My Favorite Hockey Parlor Game

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 10:48 AM EDT

After Roberto Luongo once again looked like Roberto "No Mas" Duran in Game Six, the finals head back to Vancouver and one thing's for certain: Gary Bettman - who will get booed, because he always gets booed - will hand the Cup to either Henrik Sedin or Zdeno Chara on Wednesday night in Rogers Arena. That much is known. The fun part is guessing who gets the first hand-off.

A lot of times the First Handoff goes to a veteran winning his first Cup (think Dallas Drake in '08 or Glen Wesley in '06). The Canucks' oldest player is Sami Salo at 36. He's never won a Cup. The Bruins old man is 43-year-old Mark Recchi, who has won the Cup twice, most recently in 1917 with the Seattle Metropolitans. Next oldest is Tim Thomas at 37. He's never hoisted Lord Stanley.

For my money, I think Henrik will hand off first to Manny Malhotra - a sentimental pick because of his comeback from the eye injury. Manny's also been in the league since 1998 and has never won. Some folks Henrik think will go to Daniel first, but that's a little weird, even for them, right?

Chara will probably go to Timmy as it makes sense for lots of reasons.

Also interesting is guessing after the first hand-off who gets the Cup in which order. There's often some symbolism there, too. For example, when the Wings won in 2008, Daniel Cleary got his chance relatively early since he was the first Newfoundlander to win.

So what say you, OtFers, who are the First Handoff candidates?

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I could see Henrik passing it to Luongo in a “see, we DO believe in you” bit of schmaltz.

Thomas for Boston, for sure.

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by Dirk Hoag on Jun 14, 2011 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

I kinda want him to hand it to Schneider for comedy reasons.

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

In that case Luongo would thank his lucky stars the series went back to Vancouver. He’d have dropped it in TD Garden.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jun 14, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Well it depends what you're going for

If you wanted an, “Aww old people” sort of response, then Recchi and Salo.
If you wanted a, “Overcame EVERYTHING” Thomas or Manny fo sho.
If you wanted, “really weird and awkward” just have The Sedins pass it back and forth.
Also, if Boston wins, I assume Nathan Horton gets to come out. That might be cool too. I know he’s been their emotional inspiration and such.

I live in the OC.
The one in OH.

by MattBen on Jun 14, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

Horton for Boston would be cool.....

Would be neat if Chara handed it to Horton considering how much he meant to the team before the cheapshot and even since then.

by Grizzledbear on Jun 14, 2011 6:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Gotta consider the Assistant Captain angle

Chara (C ) — Thomas — Recci(A) — Bergeron(A) — Kaberle

H Sedin© — D Sedin(A) — Kesler(A) — Salo — Luongo

by Griz-ATL on Jun 14, 2011 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

I think your Boston order is spot-on. The Sedins have to be concerned enough with optics to not go Sedin-Sedin, right? I think the first five posited for Vancouver is correct, just not in the right order. But maybe I’m giving the Doublemint Twins too much credit.

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Weber to Rinne

:’(

by Sam Page on Jun 14, 2011 7:43 PM EDT reply actions

Don't open that can of worms

Me and Faaangy have had this discussion sooooo many times.

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 7:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m not saying who the two first hand-off candidates for the Preds would have been this year at risk of this thread going pear-shaped.

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 7:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Weber-->Klein-->Legwand

by Sam Page on Jun 14, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Close

Not Kev. Think someone who’s been around a long time with no Cup and is really short and whose name rhymes with Tullivan.

PS- CW gets it last

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 10:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

JP Dumontullivan, you mean

by Sam Page on Jun 14, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

JR with the pass

And Sam with the finish!

LE BUUUUUUUTTTTTT!

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Jun 14, 2011 10:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

by Sam Page on Jun 15, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Not a chance Sullivan would get it

Because who honestly believes that a fully grown Weber playoff beard wouldn’t evaporate the cup upon contact…

by harriskb on Jun 15, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Sedins

I think the real question is “Will Henrik use a no look behind the back pass the cup to Daniel- or- will he fake going to Daniel and go to Kessler instead?”
If it’s Boston it HAS to be Thomas.

by vols7381 on Jun 14, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions