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PHT staff picks: Who’s going to win the Stanley Cup?

Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Victory Parade

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 14: Captain Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings holds up the Stanley Cup to the fans during the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Victory Parade on June 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Getty Images

As introduced in our first-round predictions, the PHT staff is comprised of myself (Mike Halford), Jason Brough, Joe Yerdon, James O’Brien, Ryan Dadoun and Cam Tucker.

You may recognize us from such articles as “Sidney Crosby’s hourly health update” and “yes, another Bryzgalov post!”

Today, we’re here to give you our Stanley Cup champion picks for the 2013 playoffs.

But there’s a wrinkle! Rather than use the comments section to insult our picks/manhood, we challenge you, the PHT reader, to submit your Stanley Cup champion pick too.

Those that get it right will receive a cookie (Note: legal issues might prevent us from actually giving you the cookie. It’ll probably be more like a symbolic biscuit.)

Anyway, here we go...

Jason Brough: Pittsburgh Penguins

I have to preface my selection with this: I count eight, maybe even nine, teams that wouldn’t shock me if they won the Cup. So when I say the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to win the Stanley Cup, I am fully prepared to be wrong. Just as wrong as I was last year when I picked the Pens and they got embarrassed by the Flyers in the first round. My theory is Sid and company will take something from that experience and apply it to this year’s effort. It’s not a particularly unique theory, but whatever, I’ll probably be wrong anyway.

Preseason pick: Boston Bruins

Joe Yerdon: Los Angeles Kings

I’m taking the Kings over the Rangers in the finals. It’s a reverse of what I picked in the preseason. I think both teams are trending up going into the playoffs. Yes, Chicago and Pittsburgh are beastly, but no one is unbeatable. Picking the teams with the best starting goalies in the playoffs makes me feel a little better about going out on this limb.

Preseason pick: New York Rangers

James O’Brien: Los Angeles Kings

The hottest team in the NHL is in the West, but it’s not the Chicago Blackhawks. The Los Angeles Kings possess a little bit of everything: two capable goalies, plenty of versatile forwards and an appealing set of defensemen. They’ve also possessed the puck more often than anyone else lately. Look for the defending champs to top one of the East’s deepest, most versatile teams in the Bruins to complete the repeat.

Preseason pick: New York Rangers

Ryan Dadoun: New York Rangers

When we did our preseason predictions, I took the New York Rangers and I’m stubbornly sticking with it. They’ve had problems, but so did the Los Angeles Kings in 2011-12. The Rangers bolstered their top-nine forwards at the deadline while simultaneously making their team more physical. They still have potential playoff heroes in Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, and most importantly Henrik Lundqvist. It also doesn’t hurt that they’ve been hot lately.

Preseason pick: New York Rangers

Cam Tucker: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins just have too much depth. And look out for when Sidney Crosby makes his return from a broken jaw. He was by far the best player in the NHL this season until his injury, and it won’t take him long to return to that form once he comes back to the lineup. Look for Marc-Andre Fleury to exercise the demons that haunted him in last year’s first-round loss to Philadelphia.

Preseason pick: N/A

Mike Halford: Chicago Blackhawks

What the ‘Hawks accomplished this season is remarkable. They won 75 percent of their games. They finished with a plus-53 goal differential. They only lost seven times in regulation. Their longest losing streak was two games. Sure, sure, but that’s all regular-season stuff, you say -- except that the ‘Hawks head into this postseason built largely around the core of the 2010 Cup-winning side. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson all have a wealth of postseason experience, and you could argue the team’s one weak spot -- goaltending -- is better now than it ever has been during the Joel Quenneville era. Now all they have to do is avoid the Presidents’ Trophy curse...

Preseason pick: St. Louis Blues