Series Talk: Stanley Cup Playoffs 2024
- Thread starter dahrougem2
- Start date
Would’ve preferred the Oilers to the Rangers (and did prefer them Dallas). If we have to see to see them win well at least we can stop hearing about the ‘it’s been 31 years since a Canadian team last won a Cup’ which has been insufferable to listen to. Really hoping for a Cats win though. I want all the unhinged boomer takes about another sunbelt team beating a Canadian one
- Aug 25, 2006
- 9,753
- 8,021
This really needs to happen. I hate this playoffs system. Too many great teams have been eliminated early because of that system and it sometimes makes a lesser product in later rounds. I know you have to beat great teams to win a Cup so it shouldn't matter which rounds you play them but it does. Dallas was clearly more tired than the Oilers after playing Vegas and Avs. If they had played one easier team on the way to the WCF maybe they would have won against the Oilers or maybe the Oilers would not have made it there. Who knows?
Another issues that this system brings that I do not like is false narratives that "insert team name" cannot get out of the 1st or 2nd round. Sometimes they are good enough but they meet another great team too early. It gives the impression that the team didn't take a step forward when in reality they did but still not enough to beat the other great team.
The Shermanator
HFBoards Legend
Ararana
Registered User
Florida should be pretty happy with their cup final competition here, reminds me so much of Tampa getting the two Cinderellas in Montreal/Dallas to win their cups. Edmonton had an easy Pacific bracket then an exhausted Dallas team.
I'll be shocked if Edmonton wins three games in this series. Florida is finally getting their cup. Let the rats fly.
I'll be shocked if Edmonton wins three games in this series. Florida is finally getting their cup. Let the rats fly.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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I think it is implied and probably our significant difference. To me, it was very clear the Stars were better than the Avs this year. Both teams lost important pieces in the series in Hintz and Nuke. You push Hintz's injury that it happens every year and should be assumed to happen. While Nuke's coke issues are discounted and shouldn't be assumed to happen.
The way I see it, the Stars were simply better than the Avs this season. This series showed that pretty clearly IMO. Now as we are making forward looking statements here, the cap situation all but guarantees the Avs are taking a step back. Nuke is probably the sacrificial limb, but if it isn't him, it'll be some other high dollar player. Beyond Nuke though, the Avs have their own depth issues to work through. From Landy questions to losing Drouin/Walker to losing leadership.
I simply don't see how the Avs really improve over the summer. Any outcome is likely a team that is a step or two back from this year's team that was clearly worse than the Stars already. So my deduction is for the Avs to be clearly the better team when healthy, the Stars have to take a large step back.
Development clearly isn't linear, and the Stars have their own challenges next year. Johnston could stagnate or struggle as he takes on a bigger role. He could also blossom into the 40g-50a high end two way guy he looks like. I'm not saying the Stars are the best team, but they are a notch above currently and face less challenges this summer. That's not zero challenges, but less. Their path to sustaining is a lot clearer than the Avs.
I think Miro is better than Rants, but even with that, having the top players is no guarantee to being the top team. Edmonton has had 2 of the top 5 players for the last 6-7 years and this is the year they finally found success. Vegas, Washington, and St Louis won Cups without elite players (Ovi is the only one and I think he was out of the top 5 and probably out of the top 10). As much as I like Barkov, I don't think he is a top 10 player (nor is Cheese). You can build a winner without the very elite players. It clearly helps to have elite players, but you need certain positions to be held and if you don't have an elite player, you need depth (arguably need depth anyway).
The Abusement Park
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2016
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I will say the Oilers team defense is pretty underrated as a whole. Now obviously due to their personnel(Nurse, Ceci, Drai) they’re definitely prone to some gaffes here and there, but statistically they’ve been good defensively and have made life pretty easy on their goalies most of the year.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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Bob has not been that great this postseason. He's been very timely and coming up with the saves needed and the big game when needed... but overall he's been pretty average. Working against that is simply he was phenomenal the last 3 games vs New York. Probably his 3 best games in the playoffs (game 5 vs Tampa is the only real competitor IMO).
