Best Playoff Performances Each Year Since the Lockout

[Voight]

I was going to make this a poll but didn't want to cause a huge argument over my choices.

What do you think was the best playoff performances each year since the lockout? The Conn Smythe doesn't always got to actual best player. I want to get a consensus for each playoff season, and make a poll to see who had to best playoff season overall since the lockout.

Take every game into consideration not just one series.

Winning or losing players, doesn't matter.

Looking forward to a good discussion.

Click to read more...

 

[aufheben]

I still think Lundqvist was the best player last year.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

'05-'06 - Pronger
'06-'07 - Pronger
'07-'08 - Zetterberg
'08-'09 - Malkin
'09-'10 - Keith
'10-'11 - Thomas
'11-'12 - Quick
'12-'13 - Kane
'13-'14 - Doughty/Kopitar (Flip a coin)

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

05-06: Ward
06-07: Alfredsson
07-08: Zetterberg
08-09: Malkin
09-10: Briere
10-11: Thomas
11-12: Quick
12-13: Krejci
13-14: Kopitar

 

[End of Line]

05-06: Staal
06-07: Pronger
07-08: Zetterberg
08-09: Malkin
09-10: Keith
10-11: Thomas
11-12: Quick
12-13: Krejci
13-14: Kopitar

 

[HockeyThoughts]

05-06: Pronger
06-07: Pronger
07-08: Zetterberg
08-09: Malkin
09-10: Kane
10-11: Thomas
11-12: Quick
12-13: Crawford
13-14: Kopitar
*Bolded are the ones the NHL agreed with.

 

[Russian Factor]

Malkin had the 7th most points all time in a postseason in 2009 so I think that's tough to beat for #1 imo

 

[Rysto]

Pronger was suspended twice in the 06-07 playoffs and the Ducks won both games. I give it to Neidermeyer in 06-07 based off of that.

 

[jpchabby]

I know he didn't get to the finals, but in 2010, Halak was out of this world. he could contend with Brière IMO for that year's playoffs.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Winning Team, Overall

05-06: Ward, Pronger
06-07: Pronger, Pronger
07-08: Zetterberg, Zetterberg
08-09: Malkin, Malkin
09-10: Ketih, Keith
10-11: Thomas, Thomas
11-12: Quick, Quick
12-13: Keith, Bergeron
13-14: Doughty, Doughty

 

[Voight]

Pronger was suspended twice in the 06-07 playoffs and the Ducks won both games. I give it to Neidermeyer in 06-07 based off of that.

This is why I disagree with people saying he was the best that year.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

This is why I disagree with people saying he was the best that year.

Because of two games? Taking nothing away from Niedermayer who was excellent in his own right, but Pronger was the most dangerous player on the ice throughout that run.

 

[Sojourn]

Pronger was suspended twice in the 06-07 playoffs and the Ducks won both games. I give it to Neidermeyer in 06-07 based off of that.

I'd give it to Alfredsson.

Agree that Niedermayer was best on Anaheim, though. He and Giguere were the two biggest reasons they won those two games. Niedermayer was also their go-to shutdown guy, and he was massively clutch, with a few game tying and OT goals. Pahlsson deserves consideration too. Really, the entire team was awesome. Individually, I think Alfie was the best.

 

[Sojourn]

Because of two games? Taking nothing away from Niedermayer who was excellent in his own right, but Pronger was the most dangerous player on the ice throughout that run.

Offensively, sure, and he was able to be dangerous offensively because Niedermayer was seeing the opposing team's best players. I don't think you can ignore the responsibilities of the two. Pronger was let loose on the secondary talents, and that's because of Niedermayer, Beauchemin, and the Pahlsson line.

 

[the4thlinegrinder]

'05-'06 - Pronger
'06-'07 - Pronger
'07-'08 - Zetterberg
'08-'09 - Malkin
'09-'10 - Keith
'10-'11 - Thomas
'11-'12 - Quick
'12-'13 - Kane
'13-'14 - Doughty/Kopitar (Flip a coin)

Agree 100%

 

[Palffy3314]

I still think Lundqvist was the best player last year.

I wouldn't argue with that.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

I'd give it to Alfredsson.

Agree that Niedermayer was best on Anaheim, though. He and Giguere were the two biggest reasons they won those two games. Niedermayer was also their go-to shutdown guy, and he was massively clutch, with a few game tying and OT goals. Pahlsson deserves consideration too. Really, the entire team was awesome. Individually, I think Alfie was the best.

And he really stepped up his game in the finals as well. The Ducks with all their incredible shut down line and defense pairing were able to contain Spezza and Heately, but Alfie was able to slip through the cracks and still remain very effective.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

Offensively, sure, and he was able to be dangerous offensively because Niedermayer was seeing the opposing team's best players. I don't think you can ignore the responsibilities of the two. Pronger was let loose on the secondary talents, and that's because of Niedermayer, Beauchemin, and the Pahlsson line.

Very true, but Pronger was paired with who, Sean O' Donnell? And without the Pahlsson line helping out, he certainly had to do more than his fair share defensively. You really can't go wrong picking either one though.

 

[DearDiary]

I still think Lundqvist was the best player last year.

I agree as well.

Lundqvist was by far the most valuable player on the Rangers, while you could make an argument for 3 players on the Kings, that says a lot

 

[Sojourn]

Very true, but Pronger was paired with who, Sean O' Donnell? And without the Pahlsson line helping out, he certainly had to do more than his fair share defensively. You really can't go wrong picking either one though.

Sean O'Donnell was no slouch at the time, but in general my point is that I don't think Pronger over Niedermayer was so clear cut. They had different responsibilities, and personally I felt that Niedermayer was the better of the two in the Finals. I remember after the Finals were over, Alfredsson gave an interview where he said that it felt like Niedermayer was always there to get his team out of trouble.

It's really more about the team, though. No one really stood out in a way where it screamed "Conn Smythe". Not on that team, at any rate. I still think if Ottawa takes it to 7 games, Alfredsson may have ended up winning it. He and Fisher really stood out to me in that series. Emery stood on his head for large stretches too. I remember Alfie's SH goal, where he just seemed determined to do whatever it took to keep Ottawa in the game. For as much as him shooting the puck at Niedermayer annoyed me, the way he played was damn impressive, in the face of a much better team.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Sean O'Donnell was no slouch at the time, but in general my point is that I don't think Pronger over Niedermayer was so clear cut. They had different responsibilities, and personally I felt that Niedermayer was the better of the two in the Finals. I remember after the Finals were over, Alfredsson gave an interview where he said that it felt like Niedermayer was always there to get his team out of trouble.

It's really more about the team, though. No one really stood out in a way where it screamed "Conn Smythe". Not on that team, at any rate. I still think if Ottawa takes it to 7 games, Alfredsson may have ended up winning it. He and Fisher really stood out to me in that series. Emery stood on his head for large stretches too. I remember Alfie's SH goal, where he just seemed determined to do whatever it took to keep Ottawa in the game. For as much as him shooting the puck at Niedermayer annoyed me, the way he played was damn impressive, in the face of a much better team.

I love that goal. You can clearly see him putting the team on his back and trying to do everything in his power to keep his team in it. Ironically, game 5 of the SCF was probably his best game of the entire playoffs. He played his heart out.