Stanley Cup Favorites - #1
- Thread starter DitchMarner
- Start date
MrHeiskanen
Registered User
- Nov 12, 2017
- 13,135
- 10,750
More confused than scared, just pulled up the roster to see if I was tweaking or something and yeah.. after 5 guys what is there on this team? Nothing really..
koyvoo
Registered User
- Nov 8, 2014
- 17,928
- 18,168
If Auston Matthews had any teammates that matched his unrivalled desire to win, his ability to raise the level of his play in the biggest moments, his never say die attitude, it would be the leafs at #1 this year.
This is a guy who is amongst the most competitive players in the league’s history, surrounded by mashed potatoes.
This is a guy who is amongst the most competitive players in the league’s history, surrounded by mashed potatoes.
SimpleJack
Registered User
hamzarocks
Registered User
SimpleJack
Registered User
After 2 guys on the Stars blue line what is there? Nothing really….
And Miro will be rusty just having returned(hopefully) from long injury absence.
kevsh
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2018
- 3,961
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The easiest formula is to try and determine the team that that other teams least want to face in a playoff series.
My bet is Florida wins that poll, so they win here.
My bet is Florida wins that poll, so they win here.
I agree and not because Florida is that much better I just think the team coming out of the west will have a harder path and why isn't winnipeg there?
Or Edmonton for that matter?
Also it looks like Dallas/Colorado is going to be a first round matchup so one of the favorites will lose in the first round.
a mangy Meowth
Registered Meowth
Toronto is too low. I have the. Right behind Florida, with TB and maybe Washington. They are better than Carolina now IMO.
Miro4Norris
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- Jan 24, 2021
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- 2,012
Edmonton has great depth and is the favorite, surprised they dont have more votes. Skinner obviously the question mark here.
Dallas is missing Miro until 2nd round possibly and what is his condition when he returns. Miro is still the most critical piece in that roster. Also Seguin has same situation. Oetter is not as good as people think.
Florida already had there cup and finals year before make then a tired Team. Also, is Tkachuk gonna be there Healthy in rd1? Bobrovsky has not been so great this season and they sold their hot Goalie.
Both of these teams might face great teams in rd1 already with missing some of their best players. Tampa is absolute dark horse if Vasy keeps his current elite form.
Dallas is missing Miro until 2nd round possibly and what is his condition when he returns. Miro is still the most critical piece in that roster. Also Seguin has same situation. Oetter is not as good as people think.
Florida already had there cup and finals year before make then a tired Team. Also, is Tkachuk gonna be there Healthy in rd1? Bobrovsky has not been so great this season and they sold their hot Goalie.
Both of these teams might face great teams in rd1 already with missing some of their best players. Tampa is absolute dark horse if Vasy keeps his current elite form.
The path in the West is harder getting through Vegas and the team in the central, that's why I took Florida even though 4 teams in the west, 5 really with the Jets are good enough and ya Skinner.
Right now the Stars/Avs is the first round matchup and it's a shame as these might be the best 2 teams in the league if we had an organic 1-16 playoffs but we don't.
I worry about Tkachuk not being healthy but picking up Jones and Marchand are enough to make them the team to beat in the East.
On paper but I just think they are too old but who knows.
BKarchitect
Registered User
Tier 1: Florida
Tier 2A: Dallas
Tier 2B: Tampa/Colorado/Vegas
Tier 3: Winnipeg/Edmonton/Washington/Toronto
Hard to deny Florida's spot at the top. Healthy Dallas is probably more 1B than 2A but we need to see where things stand heading into what is sure to be a brutal first round match-up.
Tier 2B teams have all won Cups with their current cores and have made moves over the season to shore up their rosters. Each has maybe a mild concern...Tampa's blueline isn't unbelievable, Colorado's scoring depth can go frigid and Hill can be had at times in net for Vegas. But each team has stars, depth and pedigree and I think Tampa and Colorado in particular have really gone out and shorn up their squads.
The real difference between 2B and 3 tiers is Cup-winning pedigree. Winnipeg on paper is absolutely deserving to be in Tier 2 but until they get to at least a WC Finals with their gaudy regular season record, people are going to question them. Edmonton just got there but the idea that they didn't need to upgrade Skinner/Pickard is, IMO, a potentially very fatal flaw. No qualms if some believe they need to be in Tier 2 though. The Caps have been a feel-good story and are legit good...plus they actually have Cup-winning leaders in Ovie, JC and Wilson...they could go on a run but I still think folks would deem it "surprising". The Leafs, minus the noise of being the Leafs, still have a roster to be taken seriously but have everything yet to prove.
