Biggest Questions for the Rest of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL playoffs have given fans thrills and heartbreak, and we are only halfway home. The supposed locks to win it all are golfing, the also-rans are still in the race and the questions that remain are compelling and will be answered before June is out.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins are annually in any conversation about potential Stanley Cup winners but have not etched their names on the cup in this decade. Both teams have tweaked rosters and benefited from youngsters emerging late to make this run possible. No matter who wins, the Eastern Conference champions will be a battle-hardened group and arguably the favorite to win it all.

In the Western Conference, two distinct fanbases are starting to dream the impossible dream again. Both the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues have dealt their fans ripping disappointment over the years, dashing hopes in the early rounds and forcing fans to witness bona fide rosters being placed on the outside looking in.

With the action barely underway, let's look at some of the biggest questions that remain in these 2016 NHL playoffs.

Is This the Year Jumbo Joe Wins the Stanley Cup?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Joe Thornton has been a member of the San Jose Sharks since the 2005-06 midseason and has played in over 100 playoff games with the team. The Sharks have never played in a Stanley Cup Final, but that may all change this spring.

Thornton and Patrick Marleau—who arrived in 1997—have seen a great deal of heartbreak. In some ways, it is amazing the two men are still Sharks—rumors have surrounded them for years. As an example, in the spring of 2014, San Jose general manager Doug Wilson referred to the Sharks a tomorrow team, per Eric Gilmore of NHL.com.

San Jose did make changes, but Thornton and Marleau remain as integral pieces of the team. Strong additions such as Martin Jones, Paul Martin and Joel Ward—along with an impressive procurement department that wisely used the draft—this version of the Sharks is a strong contender for the Stanley Cup.

In spite of appearances—Thornton has almost a point per game in the playoffs this spring—time is of the essence. He will turn 37 in July, and he may never pass this way again. For Thornton, Marleau and all of those long suffering Sharks fans, a lot of people are hoping this is their year.

Does the Jonathan Drouin Redemption Mean He Stays in Tampa Bay?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

It has been a weird year for Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a rookie in 2014-15, he played most of the schedule in the NHL and scored consistently. A reasonable expectation for his second year would have been a more prominent role and building on initial success.

What happened during the regular season was unusual and, at one point, looked like it could damage Drouin's career. Luke Fox of Sportsnet detailed the long and winding road in April, with stops that included a trade request, not reporting to the AHL and then reporting, an opportunity at redemption and finally a brilliant playoff spring.

The 21-year-old has always been an offensive talent, but there is more to the game than the events that occur with the puck on a player's stick. The Lightning risked a lot—and Drouin was just as risky in his retort—but injuries to Steven Stamkos and others gave the young man an opportunity, and he has taken full advantage of it.

The young forward is affecting games offensively—he is close to a point-per-game pace in the playoffs—and appears to have found spring absolution after a trying winter. As Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun wrote in early May, even Tampa Bay veterans appear onside with the young man, who just a few months ago looked like he was on his way out of town.

How does this end for Drouin? A good guess would be he makes it all the way back into the Lightning's future plans. A Stanley Cup ring would be a grand prize for a season with so many difficult moments.

Is This the Year Crosby and Malkin Get That 2nd Championship?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

In the 2008 and 2009 playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked like an emerging power in the NHL. In 2008, the Penguins lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final despite having an elite team.

The following year, Pittsburgh won it all courtesy dominant performances from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin—who won the Conn Smythe Trophy—and in the summer of 2009 the next decade looked fantastic for the Penguins.

It has not turned out that way, as Crosby and Malkin have been unable to return to the Final since the spring of 2009. Crosby played 44 playoff games in the 2008 and 2009 playoffs combined, and that total represents almost 40 percent of his total playoff games. Crosby turns 29 this summer. Malkin will be 30. The time is now for these two to cash in again.

One of the main reasons is good health this spring. Over the last several years, various maladies have affected both men—Malkin missed a lot of this regular season too—but this playoff season, both centers are healthy.

One of the interesting things about this year's Penguins is the offensive output from others. Both Crosby and Malkin are productive, but the support forwards—Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino and Patric Hornqvist—are the most productive Pittsburgh has iced since the days of Marian Hossa and Bill Guerin.

Can Ben Bishop Get Back?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

One of the modern challenges for fans and media alike is finding accurate injury information. In Game 1 of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, Lightning goalie Ben Bishop went down with what looked like a serious injury. Based on how things seemed—and the length of the delay—few would have been surprised to see Bishop gone for the rest of the series.

A couple of days later, the news was much brighter. As Emily Sadler of Sportsnet reported, Bishop is considered possible for later in the series. The injury being not as severe as first feared is major, as Tampa Bay could soon get their starter back. Sadler's article indicated he will miss Game 2 but could return before the series gets deep.

