's been so loyal to.  

That said, with the direction the Flames appear to be headed, Iginla's only opportunity to win a cup might be with a different team. 

Carolina Hurricanes

Jaroslav Spacek

The choice for Carolina here wasn't an easy one. As nice as it would be to see a youngster like Jeff Skinner win the cup, there are other other players who are more deserving, and Skinner has plenty of time to get one. 

Jaroslav Spacek, on the other hand, just came to the Canes this season, but he's been around for quite some time now. 

In his 13 NHL seasons, Spacek has switched clubs eight times, including four mid-season trades. Despite his experience, the Czech Republic native has yet to claim a Stanley Cup, with the closest coming in the '05-'06 season when his Edmonton Oilers lost in Game 7 of the finals to none other than his current team, the Carolina Hurricanes.  

As he's headed to free agency this summer, Spacek's chances at winning a cup with the Hurricanes may be over. 

Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Brunette

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup just two seasons ago, so many players on the roster who you'd like to see hoist the Cup have already had their fair share. 

Andrew Brunette, however, was not on the team that won two seasons ago. 

Much like Spacek, Brunette has made his way around the league in his years. In his 16 seasons, Brunette has moved seven times. Unlike Spacek, he has never come close to a cup, as the first round exit against Phoenix this season was just his fifth trip to the playoffs.  

Brunette is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it could be in his best interest to re-sign with Chicago if possible, as they'll likely be a contender for years to come.  

On the other hand, at 38-years-old, Brunette just put up his lowest point total since the '97-'98 season with the Washington Capitals. With the direction his production is headed, Brunette could very well be pondering retirement.  

Colorado Avalanche

Milan Hejduk

Milan Hejduk has played all 13 of his NHL seasons with the Avalanche and is the last man standing from the Sakic and Forsberg days. 

Hejduk has already won the Stanley Cup once, but it's been 11 seasons since. It would really be great to see him rewarded for his loyalty to Colorado.  

This past season, Hejduk's 37 points was a career low after a he got bumped to the fourth line for a large part of the season. If his diminished role is a foreshadow of what's to come as Colorado gives their young stars more responsibility, he may look to play elsewhere. As an upcoming unrestricted free agent, a change in scenery is a very possible outcome. 

Columbus Blue Jackets

Vaclav Prospal

Throughout his career, it seems as though everything has been working against Vinny Prospal.

From 2001 to 2009, he played every season with the Tampa Bay Lightning except for a one year stint with the Anaheim Ducks in '03-'04. During that season, the Lightning won the cup.  

In 2008, Tampa Bay traded him at the deadline to the Philadelphia Flyers. Following the season, he went back to the Lightning instead of remaining a Flyer. Had he not, he could have been part of Philadelphia's trip to the Stanley Cup finals.  

To top it all off, he spent two seasons with the New York Rangers prior to signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, the first season after leaving, the Rangers were the best team in the East, and are now in the conference finals against the Devils.  

Prospal will be 38-years-old by the time his contract with the Blue Jackets expires, making his chances at hoisting the elusive cup an unlikely achievement.  

Dallas Stars

Sheldon Souray

Sheldon Souray started his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils in 1997. After two and a half seasons with the club he was traded to the Montreal Canadians at the trade deadline.  

The Canadians went on to miss the playoffs, while his former Devils won the Stanley Cup. 

Fast forward through 11 injury-ridden seasons, which saw one-year stints in Sweden and in the AHL. Now he's with the Dallas Stars, and still hasn't won a Stanley Cup.  

Finally winning the Cup would be a nice ending to this roller coaster ride of a career. 

Detroit Red Wings

Nicklas Lidstrom

Although my personal pick is Todd Bertuzzi for the Red Wings, I realize that it could be some Vancouver fan bias. Also the fact that many people still can't look past the infamous punch that ended Steve Moore's career, and for that reason, I'm going with Nicklas Lidstrom.  

Lidstrom has been loyal to the Red Wings, who he's played for all 20 seasons of his career. Despite the fact that he's already won four Stanley Cups and a boat-load of other awards, it'd still be nice to see him do it again.  

It would be a perfect ending to one of the best careers in the history of the game. 

Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Smyth

Ryan Smyth has been a loyal member of the Oilers throughout his career.

When he was traded to the New York Islanders at the 2007 trade deadline, an emotional Smyth showed how much he really loved playing in Edmonton at the farewell press conference.  

When Smyth returned to Edmonton at the beginning of this season he received a standing ovation, proving once again that he belongs in an Oilers' jersey. 

