Thumbs down to Babcock's words, up to Conn men Dave Hodge has his thumb down to what could well be a parting shot from Mike Babcock in Detroit with another one up to the top performers from the first round.

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Thumbs down to Mike Babcock for his "Detroit wasn't good enough and isn't getting any younger" comments that followed the Red Wings' elimination at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Quite simply, they were out of place, and could easily be called self-serving.

Was it Babcock's way of explaining his imminent departure from Detroit? It's hard to imagine any other reason he would pass judgment on the Wings' future immediately after a tough loss. Never mind that he analyzed the situation correctly, it is for others to do that, just as Babcock preferred while the matter of his own future lingered all season. Indeed, he will leave the Detroit assessment to the media if he goes elsewhere, because he'll be too busy explaining how excited he is to join his new team. If he winds up signing another contract to coach the Red Wings, won't he have to disown the pessimism that he served up for Detroit fans and players last night? Or was it all a big smokescreen?

Maybe he intended that I and everyone else who is trying to guess what he might do would jump to the conclusion that he won't be back in Detroit. I'm all for a coach giving more than a pat on the back to his team and congratulations to the winning team after a season-ending defeat, but that's what was called for last night and I'm not sure why Babcock chose to do otherwise the way he did.

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Call this an early preview of what Conn Smythe Trophy talk might sound like when the Stanley Cup playoffs draw closer to the end.

This is thumbs up to the best performers of the first round, beginning with the forwards.

Thumbs up to Corey Perry of the unbeaten Anaheim Ducks. He scored seven points in the four wins over Winnipeg, and most of them stood out for their importance. Two third-period goals in Game 1 sent the Ducks from a one-goal deficit to a one-goal lead and probably changed the series for good right there. His two assists in Game 4 were similar in cancelling a 1-0 Winnipeg lead, and Anaheim never trailed after that. Runner-up for best forward is Zach Parise of the Minnesota Wild.

Now to the defencemen. Thumbs up to the usually-prolific playoff performer Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks. He opened the series against Nashville with the double-OT goal in game one and he closed it out with the winner in Game 6. Runner-up for best man on the blue line: New York Rangers' captain Ryan McDonagh. He has logged an average of 25:45 in ice time, and not that goals determined his, or Keith's selection, but McDonagh's lone goal against Pittsburgh won the first game and he assisted on Carl Hagelin's series-winning overtime goal in Game 5.

Best goalie so far? Thumbs up to Carey Price. What is there to say that hasn't been said? If there was any doubt that Price must be considered among the most valuable playoff performers - how would the Conn Smythe and Hart trophies look side by side? - Price erased it with his 43-save shutout in Game 6 at Ottawa. Runner-up: Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers … and who would mind a Price-Lundqvist duel in the Eastern Conference final? Price was forced to miss most of last year's Stanley Cup semifinal. The Habs would welcome a chance to get even with the Rangers with a healthy Price in their net.