There is one word in sports that's so hallowed, so monumental and revered that you're not allowed to speak it unless it's absolutely obvious. The "D" word.

It's like when someone tweets "shutout" midway through the third period of a game and we all hunt him down on twitter with a collective "ShhHHHHhhhh you IDIOT! You're going to jinx it!"

I might be that guy, because I'm going to use it liberally. Dynasty, Dynasty, DYNASTY!

In team sports it's the ultimate accomplishment. Winning so consistently that your Franchise comes to embody an entire generation of that sport. In hockey the 1980s are synonymous with Gretzky's Oilers (I feel bad for those great Islanders' teams when writing this), or the NBA and Jordan's Bulls in the 1990s, or Tom Brady's Patriots in the 2000s. It's a special honor, bestowed upon only the greats.  

That's what makes where we stand today in hockey history so compelling. We're in the middle of TWO possible dynasties that are happening simultaneously – Chicago and Los Angeles.

Maybe that's an oxymoron in and of it itself. Maybe we can't really have two dynasties. Admittedly there isn't a standard definition of what constitutes one. Some believe you have to win three championships in succession (a nearly impossible feat in most sports), while others suggest you need to capture three with the same core group, regardless of how long it takes.

There's also the chance, the very small chance (1.6% if you ask the New York Times) that there aren't any burgeoning dynasties to be wittnessed. We might be living in an alternate reality where the Rangers somehow come back and with this damn thing.

On to game five.

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Not a whole lot happening from a fantasy perspective last night, not offensively anyway, on account of the two to one final. Of note, Kings forward Tanner Pearson managed eight shots on net. Dustin Brown, he of 27 points fame, had the Kings' lone goal (giving him four points in five games). Henrik Lundqvist's line stood out above everyone else, stopping 40 of 41 shots. If I'm drafting tomorrow he's ranked second behind Rask. Those two have opened up a significant gap between themselves and the next tier (no, Price isn't yet in that conversation).

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Most years’ Conn Smythe winner becomes pretty obvious as the playoffs progress. A forward will run away with the scoring race or a tender will post a sub 2.00 goals against average – it will be a forgone conclusion. Heck they might even start engraving letters on the trophy by game three. This year has been an outlier.

I've been tossing the question out on twitter all week looking for ideas. It's clear there is no consensus, with a ton of people liking Carter, Williams, Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, and Gaborik for various reasons. I suppose you can't give the Conn Smthye to an entire team (that would be redundant) but this is the closest we've had to it.

Of course that could all be for naught if New York finds a way to climb back into the series. Regardless of how it ends this will be a tough decision for the voters.

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Marian Gaborik is sitting at 21 points in 25 playoff games. Heading into the post season I didn't think he'd be able to get more than a three year deal out of Los Angeles. He's 32 years old and has a long, well documented, band-aid boy-ness about him.

I may have been wrong. As much as using a small sample size is a sure-fire way to bad decisions it's impossible to ignore how well Gaborik has fit on that first line alongside Kopitar. With the cap going up there is a real chance that the former Blue Jacket is able to land a four or five year deal – something that was unthinkable two months ago.

You know 30 general managers are pondering this – who would you rather sign long term, Vanek or Gaborik?

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You know I like ridiculous facts, so here's one – Joe Thornton had an assist share (percentage of on ice goals assisted by a specific player) of 72.2% in the regular season. Ahead of guys like Getzlaf, Crosby, and Henrik Sedin.

Why a team like San Jose, who is already one of the premier franchises in the league, would feel that trading Thornton is the means to a positive end befuddles me. There is this prevailing notion that it's time for guys like Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture to carry that team into the future. At the start of 2014-15 Marleau and Thornton will be 35 years old, and Pavelski will be 30. This coming three years is their window to win. THIS IS IT. Future generations of Sharks’ fans will remember these as their glory years, when they iced a contender year in and year out.

I understand the support of Couture and Pavelski, they are terrific talents, but they need help. Surrounding them with elite veterans is the way to be successful. Thornton is not an impediment to winning a cup, he's a building block (a rather large one) towards that goal.

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There is a dangerous rabbit hole you slip down when debating fighting in hockey. I don't really want to get into the discussion of whether fighting should be in hockey, that's a fight for another day. But, when looking at fantasy hockey it seems, at least to me, that we really don't want our core players dropping their gloves. The risk of injury to hands, heads, fingers…etc is simply too great.

News that Logan Couture underwent surgery as a result of his first round bout with Mike Richards is serving as a strong reminder. Even though it has been reported he'll return for training camp we have no guarantees. If healthy, there will still be lingering questions concerning his hand's functionality. Offseason surgery, of any kind, will most certainly have an impact on his training regimen and, by extension, his fantasy output.

I think back to Taylor Hall's fight against Derek Dorsett. It was a challenge he didn't really need to take on. The resulting high ankle sprain can certainly be blamed, in part, on poor luck. But we know that when willingly entering into a fight the odds of "bad luck" finding you increase. Especially when you're a star player with limited, and in some cases zero, experience with that vocation.

If we don't want star players fighting in the regular season or playoffs then it raises a distinct question as to whether it should really be a fantasy category at all. In recent years there has been a growing movement to institute other stats in place of penalty minutes – hits, blocked shots, or face-offs are all alternatives if you aren't already using them.

Any category we're using in fantasy should be something you can cheer for – a moment in the game that has some sort of positive impact. More and more I find myself cringing when the flippers come off. Maybe I'm just getting a bit older (aren't we all?) and don't have the stomach for it anymore. Or maybe it's time we consider change. 

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The folks over at Pensburgh recently posted a list of all the winners and losers from Pittsburgh's management changes that saw Dan Bylsma depart and Jim Rutherford announced as general manager. One part that intrigued me was the support shown for Kris Letang remaining a Penguin:

Rutherford said he had no “urgency” to deal Letang, who sees a $7.25 million cap hit and limited no-trade clause kick in this summer. Unless GMJR changes course quickly, it appears Letang will be sticking around for the start of his new contract.

It's difficult to envision (ok, it's IMPOSSIBLE to envision) a more plush fantasy assignment than playing the point on a power play featuring Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Staying in Pittsburgh, for now anyway, is the best outcome we can hope for when it comes to Letang. He's only a year removed from 38 points in 35 games. Outside of Subban, Karlsson, and Byfuglien there are no defencemen that possess his level of multi-category coverage.

The final piece of the puzzle for Letang owners is for Matt Niskanen to sign a long-term deal somewhere, anywhere, but Pittsburgh. If you're reading this Mr.MacTavish, you know what to do.

Darren Kennedy is a contributor for Dobber Hockey and Mckeen's. You can follow him on twitter at @fantasyhockeydk