With the playoffs here for the National Hockey League, all of the Aerys NHL writers teamed up to compile a list of motivational men from our playoff teams. That’s right, we are bringing you motivation from sixteen different teams. What’s not to like?

For those non-hockey fans, after this post, you will understand where our love and devotion to our teams comes from. I promise.  Two posts and 156 comments later, this is what we bring to you:

What is not to love about this 30 year old Swede? Seriously.(Henrik Lundvquist)

Starting in the East we have Henrik Lundvquist of the New York Rangers. Lundvquist is 6’1″ and 195lbs and plays for the number one team in the Eastern Conference. Through 69 games played this season he had 39 wins and 18 losses, with only 5 games needing extra minutes and was ranked among the top THREE goaltenders in the entire National Hockey League. If you don’t find that impressive, then you may want to reconsider reading the rest of this article.

Next on the hot seat we’ll take a look at Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators. Granted there wasn’t a whole hell of a lot to choose from because, well, it’s the Senators. Nonetheless the man to drool over is 21-year old Norris Trophy nominee Erik Karlsson. This kid has been phenomenal this season for the Sens, leading all NHL defensemen in points with 78 as 19 of them are goals and 59 are assists. Karlsson is one of the most fluid defensemen I have ever witnessed play and isn’t bad to look at either. Take a look for yourself.

That crooked half-smile, yeah, who wouldn't die for that? (Erik Karlsson)

Moving on we shall take a look at the currently atrocious Pittsburgh Penguins. All season long they have done tremendously without their Captain Sidney Crosby, but it seems that the Playoffs presented the Penguins with their match as they went down 3-0 in the series today against Philadelphia. However, despite the efforts of the team (or lack thereof) there is one player who stands out in all Penguin fans minds. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jordan Staal. Seriously, what isn’t there to love about a blue-eyed blonde combination? That is genuinely almost every person’s dream. The fact that he looks good with long hair or short hair proves that he is even more perfect, especially for the sake of this post.  However, we also have to give an honorable mention to a member of the Pittsburgh Squad as Sidney Crosby‘s voluptuous rear end made the nominee board and is too fantastic to pass up.

Yeah, in a suit or in street clothes Jordan Staal is still yummy.

Moving on we will go to the New Jersey Devils with none other than Zach Parise. Of course we would have to go with the Captain of the team and well, the most well-known player on the team. In fact, I think he is the only guy that I personally have ever really heard of. Either way, the 5’11″ 27 year old has some pretty impressive stats with 31 goals and 38 assists. That’s Alex Ovechkin type statistics right there, p retty incredible stuff.

How adorable is he with his dimples (Too bad Crosby is in the picture)

Where can we get tickets to the Gun Show?

For Philadelphia Flyers, we must take a close look at bad boy Max Talbot. You want to talk about sexy, you have found it with this man.  Not only is Talbot easy on the eyes with his brown eyes and dimples, but he has a tough guy, instigator type arrogance that is sexy as hell in its own sort of way.  And I’m sorry, but anyone with tattoos that is badass on the ice, totally gets my vote. Just one look into those seductive eyes and I’m melted.

For the Washington Capitals, our lovely VC Chillin’ writer has chosen Brooks Laich as our Monday Morning Motivation Playoff Series for the Capitals.Brooks has been a valuable part of the Capitals team this year, dressing in all 82 games played for the Capitals. His baby blues are enough to make your heart melt and his talent on the ice, flawless.

Stare deep into his eyes and you will get lost. (No seriously, you will)

Lets move the hot seat to where it belongs for a second and take a look at the most random team to ever make it into the playoffs, the Florida Panthers. Now, majority of hockey fans, okay, the non-committed ones, seem to have this notion that hockey shouldn’t be in the South because they don’t experience cold weather temperatures. This season, the Florida Panthers proved they know what they’re doing, beating out the Sabres among other teams to seal their playoff position. As for some motivation for you to really get the estrogen flowing, if it isn’t already, take a look at Erik Gudbranson. This bad boy isn’t afraid to get a little messy and looks pretty good doing it too.

Tempers and wounds are enough to get anyone's blood pumping, especially when the person looks that good. Am I right?

Milan Lucic can break glass and goaltenders, no wonder why...