Tier 2A: Dallas
Tier 2B: Tampa/Colorado/Vegas
Tier 3: Winnipeg/Edmonton/Washington/Toronto
Hard to deny Florida's spot at the top. Healthy Dallas is probably more 1B than 2A but we need to see where things stand heading into what is sure to be a brutal first round match-up.
Tier 2B teams have all won Cups with their current cores and have made moves over the season to shore up their rosters. Each has maybe a mild concern...Tampa's blueline isn't unbelievable, Colorado's scoring depth can go frigid and Hill can be had at times in net for Vegas. But each team has stars, depth and pedigree and I think Tampa and Colorado in particular have really gone out and shorn up their squads.
The real difference between 2B and 3 tiers is Cup-winning pedigree. Winnipeg on paper is absolutely deserving to be in Tier 2 but until they get to at least a WC Finals with their gaudy regular season record, people are going to question them. Edmonton just got there but the idea that they didn't need to upgrade Skinner/Pickard is, IMO, a potentially very fatal flaw. No qualms if some believe they need to be in Tier 2 though. The Caps have been a feel-good story and are legit good...plus they actually have Cup-winning leaders in Ovie, JC and Wilson...they could go on a run but I still think folks would deem it "surprising". The Leafs, minus the noise of being the Leafs, still have a roster to be taken seriously but have everything yet to prove.
Maybe this deserves its own thread, but seeing lots of comments on this issue here…
Question: does anyone support the current playoff format? NHL is the only league that actively promotes early round rivalry matchups at the expense of best on best in later rounds. What’s up with this, and should it change?
Question: does anyone support the current playoff format? NHL is the only league that actively promotes early round rivalry matchups at the expense of best on best in later rounds. What’s up with this, and should it change?
WhiskeyEE
Registered User
- Jul 7, 2024
- 146
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Probably Florida since the east is easier. Edmonton's biggest issues to me are goaltending and PK. Will really have to sort out the latter and hope Skinner plays well.
I put Edmonton above Colorado since the Avs will probably draw Dallas 1R. Dallas #2.
1. Florida
2. Dallas
3. Oilers
4. Avs
From #5 it becomes a lot less obvious. Probably Leafs/Knights tie. Not sold on the regular season leaders Jets/Caps as Stanley Cup favourites.
I put Edmonton above Colorado since the Avs will probably draw Dallas 1R. Dallas #2.
1. Florida
2. Dallas
3. Oilers
4. Avs
From #5 it becomes a lot less obvious. Probably Leafs/Knights tie. Not sold on the regular season leaders Jets/Caps as Stanley Cup favourites.
Tier 1:
Florida
Colorado
Vegas
Washington
Edmonton
Tier 2:
Stars
Jets
Lightning
Canes
Leafs
In that order, Stars could be in tier 1 over Edmonton, don't mind either way.
Florida
Colorado
Vegas
Washington
Edmonton
Tier 2:
Stars
Jets
Lightning
Canes
Leafs
In that order, Stars could be in tier 1 over Edmonton, don't mind either way.
Video Nasty
Registered User
- Mar 12, 2017
- 6,042
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No one trusts Toronto. They get an extra ding that drags them lower than a normal team in their position, and rightfully so.
- Feb 10, 2010
- 14,793
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If you rank teams significantly different than the standings, I think some rationale is warranted.
I think it can be overblown. If it was back to the previous 1-8 with the Division winners getting the top two spots, Edmonton and Colorado would play in the first round instead, so you’re still eliminating one of the top contenders in the first round.
I’d also say there’s still usually top teams left in the later rounds. Last years Conference finals were Florida-NYR and Dallas-Edmonton. Those were pretty major matchups with three of the division winners.
There’s also the chance that the best on best matchups don’t come if you wait until the later rounds.
I don’t have an issue with the quality of the matchups, only the potential frequency of them. Edmonton-LA for a 4th year in a row is getting old.
Edmonton’s depth is not better than the other top teams in the league, and they will need to rely heavily on McDrai if they want to get back to the SCF.
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