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
- 67,013
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Yup... they've bought into team defense and they have a bottom 6 that is quite solid in that area. They are mistake prone, but if they simply limit those, they tend to have a chance.
Now I don't think Edmonton has the horses here. The Panthers are a highly skilled team that can also just beat you to a pulp. They have the best defensive center and defensemen in the game... but even down the lineup, they have some fantastic players on that end of the ice. They should have little issue in containing the OIlers' offense while at the same time, their physical pressure should force Edmonton into mistakes. IMO unless Skinner stands on his head for 6 games, I don't think Edmonton really has a shot. This series probably goes to 6, but I can't imagine it being that close.
forsbergavs32
Global Moderator
I prefer the Panthers to win but I won’t be upset if Edmonton wins. I’m just glad a DeBoer team choked again.
The Abusement Park
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2016
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Overall I’d agree. But with McDrai you just never now. Both are capable of putting up ~15pts in a 7 game series. Floridas clearly the favorite here though, their forward core especially is ridiculous.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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- 53,443
I personally think if both don't crest 12-14 points, they simply won't win this series. It might take them both hitting that level to even out the difference. It is in the realm of possibility, but I don't think it is very likely.
IMO Edmonton's chances lie on the shoulders of Skinner. He needs to be a .925++ goalie in pretty much every game and Edmonton will probably still lose a couple of those games. More than that, Skinner needs to be absurdly good in the third.
- Jul 27, 2021
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Agreed. Screw that guy. His face constantly looks like he just ate a soft boiled egg that he realized at the last second might have been rotten.
I think what we're going to see is either a repeat of the 2006 Final where the Edmonton Oilers win a close and hard-fought series which they probably win if Roloson doesn't get injured. Or we're going to see a repeat of the 2007 Final where the Ottawa Senators had no right to be in that final and got killed by the Anaheim Ducks. Those are my predictions.
Considering the issues the Oilers have when you disregard McDavid or Draisaitl and considering the Panthers got to the finals and lost, and know that experience, I would suspect it will be the 2007 series, but McDavid/Draisaitl can win games on their own and they're playing a goaler who doesn't have the mental fortitude that Oettinger has. The only thing going for Bobrovsky is that he's more athletic and faster to make big saves that Jake doesn't really have. I am more worried about that match-up compared to anything else because the Panthers forecheque should destroy the Oilers defensive core.
Considering the issues the Oilers have when you disregard McDavid or Draisaitl and considering the Panthers got to the finals and lost, and know that experience, I would suspect it will be the 2007 series, but McDavid/Draisaitl can win games on their own and they're playing a goaler who doesn't have the mental fortitude that Oettinger has. The only thing going for Bobrovsky is that he's more athletic and faster to make big saves that Jake doesn't really have. I am more worried about that match-up compared to anything else because the Panthers forecheque should destroy the Oilers defensive core.
LOFIN
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- Sep 16, 2011
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SirLoinOfCloth
Registered User
Mighty Makar
I hate this fu*ken team
- May 24, 2016
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And if they win the cup, they will be orders of magnitude more insufferable.
Lol! Yeah, I was just thinking - I don’t mind anyone on their team too much except for Kane, but I must be missing something with their fan base.
BaconNater
Registered User
Oilers fans think they are better people because they have McDavid. Like literally they must put Oiler fan - we have McDavid on their job resumes and dating profilws
LOFIN
Registered User
- Sep 16, 2011
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1. ALWAYS cheer against Canadian teams
2. Especially against the Leafs, the Oilers and the Canucks
2. Especially against the Leafs, the Oilers and the Canucks
- Aug 25, 2006
- 9,753
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They will be regardless because WHEN they lose it will be because of the refs.
And if they win the cup, they will be orders of magnitude more insufferable.
Well he’s a freak of nature and probably the most talented player the league has seen in decades. So I think he deserves it.
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