I think that the Buffalo Sabers should win the Stanley Cup beacause they have battled the hardest, won the most games, have a great second year goaile, and their coach Lindy Ruff is the longest serving coach. Plus the Sabers have never won the cup, have been in one Stanley Cups final, against the Stars when they still had Hasek, Peca, Barnaby, and they really deservethis also because they had a lot of injuries and their capitans kept them in it all season.
GO SABERS!!!!
GO RED WINGS!!!!!

Posted by Greg Tishkevich from houston, texas on 03/31/07 at 10:24 AM ET

Greg, you need to email your submission to me.  We don’t want people posting their submissions here, for the simple reason others may get an idea or two from your entry.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/31/07 at 11:49 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs deserve to win the stanley cup because they have not won a stanley cup for 40 years,

Posted by jamil from toronto, ontario on 03/31/07 at 04:11 PM ET

No, the Leafs deserve to miss the playoffs if anything LOL

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 04/03/07 at 10:42 AM ET

Brilliant idea. Even though I could write a novel on why the Sens deserve the cup

Posted by Johne from Dallas, TX on 04/03/07 at 11:12 AM ET

Much as I love ‘em, my Flyers don’t deserve the Cup, not this year.

Posted by Blackcloud on 04/07/07 at 03:20 PM ET

Is there a way I can confirm that my entry made it to you?  I was in a state of semi coma and am not sure....

Love your blog AND hockey...today is a good one - game’s all day!!

Posted by deb on 04/07/07 at 03:46 PM ET

not sure why my link didn’t work :(

trying again

Posted by debbie Wilde on 04/07/07 at 03:51 PM ET

You are all set, Debbie.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/07/07 at 03:52 PM ET

thank you

Posted by deb on 04/07/07 at 04:40 PM ET

Sorry Paul, but I had to send in two because I put the wrong heading on the email. They are identical so you can delete one. p.s. I wasn’t trying to get away with anything. lol.

Posted by Kathie from Ottawa on 04/08/07 at 08:14 AM ET

Pens deserve the Cup because I’d like to see Crosby take Stanley’s Mug on a tour of Hali this summer! haha

Posted by Ashley from Halifax on 04/08/07 at 08:04 PM ET

Yeah Ashley, I dont know you but your 100% right that the Pens deserve to win the cup, they have improved so much from last season and they have great talent from young ages to old ages. They have players like Sid the Kid, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Recchi, Roberts and so on and all of their dedication is the reason there in the playoffs right now. GO PENS GO TAKE OUT THE SENS AND GO FOR THE CUP!!!

Posted by Dimitri from Toronto on 04/09/07 at 01:40 PM ET

true dat даваи малкин убеи всех!

Posted by Greg Tishkevich from houston, texas on 04/09/07 at 04:10 PM ET

I was just wondering when the contest winner will be chosen? Andd is there a way to be sure my entry was received? LOVE the column btw!!

GOOOOO SABRES!! THESE GUYS ARE GOOD, SCARYYY GOOD!!

Posted by Sarah from BUFFALO NY on 04/10/07 at 11:25 AM ET

The Buffalo Sabres deserve the Cup.  Why you ask?  Have you been to Buffalo?  If you have to endure their weather, economy and mental state of mind, you know why they deserve the Cup.  The October snowstorm devastated Buffalo.  Trees down, no power for days, peoples’ homes destroyed.  And this was just the start of a long winter - and a great hockey season for the Sabres.  The winter continued with cold, wind, snow - and the saving grace - a first place hockey club.  Now Spring is teasing Buffalonians and the Sabres are leading us out of our winter duldrums.  That is why Buffalo deserves the Cup this year.

Posted by Jeff from Endicott, NY on 04/10/07 at 11:27 AM ET

Sarah, Send me an email with the name you used for your submission and I will get back to you.
The winner will be chosen by next Tuesday.

Jeff, in order to qualify of the prize, you must send me an email, see the post for more information.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/10/07 at 11:31 AM ET

Enjoy the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The most exciting time in all of sports. Hockey fans are the greatest, most loyal sports fans in all of sports. Even while it is difficult for many fans to watch hockey on tv the arenas throughout the NHL are always boasting close to sellout crowds on a nightly basis. There is nothing more exciting than a NHL playoff hockey game. This is a wonderful time for hockey fans.