Now that Smyth is back where he wants to be, the perfect ending to the story would be to see him lead the young team to a Stanley Cup victory; and with all the young talent on the roster, that's not a far-fetched conclusion.  

Florida Panthers

Ed Jovanovski

On the young Florida Panthers, there aren't too many players who've paid their dues in the league. 

First, there's John Madden, but with three Stanley Cups in his career, he's had his fair share.  

Mikael Samuelsson was also a consideration, but even he has a Stanley Cup under his belt.  

Jovanovski, on the other hand, has been in the NHL for sixteen seasons without a Cup. After being drafted first overall by the Panthers in 1994 and playing four seasons in Florida, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. 

After 11 seasons with Vancouver and Phoenix, Jovanovski returned to where it all began in Florida, and helped lead them to their first playoff appearance in ten years and their first Southeast title in history.  

Los Angeles Kings

Willie Mitchell

Finally, we've reached a team and player that actually have the chance to get it done this year. 

While many would argue that it would be nice to see captain Dustin Brown win the Cup after overcoming all the trade deadline speculation, I've got to go with Willie Mitchell.  

Willie Mitchell was a member of the New Jersey Devils when they won the Stanley Cup in 2000, but with just two regular season games and zero in the playoffs, his name wasn't added to the cup and he doesn't own a ring.  

Throughout his 12 seasons in the NHL, Mitchell has been one of the best and most consistent defensive men in the league.  

At 35-years-old this season, Mitchell put up a career high 24 points, and the second best plus/minus of his career with plus-20. It's very possible that without him on the roster the King's wouldn't have reached the playoffs at all, let alone be in the Western Conference Finals. 

Minnesota Wild

Mikko Koivu

I've got one Koivu on this list, so I might as well add the other. 

Mikko Koivu was the Minnesota Wild's second ever first round draft pick, and the first permanent captain in the franchise's history.  

Koivu debuted as a member of the Wild in the '05-'06 season, and apart from Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Josh Harding, he's the only member who remains. 

A Stanley Cup would be a fitting reward for his unconditional loyalty.  

Montreal Canadians

Andrei Markov

Andrei Markov is one of the most talented and offensively dangerous defenders in the NHL. Unfortunately, injuries have held him to just 20 games over the past two seasons, and just 65 over the past three. 

At first, the Canadians managed without Markov, but this past season season marked one of the worst in team history, as the Canadians finished last in the East with just 78 points.

It's clear that a healthy Markov is necessary for the Canadians to recover from last season, and if they were to become a contender in the next few years, he'll be an integral part of it.  

Markov has been a member of the Canadians for all 11 seasons of his career, and the team has failed to capture a Stanley Cup within that time.  

Nashville Predators

David Legwand

A lot of the players on this list are there because of the loyalty they've shown to their respective teams. David Legwand is another. 

He was the first draft pick in franchise history in 1998, and 14 years later is still a member of the Predators. 

It would be quite a story to see the first draft pick in franchise history to stick around for so long and be awarded with a Stanley Cup. 

If he's hoping on doing so soon he'll have to assist in the persuading of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber this summer, as both are headed towards free agency.  

New Jersey Devils

Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur has won the Stanley Cup three times in his career, and at 40-years-old is chasing his fourth. 

He's already found success in the playoffs this season, becoming the all-time playoff shutout leader and winning the first two rounds against the Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers, but he's still got some work to do. 

With retirement on the horizon, a fourth Stanley Cup would be the perfect ending to an unbelievable career.

New York Islanders

Steve Staios

There aren't many big name players on the Islanders who aren't in the earlier stages of their career. 

Steve Staios has been around for awhile, however, the New York Islanders are the sixth team he's played for since he was drafted 27th overall by the St. Louis Blues (who are not among the teams he's played for). 

On Apr. 5 of this season, Staios was recognized for playing in his 1000th game.  

A Stanley Cup would be a nice way to cap off an already impressive career.  

At 38-years-old, and the Islanders far away from contention, he may have to do so with his seventh team.  

New York Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist

Since Henrik Lundqvist first entered the league in 2005 he's been one of the best and most consistent goaltenders in the NHL. 

His average save percentage over his seven seasons is .920, and this year was his largest variance of a .010 difference; and in a positive way as he posted a career high .930 save percentage.  

Unfortunately, he's never had the supporting cast to capitalize on his strong play—until this year.  

Now in the conference finals, Lundqvist has already gone further than ever before in the playoffs. 

The only player who can challenge Lundqvist for what he's done for his team this year is Jonathan Quick; and as it stands now, there's a strong possibility of the two facing off in the finals.  

