Congratulations, Red Wings...and yes, you too, Penguins

It was not a final for the ages, much as the league would like to have had between the traditional powerhouse in Detroit and the emerging club in Pittsburgh. But it was entertaining, and in many respects displayed some of what makes hockey unique among team sports.

Henrik Zetterberg staked his claim to being the best two-way player in the sport.

Ryan Malone defined grit, having his nose broken not once, but twice, eschewing a visor and skating his regular shifts.

Nicklas Lidstrom was hardly noticeable -- the greatest compliment I can think of for the player who exhibits the ultimate definition of the term, "hockey sense." And, he adds a first -- the first European captain to skate around the ice carrying the Stanley Cup.

Dan Cleary became the first Newfoundland native to skate on a Cup-winner.

Marc-Andre Fleury shook off previous disappointments in his playoff performances and took the club as far as he could.

Chris Osgood was good often, great when he needed to be.

Sidney Crosby did not disappoint in his first final...as a Caps fan it is hard to say this, but one suspects it won't be his last.

Tomas Holmstrom, Sergei Gonchar, Johan Franzen, Petr Sykora, and a host of others played hurt and beaten from the two month grind, but you couldn't drag them off the ice with a Zamboni.

It's over...when does training camp start?