NHL Team Rankings #4

[JoVel]

This should be the Islanders. They've been the biggest threat in the playoffs to the Cup champs in back to back seasons and easily have at least one, if not two Cups if Tampa didn't exist. Not sure why the poll is so close.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Umm nooooo, the Leafs were the better team and had Marner+Matthews not run out of puck luck it was an easy win for the Leafs.

Lmao.

Would you watch a Jacob DeGrom start and conclude that the other team's hitters are just getting unlucky too?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

no doubt they are deep but how do they beat Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares?

The same way Columbus, Montreal, Boston and Washington did the last five years. Outscore them in the deciding game.

 

[Edgelord]

Lmao.

Would you watch a Jacob DeGrom start and conclude that the other team's hitters are just getting unlucky too?

do you not agree that the Leafs were the better team and were hit with bad puck luck? I kinda feel like people didn't actually watch or just like attaching their own agenda

 

[I am not exposed]

Islanders, then probably Carolina and Boston for me.

Florida has talent and are deep, but goaltending questions. Hopefully Bob plays better so they don't have to entirely rely on Knight who's still so GD young for a goalie.

Agreed. Coming from a Florida fan.

 

[missionAvs]

Florida then the Isles.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

do you not agree that the Leafs were the better team and were hit with bad puck luck? I kinda feel like people didn't actually watch or just like attaching their own agenda

Puck luck?
Is that the new excuse for Matthews and Marner being shut down again in another Game 7?
Speaking of agendas.

 

[Boreal01]

Curious to where they are more talented at every position. The Islanders are top 5 IMO, but they are head and shoulders above the Panthers, as you make it seem.

Florida has a top 5 center on one line, a top 5 LWer on another, and they have multiple 20+ goal scorers on 3 lines. Panthers are deeper at forward.

From an offensive perspective, I'll admit that I don't believe in either Bennett or Duclair and expect them to regress massively next season but if that doesn't happen then I'd consider Florida's offence to be comparable to the Islanders' group of forwards

That being said, Varlamov/Sorokin is the best tandem in the league as opposed to Florida who is entering with two massive question marks in net

Ekblad is the best defenceman from either team but the Islanders have more defensive depth, the Panthers' defence is average aside from Ekblad and Weegar

The Islanders' superior defence and vastly superior goaltending is already enough to give them the edge and while Florida may have more star power, I still wouldn't hesitate choosing the Islanders over the Panthers to win a single game or a BO7 series

 

[wetcoast]

Toss up between Florida and NYI
Went Florida

Same here although I think the Leafs, Jets and Canes could be viable options here as well.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Same here although I think the Leafs, Jets and Canes could be viable options here as well.

Definitely the next group

 

[JoelWarlord]

do you not agree that the Leafs were the better team and were hit with bad puck luck?

Over the course of the series yes, but predominantly because they were so dominant in games 2-4. You don't get extra credit in a best of 7 series for winning the first 3 games by a large margin, and then having 3 much closer games 5-7 (and being soundly outplayed in game 7 as well). I think it's absurd to watch a team hard matching an elite defensive forward against Matthews by double covering him because they know Marner is not a shooting threat whatsoever and just chalk it up to "puck luck" when the coach still feeds them 24 mins/game.

I kinda feel like people didn't actually watch or just like attaching their own agenda

Lmao I can assure you I was watching. Yes Toronto was largely the better team in the series, but acting like it was a 2010 Habs-Caps series where they got run over and the Leafs just had bad puck luck is nonsense.

 

[Gurglesons]

This should be the Islanders. They've been the biggest threat in the playoffs to the Cup champs in back to back seasons and easily have at least one, if not two Cups if Tampa didn't exist. Not sure why the poll is so close.

They've also been the last seed in their division in consecutive seasons.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

My issue with the Islanders is I have a hard time seeing a team who’s best player is Pelech/Barzal winning the cup.

I understand they’ve pushed Tampa and had a lot of success the last couple years, but I’m just not sure their top end talent is quite good enough for them to win a cup.

I would still have them somewhere high in terms of contenders, but that’s my concern for them in getting over the hump.

 

[MattMartin]

They've also been the last seed in their division in consecutive seasons.

Yet somehow they managed to knock out these teams in the last 3 years...

Pittsburgh 2xs
Washington
Boston
Florida
Philadelphia

You go on thinking that the regular season is more important.