Jun 8, 2016
Thumbs to Lovejoy, Conn Smythe favourites
Dave Hodge extends his thumbs to defenceman Ben Lovejoy for the story surrounding his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and gives "thumbs up" to the likely Conn Smythe Trophy winner, who - for now - will be a Penguin.
By Dave Hodge
It can be dangerous to assume that the Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Stanley Cup Thursday night, or any other night, but this is the time to wonder what it’ll be like if they do.
One post-game interview that promises to be more interesting than most features defenceman Ben Lovejoy. He’s on his second tour of duty with the Penguins, having been traded away in 2013 and then re-acquired last season in a trade with Anaheim for Simon Despres, a first-round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2009.
At the time, Despres’ credentials, and his “upside” caused observers to be critical of Pens’ general manager Jim Rutherford. Also, Lovejoy left no favourable memories when he departed Pittsburgh the first time, so it was considered a strange move to bring him back.
That wasn’t the end of it, however. Upon reflection, Rutherford later admitted that it was a trade he shouldn’t have made, or, to be perfectly correct, it was a trade he wouldn’t make again.
Seldom does a GM second-guess himself publicly. Thus, Rutherford was questioned all over again, for while the forthright nature of his comments might have been refreshing, they couldn’t have sounded good to Lovejoy.
But here he is, Ben Lovejoy, on the verge of a Stanley Cup triumph with the team that drafted him, traded him away, got him back and then wondered why. Lovejoy has been a regular defenceman for the Penguins in each of their 22 playoff games. Although it involved a harmless-looking shot toward the Tampa Bay net, he drew an assist on Pittsburgh’s most important playoff goal thus far - Bryan Rust’s game-winner in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final.
Lovejoy scored a goal himself in the Stanley Cup Final and earned an assist in the same game. Nothing to celebrate in the end, however, as his two points came in Pittsburgh’s lone loss to San Jose.
The trade that Jim Rutherford regretted could wind up as the best thing that ever happened in Lovejoy’s hockey career. “Thumbs up” to his post-season contribution and to the story surrounding it.
Conn Artists
It can be dangerous to assume that a Pittsburgh Penguin will win the Conn Smythe Trophy ... oh wait, this is the same as the above. And so is the decision to go ahead and list the Conn Smythe favourites. “Thumbs up” to them - they are all Pittsburgh Penguins…for now, anyway.
1) Sidney Crosby - for leading the way, for being who and what he is supposed to be, and for scoring enough points, and often at crucial times.
2) Phil Kessel - for scoring the most points among Penguins, especially the 10 goals. In Toronto and Boston, many are wondering if Kessel really could skate off with the Smythe Trophy before somebody hands him the Stanley Cup. Yes, it’s possible, but unlikely unless Phil explodes in a high-scoring, clinching game.
3) Matt Murray - He has been a goaltending saviour for Pittsburgh, and he deserves MVP consideration, but in the end, the Penguins are poised to win the Stanley Cup because they’ve dominated with their speed and their checking pressure. Murray has prevented some defeats, but he hasn’t produced many victories—that hasn’t been necessary.
4) Kris Letang - Whether his play is up, down or in the middle, he has been an essential ingredient in Pittsburgh’s success. The ice time, almost 29 minutes per game, demands that he be listed among the playoffs’ top performers.
5) Nick Bonino - The HBK line’s centre scored the goal that got Pittsburgh started properly in the final series. That game-winner, late in the third period, ended thoughts of a San Jose road win that might have changed everything.
There’s nothing original about a Smythe list of Crosby, Kessel, Murray, Letang and Bonino.
So, why not recognize other Pittsburgh players for their important supporting roles?
6) Carl Hagelin - The third HBK member and the guy who made the best pass of the Stanley Cup final, for Eric Fehr’s insurance goal in game four.
7) Bryan Rust - Could have had a hat-trick in game one. Six playoff goals from a rookie have meant a lot.
8) Conor Sheary - So did his overtime goal in game two. And three others he scored earlier in the playoffs.
9) Matt Cullen - 39 going on 30.
10) Lovejoy and the other defencemen (Brian Dumoulin, Olli Maatta, Ian Cole and Justin Schultz) who have supported Letang in the absence of the injured Trevor Daley.