What's the sign that this Stanley Cup playoff has been the best since the lockout? The fact that the Blackhawks' sweep of the San Jose Sharks was the first of the entire playoffs.

Last season, there were four sweeps and one series of five game series.

In 2008, there were two sweeps and three five game series.

In 2007, which was probably the least competitive Stanley Cup playoff, there was only one sweep but eight five game series and only one seven game series.

In 2006, there were two sweeps and six five game series.

This year, there have been only one sweep and currently two five game series, maybe three if the Flyers win game 5 tomorrow night.

Point blank, if the NHL wanted to market a product, this is the year. Games are tight and the action is the best I've seen since maybe the 2001 Cup finals.

There's just no denying, the NHL is much better than the NBA right now. In the NBA, there have been four sweeps with both the Lakers and Celtics up 2-0 and 3-0, repectively. Picking the NBA playoffs is easier than smashing a grape with a two-ton beam while conversely, picking the NHL is harder than smashing a two-ton beam with a grape.

And with the NFL and NBA seemingly headed for a labor dispute, there is a lot to market and a lot of opportunity out there for the NHL and it shouldn't be long before the NHL gets back on ESPN.

Congrats Chicago on the victory and also major props to the San Jose Sharks on a good season.

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