Kesler a shoe in for Conn Smythe

          I was sitting back trying to think of the last player to do absolutely everything then on top of that win the Stanley Cup. Couple of names right off the bat, Pavel Datsyuk and defenseman Scott Niedermayer. The new name on the block is Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler. 

          Despite going goalless in the first round versus the Chicago Blackhawks, Kesler kept Jonathan Toews off of the scoreboard, a feat not to be done easily. Come the second round, Kesler was the main and maybe only reason why they defeated the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old American, had 11 points, while the Canucks only managed to score 14 goals versus the Preds. In the conference finals, Kesler did a mixture of both, stopping big Joe Thornton practically the entire round, while managing to produce offensively including game tying goal in game five with only 14 seconds left.

          But if anything its the price that Kesler is willing to pay, in the fifth game it appeared evident he had hurt his groin, he hobbled off but was back out for the next shift. Its a price he wanted to pay, something that cannot be said for the likes of a Joe Thornton.

If you wanted to start a team

          Aside from maybe Sidney Crosby, there are not to many other players that one would choose to start a team. Kesler’s obviously the best two center in the league, his 41 goals this year is not to shabby, then you enter in his 5 million dollar salary. There are 30 teams in the NHL that would love someone of his ilk and if the Canucks do win the Cup, there could be some general managers that would prefer him over Crosby.

Shoe in for the Conn Smythe?

          Win or lose, it will take a miracle for Kesler not to win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. The only way that does not occur is if the Canucks go down in four or five games, or if Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo has two or three repeat performances (like he had in game 5). In the past 24 years, only Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ron Hextall have won the playoff MVP without winning the Cup the very same season. Again it will take a miracle for Kesler not to become the third player.