(Ed. Note: We're proud to welcome back two of our favorite bloggers, Chuck and Pants from What's Up, Ya Sieve?, to the Puck Daddy fold as they author our weekly NHL Playoff BeardWatch every Thursday.)

By Chuck and Pants from What's Up, Ya Sieve?

The lockout took many things from us: games, All-Star festivities, the NHL Awards show awkwardness. Now fate has given something in return: a plethora of excellent playoff beards have made it to the Final. There are Beard of the Year vote-getters on both the Blackhawks and Bruins.

From Brandon Saad’s Rookie of the Beard to Nick Leddy and Brandon Bollig’s matching set, Chicago has it covered. Boston’s Andrew Ference and Patrice Bergeron wear the coffeehouse beards of thoughtful artists, while Johnny Boychuk morphs into the Bruins Bear one inch of neckbeard at a time. The little girl in the AT&T commercial asks, “What about infinity times infinity?” is clearly referring to Patrick Sharp’s handsomeness when his face is multiplied by his beard. Someone should show her how good Adam McQuaid looks.

Alas, there can be only one Beard of the Year. Last season we went for the biggest and baddest in Dustin Penner. With so many worthy candidates in 2013, we are choosing pure perfection.

BEARD OF THE YEAR: Johnny Oduya

Johnny Oduya hints at this beard year-round, like the blueprint for a theme park. This year he made good on his promise. In the first round, we saw construction begin.

By the start of Round 2, he was far ahead of the pack.

Even last year’s burly bearded LA Kings were outpaced in the Western Conference Final.

For the Stanley Cup Final, Oduya’s beard wanted to be sure it had every last minute to grow into full glory. So it sent Game 1 into Triple OT.

Now, four games into the Final, with at least two left to play, Johnny Oduya’s beard receives its rightful title: Beard of the Year.

Many beards run wild and messy over a journey to the Final, but Oduya’s just patiently fills in. It’s scientific. His beard collapses and increases in density like a star forming. It appears to be self-grooming as well - hitting just high enough on his cheeks, naturally stopping short of the neckbeard line. It’s black as night and perfectly anchored to his sideburns. Truth and beauty - this is the beard of the future.

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