Winners and Losers of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

For the first time since 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the Stanley Cup champions. The Penguins downed the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 on Sunday night to clinch their fourth Cup in franchise history, and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

As a team, the Penguins are the ultimate winners of the 2016 playoffs. There were, however, players on other clubs who had strong postseason performances. There were also several who failed to play up to expectations.

Here's a look at the winners and losers of the 2016 NHL playoffs. Feel free to weigh in on this topic in the comments section below.

Loser: Andrew Ladd, Chicago Blackhawks

DAVID BANKS/Associated Press

Left wing Andrew Ladd helped the Chicago Blackhawks win a Stanley Cup in 2010. Unfortunately, his second go-around with the Hawks was much less successful. 

On Feb. 25, the Blackhawks acquired Ladd from the Winnipeg Jets in hopes his veteran experience and skills could bolster their lineup for another Cup run this spring. 

Initially, things went well. In 19 regular-season games, the 30-year-old Ladd scored eight goals and collected four assists for 12 points. 

During the Blackhawks' opening-round series against the St. Louis Blues, Ladd was less productive. He managed only a goal and an assist as the Hawks were eliminated in seven games.

Ladd's latest tenure with the Blackhawks could be short. He's an unrestricted free agent on July 1. As per Cap Friendly, the Hawks currently have $67 million invested in their 2016-17 payroll. They don't have enough cap space to re-sign Ladd, restricted free agents such as Andrew Shaw and Richard Panik and still leave some wiggle room for other additions as required.

The Blackhawks gave up a promising young forward in Marko Dano, their first-round pick in 2016 and a conditional pick in 2018 to get Ladd. That's a steep price for a short-term acquisition who couldn't help them past the opening round. 

Winner: Reilly Smith, Florida Panthers

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

For the first time since 2012, the Florida Panthers reached the NHL playoffs. While they were eliminated from the opening round by the New York Islanders, right wing Reilly Smith acquitted himself well. 

Smith scored four goals and assisted on four others for eight points. He finished the series as the Panthers' leading scorer. 

The 25-year-old winger collected all of his points in the first three games of the series. That included two three-point performances in Games 1 and 3. 

His solid playoff effort was a carryover from his strong regular-season play. After joining the Panthers in a trade last summer from the Boston Bruins, he had 25 goals and 50 points. He finished sixth in team scoring.

Smith quickly fit in well with the Panthers during the regular season and playoffs. Expect him to remain a key component of their roster in 2016-17. 

Loser: Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

The play of defenseman Matt Dumba was among the notable disappointments for the Minnesota Wild during their opening-round elimination by the Dallas Stars. 

Dumba has the skills to become a top-two defenseman, but that potential wasn't on display. He netted two assists while averaging only 14 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time.

The 21-year-old struggled in his own zone. He was among the Wild's leaders in giveaways (four), had by far the fewest blocked shots among defensemen (four) and saw only seven seconds of short-handed ice time.

Dumba's poor playoff outing was a carryover from his difficult sophomore campaign. Minnesota's inconsistent effort throughout the season didn't help, nor did a February coaching change in which Mike Yeo was replaced on an interim basis by John Torchetti.

Following the playoffs, the Wild replaced Torchetti with former Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau. Under Boudreau's guidance, Dumba should get an opportunity to reach his full potential.

Winner: Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Down 3-0 in their opening-round series against the Washington Capitals, the Philadelphia Flyers replaced struggling starting goaltender Steve Mason with backup Michal Neuvirth. Thanks to Neuvirth's efforts, the Flyers won the next two contests before bowing out in Game 6.

The 28-year-old had a remarkable three-game performance. He allowed only two goals on 105 shots, including a 44-save shutout in Game 5.

Neuvirth finished the series with 103 saves, a minuscule 0.67 goals-against average and a sparkling .981 save percentage.

The Czechoslovakian netminder threw a scare into the Capitals. His play also left Philadelphia fans wondering what might have been had he started throughout the series. 

Neuvirth's stellar three-game effort created a potential goaltending controversy for the Flyers next season. He could challenge Mason for the starter's job.

Loser: Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Following the Anaheim Ducks' opening-round elimination in seven games by the Nashville Predators, head coach Bruce Boudreau was relieved of his duties.

After taking over as bench boss two months into the 2011-12 season, Boudreau guided the Ducks to four consecutive Pacific Division titles from 2012-13 to 2015-16. They also were the top regular-season team in the Western Conference in 2014 and 2015 and advanced to the 2015 conference final.

This season, Boudreau helped Anaheim overcome a poor start and finish fourth in the conference.

During his tenure, however, the Ducks came up short in four consecutive Game 7s. The latest, a 2-1 loss to the Predators, was the last straw for management.

Boudreau's unemployment didn't last long. On May 7, the Minnesota Wild hired him as their new head coach.

Winner: John Tavares, New York Islanders

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

When they eliminated the Florida Panthers from the opening round of the playoffs, the New York Islanders won their first postseason series in 23 years. Leading the way was center John Tavares.

