Who will win the Stanley Cup? Who will be the surprise team this year? Who would be your first pick in a playoff pool? Who are your final 4 teams in this years playoffs? These questions all have to be answered while considering who you pick in your playoff pool.

I would definitally look at Malkin as a first overal pick, Malkin has been a force all year long and looks like the hands down winner for MVP, we all seen what the Penguins did last year without Crosby in the playoffs so I definitly like them to go to the final 4 this year, the Flyers have too many rookies in there lineup this year and I am not sold on Bryzgalov in net, Fluery is a Stanley cup winner and a proven playoff goalie who gets hot during the playoffs.

I would also look at going with Henrik Sedin on Vancouver as another option, the Canucks got all kinds of playoff expireance last year and will look to make a serious impact again, Kesler is another option on the Canucks, he was playing hurt throughout the whole playoffs last year and still put up good numbers.

What I also find is 3rd line players on good teams that go far win you playoff pools, if you like a team to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals you must try to pick there 3rd line players, if you remember what Dominic Moore, Rich Peverly and Sean Bergenheim did for there teams last year in the playoffs.

Another option is taking a sleeper team’s best player in the later rounds if you think they can pull off a upset, teams like the Kings, Senators, Sharks, Blackhawks and the Capitals are all capable of a upset. To win a playoff pool you need a little bit  luck  to go your way and a decent strategy, good luck to all in there drafts and in there pools.