Each week, the NHL on TSN panel voices its opinions on the hot topics of the day in the Wednesday Night Hockey Quiz. Saturday night the panel presented a bonus quiz.
As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature.
Which American captain would you take to lead your team in the playoffs: Dustin Brown or David Backes?
Paul Maurice: I'm going to take Backes. He's big, he's strong, he's going to go to the front of the net. Those are three things you could say about Dustin Brown, the difference being Backes plays centre ice and they are more valuable than wingers so that's why the big guy gets the nod.
Darren Dreger: I'm going with Brown. Very similar game to Backes, the difference for me is his point per game production from the trade deadline forward, including the first round of the playoffs.
Bob McKenzie: I will go with Backes for the same reasons Paul brought up. Big, shutdown centre, Selke Trophy nominee, generates enough offence that he can centre what's arguably the Blues' top offensive line with Oshie and Perron.
Has the fourth-overall pick from 2008 (Alex Pietrangelo) supplanted the second-overall pick from that same draft (Drew Doughty) as an NHL defenceman?
McKenzie: I'll say yes, to the extent that these questions are transient, that is they go from week to week. I will say this, Pietrangelo, in my mind, has not played the game at a level as high as Doughty played at the Olympics, but Doughty I don't think recently has played at that level either. Pietrangelo has probably been a better all-around defenceman this season.
Maurice: I'm going to say no. We've got a player in Doughty that missed training camp and we are not seeing his best. Is he good? Yes. Is he at the level he will normally play at? No. Pietrangelo's been outstanding but Doughty will get better as he gets back into the rhythm. Just wait one training camp.
Dreger: I'm going to say yes and I'm going to be more biting in my description because Pietrangelo is a more consistent player. He's a more well-rounded player, he plays both ends of the ice better than Doughty and as Paul said, missing camp was not a good thing for Doughty, who never seemed to be able to catch up.
What is your best early guess on where Roberto Luongo starts next year: Chicago, Florida, Tampa Bay, Toronto?
Maurice: He will be in Toronto. That's not particularly well-informed but he can make the greatest impact on that team and get that team to the playoffs. We know Randy Carlyle loves the big goaltender in net and that's why they will do whatever they need to do to get him there.
Dreger: I'm saying Tampa Bay and we know that Luongo is going to have heavy influence in the outcome of this, and we also know that there is going to be questionable interest to a degree so I'm going to go Tampa Bay because he wants to go back to Florida and the Lightning are a better fit than the Panthers.
McKenzie: I'll say the Maple Leafs. I think they need a No. 1 goaltender and the Leafs have a pressing need to make the playoffs and he can help them do that.
Which elite player is going to have the longest summer stewing over his first-round performance: David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Patrick Marleau, or Joe Pavelski?
McKenzie: I'll say Pavelski simply because over the last two years he was so productive in the playoffs. We got used to this guy putting up points. 27 points in 33 playoff games over the past two years, and then for Pavelski to get absolutely nothing in the first round that's disappointing and surprising.
Dreger: Marleau. He was a non-factor against the Blues. If Doug Wilson is going to hit the Sharks' core here, Marleau's going to be his target. He is protected by his contractual clause. Maybe there's a third team in the mix if they try and get Rick Nash out of Columbus.
Maurice: I took Pavelski because I expected so much more out of him. I think he's ready to emerge as the leader of the Sharks.