The 25-year-old Islanders captain emerged as the star of that series. He led both clubs in scoring with nine points in six games, including five goals. He was held scoreless only once.

He was a standout in Game 1, tallying a goal and setting up two others in a wild 5-4 victory. In Game 6, he netted the game-tying and series-winning goals, the latter of which came in the second overtime.

Tavares also scored the winning goal in the opening game of New York's second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His assist earlier in the contest was his only other point in the series, however, and the Isles bowed out in five games.

Tavares' effort against the Panthers ranks among the best performances in a single series by any player in the playoffs.

Loser: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

According to Sportsnet.ca's Luke Fox, longtime Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk could be heading to the KHL in Russia next season to finish his playing career. If so, his 14-season stint in the NHL ended with a whimper.

Following offseason ankle surgery, the 37-year-old Datsyuk was sidelined for the start of the 2015-16 campaign. He netted a respectable 49 points in 66 regular-season games, but that was his lowest per-contest output since his NHL debut in 2001-02.

Datsyuk garnered a reputation as a strong two-way playoff performer, with 113 points in 152 games entering this year's postseason. He helped the Wings reach the Stanley Cup Final three times, winning championships in 2002 and 2008.

Datysuk, however, was held scoreless during Detroit's five-game elimination from the opening round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The last time that happened was in the 2003 playoffs.

Datsyuk's enjoyed a productive NHL career and will one day be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His struggles in this year's playoffs, though, suggest he's no longer the two-way force he used to be.

Winner: Colin Wilson, Nashville Predators

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Thanks to offense from an unlikely source, the Nashville Predators came within a game of reaching the 2016 Western Conference Final. Left wing Colin Wilson, who tallied only 24 points in 64 regular-season games, led the Predators with 13 points in 14 playoff tilts.

It was an impressive bounce-back effort from Wilson. As top-six forwards Mike Ribeiro and Filip Forsberg struggled to score, Wilson picked up the slack.

As the playoffs progressed, Wilson proved to be the Predators' most consistent threat. He was held off the scoresheet in only three games, and all of his points came at even strength. He finished in a tie for the team lead in goals (five) with Mike Fisher and assists (eight) with Roman Josi.

Wilson had a 20-goal, 42-point effort in 2014-15. A nagging lower-body injury sidelined him for 18 games in 2015-16 and likely hampered his production. His strong postseason bodes well for next season.

Loser: Brooks Orpik, Washington Capitals

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

No single player was to blame for the Washington Capitals falling in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. 

Still, the play of veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik didn't help matters.

During the Capitals' opening-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Orpik was sidelined for three games by a concussion and neck injury. He returned for the second round against the Penguins but received a three-game suspension for interference on Pittsburgh blueliner Olli Maatta in Game 2.

In the three contests Orpik played against Pittsburgh, he struggled to cope with the speed of the Penguins. He also finished the postseason as Washington's leader in penalty minutes per game (1:39).

Oprik missed half of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Following the playoffs, he told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post it was a cracked femur. That could account for some of the difficulties he had in the playoffs.

Twelve physical seasons in the NHL could be catching up with the 35-year-old Orpik. His contract includes a $5.5 million annual salary-cap hit through 2018-19, per Spotrac, which makes him not only a fading asset but also an expensive one.

Winners: David Backes and Troy Brouwer, St. Louis Blues

Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images

For the first time since 2001, the St. Louis Blues advanced to the Western Conference Final. Part of the credit belongs to veteran forwards David Backes, pictured above, and Troy Brouwer.

During the regular season, Backes scored 21 goals and netted 45 points, while Brouwer tallied 18 goals and 39 points. In the playoffs, however, the pair ramped up their play.

In 20 playoff games, the 32-year-old Backes recorded seven goals and 14 points. Brouwer, 30, notched eight goals and 13 points. Backes led the Blues with three game-winning goals, including two in overtime, while Brouwer finished second behind Vladimir Tarasenko in goal scoring.

Backes and Brouwer were also a physical presence, leading the Blues by a wide margin in hits (93 and 80, respectively). And they logged more ice time than much younger teammates Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri.

Their impressive playoff numbers couldn't have come at a better time—they're eligible for unrestricted free agency in July. Their postseason efforts should boost their values if they test the free-agent market.

Losers: Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, Dallas Stars

LM Otero/Associated Press

The Dallas Stars' second-round elimination by the St. Louis Blues raised significant questions about the performances of goaltenders Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi.

Both netminders were also shaky in their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Lehtonen's .899 save percentage was the worst among starting goalies through two rounds. Niemi appeared in five games, posting a .865 save percentage.

The tandem combined for a goals-against average of 3.23. Only the Wild (3.50) and New York Rangers (4.20) had worse numbers among the 16 playoff teams.

Though the Stars finished atop the Western Conference in the regular season, their goaltending was a notable weakness. Of the playoff clubs, their regular-season GAA (2.78) was the worst.

Teams with that type of goaltending never get far in the playoffs. Dallas general manager Jim Nill may stick with Lehtonen and Niemi for another season, or he could seek an upgrade via trade or free agency.

