I agree with Campbell. He raised his game especially in his own end and started to change the minds of many Campbell bashers (myself included).

This was a hard one – Big Buff pissed so many of them off and Kaner really followed through under pressure…

But I have to agree and go with Campbell – a more quiet impact, but I’ve never seen him skate like that. He always had the Canucks on their heels – and how about that savard spin he pulled in game 6! Unbelievable. The building went wild.

All Jokes aside I have to vote for Soupy His hustle back and diving poke check of Kesler on Game 5 was great. He skated well, took shots(checks) and twice ended up injuring the Checkor. Great series by Campbell. Buff was a factor in the series too no doubt

This is reallllly odd … Buff or Soupy? The only thing stranger would be having to consider Walker up there, too, as part of the 1-2-3 punch.

I go Buff, though. If we had to remove one of them from all 6 games, which absence would have had the greater impact given how the series played out? Without Campbell, we’re definitely worse defensively; but without Buff, the entire tone of our play could have changed, especially in the games we played in Vancouver … he was the biggest reason we as a team never succumbed to the Luongoid intimidation factor.

I voted for Napoleon Dynamite on the basis of consistency. In this series, success started at the back; while Keith and Seabrook did a tremendous job on the Sedins, Campbell quietly led breakouts, controlled the puck, and piled up assists. He had relatively easy minutes, but he made them count. What killed the Canucks? Speed, mobility, the transition game. Campbell was a huge part of that.

- Kaner’s hat trick can’t be discounted, but over the course of the series, he sort of averages out.

- We first saw this battering ram version of Buff in the Flames series — the two goals in game five were huge, and he likely played a huge role in the dismantling of Luongo’s mental stability, but I still feel he has more elevated game left in him. I’m hoping to vote for him as the Conference Finals MVP.

Just because the Younger Hawks have ALL stepped up their game since he hit town, even Lord Love ’Em Wiggums “best boy.” Whom I have actually praised, out loud, in public. So my hats off to Mr. P!!!

Well, at least the hats that I have left. I donated the one I was wearing to the dogs when Kane tricked me out of it. The dogs want a LOT more hat tricks!

What a series for this guy? Unbelievealble! Not only did he get into Luongo’s head but his 2 goals in Game 5 were huge in the overall outcome of this series. His 32 hits cannot be forgotten for his size and strength and his willingness to use it created a lot of turnovers by the Vancouver defence. Bieksa, Ohlund, and Mitchell by series end were giving up a lot of turnovers due in part of the Hawks physicality and Byfuglien was a major part of that. Definitely a coming-out part for Byfuglien and hopefully a defining moment as his career unfolds!
Don’t forget about JHC Marty Havlat and his series turning goal in Game 4 that ultimately changed the series back into Chicago’s favour once and for all. Once again Havlat proved to be cluch at precisely the right moment and just at the moment the Hawks needed him most!!!

Buff’s net presence and all around physical play puts him in a close second.

We talked all series about how Keith wasn’t his usual outstanding self, and it seemed that Campbell more than made up for it. Aside from his usual work (only better) quarterbacking the PP, he was just as good at even strength carrying the puck and helping to beat that dreadfully boring trap. He stepped up his play defensively, played a little more physical, and what I’m sure none of the players are talking about is the calming veteran presence he probably had in the dressing room.

You could say many of these things individually about any player on the team with the right argument, but Campbell seems to be the only one you could say ALL of those things about.

Went with Bolland as a bit of an unsung hero. Overshadowed by absolute brilliance as it were. His Game #2 shorthanded breakaway game winner (plus empty netter), his Game #3 stonewall by Luongo could have been the finisher, the Game #4 OT toss at the net for Ladd to tip & win the match, and finally I remember he had a monster hit in Game #6, amongst others (was it on Burrows who limped to the bench?). PLUS, I’m still in love with the first series season ender hit on Phaneuf… overstepping the parameters, I know, but wow. Bolland has been another major part of the overall picture, but what a TEAM!

I finally don’t feel the need to defend the Soup! His play was much, much better this series. Without his ability to join the rush, that soul-sappingly boring trap of VAN would have done us in. And that game six deke, where Bernier broke his ankles trying to turn around after the spin-o-rama, was a thing of beauty.

We are going to need more of his effort from this series no matter who we play next; a defenseman who joins the rush will help set up an odd-man situation with Detroit, and a fast skate up the middle will force Ducks d-men to ignore at least one forward.

This is going to get very, very good.

There was a quote from one of the Russian players defeated by the US squad in 1980 (I want to say that either Mikhailov or Fetisov said it, but I can’t confirm it here at work) that the reason they lost is because, of the US players, “they were team.” Anyone who has ever played a team sport knows that he did not use poor grammar; team can be a verb, and the ’Hawks are team right now.

O GAA