2025 Playoff Picture: Western Conference Bring Out Your Dead Edition

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah top of the West is nearly all about survival at some point

 

[wetcoast]

Colorado is gonna be the team to beat if they can stay healthy. Blackwood completely changes the dynamic of this team.


Landeskog gonna be a game changer as well.

They might be but the Oilers and Vegas are also top dogs in the West and a team like Winnipeg or Dallas could go on a run if they are hot and healthy at the right time.

Even the next tier with Minny and LA could but their hills are harder to climb.

The last spot will got to the Canucks...or Flames ...or maybe the Blues go on a run but none of these teams are serious contenders for the SC.

San Jose and the Hawks are in the battle for #1 this year although the top 4 picks are all really close IMO.

 

[WhataKnight]

Like I said elsewhere. This is the “Group of Death” - World Cup style.

Seven teams are pretty much decided for the most part.

Edmonton
Dallas
Colorado
Minnesota
Winnipeg
Vegas
LA

Any team in getting to the Finals will have to take down at least two of them, unless Calgary or whoever else makes 8th seed goes on a deep run.

Almost more about getting to the Finals out of the West without crutches at that point.

 

[Dirty Mind]

I’d say the the top 7 teams in the west are set now. I see the most vulnerable teams dropping off being the Wild and Kings, but I don’t see any teams below the top 7 overtaking them. That last spot is going to come down to Calgary and Vancouver.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

I’d say the the top 7 teams in the west are set now. I see the most vulnerable teams dropping off being the Wild and Kings, but I don’t see any teams below the top 7 overtaking them. That last spot is going to come down to Calgary and Vancouver.

Yep, it will be hard for somebody to break into that top 7 now. The fight is going to be at the top of the Pacific to see who gets to play one of two struggling teams.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I’d say the the top 7 teams in the west are set now. I see the most vulnerable teams dropping off being the Wild and Kings, but I don’t see any teams below the top 7 overtaking them. That last spot is going to come down to Calgary and Vancouver.

I'm as tough on the Kings as anyone but I can't really see them being that vulnerable...they're getting Drew Doughty back. That's a massive add, not just for the mere fact of adding an elite all-situations minute-munching dman back to the best defensive team in the league, but also for kicking Burroughs and Englund the absolute f*** out of the lineup.

 

[BB79]

6 of the bottom 8 teams in the league are in the west. Must be nice racking up all those easy points..

 

[gary559]

I think Calgary makes it.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Can we just not with the Kings again?

Agreed. At this rate, the Kings will need to epically crash and burn to not end up 3rd, so in order to avoid that, the Oilers will likely have to pass Vegas. I am a firm believer that for some reason, the Oilers will never win the division, so I'm already mentally preparing for the Kings again. Ugh.

6 of the bottom 8 teams in the league are in the west. Must be nice racking up all those easy points..

5 of the top teams are in the West. Must suck for those rebuilding teams to have to face dominant teams all the time.

 

[BB79]

5 of the top teams are in the West. Must suck for those rebuilding teams to have to face dominant teams all the time.

True. There isn't as much entertainment value in general as far as standings watching goes. The dogfight in the east for the WC is shaping up to be far more entertaining

 

[ManofSteel55]

True. There isn't as much entertainment value in general as far as standings watching goes. The dogfight in the east for the WC is shaping up to be far more entertaining

I'm just wanting some of these teams who still have a chance to lose out now, to convince them to start trading their assets sooner, ha ha.