2023 HFBoards Stanley Cup Favourite #5

[FinlandPanther]

This strategy was attempted by them last year. It didn't work and it never does. You need to learn how to play defense to win

Tampa/Toronto/Boston all beat them in a series

Quite a confident statement for a team that can’t win a playoff series.

 

[leafsfan5]

Quite a confident statement for a team that can’t win a playoff series.

I mean, all of the teams who have beaten us either A.) Have an elite defensive system (Boston, CBJ, Tampa) or B.) Have an elite goalie (Tampa, Montreal). You have neither of the two so you can't use the gameplan everyone has to beat us

I think the Panthers chance to win begins next off-season. They can revamp the defensive core at that point and make it competent. But as of now it's nowhere near good enough to contend.

 

[leafsfan5]

Speed didn't used to win championships either, but now here we are in a league faster than ever and scoring more than the past 20 years. I'm not saying they will win, but to say they're less likely than say Toronto is abusrd. At least Florida can make it past round 1.

I mean with speed you can still be a competent defensive club. The problem with all offense is that playoff hockey typically favours clubs who can play a defensive style. It's why a solid system like NYI can take you to 1 game within a cup, but a historical offense like Florida almost lost to the 8th seed and then got embarrassed in round 2. You need to be able to grind out those low scoring wins when very little is happening

This sounds weird, but if I had to pick who is more likely to win a series this year I would probably go Florida. If I'm picking to win a cup I go Toronto.

 

[SUX2BU]

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