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A Facebook friend of mine posted the embedded video the other day. Upon watching it, I was struck by a few things.

First, how the playoffs, being such a long affair with so many chapters and plot twists, often renders the Conn Smythe Trophy a referendum on the last series or two, and not the entirety of the playoffs.

The other impression is how many Hawks had really stellar playoffs: not just Patrick Kane (the Smythe winner), but also Marian Hossa (who was great early on before taking some injuries), Patrick Sharp, Michal Frolik, Marcus Kruger, Brent Seabrook, and especially Bryan Bickell.

The other thing, the largest impression I had, was that Bickell really deserved the Smythe (as I have maintained all along). Kane was good and at times great, but really mostly later in the playoffs. Bickell seems to have had big goals at big moments throughout the playoffs, not to mention the physicality he brought throughout the long slog.

Let's also bear in mind, there was and is a lot of valid sentiment for Corey Crawford, who is obviously not represented in this video.

So, take a look—and enjoy, it's a great video. Also, the maker includes Niklas Hjalmarsson's waved off, would-be series-winning bomb against Detroit. And post your "vote" on the board.




All for now,



JJ

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