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2010 NHL playoffs: Conn Smythe Trophy contenders heading into Stanley Cup finals
Over the past few years, Scott Burnside and I have had the occasional chance to be among the handful of scribes who vote for the Conn Smythe Trophy, a...
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Ducks climbing out of early-season hole
There's another hockey team not named the Los Angeles Kings winning a few games in Southern California these days. Exactly how they got here after ...
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Playoff feel in battle of East contenders
TAMPA, Fla. -- On a night when the folks at the St. Pete Times Forum were treated to playoff-type hockey two months before the real thing, the Philade...
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Vezina race: Top contenders, our winner
The NHL's 30 general managers will soon have to fill out their annual Vezina Trophy ballots to determine the league's top goaltender for the 2010-11 s...
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Second-round breakdown: San Jose Sharks versus Detroit Red Wings
This will be a hard-fought battle between two Cup contenders, but Pierre LeBrun believes Detroit will edge San Jose in the end.
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Trophy Tracker: Top Calder candidates
Is two weeks into the season too early to discuss the Calder Trophy race? Not at ESPN.com! We're a little crazy that way. So let's take a look at the ...
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Sharks' early run just part of bigger goal
There are 1,230 games in the regular season, but they don't always measure up. But on Thursday night, two Stanley Cup contenders met at the Shark T...
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Rumblings: Sellers starting to emerge
Ray Whitney is on the radar of a few contenders and with good reason, the Wizard amazingly leading the Phoenix Coyotes in scoring at 39 years old. ...
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2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks on divergent paths
Few paths are diverging more than those of these two first-round opponents. The young and upcoming Blues are showing they are legitimate contenders, while the Sharks are possibly staring down a window...
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2012 Stanley Cup playoffs: What's next for the Los Angeles Kings
The Kings look to be contenders for years to come, but they have a few roster decisions to make this offseason, writes Pierre LeBrun.
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Sharks roster needs a fresh coat of paint
The San Jose Sharks have played the second-most playoff games, behind only Detroit, since 2004, when a nine-year run as a contender began with a trip ...
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2013 NHL playoffs - LeBrun: Top 5 Conn Smythe Trophy contenders
The lockout-shortened regular season has come and gone, and 16 teams are moving on. Pierre LeBrun takes a look at the survivors and identifies five candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
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Questions abound for Canucks after sweep
It was always going to be the "window" series, two of the Western Conference's long-standing contenders facing off in the first round, with the losers...
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2013 NHL playoffs - Second-round preview: Chicago Blackhawks versus Detroit...
The last time Original Six rivals the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks met in the playoffs was in the 2009 Western Conference finals, with the...
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NHL -- 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs: A lack of Olympians seems to be paying off...
Having fewer players at the Olympics than other contenders has paid off for the San Jose Sharks, writes ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.
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NHL -- 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs -- Colorado Avalanche's learning curve is...
Avalanche coach Patrick Roy made it clear that young teams need to take their lumps before developing into true contenders, but that doesn't mean Colorado won't bring it in Game 5, writes ESPN.com's...
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NHL - 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs preview: Chicago Blackhawks versus Los...
It tells you something about the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks that despite playing in the conference with a deeper pool of legit conte...
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Rumblings: Trade deadline needs in New York
The two New York rivals have different March 2 objectives as they both head to the playoffs as strong contenders in the East. The New York Rangers ...
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NHL -- Minnesota Wild went from misery to contenders in half a season
The Wild were at a season low back in January, but a boost in confidence and the acquisition of Devan Dubnyk have made them real contenders in the West.
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Rumblings: Ehrhoff looking to sign with contender
Somewhat under the radar this offseason is a puck-moving blueliner who, back in 2011, was a big catch for the Buffalo Sabres. Christian Ehrhoff signed...
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