2008 Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Opening the Archives

Writers Note:

This article was written before the start of the Cup Final. Although it is older, I thought it would be a good opening article to share with you. Enjoy. Reviews are welcome.

How interesting is it that the only players who are former finals opponents in the NHL Cup Finals are also the oldest player on their respective team?

Gary Roberts – already a Cup winner over a team that included Chris Chelios – faces him again for the first time in almost two decades. Roberts turned 42. Chelios is 46 and still going strong.

Pittsburgh are starting to look like the 80s Oilers to me.

What I see that's similar doesn't stop at the ages of their top players or their offensive game.

Crosby is Gretzky while Malkin resembles Messier.

Some still believe that in those early years, Messier was a step above or on par with Gretzky as the friends took turns leading the Oilers to big wins.

Now, it's Malkin who's getting more press with Crosby, the so-called Next One looking more and more like a playmaker, an important cog, but not the star. The duo are also fighting to be the top scorer on the team and in the playoffs.

Speaking of the pair, what will happen when the Pens run into cap troubles with the duo?

Who will go, and to where? My pick would be Malkin, believe it or not.

Yes Malkin is playing better, but Crosby is who Pittsburgh drafted as the guy to build around for years. Besides, he's locked in while Malkin isn't.

For some reason, I see Malkin staying in the East and going somewhere that makes my comparison to the Oilers more personal.

I see Malkin joining the NY Islanders if he were ever to leave. It's not just that it's a good fit to me, but also that the Isles need a player like him.

When I think of the Isles now, only two players come to mind: DiPietro and Guerin. Look at the Pens and how scary their depth is – even without Malkin.

Staal, Crosby, Whitney, Fleury, Gonchar, Kennedy and a few others who are waiting in the wings to get a chance with the big team. Pittsburgh will be fine in a few years if they need to part with the talented Russian.

Let's jump back to the main topic of the series itself. Although everyone I talk to (and I agree) are predicting Detroit, we all have to expect a surprise or two in this series.

Both teams deserve to be there. There is no Cinderella team this year and now without a Canadian team to cheer, I kinda hope Pittsburgh does well.

If they fail, Nik Lidstrom will be the first Euro to hoist the Cup as team captain in NHL history.

I just don't want to see that.

I'd rather Jagr be the one to do that. Or Alfreddson.

As stupid as it sounds, I still see Yzerman with that "C" and it just seems like anyone who ever wears it for Detroit after Stevie Y doesn't deserve it even half as much as he did.

Regardless, Osgood over Hasek makes me like Mike Babcock and cheer for the Wings, just a little.

Also Pittsburgh took out my Sens handily in round one, so there is a bit of jealously and need for revenge.

The playoffs have been good to me in predictions. My series record is 11-3.

I didn't see Ottawa falling, nor Anaheim, nor Calgary. That all happened in round one.

So as the playoffs roll into their final stop I'll be watching to see what history is made, and what history is just put on hold.

Happy Finals everyone.