By Stevo, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. — One of the finest traditions in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs happens when players decide to put down the BIC shaver and let their beards grow wild. More often than not, it doesn’t do anything to help the player’s appearance, that’s not really the point of it, but the tradition itself has become somewhat of a joyful affair.
It would seem the tradition started in the early 1980s with the New York Islanders, as they went on a run that saw them win four consecutive Stanley Cups. It has however gained a tremendous amount of popularity in recent years, with certain players taking it to the extreme, such as Mike Commodore back in 2006 when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes, during the playoffs that saw them capture the Stanley Cup.
Just last year, we had players such as Chicago Blackhawk’s forward Patrick Kane, who decided to adopt his own version of the tradition and grow himself a playoff mullet. The generations, they are a changing.
I still remember the first time the playoff beard tradition became known to me, I was watching Jean-Sebastien Giguere hoist the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP with the Anaheim Ducks, after losing in the Stanley Cup finals to the New Jersey Devils back in 2003. (R.I.P Pat Burns)
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Also in recent years, more and more, we are starting to see fans participate in the tradition, making this all the more fun. Beards, mustaches, mullets, hey, even some women are participating apparently, but I’ve said it time and time again, I don’t want to know the details of it.
Do you call your beard a playoff beard?
I am sending an invitation to everyone out there to send to us a picture of your playoff beard, moustache, mullet or whatever it is you’re doing for the playoffs (Hey, surprise me!). You can send in your picture in any of the following ways:
- Contact Us link at the top of this page.
- Comment box below.
- Email: steve@allhabs.net or allhabs@gmail.com
- Twitter: @stevofarnham or @All_Habs
Do you think your playoff beard is better than mine? Here’s mine, 10 days into the playoffs:
