And This is Why Melrose and Buccigross are the Best Team in Hockey

When we name a blog after a TV personality, folks, we don’t do it because we think he’s cute. OK, we’ll maybe one of us here has a crush — I can’t speak for Enforcer — but the point is that we named the blog after Barry Melrose because he is the man. And one time, we actually talked to John Buccigross because he is also awesome. We are fans, as you know.

So, if only we had trusted them more. You know, you believe in someone and you know that they’re the real deal but when they give you pre-season picks you still don’t place any bets in Vegas based on their pre-season Stanley Cup picks. If we had, we would all be a bit richer today. Well, there’s always next year I guess. But kudos go out to Melrose and Buccigross for correctly predicting that the Hawks and Flyers would meet in the Finals all the way back in September. OK, so it wasn’t that hard to say that the Hawks would have made it. I think about half of the universe picked them to make the Finals this year (the other half picked San Jose because after all, this was “their year” since it hadn’t been “their year” for the last 5. Everyone’s number gets called some day, right?). But that doesn’t make it any less astounding that these two experts went out and picked the Flyers. The F’ing Flyers! I mean, who would have thought in a million years they were capable of…. Finding a dependable goaltender… And having their salary cap issues not be a complete and total Achilles’ heel… And firing their coach 2/3 of the way through the season… And having a 100% win percentage against the Islanders through a whole season.

OK, the last one is a joke.

But, yeah. That happened. The Flyers made it all the way. Somehow.

Barry Melrose and John Buccigross, I will never question my faith in you again. Next year I’m totally going to Vegas and betting on whatever you instruct me to.

And a sidebar — as it happens, Bucci picked the Flyers to win it all and Melrose picked the Hawks so it looks like we have An Epic Showdown For ESPN Hockey Journalist Bragging Rights on our hands. It should be awesome!

And a last and final sidebar — yes, that was EJ Hradek picking the Ducks to win it all. Oops.