Obviously this is subjective - but in your opinion, what is the absolute minimum each team has to do for it not to be considered a big disappointment for them?
I'll try with my own attempt at this. Please share your own thoughts too.
Washington Capitals. Make it to round 3 minimum. The metro seems pretty wide open this year, so expectations are high. Also - in the Ovechkin era, only once did Washington make it past round 2 - so round 3 seems like a good target. I know Washington already very much exceeded expectations by being a top team (most didn't expect them to make playoffs, let alone win conference), but I think anything short of round 3 is a disappointment.
Toronto Maple Leafs. Stanley Cup Finals minimum. Some might say even round 3 would be a good start, but I disagree. This is a top team, a top core, who has massively underachieved so far in the Matthews/Marner era for playoffs. They are running out of time - you can't just do round 3 and be happy. I almost wanted to say "cup or bust", but I let up - making the finals would be great, anything less would be a disappointment.
Tampa Bay Lightning. Round 3 minimum. A bit unsure about them - on the one hand they won 2 cups (3 finals) with this core, so anything extra is gravy. But the east seems pretty wide open this year, they seem well rested and healthy and itching to win again, so I do think if they don't go far it will be disappointing. I'll settle on round 3 - winning the Atlantic. Anything less is a disappointment.
Carolina Hurricanes. Stanley Cup Finals minimum. This is a team that rarely loses in round 1, yet still always manages to fall short of making it far enough. They've had a strong core, and a good playoff team for a while - it's now or never. I think they need to go to finals and make a run at the cup, or else it would be disappointing.
Florida Panthers. Very strong effort in round 1 is enough by me. I'm not a big Panthers fan and I've made no secret of it, but as cup champions, back to back finalists, and with injuries on top of it - they get a pass from me. I'm sure they want to go all the way again, but if they somehow lose in round 1 while at least making it a really tough round for Tampa (6-7 tough games), I think the fanbase will probably accept it, and simply assume with a long off season they can be back in the mix next year.
Ottawa Senators. Make a series out of round 1. 6 games minimum, preferably 7. If they can at least be a very tough out in round 1, it would be something to build off of and hopefully try to make a better run next year. I think the Senators are simply happy to finally qualify for the playoffs again.
New Jersey Devils. Same as above - give Carolina a strong showing in round 1. With Jack Hughes out, it completely changes expectations. If he had been healthy, I'd have said round 3 minimum, but for now they are definitely underdogs.
Montreal Canadiens. I'm a Habs fan - and certainly hope they do well and actually beat Washington - but in reality, simply giving Capitals a strong showing in round 1 - ideally with the core guys like Suzuki, Caufield - but also Demidov and Hutson - doing well will be great. Like the above teams, extending it to 6 or 7 games is enough.
Winnipeg Jets. Round 3 minimum. I almost want to say finals, but I'll be conservative. Winnipeg has a worst win history than Toronto does with their core in the playoffs. Hellebuyck has not been good either. I think they are in a similar spot to Washington, in that they had a much better season than expected but I personally also don't buy them as a top contender. But due to previous playoff failures, I think round 3 minimum including a strong perfrmance by Hellebuyck is necessary for this playoff not to be a disappointment.
Vegas Golden Knights. Round 3 minimum. The West is crazy strong, and they already won a cup recently - so I'll say if they can make it out of the Pacific it'll be a positive outcome for them.
Dallas Stars. Beat Colorado in round 1. I hesitated with this one, as I think expectations are high in Dallas, but they also have a lot of injuries. So I'll say - simply beating Colorado in round 1 will be a big step, and possibly enough, considering injuries.
Los Angeles Kings. Eliminate Edmonton and reach round 2. I think LA is going to lose in round 1 again, but I would guess simply making it to round 2 would be a positive outcome here. They had a great season, but are likely to face more strong teams in round 2 if they make it, so I'll say simply making round 2 would be good enough to not be disappointing. Obviously losing to Edmonton yet again would be very disappointing in LA.
Colorado Avalanche. This team wants the cup, but I'll be a bit more conservative and say Stanley Cup Finals minimum. They won 3 years ago, and are itching to win again. They're well rested and healthy, and should be a contender. I say anything other than making the finals will be disappointing for them.
Edmonton Oilers. My first and only "cup or bust". With how close to the cup they came last year - it's all that matters. Anything else is a disappointment. I'm not exactly sure how healthy McDavid and Draisaitl are - but I get the sense they are good to go for round 1. I know expectations around the league for Oilers are lower now then they were to start the year, but for Oilers I think it's only the cup that matters. And I think they are going to do it - and win this year.
Minnesota Wild. Strong showing in round 1 (6 or 7 games). They are an underdog in round 1 - winning 1 round or more would be great, but I think simply not getting swept or losing in 5 would be enough to not be too disappointing.
St Louis Blues. Strong showing in round 1 (6 or 7 games). They are an underdog in round 1 - winning 1 round or more would be great, but I think simply not getting swept or losing in 5 would be enough to not be too disappointing.
Let me know if you agree or disagree with the above - and post your own assessments of other teams too.
I'll try with my own attempt at this. Please share your own thoughts too.
Washington Capitals. Make it to round 3 minimum. The metro seems pretty wide open this year, so expectations are high. Also - in the Ovechkin era, only once did Washington make it past round 2 - so round 3 seems like a good target. I know Washington already very much exceeded expectations by being a top team (most didn't expect them to make playoffs, let alone win conference), but I think anything short of round 3 is a disappointment.
Toronto Maple Leafs. Stanley Cup Finals minimum. Some might say even round 3 would be a good start, but I disagree. This is a top team, a top core, who has massively underachieved so far in the Matthews/Marner era for playoffs. They are running out of time - you can't just do round 3 and be happy. I almost wanted to say "cup or bust", but I let up - making the finals would be great, anything less would be a disappointment.
Tampa Bay Lightning. Round 3 minimum. A bit unsure about them - on the one hand they won 2 cups (3 finals) with this core, so anything extra is gravy. But the east seems pretty wide open this year, they seem well rested and healthy and itching to win again, so I do think if they don't go far it will be disappointing. I'll settle on round 3 - winning the Atlantic. Anything less is a disappointment.
Carolina Hurricanes. Stanley Cup Finals minimum. This is a team that rarely loses in round 1, yet still always manages to fall short of making it far enough. They've had a strong core, and a good playoff team for a while - it's now or never. I think they need to go to finals and make a run at the cup, or else it would be disappointing.
Florida Panthers. Very strong effort in round 1 is enough by me. I'm not a big Panthers fan and I've made no secret of it, but as cup champions, back to back finalists, and with injuries on top of it - they get a pass from me. I'm sure they want to go all the way again, but if they somehow lose in round 1 while at least making it a really tough round for Tampa (6-7 tough games), I think the fanbase will probably accept it, and simply assume with a long off season they can be back in the mix next year.
Ottawa Senators. Make a series out of round 1. 6 games minimum, preferably 7. If they can at least be a very tough out in round 1, it would be something to build off of and hopefully try to make a better run next year. I think the Senators are simply happy to finally qualify for the playoffs again.
New Jersey Devils. Same as above - give Carolina a strong showing in round 1. With Jack Hughes out, it completely changes expectations. If he had been healthy, I'd have said round 3 minimum, but for now they are definitely underdogs.
Montreal Canadiens. I'm a Habs fan - and certainly hope they do well and actually beat Washington - but in reality, simply giving Capitals a strong showing in round 1 - ideally with the core guys like Suzuki, Caufield - but also Demidov and Hutson - doing well will be great. Like the above teams, extending it to 6 or 7 games is enough.
Winnipeg Jets. Round 3 minimum. I almost want to say finals, but I'll be conservative. Winnipeg has a worst win history than Toronto does with their core in the playoffs. Hellebuyck has not been good either. I think they are in a similar spot to Washington, in that they had a much better season than expected but I personally also don't buy them as a top contender. But due to previous playoff failures, I think round 3 minimum including a strong perfrmance by Hellebuyck is necessary for this playoff not to be a disappointment.
Vegas Golden Knights. Round 3 minimum. The West is crazy strong, and they already won a cup recently - so I'll say if they can make it out of the Pacific it'll be a positive outcome for them.
Dallas Stars. Beat Colorado in round 1. I hesitated with this one, as I think expectations are high in Dallas, but they also have a lot of injuries. So I'll say - simply beating Colorado in round 1 will be a big step, and possibly enough, considering injuries.
Los Angeles Kings. Eliminate Edmonton and reach round 2. I think LA is going to lose in round 1 again, but I would guess simply making it to round 2 would be a positive outcome here. They had a great season, but are likely to face more strong teams in round 2 if they make it, so I'll say simply making round 2 would be good enough to not be disappointing. Obviously losing to Edmonton yet again would be very disappointing in LA.
Colorado Avalanche. This team wants the cup, but I'll be a bit more conservative and say Stanley Cup Finals minimum. They won 3 years ago, and are itching to win again. They're well rested and healthy, and should be a contender. I say anything other than making the finals will be disappointing for them.
Edmonton Oilers. My first and only "cup or bust". With how close to the cup they came last year - it's all that matters. Anything else is a disappointment. I'm not exactly sure how healthy McDavid and Draisaitl are - but I get the sense they are good to go for round 1. I know expectations around the league for Oilers are lower now then they were to start the year, but for Oilers I think it's only the cup that matters. And I think they are going to do it - and win this year.
Minnesota Wild. Strong showing in round 1 (6 or 7 games). They are an underdog in round 1 - winning 1 round or more would be great, but I think simply not getting swept or losing in 5 would be enough to not be too disappointing.
St Louis Blues. Strong showing in round 1 (6 or 7 games). They are an underdog in round 1 - winning 1 round or more would be great, but I think simply not getting swept or losing in 5 would be enough to not be too disappointing.
Let me know if you agree or disagree with the above - and post your own assessments of other teams too.
