Playoff outlook as of the Christmas break and if the playoffs started today, who do you see winning round 1?

[Pablo El Perro]

You are absolutely right. Recalling the 2024 play offs - media as well as fans were generally in agreement it was a boring first round. Usually the best round.

The Toronto Boston series was a good back and forth, for the neutral fan, didn't catch most of the Western games.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

I have no idea what all the colored boxes and teams are in the OP, but here are the standings with current wild card teams for each conference, right from NHL.com.

View attachment 951081

View attachment 951082

The orange boxes show those teams which still have a good chance of snagging a WC spot, which is not reflected in the NHL.com standings.

 

[PaulD]

The Toronto Boston series was a good back and forth, for the neutral fan, didn't catch most of the Western games.

Yea it was a 7 gamer..But it included some boring action.....or lack there of.
I

 

[HisIceness]

Kings vs Oilers
Leafs vs Bruins

A tradition unlike any other.

 

[Caps8112]

Im too lazy to double check but all five members of the Southleast division in the playoffs together for the first time.

 

[Spirits]

View attachment 951063

This is the current playoff outlook. If the playoffs started today, who'd you take for each series?

For me:
East:
Tampa over Florida in 7.
Toronto over Boston in 7.
New Jersey over Ottawa in 6.
Carolina over Washington in 6.

West:
Winnipeg over Dallas in 7.
Minnesota over Colorado in 7.
Vegas over Vancouver in 5.
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 6.

Kings sweep round 1. Just kidding, that will be another gifted 1st round bye to the Oilers. Need to go 1-8 format.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Kings sweep round 1. Just kidding, that will be another gifted 1st round bye to the Oilers. Need to go 1-8 format.

Fun fact, as it currently stands, not only would Oilers face the Kings in a 1-8 format, but even in a 1-16 format, lmao...

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

Wins minus losses (matches real record strength perfectly as 1pt is neutral)

East
Wash +14
NJ +12
Fla +10
Tor +9
Car +9
TB +8
Bos +6
Ott +4

Pitt +1
NYR -1
Phi -1
Cbj -1
NYI -2
Mtl -3
Det -4
Buff -7

Very disappointing season by Nyr so far and there is not a lot of playoff spots available as teams like Tor, Car, Tb and Bos know how to make the playoffs and chances are someone else around their level will have a hot second half.

West
Wpg +15
Veg +15
Min +11
Edm +10
Lak +9
Van +7
Dal +7
Col +6

Cgy +5
Uta +4
Stl 0
Ana -3
Sea -4
Nsh -6
SJ -9
Chi -9

I can't see Utah and Calgary as particularly scary so if anyone in the top 8 misses they only have themselves to blame.

 

[Spirits]

Fun fact, as it currently stands, not only would Oilers face the Kings in a 1-8 format, but even in a 1-16 format, lmao...

For the last few years as well?

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

For the last few years as well?

IDK about last few years, but currently this year it'll be the case.

 

[jetsforever]

Looks weird to have Ottawa in there but I hope they make it

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

Im too lazy to double check but all five members of the Southleast division in the playoffs together for the first time.

Lightning, Jets/Thrashers, Capitals, Hurricanes, Panthers? That's happened at least twice in 2021 and 2023 (I'm excepting the 2020 expanded field).

 

[McShogun99]

Please no more Kings vs Oilers unless it’s in the second round.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Wins minus losses (matches real record strength perfectly as 1pt is neutral)

East
Wash +14
NJ +12
Fla +10
Tor +9
Car +9
TB +8
Bos +6
Ott +4

Pitt +1
NYR -1
Phi -1
Cbj -1
NYI -2
Mtl -3
Det -4
Buff -7

Very disappointing season by Nyr so far and there is not a lot of playoff spots available as teams like Tor, Car, Tb and Bos know how to make the playoffs and chances are someone else around their level will have a hot second half.

West
Wpg +15
Veg +15
Min +11
Edm +10
Lak +9
Van +7
Dal +7
Col +6

Cgy +5
Uta +4
Stl 0
Ana -3
Sea -4
Nsh -6
SJ -9
Chi -9

I can't see Utah and Calgary as particularly scary so if anyone in the top 8 misses they only have themselves to blame.

Excellent way to look at it.

 

[Summer Rose]

Utah is vaguely in the mix for a playoff spot? Color me shocked.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Of course lots can change. But as we sit here today:

EAST:

View attachment 951037

WEST:

View attachment 951038

Take heart. The Kings annual January collapse is coming.

 

[Dust]

Pretty wild that a month ago the Penguins looked like the worst team in the league, now they’re in the mix for a playoff spot. Of course there’s a lot of hockey left to play.

It's wild that Buffalo still has a better goal differential than Pittsburgh.

 

[hangman005]

This shit needs to stop. 4 years in a row. It doesn’t breed rivalry. It breeds fatigue. I don’t hate the kings. I’m tired of them.

Well if you let LA beat you a couple of series, you might have a different tune.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

We need Toronto/Ottawa in the first round. We need it.

Why so the leafs can win another round

 

[HajdukSplit]

NJ, Washington, Florida, Boston
Dallas, Minnesota, Vegas, Edmonton

Washington/Florida ECF; Dallas/Vegas WCF

Another Caps vs. VGK final

 

[NYRfan85]

As it stands here, I'd want to see these teams advance:

- All 5 Canadian teams
- Minnesota
- Carolina
- Tampa I guess? I'd rather both FL teams lose lol

This playoff format SUCKS. So tired of seeing the same matchups in the first round, it gets old...

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Leafs over Boston as usual.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Kings are a really solid team.

But Oilers are just a matchup nightmare for them in a 7 game series.

I would pick Kings to beat most other teams in the conference, but the Oilers are able to beat the trap with speed in the top-6 that only Colorado can rival.

Every other team I think LA has a good to great chance of beating.

 

[Suntouchable13]

If it's Toronto Boston again, I don't see how you don't pick Boston again. I'd be floored if the Leafs won. Especially with Matthews being not himself, then you're relying on 200 year old Tavares, and mentally weak and soft Marner. Ain't happening. I don't see Tavares' play carrying over to the playoffs. I really don't.

 

[93gilmour93]

Leafs vs Bruins again......