While just over half (16 out of 30, to be exact) of NHL fans are getting ready to cheer on their team in the first round of the playoffs, the list of also-rans is pretty populated these days. If you're reading a hockey blog like FTR, chances are you're more than just a casual fan, and you'll watch the Stanley Cup playoffs even with your team golfing -- but who will you root for? Right now, message boards and blog comments are filling up with phrases like:

"I just don't want (PLAYER NAME) to win a Cup."

"Anybody but (HATED RIVAL TEAM)."

"(PLAYER NAME) deserves to win the Cup before he retires."

Any of those phrases sound familiar? It's the rallying cry of the jaded fan -- the person whose team is now inevitably facing non-playoff purgatory. He or she is also known as the person looking for a team to root for (I hear the Coyotes are looking for bandwagon jumpers).

With that in mind, how will you -- the die-hard supporter of a non-playoff team -- view the Stanley Cup playoffs? Will you bring some sort of rooting interest into it or will you simply watch the sport and hope for competitive games? Check out the poll below and leave any specifics in the comments.