Who's Your John Druce?

by SamFels on Apr 13, 2009 5:54 PM CDT Comment 18 comments

Every playoff year, someone comes from out of nowhere to be a playoff star. No one exemplifies this more than John Druce, or as he's known in hockey circles (i.e. amongst my brother and me) Playoff Hero John Druce. Druce was a middling scorer on the Caps, but in the 1990 playoffs popped up with 14 goals in 15 games.

So, who do you think could be the Hawks' version? Me, I'm going to vote for Andrew Ladd. Though he'll be primarily concerned with checking duties, he, Pahlse, and Buff have been creating their fair share of havoc in the offensive zone. With he and Buff's size they can get a cycle going and win battles along the boards. Ladd also has more than decent hands and finds himself in front of the net where playoff goals will come from. He won't get power play time (much to McClure's and my chagrin), but I think he's going to pop up with some very important goals.

Poll

Who's your John Druce?

Andrew Ladd

78 votes

Ben Eager

42 votes

Colin Fraser

9 votes

Dustin Byfuglien

88 votes

Adam Burish

27 votes

244 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

For some reason I'm feeling Byfuglien or Ladd will

The way they have somewhat fed off each other’s energy and hitting on this new line has been great for this team and I look for that to continue in the playoffs

Lets Go Hawks!

by CubsBall2202 on Apr 13, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. While Ladd's a pretty solid pick for this,

I’m going to go with Buff. The guy’s been more than solid the last few weeks of the season. He’s been physical, active in front of the net, and hilariously, he actually scored on a penalty shot.

I would’ve never thought I’d pick him for anything productive in January or Feb, but hell, looks like the big son of a bitch finally woke up out of his hibernation.

But more likely, our abililty to play into May and June?? will be because Toews, Kane, and Sharp rose to the level the playoffs demand. I’m not worried about Havlat. But how will Kane respond to the more physical play of the playoffs? How healthy and effective will Sharp be? Concerning Toews, the only thing I’m really worried about is that he will try to take on too much, which he admitted affected him in the beginning of the season with the captaincy.

Toews has been playing great though, so I think he’ll be fine. But this will be a huge test for him, as the young captain of an extremely young team in its first playoff run. I wish the games would start tonight.

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on Apr 13, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Kontos = Dustin Byfuglien

My first thought of a shocking Playoff performer would be Chris Kontos. (9 goals in 11 playoff games while he was with Los Angeles and a 4 goal performance in 1 game with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I think Byfuglien can be the guy. He’s shown some spark leading into these playoffs and hopefully he can keep things going for the Hawks.

For more hockey news; www.illegalcurve.com

by WpgMikos on Apr 13, 2009 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought about Eager

but I’m gonna go with Buff. He’s looked good in these last few games. Hopefully that will carry over into the playoffs.

"He shows up every day to play, he plays hard every day, and he shows up to beat your butt." ~Ozzie Guillen on AJ Pierzynski, 3-17-09

R.I.P. Harry Kalas 4-13-09

by HappyHuman on Apr 13, 2009 6:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I went with Eager

Cause I just couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger on Buff. I think Ladd it is a bit more expected as he tends to be more consistent of a player then the other two.

by runningquicklynowhere on Apr 13, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Ladd, but I'm leaning towards Buff as well.

He finally looks like he gives a shit, and he’s been playing well.

NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE

by mjthor on Apr 13, 2009 7:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Burish

I voted for Burish because… actually I don’t know why I voted for Burish hopefully he will though.

by Shooby34 on Apr 13, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Badger

I voted for Burish because I really, really want him to step up and be more than the loveable bruiser. He had hands in college and was more than just a grinder there; I’d like to see a return to that power forward potential.

by russellguldin on Apr 14, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about Brouwer?

He gets time on the top lines and does the dirty things in the corner that are necessary in the playoffs. Sure, he’s whiffed on just about every scoring chance he’s had, but maybe the switch will go on for the playoffs. Barring him, it’s hard to argue against Ladd.

by stickhandler on Apr 13, 2009 8:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I second Brouwer as a write in candidate...

He’s still been getting chances, even while playing with Bolland and Versteeg. All it takes is a few lucky bounces, and he’s our Dave Lowry.

Assuming he plays, of course, what with Sharp returning and all.

HOCKEENIGHT.COM

by CT II on Apr 14, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Colin Fraser

Because you already picked Ladd and the rest of them are douchebags.

I like boobs.

by G.S. Clam on Apr 13, 2009 9:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Barker

contract season

"Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fair-weather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer; beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. South Side." -O'Bama

by Hawk is God on Apr 13, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs