Alright hockey fans pick up the bowl of popcorn or plate of chips with dip and get ready for lord Stanley's Cup.  Wait a minute it is March. 

Playoff time is around the corner.  Everyone wants the team they watch to be playing for the most recognizable trophy in sports.  So with the playoff being 20 regular games away what two teams would the NHL like there?

The NHL has exciting new rules and are holding the officials accountable; call holding and hooking and be consistent about it.  Every official has this year.  Notice the scoring is up everywhere.  Now to the question what would the National Hockey League staff like to watch in the "war room" in Toronto? When it comes time to drop the puck for the start to the finish of Stanley Cup 2006.  I have a idea.  It is good for the viewership and NHL.  Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings. 

The Buffalo Sabres is a team that most everyone would watch.  Being that they are in New York state.  This team has fought back from being strapped financially.  Plus having a coach like Lindy Ruff and not to mention great goal tending from Ryan Miller are definite reason to watch.  Also the scoring from Maxim Afinegenov.  Buffalo excels this season at playing as a team.  Watching Buffalo play hockey is like watching the definition of flow and smooth on camera.  Buffalo fans will have no worries and fear about the team relocating.  Buffalo could very well win it all.  If they did that is one acheivement the NHL staff would like to see. 

This fan would to because Ryan Miller is great at shutting opposing teams down.  I watched him in his CCHA years at the Michigan State University set records in CCHA and NCAA for shut outs.  The Buffalo Sabres team has goal tender who likes to win.  Lindy Ruff skating around, smiling with Stanley Cup in the air.  Awesome.

The Detroit Red Wings began camp in Traverse City, Michigan to critics saying this and that about goaltending, coaching, scoring.... you name it.  Then not to my surprise but a few people they are not only in the hunt for post season they are in lead pack.  Teams that in the regular season are in the top five in point total.  Everyone involved with the Red Wings is doing a great job.  Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk are all three setting pace for career bests.  Most fans mention the pace of Zetterberg and Datsyuk.  Lidstrom's best season, 1999-2000 combined points was 73.  He is on pace to best that this year.  Mike Babcock is an excellent coach.  His system and knowledge of the game is helping the roster of the Red Wings to better and improve themselves as players and in community involvement.  Then Manny Legace doing what he does best playing and having fun at keeping the puck out of the net.  Meantime he is the Red Wings number one goalie for the playoffs. 

The Detroit Red Wings are my team.  Even when rumors are expressed  and critics say  belittling things.  The Red Wings like the Buffalo Sabres have goal tender who likes to win.  The NHL staff would like Steve Yzerman and Chris Chelios to lift  the trophy in the air one more time.   Manny Legace take a lap round Joe Louis Arena and hand the trophy to Mike Babcock.  What an event.

The answer to the question has nothing to do with reality but time.  Both teams playing against each other in reality would make for one of the memorable televised Stanley Cup finals ever.  The NHL would be very satisfied with either outcome.