Five Favourites To Win the Stanley Cup

The most exciting playoffs in sports are about to begin. The 16 teams who will compete have been decided, so which team will make it through four rounds to win the Stanley Cup?        

Here are the five favorites for the Cup in 2009.

#1 Detroit Red Wings 

The last time a Cup winner repeated was 1997-1998, when the Red Wings did so. Chris Osgood was the goalie then, as he is now, but of course he is no longer the goalie he was a decade ago. The Red Wings, still a great team, have looked every bit the old team that they are (over half the team is over 30) as the season has wound down.  

That said, with Lindstrom anchoring the defense, Hossa now complementing Zetterberg, Franzen  and Datsyuk, and all the veterans who know what it takes to win, the Red Wings remain the team to beat.

#2 San Jose Sharks 

Will this be the year that Thornton steps up during the playoffs? San Jose gained the most points in the regular season, but their success will be judged on their ability to win it all in the post-season.

Thornton has the supporting cast in top goalie Valdimir Nabakov, and a second line center who can balance the scoring in Patrick Marleau. The Sharks have a scorer in Devin Setogouchi and two top offensive defensemen in Dan Boyle and Rob Blake. 

Wild cards are Cheechoo's ability to shake off a poor year and Claude Lemieux’s ability to surprise everyone and play effectively as he returns from injury. 

#3 New Jersey Devils

A few weeks ago, many had the Devils picked as the new favourite to win it all.  Brodeur was playing strong, and there was every reason to believe that a rested Brodeur would be the clutch goalie of yesteryear. He and the older Devils faltered in the last two weeks of the season, however

Coach Sutter’s defense first system will likely work well again when the post season starts, however, it will be critical that young Parise leads the team on offense, and combines with veterans Elias and Shanahan to get the goals they need to win.

#4 Calgary Flames 

Igilna needs to show he is no Joe Thornton, and step up from a season that has not been his best.  General Manager Sutter did what he needed to at the trade deadline to prepare this team for a run that could go all the way, adding Oli Jokinen to an already strong offense that include Mike Cammaleri (playing for a new contract) and Todd Bertuzzi.

Goaltending is a key strength with Kiprusoff in nets, and Dion Phaneuf leads a defense that should at least get past the first two rounds.

#5 Washington Capitals

Alexander Ovechkin is generally seen as the  league’s best player, but it’s his leadership that can no longer be ignored. Last year he willed the Capitals into the playoffs on his own. This year he has had stronger support, particularly from Mike Green who has emerged as an offensive powerhouse from the point. 

Niklas Backstrom and Alex Semin give the Capitals options up front, and Bruce Boudreau is a player’s coach that has this team playing hard every night. They will have a good warm-up in beating the Rangers in round one, and would have to be considered a not so dark horse to win it all, even ahead of the Bruins who they clearly outplayed in the back half of the year.

Let the games begin!