from Eric Stephens of the OC Register,

The perfect leader. The uncommon prototype. The willful scorer. The prolific showman.

Put all of that together and you might have the perfect hockey player. Each one on its own makes for something every NHL team covets. Possess two of them and you have a franchise that is in position to compete for championships.

In the star-studded Western Conference finals that begin today at Honda Center none shine brighter than four on display for what could be seven games – the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry and the Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

The greatest honors in the sport sit comfortably among the four. Stanley Cups and Olympic gold medals. The Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in the regular season and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable in the postseason.

For the first time, these two dynamic duos will clash in the playoffs with the chance to play for another Cup on the line. It makes for appointment television if you’re a hockey fan.

“I think that’s pretty special,” Ducks winger Patrick Maroon said. “I think it’s good for hockey that they’re all going up against each other. You can even put Marian Hossa in that group. He’s a really good player. Even Ryan Kesler.

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