from Dave Hodge of TSN,

Teams that strive to win the Stanley Cup should realize one thing, perhaps above all others; one tireless, dominant defenceman is virtually essential.

He should be capable of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, as Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks did last season. More to the point currently, he should be somebody like Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks or Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang. If it had been a St. Louis-Tampa Bay Stanley Cup final, those names would have been Alex Pietrangelo and Victor Hedman. If Burns and Letang aren’t clear Conn Smythe favourites for their respective teams already, they’re certainly on a list and they might well emerge as the most logical choices.

Letang almost has to be great for Pittsburgh to win. He’ll be on the ice for close to 30 minutes a game. You might say rookie goalie Matt Murray and captain Sidney Crosby are the most important Penguins, and I might agree that Letang isn’t about to carry the Pittsburgh team if the other two falter, but try it this way; if the Penguins absolutely need one of the three to be healthy and at his best throughout the Stanley Cup final, that player is Letang.

continued plus is the season too long?