Posted by mark white from colchester, conn. 06415 on 04/10/07 at 01:03 PM ET

The detroit redwings really need a cup.  I know they have won three cups in the last 10 or so years but i fear that fans are slowly dropping off the band wagon.  Steve Yzerman was the best thing that ever happened to the wings and now it is zetterberg and datsyuk’s turn.  Very gifted players who never play dirty deserve nothing but the holy grail!!!

Posted by Brent Kranzler from Stettler Alberta Canada on 04/10/07 at 03:09 PM ET

The Sabres deserve the Cup for so many reasons. I’ll start with 41 straight sell outs at HSBC Arena. Second-they should have won it in 1999 against the Stars (remember the “no goal”?) Brett Hull in case you forgot. Last but not least, they deserve it because the Bills could’nt get it done in 4 straight tries at a major sports championship!!! Sabres in 6 against the Dominator!!!

Posted by Mark Churchill from orchard park,ny on 04/10/07 at 07:02 PM ET

Are you allowed to use large numbers as numbers?
Example: two-hundred thousand = 200,000

And also, do small words like a, is, the, etc count as an individual word? It is tough to squeeze in a good entry into 250 words or less, but I’ll manage.

Posted by Vanek26 from Tonawanda, NY on 04/10/07 at 07:35 PM ET

Vanek, sure you can use large numbers.  250 word max.  Everyone played by the same rules…

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/10/07 at 07:37 PM ET

Times up!  Entries are now closed and thanks to the over 400 people who entered.
The winner will be announced Tuesday, April 17th.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/10/07 at 08:59 PM ET

Leafs should win the cup because it will force the habs fans to come up with an actual, not overused comeback - ie. “how many years has it been since the leafs won the cup?”
That alone would make me a very happy fan indeed, and would increase some other people’s vocabulary. as for this year....go sabres by process of elimination:
No to detroit - they choke in the playoffs way to much as of late - if they could match their season play in the playoffs then maybe.
no to tampa, calgary, anahiem - they had their chances in the sun as of late and did not capitalize.
no to NJ and MIN- they are boring.
NYI no- who signs a goalie for that long anyways?
NYR no- sick of them trying to buy the cup and failing miserably - even though not quite the case anymore.
NSH no- hockey and country don’t mix.
SJS no- they just don’t seem like a team worthy of the cup...even if they have thornton.
VAN no- a goalie shouldn’t be the only thing that makes a team win (and I am a goalie myself!).
ottawa no- sorry but the ‘sensarmy’ makes me want to puke.
ATL no- i just don’t see their key players having too much class/not great people to look up to. I don’t know either, just impression i guess.
dallas no- they had the all star game...that should suffice!
pittsburgh no- too much hype for my liking.

Posted by Alek from halifax on 04/10/07 at 10:58 PM ET

“no to tampa, calgary, anahiem - they had their chances in the sun as of late and did not capitalize.”

i just have to point out that tampa did win the cup…

also, if you played the blackhawks, blue jackets, and blues a combined 24 times in a season, you would win the west too. by yourself.

Posted by Dick from Calgary on 04/15/07 at 11:11 AM ET

When is the winner of the jersey going to be announced? Will the winner receive an e-mail notification? Just curious and I’m trying to decide which version of the Sabres jersey I’ll select!

Posted by 4EverBuffalo on 04/17/07 at 09:19 AM ET

We have had an overwhelmng response and the winner will be announced on April 24th.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/17/07 at 09:21 AM ET

Quadruple overtime huh! Well, I’d be happy to throw out; er, sift through all the other entries for you. Just let me know.

Posted by 4EverBuffalo on 04/17/07 at 09:33 AM ET

GO SENS GO,THEY ARE GOING TO KNOCK OUT PENS AND WIN IT ALL. THE MAPLE LEAFS WILL NEVER WIN BECAUSE THEY SUCK IN THE SEASON AND CAN’T EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND THIS IS OTTAWAS 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR MAKING IT TO THE PLAYOFFS.

Posted by Sens Captain on 04/17/07 at 05:55 PM ET

THE RED ARMY ATTACKS!!!!!!!!!

SORRY SID BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER YEAR.  THIS YEAR NOBODY IS GOING TO STAND IN OUR WAY.

