Ranking the NHL's 10 Best "Because It's the Cup" Videos

The "Because it's The Cup" videos evoke an emotion, tugging at our heartstrings as they tell stories about this great game. They are a testament to the game, as they capture so much of what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. 

For some, these will be a beautiful reminder of the glory of watching our heroes win the ultimate prize. For others, it will be nightmarish, haunting and painful. 

Make no mistake, everyone of us will watch them because as fans we have no other option. They are captivating and beautiful, showing us the best of what the Stanley Cup playoffs have to offer.

There is nothing in sports like winning the Stanley Cup, and to witness the players and their desire to put everything on the line is absolutely stunning. These videos capture the essence of the game and what it means to the teams, the fans and the cities that they play in.

Winning the Stanley Cup is an emotional roller coaster. Players are absolutely exhausted when it is finally over, but the investment is incredible. You can see it written all over their faces as you watch them celebrate with the Cup.

Everyone of these videos has something remarkable in it; all you have to do is watch. Why are they remarkable? Because It's The Cup.

1. "No Words"

The title of the video could not be more perfect. There is so much work and effort that goes into winning a Stanley Cup. It is literally a crowning achievement for so many people, and it starts at a very early age.

Entire generations of people have grown up learning about the legend of the Stanley Cup and what it means to win it. The Stanley Cup is sacred, and players won't touch it until it is won.

It is obvious from watching this video that these players are simply awed at what has just happened to them. From an early age they spend so much time playing a game that they love, and now comes the unthinkable: they have won the Stanley Cup.

What does it mean to win? That is the question, but how do you answer something that is entirely inconceivable? Obviously, these players don't really answer; they just shake their heads and utter something that sounds nothing like words. Fortunately for us, we all understand exactly what they mean.

2. "Vladimir Konstantinov"

There is no real way to explain the tragedy. Vladimir Konstantinov was a legend, a favorite for so many in and around city of Detroit. He was a nightmare for the opposition, though, as he played the game on the edge. That's why Detroit Red Wings fans love him so much.

The Konstantinov tragedy was unbearable in the beginning. No one knew anything, and as time wore on, it became obvious that he would never play again. It shook the Red Wings and their fans to their core. "Vladdy" would never play again; how on earth would this team recover from this blow?

The answer is that they did recover, at least enough to win another Stanley Cup the year after Konstantinov was injured. It was a remarkable feat, winning Cups back to back, and it is something that has not been done since.

Konstantinov's injury provided the Red Wings with a reason to win another Cup. There is no telling how many more Stanley Cups the Red Wings would have won if it weren't for the Konstantinov tragedy.

3. "Where It's Been"

The Stanley Cup Finals are over, the Cup has been won, and the parade is underway. What follows is a great spectacle that includes each player and the Cup itself. Every player who plays on the team that wins the Stanley Cup gets to have his name engraved on the trophy, and they get to take the trophy home for 24 hours.

As the celebrations get underway, you can only imagine some of the stories about what happens to the Stanley Cup in the midst of the celebrating. Playing through the playoffs is a grind, and the celebrations are certainly deserved.

With the pressure off and having won the Cup, the players go into celebration mode. Some of them take that celebrating to an unreal level.

We have heard stories of the Cup being used as a vase and an ice cream sundae bowl. It has been urinated on and been at the bottom of a pool and probably everywhere in between. This video shows the level of celebrating that actually happens.

4. "Outside"

This video captures the beauty of what it means to make a long run into summer to win a Stanley Cup. All over cities, people gather to watch as their heroes battle on the ice against heroes from other teams. It is the same everywhere, as the games can not be missed.

Even in cities where there is no team, people assemble to watch their favorite teams begin their quest. It is an incredible journey, and it is all-consuming.

There is no way that people will miss these games, as they gather in their family rooms and in bars with family and friends. It is a right of spring, as natural as the tulips that break through the ground and the trees that bud their leaves. There is beauty in the Stanley Cup playoffs; you just have to watch.

