The Bruins enter the 2019 Stanley Cup Final with a decided edge in Cup Final experience. While the Bruins have six players on their active roster who have won a Cup, the Blues only have one player on their roster who has even played in the Final.
But if you were to construct a roster based on all the players on the two rosters, who would you choose? That was exactly what we tasked Joe Haggerty and DJ Bean to do. In a draft format, Joe and DJ had to select six forwards, four defensemen, and one goalie apiece.
DJ won the coin toss, and with that, away we go...
1ST ROUND
DJ Bean: OK! With the first pick, I select... From the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Patrice Bergeron-Cleary.
Joe Haggerty: Strong pick DJ, Bergeron has been solid, but not dominant with his 8 goals and 13 points in 17 games to this point in the playoffs. The ultimate winner. I'd like to shock the hockey world by selecting Tuukka Rask from the hinterlands of Finland with my first pick. The .942 save percentage is the single most dominant thing in these 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he's been out-of-his-tree good for the Bruins. Rask is on a mission to right the wrong of 2013 and win a Cup this time around.
2ND ROUND
Boston Bruins
DJ Bean: DAMMIT. My plan the whole way was to take advantage of you passing on Rask. And Joseph, Joseph, Joseph. You know that taking Bergeron isn’t about the points. It’s about taking the other stars out of the game. Speaking of which, give me Alex Pietrangelo!
Joe Haggerty: Well, my plan is to nuke your Bergeron plan to neutralize my best offensive players. That’s why my next selection is Brad Marchand, who plans to use any means necessary to get Bergeron off his game. That means, gasp, maybe even telling No. 37 he might not be perfect. Or even a slewfoot between friends. Also, Marchand will end up scoring more than Bergeron in the Final.
3RD ROUND
DJ Bean: You crafty son of a gun. I'm not touching Tarasenko, though. That's all you. Give me Pastrnak!
Joe Haggerty: Hot off Pasta's two goals in that big-time scrimmage the Bruins held, that's a strong choice headed into the Final, Deej. I'll take the best available Russian sniper with Vladimir Tarasenko. Top line is shaping up pretty nicely.
4TH ROUND
DJ Bean: I keep trying to bait you into passing on the players I want and it hasn't worked once. You're probably using some Star Wars spell or some junk like that. RYAN O'REILLY, PLEEEEEASE
Joe Haggerty: Strong down the middle with Patrice Bergeron and the slightly poorer man's Bergeron, Ryan O'Reilly. That's why I'm taking David Krejci, who somehow got overshadowed by Bergeron this season despite playing 81 games, scoring 20 goals and putting up 73 points. We also know that he's money in the big moments that are coming up.
5TH ROUND
DJ Bean: Rask and Krejci on the same team? I knew you appreciated great playoff performers. I’ll try to make Krejci and Co.’s lives hard with Colton Parayko.
Joe Haggerty: DJ stocking up on big Blues D-men. Thanks for passing on Charlie McAvoy, who has developed into a stud No. 1 defenseman for the B’s during these playoffs. He’ll be lugging the puck for Team Haggs.
6TH ROUND
DJ Bean: I have NO idea what’s gotten back into Jaden Schwartz, but I do know he’s on my team now.
Joe Haggerty: Going to go Torey Krug because I need my power play cranking at full capacity, and because I think he’s showed an increased ability to defend against bigger players in this postseason. The dude has heart.
7TH ROUND
DJ Bean: It is uncanny how often you have taken the player I assumed you'd let fall to me. I need a left D, so I'm gonna reach for the guy with the reach. Give me Chara. Good luck beating a team that has Bergeron, Chara, Pietrangelo, Parayko and O'Reilly.
Joe Haggerty: With that many slow-to-average skaters I actually don’t mind my chances. I’ll take another skilled, hard-to-play-against winger in David Perron. 23 goals during the year and not too shabby in the playoffs either.
8TH ROUND
DJ Bean: JAKE DEBRUSK JAKE DEBRUSK JAKE DEBRUSK JAKE DEBRUSK HAND IN THE CARD
Joe Haggerty: I’m going with the gritty, gutty Brayden Schenn as my second line center. Not to be confused with his brother Luke Schenn, one of the most overrated players of his generation.
9TH ROUND
DJ Bean: Sorry, Brandon. You’re playing the left side. GIMME CARLO.
Joe Haggerty: Did you know the always underrated Jay Bouwmeester is averaging 23 minutes of ice time a night for the Blues in the playoffs? I did because he’s my pick and I can even play him on his strong side.
10TH ROUND
DJ Bean: Well did YOU know Jay Bouwmeester is adult Dougie Hamilton? Can’t believe you don’t hate that guy. MOJO TIME FOR CHABOYYYY.
Joe Haggerty: I’m going to do a little moving off position of my own and drafting Charlie Coyle to shift him over to the wing. Did you know he’s from Weymouth?
FINAL ROUND
DJ Bean: While it broke my heart to not get Rask, the silver lining is a got to wait for my last pick to get my goalie. Plus, now he’s gonna play with a chip on his shoulder. Be my Brady, Jordan! I’ll take this opportunity to say this has been incredibly fun. #HANDSHAKELINE
Joe Haggerty: I’m so confident I’m going to win with the players that I’ve got that I’m bypassing all depth charts and taking playoff health scratch Steve Kampfer as my fourth D. Start planning your tee times, DJ! Good times indeed.
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