Adam Proteau: First round of NHL playoffs underscores the truth: 'D' wins championships It's a cliche that defense wins championships in sports, but it's a cliche because it's true – and this year's Stanley Cup playoffs illustrates that truth perfectly.

Then how did Dallas defeat the wild.

Teams don't draft defensemen that highly too often because their development is tougher to predict than it is for forwards. For a while, teams were drafting goalies with top-5 picks as well (Kings, Isles, Pens) but they are even tougher to predict in terms of future success.

Hence, going with forwards with top draft picks still make sense even if defense ultimately wins championships. The two notions do not conflict.

Then how did Dallas defeat the wild.
- Drij

Because the difference in Dmen wasn't big enough to account for the difference in offense. Also the Wild stumbled into the play offs.

Goligoski, Klingberg, Russell, Oduya, Johns, Demers isn't much worse than Suter, Spurgeon, Scandella, Prosser, Brodin, Dumba.