2025 Playoff Picture: Western Conference Bring Out Your Dead Edition

[VivaLasVegas]

He's been in the losing handshake line of the WCF 5 of the last 6 years. It's almost unfathomable.

DeBoer's speakers just don't go to 11.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

Healthy Colorado with the new goalies is probably a tier above the rest. Then you have Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg and Edmonton in the next tier that could easily make it. It's honestly going to be a bloodbath getting out of the west this year.. the central especially again.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Since November the Oilers have the best record in the league, followed closely by Vegas, Colorado, and LA. Unfortunately getting out of the west could be pretty hard this year.

Would be nice to finally see that pendulum shift.

 

[Paralyzer]

Healthy Colorado with the new goalies is probably a tier above the rest. Then you have Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg and Edmonton in the next tier that could easily make it. It's honestly going to be a bloodbath getting out of the west this year.. the central especially again.

A tier above? I considered Colorado below Winnipeg, Edmonton, Dallas, Vegas and Minnesota at the worst 2 tiers, but since the goaltending tandem change, I'd say they are now at the same or just below that. They still got a lot of hurdles to climb as they gotta get out of their division with Winnipeg, Dallas and Minnesota, then face Vegas and Edmonton. But I wouldn't immediately think Colorado is that much better all of a sudden.

 

[oconnor9sean]

Healthy Colorado with the new goalies is probably a tier above the rest. Then you have Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg and Edmonton in the next tier that could easily make it. It's honestly going to be a bloodbath getting out of the west this year.. the central especially again.

A tier above is pretty wild. Dallas, Vegas and Winnipeg have high-end depth that will give Colorado fits (plus Edmonton, of course).

Mackinnon, Makar and Rantanen will certainly get theirs, but the Avs haven't shown to handle deep teams particularly well in the playoffs since their 2022 squad was disassembled. Usually boils down to their PP going nuclear or not.

 

[thebestnic]

I'm happy if the Flames make the playoffs. I'm happy if we crash and burn. Just don't come in like 12th-14th.

I'm salivating at that 11th overall pick to be honest

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Can we just not with the Kings again?

 

[VivaLasVegas]

A tier above is pretty wild. Dallas, Vegas and Winnipeg have high-end depth that will give Colorado fits (plus Edmonton, of course).

Mackinnon, Makar and Rantanen will certainly get theirs, but the Avs haven't shown to handle deep teams particularly well in the playoffs since their 2022 squad was disassembled. Usually boils down to their PP going nuclear or not.

And, like everybody else, that they can stay healthy.

 

[oconnor9sean]

Dallas has really found their groove. Curious how all-in Jim Nill goes this year. He’ll have basically infinite deadline cap space with them not LTIR’ing Seguin right away. Just a matter of how aggressive he wants to be.

Could see a TON of big adds for the Stars.

 

[voyageur]

The Central is the best division in the NHL 1-4, and probably the worst at the bottom.
How the 1-4 shakes out is anyone's guess. You expect some trade improvements there, and we'll see who gives up the most assets to go in strongest. As a Jets fan, Colorado scares the shit out of me. But there's also the possibility of falling to 4th in this division and ending up with the odds against them in Vegas.

Edmonton-L.A again seems redundant, and inevitable. Unless someone throws a monkey wrench in there, or Vegas falters down the stretch. Maybe the Kings have a better chance without PLD but maybe they don't.

That final wild card race is a slow crawl. For the Canucks one point at a time, for others a step forward, step backward. Calgary has zero to gain by tanking with their pick in Montreal's hands so maybe they do something to challenge. Canucks will do something I'm pretty sure.

Wouldn't be entirely surprised if Blues come in as WC2 when the dust settles, but Binnington does not appear to be having a renaissance season.

I would suspect Utah probably trades assets if they aren't in a playoff position in March.

 

[Schennanigans]

I feel bad for the Kings. They look really good this year but the Oilers are not losing in the 1st round. Not with almost tasting the cup. There’s also a ton of pressure on the Oilers to win this year. I don’t see Edmonton’s dominance on them stoping this year.

 

[Dynamite Time]

Dallas has really found their groove. Curious how all-in Jim Nill goes this year. He’ll have basically infinite deadline cap space with them not LTIR’ing Seguin right away. Just a matter of how aggressive he wants to be.