5. "2012 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview"

The Stanley Cup playoffs harness everything that is great in sports. On display is an incredible amount of drama in every single game, and it is perfection. For every team that makes the playoffs, there is hope—hope that sometimes pays off in huge dividends.

In no other sport does each team believe it can win it all by simply getting into the playoffs. That's the greatness of what is on display, as every team battles on the ice to earn its way, round by round. The NHL playoffs have upsets every year, and they have had some of the greatest upsets in team sports history.

That is the one great thing about the Stanley Cup playoffs. Every team has a chance, as evidenced by the No. 8 seed Los Angeles Kings coming out of the West to make it to the 2012 Finals. There is such optimism and energy around the playoffs, and it is something that is unique to hockey.

6. "Two Halftimes"

The NHL playoffs can be breathtaking, and this video captures it. The playoffs cause people to come together in a common cause to cheer on the teams they love. It can be so dramatic that a break is required. Fifteen minutes between periods to catch your breath.

It is a common thing for people to gather and watch the game together. As the video shows, sometimes it can be hard to watch, but it is something you simply can't take your eyes off of. The playoffs are an incredible spectacle and something to behold.

It gets even more interesting when overtime comes into the equation. There is nothing like overtime hockey, as each and every shot can get to the back of the net. One little re-direction, and the game is over. A funny bounce or a bad giveaway can instantly cause your team to win or lose, and every little thing matters. That's playoff hockey and why it is so incredible to watch.

7. "Zach Parise"

Zach Parise is the heart and soul of the New Jersey Devils, and he has been their leader throughout the 2012 NHL playoffs. He has the Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals, and his play on the ice and leadership off the ice are invaluable.

Parise is a great hockey player and a player that the Devils can rely upon as a playmaker and a goal scorer. There is more, though, and Parise delivers on the promise that hard work and effort can pay off for a smaller player. He is 5'11" and 195 pounds.

It's one of the great things about the game of hockey, that you don't have to be of great size to play, and your hard work and effort can mean everything. Parise is a perfect example of what a smaller player can do in the NHL if he works hard at doing the small things great.

8. "Anze Kopitar"

Anze Kopitar is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. If he played on the east coast, he would be considered a star, one of the best players in the NHL today. He does it all for the Kings, and he has them in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kopitar is from Slovenia, and some think that foreign players don't value winning the Stanley Cup as much as Canadians and Americans do. That is an archaic sentiment after watching so many great European and Russian players perform in the playoffs.

Kopitar is another great hockey player from Europe, and his play in the playoffs has been phenomenal. Kopitar is a shining example of what a combination of a star player can do when he is willing to work hard every shift and not give up on anything.

9. "Kane and Toews"

There are really no words to explain the importance of these two players to the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans in the Chicago area. They are two young superstars, but they couldn't be different personalities if they set out to be.

Patrick Kane is a player who looks like he is having fun each and every game he plays in. His skills are incredible, and he is a great hockey player. He brings great things to the ice with him.

Jonathan Toews is the consummate captain. He is a very serious hockey player ,and he always looks to be focused on task at hand. He makes the smart play all the time, and he will be the Blackhawks captain for a long time.

Together the duo has brought great success to a city desperate for a Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks last won the Cup in 1961, and they ended a 49-year drought by winning the Cup in 2010.

Kane scored the game-winning goal in Game 6 versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, scoring 29 points in the playoffs.

10. "Bruins"

The Boston Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup. They played in three series that went the full seven games. It is a remarkable feat to win three games with that kind of pressure, and the run that the Bruins went on was magical. The video captures how great the Bruins' journey was.

The Bruins hadn't won a Stanley Cup in 39 years, and that is a really long drought for a team from the Original Six. The Bruins were one of the six teams that made up the NHL, along with the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.

The Original Six was established in 1942 and lasted until expansion in 1967. These are teams with great history, and everything we have today comes from these teams.

To say it was important to the team, its fans and the city is a gross understatement. Boston is a great hockey city, and a 39-year drought is significant. The Bruins' journey was fantastic, from beginning to end.

Heroes were made during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Bruins. From forward Nathan Horton to goalie Tim Thomas, players became household names for Bruins fans as they continually found a way to win.