Current Odds to win cup: |
Carolina Hurricanes +400 Edmonton Oilers +600 New York Rangers +600 Florida Panthers +650 Dallas Stars +1000 Vegas Golden Knights +1000 Colorado Avalanche +1200 Vancouver Canucks +1200 Winnipeg Jets +1200 Boston Bruins +1400 Toronto Maple Leafs +1400 Tampa Bay Lightning +4000 Los Angeles Kings +5000 Nashville Predators +5000 New York Islanders +20000 Washington Capitals +25000 |
The first games of the playoffs are on the books, and we’re underway into Game 2 of the NHL playoffs. In Part 1 of our Stanley Cup projections, we dove into which teams have the best chances of taking it all- with a few underdogs thrown into our analysis. Here in Part 2 of our Stanley Cup projections, we’re shifting our focus to look at what teams we sadly don't think have a shot.
Edmonton Oilers:
Don’t get too excited over Edmonton’s win over the LA Kings in Game 1. The Oilers, as currently constructed, are a one-line team unless they split McDavid and Draistisl up. Goaltending is still a major concern, though Skinner did salvage his season statistically speaking. When the games start tightening up in the playoffs, Edmonton will be squeezed thin. While McDavid's heroics might win a few games or even a few series, ultimately the lack of depth and top-heavy lineup will lead to Edmonton falling short.
2. Boston Bruins:
The Bruins set an NHL record last year when they won 65 games- but they did so with a much superior roster than this season. Beating the Toronto Maple Leafs this past weekend isn’t much to hang your hat on- especially given their subsequent loss to them in Game 2. While Boston's goaltending tandem is the best in the NHL, there is a glaring gap down the middle of the Boston lineup with Bergeron and Krecji's retirement. Plus, without McAvoy and Lindholm, their defense is patchwork to say the least. If they couldn't win last year with those guys, it’s doubtful Boston will have a genuine shot at the cup without them this year.
3. Maple Leafs:
Toronto has gone out of its way to add depth and has a pretty solidified forward core with their main stars Mathews, Tavares, Nylander, and Marner who are flanked by some other great players like Bertuzzi, Domi, an emerging Bobby McCann, and Mathew Knies. However, the defense is seriously suspect, and the goaltending is even more of a question mark, and it’s too late to make any sort of major roster overhaul. An offense-heavy tactic- without a strong supporting defense- has not often managed to make true headway in the playoffs, and until proven otherwise, I'd keep betting against them, especially after their showing against the Bruins in Game 1 and in spite of their win in Game 2.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning:
While it pains me to bet against the perennial dynasty, the cupboards have become sparse with Tampa's depth. The years and years of picking late in the draft coupled with losing key players due to salary issues has finally reared its ugly head. The main cog of the Tampa Bay machine, goaltender Vasilevsky, is recovering from back surgery and doesn’t seem to be his normal self, posing a feeble .900% save percentage. The Tampa brass are aware of their declining core and did make some savvy moves by adding Anthony Duclair (who has wound up on the top forward group) and solid defenseman Matt Dumba. However, these moves are not enough to turn Tampa into cup contenders, at least not this year.
4. Los Angeles Kings:
If there ever was a team to not count out, it's Los Angeles, who have won a few cups even from the eighth seed. With that being said, the Kings are going through a bit of a fundamental overhaul, having fired coach Todd McLellan. McLellan had coached a rigid 1-3-1 defensive scheme, but new coach Jim Hiller hasn't appeared to tinker much with line combos, as much as their player personnel has changed. At some very important positions, Los Angeles has a young core, and while some of their winning core still exists (specifically Kopitar and Doughty), their holdovers from the dynasties of yesteryear are possibly too old to make as impactful a splash. That being said, the Kings might be a force to look out for in the seasons to come as new talent like Byfield, Brandt Clarke, and Jordan Spence acquire more experience.
5. Colorado Avalanche:
This might surprise some of you, but Colorado saw a drastic overhaul at the trade deadline which on paper, made them look to have an improved roster. BUT this may prove to be a band-aid, patchwork solution to a much bigger issue, and that's a top-heavy roster, a very apparent Landeskog injury, and the lack of experience of Middlestadt, who is not quite a #2 center (yet). Instead, MacKinnon has carried that mantle, and we certainly wouldn’t want to go on record doubting Makar. However, the goalie situation is concerning- at a point in the playoffs when the Avalanche can’t afford it.
Cover Photo Credit: Nick Zanghi
Source of Current Odds: ESPN
Photo Credit for Oilers’ MacDavid: Brian Murphy, All-Pro Reels
Photo Credit for Bruins’ Swayman
Photo Credit for Maple Leaf’s Matthews: Quintin Soloviev
Photo Credit for Lightning’s Vasilevskiy: Michael Miller
Photo Credit for LA Kings’ Kopitar: Jenn G
Photo Credit for Avalanche’s Makar: Quintin Soloviev
Comments