With the NHL playoffs close to being half way done, I decided, well, not me, my favorite speaker dancer in all of Saskatchewan decided that I should do a blog about playoff beards. So Lindsay Dunn, I hope you appreciate the shout out, and never stop showing those speakers who's the boss!

Now in case you are wondering what a playoff beard is, Wikipedia has this explanation : "A playoff beard is the superstitious practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup. It is believed that the tradition was started in the 1980s by the New York Islanders. The tradition is also practiced by nearly all North American hockey leagues, to include high school leagues and the NCAA hockey teams, as well as minor league affiliates. The tradition has also spread to hockey leagues in Europe."

So now that you know what we are talking about, let's get to what everyone is here to see, some sweet pictures of ridiculous playoff beards............. Here we go:

Apparently this was Sydney Crosby last year after 55 days, yes, 55 days of growing, that's all the kid had! Pretty weak if you ask me, I am surprised he hasn't whined to any officials about how his facial hair isn't coming in the way it should.

Here's what a full Stanley Cup playoff beard looks like. This is Johan Franzen, and the only way you get a playoff beard this full, is by winning 16 games. Great form, a beautiful rich texture, apparently his 8 year old nephew didn't even recognize him, and got scared when he saw Johan, another good sign that you are doing something right, Great job Franzy!

Then you got your old man beard, which we see being sported here, by the great Scott Neidermayer. The grey hairs in the beard tell the story. This guy is old, but luckily, he's really good at what he does, and not to mention really rich, so he can look and grow whatever he wants, because the dude is rad!

This is Mike Commodore and offensive lineman Matt Light. They got what I like to call the "ginger beard". That's it, nothing witty to say, just ol' Matty and Mikey and their ginger beards. They look pretty good!

Hey, check out Max Talbot. I don't even know if this is a playoff beard, or just him looking good, but it is a pretty greasy pose, and funny to look at. Very handsome.

J-S Giguere recieving the Conn Smyth trophy while losing in the finals, a very rare occurence. Can you tell the difference between this 15 win beard pic, and the one of Johan Franzen's 16 win beard? If you answered " Giguere looks like he really could have used that 16th win?" You are Right!!!

This is a playoff beard, on a fan, with a passion for beards. I like to call this the "Z.Z. Ginger". So let's throw that in there.

I am pretty sure that this is John Lennon, or a John Lennon impersonator, either way, once again, pretty freaking funny beard right?

Remember how off the top I was talking about the Dunnster showing the speakers who's the boss, that got a song stuck in my head, wanna know what song it is? Click on Tony Danza's "just getting started" beard to find out.
 

When asked what my favorite beard was, it took me awhile to think, but I came to the conclusion, that this is my favorite, Olympic Gold medalist Amanda Beard.

Enjoy the second half of the playoffs, and be sure to enjoy the beards!

Gary Nickle is the producer for the Drew Remenda Sports Show