No one's quite sure the true origin of the NHL playoff beard, but the custom has been firmly cemented into the folklore of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some players shave their face clean before the playoffs begin, and others already have massive beards, letting them continue to grow larger and larger as they get deeper into the postseason.
But how did the playoff beard tradition really begin?
The origin is commonly traced back to the 1980 New York Islanders team, who started the playoff-beard tradition on their way to their first of four Stanley Cups.
If you're really interested in hearing the tale of how the tradition began, we can't think of a more entertaining way to learn than watching this cool animated short narrated by Isles legend Bryan Trottier.
When looking at the two teams facing off in the Stanley Cup Final, who in your opinion wins the Cup if determined based solely on the best playoff beard?
Our choice? ... Ryan Ellis.
(Icon Sportswire/ Getty Images)
While he may have the best beard in the Final, his Nashville Predators have an uphill battle to climb down 0-2 in the series.
(H/T @NHL)
