Who Will Hoist the Stanley Cup?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Regardless of which teams claim the NHL's conference finals, at least one former Griffin will eventually have his name engraved on the most famous trophy in sports.

The Western Conference Final featured 2017 Calder Cup champions facing each other, with Vegas' Tomas Nosek (GRG center from 2014-17) losing to his old head coach, Dallas assistant coach Todd Nelson (GRG defenseman from 1996-98, 99-00 and 01-02; assistant coach in 02-03; head coach from 15-18), and Mattias Janmark, who had a brief stint as a Griffins forward in 13-14. (The Golden Knights also have two former Griffins staffers in equipment manager Chris Davidson-Adams and senior manager of communications and content Alyssa Girardi.)

The Eastern Conference Final pitted Tampa Bay and assistant GM/director of player personnel Stacy Roest (GRG center in 02-03) against New York Islanders assistant coach John Gruden (GRG defenseman from 99-02).

Since 1996, 16 Griffins players have gone on to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup (all as players), earning the honor in six of the last 12 years and eight of the last 15 seasons. No former Grand Rapids coach has ever gone on to celebrate with the Stanley Cup.


CONFERENCE FINALS MATCHUPS

Western Conference
1. Vegas (left wing Tomas Nosek) lost to 3. Dallas (center Mattias Janmark, assistant coach Todd Nelson), 1-4

Eastern Conference
2. Tampa Bay (assistant GM Stacy Roest) leads 6. NY Islanders (assistant coach John Gruden), 4-2


SECOND ROUND RESULTS

Western Conference
1. Vegas (left wing Tomas Nosek) defeated 5. Vancouver, 4-3
2. Colorado (head coach Jared Bednar) lost to 3. Dallas (center Mattias Janmark, assistant coach Todd Nelson), 3-4

Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia (amateur scout Mark Greig) lost to 6. NY Islanders (assistant coach John Gruden), 3-4
2. Tampa Bay (assistant GM Stacy Roest) defeated 4. Boston (head coach Bruce Cassidy), 4-1


FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Western Conference
1. Vegas (left wing Tomas Nosek) defeated 8. Chicago (assistant coach Sheldon Brookbank), 4-1
2. Colorado (head coach Jared Bednar) defeated 7. Arizona (coordinator of skill development Jeff Ulmer), 4-1
3. Dallas (center Mattias Janmark, assistant coach Todd Nelson) defeated 6. Calgary (center Alan Quine), 4-2
4. St. Louis (amateur scout Michel Picard) lost to 5. Vancouver, 2-4

Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia (amateur scout Mark Greig) defeated 8. Montreal (defenseman Xavier Ouellet, left wing Tomas Tatar), 4-2
2. Tampa Bay (assistant GM Stacy Roest) defeated 7. Columbus (center Gustav Nyquist), 4-1
3. Washington (defenseman Nick Jensen) lost to 6. NY Islanders (assistant coach John Gruden), 1-4
4. Boston (head coach Bruce Cassidy) defeated 5. Carolina (goaltender Petr Mrazek), 4-1