Could see a TON of big adds for the Stars.

As I posted on a Stars page Nill may not have to spend any assets for a forward (if they continue the way they have lately) but get another D-man like Tanev like last season.

Our group of forwards, even with Marchment and Seguin out, are really starting to click.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Calgary has zero to gain by tanking with their pick in Montreal's hands so maybe they do something to challenge.

If this idiot conference lets this slapdash hot glued together Calgary Flames team make the playoffs I'll truly mourn for the state of the NHL.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

If this idiot conference lets this slapdash hot glued together Calgary Flames team make the playoffs I'll truly mourn for the state of the NHL.

So much qualitative difference between the top and bottom of the West that the Flames might indeed get in since they are only a single point out now. The Canucks seem to be coming apart internally, which really leaves just the struggling Blues and Hockey Club to keep ahead of.

 

[NHL1674]

I think the Wild are about to plummet. They could stay afloat with Kap and maybe one of their top defensemen injured. But now it's Kap and their top THREE defensemen all out. Kaprizov, Faber, Brodin, and Spurgeon is too much for them to survive when teams behind them are starting to surge.

 

[voyageur]

Healthy Colorado with the new goalies is probably a tier above the rest. Then you have Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg and Edmonton in the next tier that could easily make it. It's honestly going to be a bloodbath getting out of the west this year.. the central especially again.

I wonder if Edmonton is ahead of Colorado after last night's game. They could easily get on a roll and comfortably win the Pacific. Colorado might be missing the depth right now to be at the top tier.

The Pacific with L.A and Vegas looks to be the grinders in the Conference.

I'd say the best skating team that gets the best goaltending in the playoffs comes out of the Central.

 

[eojsmada]

I’m upset you didn’t include Parrot in your list of Dead

Wakey Wakey!!!

 

[SupremeNachos]

I think the Wild are about to plummet. They could stay afloat with Kap and maybe one of their top defensemen injured. But now it's Kap and their top THREE defensemen all out. Kaprizov, Faber, Brodin, and Spurgeon is too much for them to survive when teams behind them are starting to surge.

They'll stay in 3rd somehow and face the Stars. Avs are healthy but are losing to teams they should beat still. No one is catching the Jets unless Helly goes down for 2 weeks.

 

[winnipegger]

Colorado and Edmonton look strong. West is no joke. Cup is going to the West this year.

 

[hangman005]

Vegas is going to see if they can do a better job of turtling the season than last year.

 

[syz]

Colorado and Edmonton look strong. West is no joke. Cup is going to the West this year.

Or the west ends up killing each other and the east just gets to play a MASH unit in the finals.

 

[Czechboy]

Problem is that its not that exciting. As an Oiler fan I'm more excited about the East Wild Card race between 6 or 7 teams. Feels inevitable we make playoffs. Feels inevitable we play LA.lol

For Oilers... I'm excited about TDL and to see what we do to go 'all in' because we need to do that. Then playoffs. I don't think there is an easy opponent at all. Wild are injured but when healthy are solid as hell. Jets are beyond solid. Vegas and Avs scare the shit out of me. Kings are due for a playoff series win against us.

I'm following Nucks closer because I hope they get their season headed in a more positive direction as I like most of the team but it seems like a bit of a shitshow season as all I read is bad news.

Will say.. did not think Flames would be even sniffing playoffs... good for them. I still think they should sell at TDL though and 'retool/rebuid' a bit.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I wonder if Edmonton is ahead of Colorado after last night's game. They could easily get on a roll and comfortably win the Pacific. Colorado might be missing the depth right now to be at the top tier.

The Pacific with L.A and Vegas looks to be the grinders in the Conference.

I'd say the best skating team that gets the best goaltending in the playoffs comes out of the Central.

Edmonton has BEEN on a roll, they’ve done their usual first month rope a dope and they may pass Vegas. I don’t think LA has the juice to pass both of them without some serious magic like Fiala playing in the NHL instead of beer league or Doughty comes back in full Norris form. So I’m actually gonna go out on a limb and say we get a VGK/LA first round.

And if we do I vote both teams wear the chrome domes.