ON TO NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, TAMPA BAY… NO MATTER, ONE BY ONE. HERE WE COME.

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS ON A JOB WELL DONE.

GO SENS GO

Posted by Kathie from Ottawa on 04/20/07 at 01:57 PM ET

It’s official, on to New Jersey.

Let’s get em boys!

Go Sens Go

Posted by Kathie from Ottawa on 04/24/07 at 12:02 PM ET

so uhh who won?

Posted by Dick from Calgary on 04/25/07 at 12:35 PM ET

Dick, it will be announce by Friday of this week.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/25/07 at 12:37 PM ET

Good Luck to all who entered. With over 400 entries, it’s good to see such devoted hockey fans. Of course, if my praise ends up helping someone else win the jersey, you can all go to hell.

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/25/07 at 02:29 PM ET

Been there Sluggo, I used to be a Leafs Fan:}

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/25/07 at 02:45 PM ET

Used to be? You’ve come to your senses?

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/25/07 at 07:41 PM ET

Most Definitely, GO SENS GO.

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/25/07 at 07:47 PM ET

What changed ya? A frontal lobotomy or as I like to say: a bottle in front of me?

I’m an Avs fan from way back, but started cheering the Sens in the East when Spezza was drafted. I used to like his stint in the minors and had to follow the kid. I’m kinda happy the Avs tanked this year. If they ever found themselves facing the Sens, my head might explode.

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/25/07 at 07:55 PM ET

I’m from Ottawa so when we finally got a team again it was an easy switch and I’m glad I did. For the past 10 years. I have been able to watch at least some of the plalyoffs with my Team in it.  Besides which, Alfie, Heatley, Spezza and Emery, no need to say more. (although I could) I think they are going to surprise everyone tonight. They seem tougher this year, more focused. GO SENS GO

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/26/07 at 06:45 AM ET

Sens are definitely a different team, and I think right now they are playing the best defensive hockey than anyone. The test is gonna be Emery and how Spezza and company get around Madden and Devil’s trap. I think the Pens series was telling. Everyone was afraid of facing Pens first round, and when Ottawa dominated the series, it either meant Pittsburgh didn’t show up, or Sens didn’t allow them to.

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/26/07 at 08:51 AM ET

I think it was a little bit of both, It took the Pens until the 2nd game to show up but the sloppy play of the Sens was the only reason they won one.  If the Sens can stay focused and Patient this series they will succeed.

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/26/07 at 09:15 AM ET

By the way Sluggo, who did you write your letter about?  The Sens or the Avs?

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/26/07 at 09:16 AM ET

The Sens. The question poses a difficult challenge. Why does your team deserve to win the Cup? And from the look of some things, people can justify just about any reason. From how they liked the weather, what the ate for breakfast to more analytical approaches.
Should be interesting to see who wins. Personally, I think the story has to be more than facts and figures. The story better be interesting to read or there’s no point.

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/26/07 at 09:44 AM ET

I agree, however, I wonder if that comment was more directed toward the Judges than me (very smooth)lol.  I hope they print a bunch of them it will be fun to read.
(Did you get that Paul?)

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/26/07 at 11:29 AM ET

I gotta say, That poem about Vancouver was great!!!!

I loved it.

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/28/07 at 02:20 PM ET

I have to say, while the Vancouver poem was good, but the Buffalo story was lackluster. I can’t see how that was any different or a style than what most people did. Alfie, care to submit your version here to read?

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/28/07 at 04:10 PM ET

Sure, However....after reading the Vancouver Poem, mine is nothing....(I don’t really have an imagination, just a passion for the game). As for the Buffalo Story, I believe that any team that thinks its okay for a coach to send out Goons to try and injure “Star” players doesn’t deserve to be put on a pedestal, nor does writing about it deserve to win any prize.  However, I’m not a “Sports Writer” so my opinion doesn’t count.  I will post my story after this one.