Winner: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Matt Kincaid/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, defenseman Victor Hedman and left wing Jonathan Drouin had notable performances during their club's run to the Eastern Conference Final.

The true standout, however, was right wing Nikita Kucherov.

Since his NHL debut in 2013-14, Kucherov has often been overshadowed by linemates Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. In the 2016 playoffs, however, the 22-year-old winger came into his own.

Kucherov was the Lightning's scoring leader, tallying 11 goals and 19 points, and only four of those points came on the power play. He also led the Bolts with 51 shots on goal.

Among the playoff scoring leaders, Kucherov tied for sixth in points and was second in goals behind the San Jose Sharks' Joe Pavelski. His plus-13 rating was also second among playoff performers.

Kucherov just completed the final year on his entry-level contract. His playoff stats, combined with his regular-season numbers (30 goals, 66 points), should ensure a healthy raise from Tampa Bay.

Loser: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

Harry How/Getty Images

After missing the playoffs in 2015, the Los Angeles Kings returned to the postseason in 2016—but they didn't last long. The goaltending of Jonathan Quick was among the reasons why the San Jose Sharks bounced the Kings from the opening round in five games.

Quick, 30, backstopped Los Angeles to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 as playoff MVP.

Against the Sharks, however, Quick's performance was disappointing. His .886 save percentage and 3.04 goals-against average ranked among the worst in the playoffs.  He allowed 15 goals, including five in the Sharks' 6-3 series-clinching win.

To be fair, Quick's play wasn't the only reason for the Kings' disappointing effort. A depleted defensive corps, his teammates' penchant for penalties and spotty offense from forwards Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli also factored into their early exit.

Given Quick's postseason history, though, much more was expected from him.

Winner: Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Several San Jose Sharks had notable performances in the 2016 playoffs. Logan Couture, Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski led all postseason scorers.

The play of goaltender Martin Jones, however, was the biggest reason the Sharks pushed the Pittsburgh Penguins to six games in the Stanley Cup Final.

Jones, 26, finished the playoffs with the most shutouts (3), second in wins (14), sixth in goals-against average (2.16) and eighth in save percentage (.923). Those are impressive numbers for a goaltender playing in his first postseason as a starter.

Earlier in the playoffs, Jones was overshadowed by the play of Couture, Burns and Pavelski. But in the Cup Final, Jones emerged as San Jose's top player, posting a .932 save percentage and 2.33 GAA.

"One of the all-time best goaltending performances in a Final probably ever, or right up there, anyway," Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said, per CSNBayArea.com's Kevin Kurz. "I thought he was sensational every game we played. Gave us a chance to compete and get it to six games."

While the Penguins neutralized San Jose's leading scorers, Jones kept his outplayed teammates in every game.

His best effort came in Game 5. With Pittsburgh poised to win the Cup on home ice for the first time in franchise history, he stole that game for the Sharks with a 44-save performance in a 4-2 victory.

Jones' efforts alone weren't enough to overcome his teammates' inability to counter the Penguins' speedy, defensive play. But even in defeat, he was among the best players in the playoffs.

Loser: Eric Staal, New York Rangers

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The New York Rangers' opening-round elimination in five games by the Pittsburgh Penguins slammed shut their window of opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.

It also provided further proof that center Eric Staal is no longer the star he used to be.

From 2005-06 to 2011-12, Staal was considered among the NHL's best centers, with seven consecutive seasons of 70 points or more. Sadly, he hasn't been the same since suffering a knee injury during the 2013 IIHF World Championship.

Staal's career was in decline long before the Rangers acquired him in a late-February trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. In 63 games this season with the Hurricanes, the 31-year-old netted only 33 points.

Any assumption that Staal's production would improve with New York was dispelled by his paltry six-point effort in 20 regular-season games. He was a non-factor against the Penguins, failing to collect any points.

Staal wasn't solely to blame for the Rangers' early exit, but he was a significant disappointment. He's eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, and his performance in this year's playoffs will only hurt his already-declining free-agent stock.

Winner: Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Right wing Phil Kessel played a significant part in the Pittsburgh Penguins' march to the Stanley Cup championship.

With 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 24 games, the 28-year-old Kessel was the Penguins' leading scorer. He also tied for third among this postseason's goal scorers and finished fourth in the points race.

None of this was imaginable a year ago. Kessel was completing his sixth season with the moribund Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press (via the Toronto Star) recalled that Kessel was slammed by pundits, Maple Leafs fans and even former teammates.

While Kessel looked forward to a fresh start in Pittsburgh, he had a slow beginning with the Penguins. He played alongside centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin but struggled to find chemistry with them.

Later in the season, Kessel was matched with left wing Carl Hagelin and center Nick Bonino. The trio became Pittsburgh's most consistent scoring line in the postseason, and Kessel was its offensive heart.

The winger summed things up when speaking with reporters following the clinching Game 6 of the Final, per Siegel: "It's a long year, but it's the best year I ever had."