Bishop is a quality goaltender and expectations had him battling rookie Matt Murray in the net through what should be a long and hard-fought series. Bishop went down just over 12 minutes into Game 1, and backup Andrei Vasilevskiy stepped into the breach. Although the young backup performed well, NHL teams want a veteran stopper this late into the playoffs.

If Bishop can get back into action during this series, possibly joined by Anton Stralman and Steven Stamkos, the Lightning would be formidable.

Will the St. Louis Blues Finally Join 'The Second 6' as Stanley Cup Champions?

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

In the spring of 1967, the NHL expanded from six to 12 teams. New clubs included the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Oakland Seals. Although there is some stretching of logic involved, five of the six teams who joined in 1967 have won the Stanley Cup. The lone remaining outsider? The St. Louis Blues.

The Philadelphia Flyers won for the first time in 1974, the Pittsburgh Penguins won in 1991 over the Minnesota North Stars. Minnesota moved to Dallas and became the Stars, winning in 1999 for that franchise's first championship—and the Oakland Seals were part of that amalgamated team. It is a confusing situation, but the Dallas Stars website came to the mercy of fans and explained things.

The Los Angeles Kings are the most recent entrant into the club, winning their first Stanley Cup in 2012. The Kings, along with the Penguins and Flyers, have won the championship more than once each, with the Blues all the while watching this.

This brings us to this playoff season and the strong run by St. Louis. By getting past the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars, the Blues have an excellent chance to finally put the team name into the annals of hockey history.

Incredibly, St. Louis' Western Conference opponents are the San Jose Sharks, who play an hour from Oakland, California.

Who Will Win the Playoff Scoring Race?

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The second round of the playoffs is complete, so Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars—who was splendid in scoring 15 points in 13 games—cannot win the playoff scoring championship. The four remaining teams have some strong candidates, and it should be a tight race.

The leader is Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks. His 17 points in 12 games give him bragging rights over the No. 2 among viable candidates, teammate Brent Burns. Phil Kessel leads all Pittsburgh Penguins players with 13 points, and both Robby Fabbri of the St. Louis Blues and Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning have that total.

Two candidates to watch closely as the playoffs roll along are Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks. Both men finished in the top five in scoring during the regular season, and both are capable of carrying a team when things heat up. Joe Pavelski of the Sharks finished in the top 10 in regular-season scoring, so he is another one to keep an eye on.

Who Will Win the Stanley Cup?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

In most recent seasons, handicapping the Stanley Cup winner was an easy exercise. Bettors had to wait until one of the Chicago Blackhawks or Los Angles Kings lost a series and then back the team still alive.

This spring, NHL fans are presented with four teams that are fairly even in terms of talent. There are also several injury issues that could change the balance of power quickly—the Tampa Bay Lightning could add Ben Bishop, Anton Stralman and Steven Stamkos to the lineup before the Final.

The Pittsburgh Penguins boast the best player in the game. Sidney Crosby can impose his will in every part of the ice, and his support forwards are the best he has seen in ages. If the goaltending and defense hold up, Sid the Kid will raise his second Stanley Cup.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a strange and turbulent season, with an injury to Stamkos and the bizarre Jonathan Drouin story creating unwelcome issues. If the Lightning win the Stanley Cup, does that mean all is forgotten? Will Stamkos return? Can Tampa Bay afford to keep him?

In California, the San Jose Sharks can become the third—and final—team from the state to win hockey's ultimate prize. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and general manager Doug Wilson have endured difficult times, but if the Stanley Cup comes to Silicon Valley, all would surely be forgiven.

In Missouri, the St. Louis Blues could give a lift to a city whose sports fans have had a tough time of it recently. The Rams have gone to Los Angeles and the Cardinals trail the Chicago Cubs of all teams, but the Blues have a chance to add a first championship in hockey to St. Louis sports lore.

Who Will Win the Conn Smythe?

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

At this point, each of the four teams still alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs has several candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy—awarded to the most valuable player in the postseason.

The San Jose Sharks boast Joe Pavelski—who has nine goals already—and Logan Couture among their forwards. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau might be sentimental favorites, and Brent Burns is larger than life and could steal the show. The current leader is probably Pavelski.

The St. Louis Blues have a hot goalie in Brian Elliott, and Conn Smythe history tells us goalies are always in the race. Among position players, Vladimir Tarasenko, Robby Fabbri—a raw rookie—and David Backes are enjoying strong playoff performances.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have the most famous names among the remaining teams, and each one has a chance. Phil Kessel is the scoring leader, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin not far behind. Rookie goalie Matt Murray is going to be in the conversation if he continues his play from the first two rounds into the final weeks of the season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have players from an entire line—Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov—who could win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Victor Hedman has been extremely valuable, and young Jonathan Drouin has been a revelation.