Top 10: Stanley Cup Playoff Beards

Now that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full-swing, lets count down one of the greatest traditions in sports...the NHL playoff beard. The tradition basically goes like this...if you make the playoffs, you grow a beard/facial hair, and you don't shave until your team is eliminated. Any head hair, mustaches, or face hair counts as part of the tradition. Lets take a look at my top 10 favorite NHL playoff beards of all time.

*Honorable Mention*

Clark Gillies- A part of the 1980s Islanders dynasty that won four Stanley Cups in a row, Clark Gillies is credited with the creation of the playoff beard tradition. For that, he deserves a mention. Plus that beard is pretty dang awesome.

10.
George Parros- You're pretty much guaranteed a spot on this list when you have one of the best mustaches to ever hit the ice...even if you do play for the not-so-mighty Ducks. Being one of the premier enforcers in the league, I doubt Parros would be as intimidating without it. Best part is, he doesn't just grow it out for the playoffs.

9.
Mike Richards- Yea, sure you'll see Richards with 5 o'clock shadow pretty often, but a beard of this caliber is a rare treat he saves only for the playoffs. This picture was taken when he made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010, giving him plenty of time to make this beard what it was. Awesome. Hopefully, it will make a return here in LA.

8.
Henrik Zetterberg- A lumberjack style beard at its finest. Then again, when you play for the Red Wings and make the postseason every year since signing with the team, I guess you get a lot of practice at forming the perfect playoff beard.

7.
Claude Giroux- What's most important hear is that his beard matches his uniform. Bravo.

6.
Scott Hartnell- One of the scruffiest players year round, Hartnell always has a impressive playoff beard. Notice how many Flyers players made this list? Hmm.

5.
Chris Mason- Quite an impressive beard there. One important thing to keep in mind is that the Blues were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round when this picture was taken.

4.
Mike Commodore- The bright red Chia Pet. When you have a combination of crazy hair and an awesome beard it's a guarantee that you'll make this list.

3.
Paul Mara- This beard just scares me and I'm sure it did the same to a lot of Paul Mara's opponents. Too bad he didn't make the playoffs this year as he remained an unrestricted free agent.

2.
Bill Flett- Another Flyer. Well deserving too. Definitely one of the most impressive beards in NHL history.

1.
Lanny McDonald- Hands down, my favorite beard of all time. Lanny McDonald played during the era in which the beard tradition began and boy did he excel at the art. I mean, his beard looks like it's on fire! And he's on the Flames! Glorious.