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/28/07 at 11:05 PM ET

There are many reasons for which my Ottawa Senators deserve to hoist Lord Stanley proudly above there heads, for me, the most important is their strength.  This is a team that runs a solid 4 lines. Very few teams can boast that accomplishment. Ottawa’s depth is like no other, from Heatley to Fisher to Comrie and McAmmond, we consistently see solid efforts and goal scoring.
Then there’s Emery, expecting to come in and play as a backup goaltender, he’s not only taken over the number one spot for the Ottawa Senators, he’s become one of the NHL top goaltenders.
This is a team that despite being an elite team had to actually come into this season and learn how to win hockey games. Sure they knew how to blow away the opponent, but they didn’t know how to win the one goal game because they never had to.  This team had to struggle during the first part of the year and they succeeded. They now, not only have the ability to blow away the opponent. They can beat them.  They now have the tools and potential to take it all the way to the Finals and I am sure that not only will we be seeing them there, we will be seeing Lord Stanley soaring above the head of one; Captain Daniel Alfreddson.
GO SENS GO!!!!!

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/28/07 at 11:08 PM ET

Now do I get to read yours?????

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/28/07 at 11:10 PM ET

My theory was that I wanted to be more entertaining than a literal story. So I opted for something like this:

If I said “it had been one of those weeks,” you’d scoff.
We’ve all said that one time or another. But it really doesn’t mean anything. Like the term, “you’ve been served a restraining order.” Means nothing.

I’m Sluggo Freeman. I’m a detective. I “detect”. And that’s what I had to do, when that dame came in. She was a real looker. Walked upright. Still breathing. My kinda woman.

She had it in her noodle that I could steal the Stanley Cup and give it to her favorite team, The Ottawa Senators. Stealing this Holy Grail was no easy task. Flipping through my files, these Senators had a long list of enemies and a long road ahead.

This case had me stumped. How was I gonna steal this trophy? I had to make it look legit.
Hours went by, not a clue. The names kept returning: Heatley, Spezza, Alfredsson. Haunting my thoughts. Then it hit me. This single line together creates one of the most potent Offensive lines in the NHL. I closed the folder and smiled. The dame wasn’t gonna like to hear the news. The answer was in front of us all along. With the level of skill this team had, no one had to steal anything. Like everyone else they had to work hard and play deep down like never before. I peeked at the roster again. I wasn’t worried at all. The Cup can’t be stolen, but earned. And I knew this team could do it.

Posted by Sluggo Freeman on 04/29/07 at 12:54 AM ET

The Calgary Flames have a team that is built for success in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is justified by the players that are on the team. Tales tell that Jarome Iginla came to this Earth when he fell from the sky on July 1st, 1977 after playing hockey for some three-hundred years on his home planet of Charon. Kristian Huselius was born when Phaeton, the son of the sun-god Helios, divided by zero in Ancient Greece. Huselius lived in the ruins of an ancient temple and learned his hockey by picking up the radio frequencies of Rick Jeanneret in the early 1980’s. Miikka Kiprusoff, the reigning Vezina trophy winner, once competed in a secret inter-galactic championship series whereby the loser sacrificed their soverignty. He posted back to back shutouts in games 3&4 to help his team to victory. A little known fact about Roman Hamrlik is that in his past life he was a warrior for King Richard III of England. This has left the bitter taste of revenge in Hamrlik’s mouth, which would explain his fiery temper and devastating defensive play. Head Coach Jim Playfair is said to share a bloodline with Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the greatest conquerors of all time. The only difference is that these 2007 playoffs will have a different result from the invasion of Russia in 1812. The Calgary Flames of 2006-2007 are primed for a playoff run and it is almost certain they will bring the Cup home.

Posted by Dick from Calgary on 04/29/07 at 12:00 PM ET

That was cute Sluggo, I liked it.

Posted by AlfieFan on 04/29/07 at 01:05 PM ET

I finally figured out what the problem is with the NHL and why the NHL can not get a television contract worthy of it’s product.

It’s the turd polishers that call the game - Mike Emerik, Bill Clement, Kieth Jones, et cetera et cetera.

How many times do we, the hockey fans need to hear how great Jagr is while he sits in the penalty box whimpering? It’s a goddamn joke.

My wife, the casual hockey fan is concerned. She is beginning to think that the Bush administration is now in charge of the television broadcast of the NHL. I can she where would think that considering that what we are seeing on TV with our own eyes is the exact oppossite of what we’re being told by the commentators.

The bottom line is that the product appears to be somewhat of a ‘rassling’ type product and there appears to be noone in sight whom can give hockey the kind of credibility that it deserves.

Posted by Gary Bettman is a Turd on 05/08/07 at 09:16 AM ET