2022 Stanley Cup Favourite #11
- Thread starter M2Beezy
- Start date
Boreal01
Registered User
KoozNetsOff 92
Hala Madrid
- Apr 6, 2016
- 8,567
- 8,235
Caps and pens are better than Winnipeg and Toronto. Especially Toronto.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 56,759
- 49,171
LaMasquerade
Registered User
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 56,759
- 49,171
libertarian
Registered User
It's the HF Florida Panthers effect. One strong season after a few shit years/lack of playoff participation/wins still makes you a top cup contender. Surprised they didn't go higher.
banks
Only got 3 of 16.
- Aug 29, 2019
- 3,847
- 5,663
Voted Stars, but Washington is a good choice.
Call me crazy, but I think Chicago should be in consideration soon.
Call me crazy, but I think Chicago should be in consideration soon.
I voted Washington. I could see Stars going next - but I think it should be Montreal
Strong showing in the play-ins 2 years ago, fantastic playoff run last year. Actually added even more winger depth. It's true their center depth took a hit - but overall forward depth actually improved I'd say. Price has shown he can do a lot of damage in the playoffs.
I don't know which is a worse pick at this stage Minny or Montreal?
I think both Dallas and St Louis are getting underrated here and my wildcard is the Black Hawks, assuming both Toews and Dach are back to full health.
Took Stars with that back end, just built for a long drive.
Im not convinced the Pens and Caps are going to be threats going forwards as their stars get older. Toronto and Winnipeg's stars are hitting their peak and primes, so to me its just a matter of time that they get over their "playoff hump woes", just like the Caps did in 2018.
Let's see:
Habs just made the Stanley Cup Finals.
vs
Wild haven't won a playoff round since 2014-2015. And even then - it was just 1 round, to get swept in round 2.
Their best player is also still under contract dispute
But knowing HF - Minnesota will end up being seen as the bigger Stanley Cup Favorite than Habs.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
I agree with this. Chicago is flying under the radar for next season. Getting Fleury, Toews and Jones will make a huge difference.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Neither makes it to round 2 (unless they play each other in round 1)Washington and Pittsburgh are interchangeable. All comes down to whichever of the two wins their Round 2 series.
banks
Only got 3 of 16.
- Aug 29, 2019
- 3,847
- 5,663
Yup. Top line forward, a number 1 D, and a starting goalie. It's a huge leap. They're a fairly deep squad, too. I think they're a playoff team.
- Oct 30, 2006
- 2,902
- 1,870
Standard fare for HF...where a team who hasn't won a playoff round since 2004 and who hasn't made a 'Cup final appearance since 1967 gets the Stanley Cup favorite nod over the 2021 Stanley Cup runner-up, the 2020 Stanley Cup runner-up, the 2019 Stanley Cup winner, etc.
Yeah, because acquisitions, loses, trades, hiring and firings, etc., that happen in the off-season, play no part in to where teams are ranked or projected going into the upcoming season. The not making the SCF since 67 is obviously so much more important lol
- Oct 30, 2006
- 2,902
- 1,870
Yeah, like the Leafs have acquired top talent, lost their deadbeats, fired the many incompetents running their organization and replaced them with a winning management group.
Yeah, like the Leafs have acquired top talent, lost their deadbeats, fired the many incompetents running their organization and replaced them with a winning management group.
I never said they did. But the outlandish thinking that a teams playoff history plays as huge a role as to the moves a team makes in the off-season, is ridiculous.
Aside from that thinking, Toronto seems to be the more talented team going into this season. Just because the Habs had a Cinderella run last playoffs, doesn’t mean I think they are better than the Leafs going into this season. And of course I’ll take into account that they haven’t made it past the 2nd round in forever, I still feel they are better.
libertarian
Registered User
You do know that the Stars the year before made it all the way to the SCF only to miss the POs last year?
For me at lease I will not be picking the Habs because I do not see them making the POs in the tough Eastern Conference. Habs can't win if they are not in the show.
Minny on the other hand has a very good chance of making the PO's in the very weak Western Conference so I will be picking them well before the Habs.
Your Habs might be a better team then Minny is but is will do them no good if they are on the outside looking in for the POs while Minny is on the inside looking out.
Hence I'll be picking the Blues, Wild, Oilers, Caps Canucks, and maybe Kings and Hawks before the Habs.
- Oct 30, 2006
- 2,902
- 1,870
1967 is relevant to prove the point that the Leafs simply don't prioritize the playoffs. Even mediocre teams succeed in the playoffs, if so motivated...see the Habs last season.
Talent without character is useless in the playoffs. Character is why "weaker" teams prevail in the playoffs...and why the Leafs continuously fail. Yes, talent alone might push a team to some success on the regular season, and Cinderella accomplishments like divisional titles happen easier under one-off realignments like last season, but it's character that separates the contenders from the pretenders come playoff time.
I can agree with that, to a degree. I cant agree that the same can be said for any team that has either missed the playoffs, or had minimal success while in the playoffs.
Take Florida for example, as one ridiculously described this whole debate "HF Florida Panthers effect."
Florida has had zero playoff success since making the SCFs in 96. But those playoff appearances after 96, and up until a few years ago, have zero effect on the team this year, or over the past two seasons where they lost the play in to the Islanders, and last playoffs to the eventual champs. There was never a time when they had an owner willing to spend money on the players, coaches, management staff, etc., or invest in the team itself. Viola has done all of that. He spends to the cap, spends the most on coaches, added to the scouting department, upgraded our training facility, and now builds our future training facility. The whole organization is focused on winning, and its the first time that can be said, from ownership to the players,. And its evident by the improvement of play of the last few seasons. Its been an upward trajectory for the Panthers just before the play in season.Now, if Florida goes the route of Toronto, and starts losing in the first round over the next few seasons, then you can bring up the character, or mental weakness, of the team. But you havent seen that yet.
Now the same cant be said about the Leafs. They were on the trajectory the Panthers are on now, a few seasons ago, but they have stalled. For one reason or the other, they havent been able to make it past the first round. Maybe its bad luck. An injury. Or like you said, a lack of character or mental strength. But they still are a talented team. They are flawed, and still will be doubted once the playoffs start, but I still have them better than some of the teams not yet voted in. I think the Leafs, Habs, and Bruins fight for the 3/4/5 slot, and I wouldnt be shocked if Montreal were to be ahead of either one of those teams towards the end of the season. If the Habs didnt have the offseason they had, and lose key players to injuries, maybe Id have them higher on my list. I just think that compared to the teams already voted, And while character does seperate the contenders from the pretenders, character also gives us Cinderella runs, like the Habs last year, or even the 96 Panthers.