Regardless, it would be nice to see Lundqvist rewarded for the strong and consistent performance he's provided in New York.  

Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Alfredsson is probably the easiest choice from this list. 

He was drafted 133rd overall by Ottawa in 1994, and has played all 16 seasons of his career there. 

He is the franchise's longest serving captain, and leads the team in games played, goals, assists, points, power play goals, short-handed goals and game-winning goals. 

Is there anyone in the league who deserves a Cup more?

Philadelphia Flyers

Kimmo Timonen

It's hard to find a player in the NHL who has been more consistent and reliable than Kimmo Timonen without winning a Stanley Cup. 

At 37-years-old, he's now played 13 seasons in the NHL, and has played 11 straight without missing more than 10 games in a season. He's also been a consistent point producer, picking up an average of 39 points per season over his career.  

It'd be hard to find someone who doesn't think Timonen has earned his chance to hoist the cup.  

Phoenix Coyotes

Shane Doan

While the case could be made for Mike Smith's admirable journey from the minors to the conference finals, this one's got to go to Shane Doan. 

Doan has been with the franchise for longer than the Coyotes have been in the desert, but his loyalty deserves a reward. Unfortunately, now down 3-0 in the Conference Finals, he may have to wait for another year.  

Pittsburgh Penguins

Steve Sullivan

Much like the Bruins, Blackhawks and Red Wings, the Penguins have numerous players on the roster who've already won the Stanley Cup; but Steve Sullivan, their oldest player, is not one of them.  

Throughout his 15 seasons in the NHL, Sullivan has earned quite a reputation as being injury prone. In fact, he missed the entire '07-'08 season with a back injury, leaving many to wonder if he'd ever suit up again.  

But here we are four years later, and Sullivan is on one of the best teams in the league, playing with some of the best players in the league, and he missed just three games all season.  

His return to an injury-free career has been a long road, and it'd be nice to see that road end with a Stanley Cup.  

San Jose Sharks

Patrick Marleau

Honestly, the San Jose Sharks have fallen short despite having promise so many times that it would be a relief for all fans to see them win the Cup. 

Patrick Marleau, especially. 

Over the years, he's been criticized of choking in the playoffs. While that may be true, it's a team effort and he can't be held solely responsible for their failures.  

But despite all the team's shortcomings, Marleau has held strong as a Shark for all 14 seasons of his career. It takes a lot of loyalty to stay with a team for that long when all signs are pointing to continued failures.  

St. Louis Blues

Jaroslav Halak

Two seasons ago, as a member of the Montreal Canadians, Jaroslav Halak had one of the most incredible playoff runs in recent memory, as he led the Canadians past the top-seeded Washington Capitals and the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Unfortunately, the Cinderella story ended early when the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated Montreal in the Conference Finals.  

This post season was Halak's first appearance in the playoffs, but it was cut short when he succumbed to injury less than two games in. In the brief time he was in net, he looked as though he was on the top of his game yet again.  

Hopefully in the next couple years Halak will get the chance to complete the Cinderella story he started two seasons ago. 

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos

It seems like just yesterday that Steven Stamkos was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

His entry into the NHL has been rampant, as he's picked up 179 goals and 329 points in just four seasons. His most recent achievement was hitting the 60 goal mark, a feat that just Alex Ovechkin has accomplished since 1996.  

Stamkos has proven that he can produce among the elite, but can he lead among them?

Now that he's solidified himself as one of the league's best scorers, the next thing for Stamkos is to help lead his team to a Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Dion Phaneuf

As a Canucks fan, my initial thought is, "why on earth would anyone want the Leafs to win?". 

But in all honesty, if they must do it, I'd like to see Dion Phaneuf hoist the hardware. Not because he's paid his dues in the league, but simply because I like the way he plays. 

Phaneuf is the king of clean, bone-crushing open-ice hits, and I'd like to see that type of play rewarded.  

Vancouver Canucks

Sami Salo

Sami Salo has been a great defender in his run with the Vancouver Canucks. 

But all in all, his injury-filled career has been unrewarding, as his trip to game seven of the finals last season was the furthest he's ever made it in the playoffs. 

At 37-years-old, headed to free agency with retirement on the horizon, it would be great to see Salo tough it out with the 'nucks for one more playoff run.  

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin

Why not? 

On every 369 goals of his young career his celebration has left us entertained. Just imagine what it would be like to see him win the Stanley Cup and silence all his critics. 

Winnipeg Jets

The Fans

As much as I'd like to pick a player from the team we'd like to see hoist the cup, what really would be great is to simply see the fans reaction of bringing the Cup home after going without their team for 16 years.