Saving the best for last of the Eastern Conference, we have the Boston Bruins. Now, seems as there are two lead writers for the Bruins, we decided to post about the player we each thought deserved to be the Bruins Monday Motivation. For my co-writer Ariana, we have Milan Lucic.  Lucic is a Vancouver native that knows how to throw a hit. Don’t believe me, check out this one or perhaps this one. Lucic was the first player to reach 100 penalty minutes and score 20+ goals this season, with only a handful of other forwards doing so. Pretty incredible stuff. As for myself, I have to commend Benoit Pouliot for his late season efforts. The little Pou Bear was really rusty at the beginning of the season, but since then has come out of his Canadien shell and been a secret weapon for the Bruins. He plays with grit and determination and those qualities are attractive all in their own, let alone throwing a hot body into the mix. Don’t believe me, have a look for yourself. Oh, and try not to drool too much.

A hockey man in a baseball uniform with sexy stubble, what is not to drool over?

Moving on to the Western Conference, brace yourselves because there are eight more teams to go through, which means eight more guys to drool over and really get the blood pumping. For starters, let’s have a look at the League leading Vancouver Canucks. While there is close competition between Kevin Bieksa for his drop-dead sexy eyes, the motivational award belongs to Ryan Kesler. The picture below speaks for itself.

perfection.

Jaws closed ladies, moving on. We have the Chicago Blackhawks. Now, I’m sure you are expecting our Senior NHL Editor to pick a name such as Duncan Keith to have me write about, or for the bandwagoners, I’m sure you are expecting Kane or Toews. Well, you are all sadly mistaken. After short deliberation on Kat’s part, the Blackhawks motivator is Brent Seabrook. With his subtle stare and movie-star good looks, why wouldn’t you want to look at him?

A little fun in the sun and a nice body to complement. Thank you Seabs!

Vladimir Sobotka. This kid has been phenomenal here in the playoffs, with 15 penalty minutes and nearly broke someone’s nose in last night’s game. (Not too shabby) From the St. Louis Blues, I present you with Vladimir Sobotka:

Who to take a look at next but the Blues current playoff competitor the San Jose Sharks. Now, mind you a lot of people find Logan Couture to be dreamy or Joe Thornton to be handsome for the older generation, but we here on Aerys find Mr. TJ Galiardi to be Mr. Motivation.

Were you looking to play for the T-Birds? You stud you.

I’m sorry, but that picture seriously reminds me of Danny Zuco from Grease, I couldn’t resist the reference. Regardless, still quite easy on the eyes and on the ice, yikes!

The next man should come as no surprise to most hockey fans, he’s been around the League for a while now and well, he is one of the better known players in the NHL overall. And in all honesty, how could you really not love Detroit Red Wing Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s a six-time Norris Trophy winner, a killer d-man. What’s not to love? Seriously, he can do it all and the day he retires is going to be a sad day for the NHL.

Another team that gets dogged on a lot for being a part of the NHL is the Nashville Predators, much similar to the Florida story. People don’t understand how you can have a Southern team play hockey and yet another team showed them up. Coming up with one specific male species to look at from this team posed as a bit of a challenge for us NHL writers, but we came to the conclusion that we agreed with Carrie Underwood and that we adore her husband Mike Fisher.

Good pick Carrie, we concur!

With only two teams remaining, we have to make sure that these last two leave you ladies drooling and wanting more (so hopefully you will check out all of our personal blogs for more in-depth reasons on why these men are so amazing on the ice).  For the LA Kings there was speculation over Richards or Carter.  Unfortunately for Carter, his skin was a little too ‘orangey’ for our taste, looking too much like a Cheeto, so Mike Richards wins this brawn battle. And, well, why the heck not?

Last but not least we are going to end this post with the drop dead bombshell, blue-eyed, handsome Phoenix Coyote Taylor Pyatt. Seriously, it’s all in the eyes. Try and tell us otherwise.

Mr. Pyatt, you are the definition of McDreamy

This concludes our Monday Morning Motivation: NHL Playoff Series, we hope to have gotten you hooked on at least a few of our teams and that you continue following our motivators progress throughout the series on our respective pages. Happy Monday everyone!