Who is winning the cup this year? (No BS thread)

Hockeyville USA

Registered User
Dec 30, 2023
3,546
3,267
Central Ohio
Wow, putting your neck on the line here with a bold statement.

there was no requirements to name the runner up or number of games, but you did so anyway and I have no choice but to say big respect
I've picked the Hurricanes in the past to at least make the Final, but can't pick them this year due to weakened roster plus their inability to score timely goals and unwillingness/inability to play "football style" playoff hockey.

I think the Rangers make the Final due to Shesterkin being in God-mode, Lafreniere producing like he is, and the PP clicking.

The Stars will win the Cup because they will be more dialed in than last year, will likely add another piece at the deadline, Oettinger will get it together, and Johnston & Stankoven will be even better.

Dallas is 7-2-0 and some of their top guys don't even look great yet, THAT is scary IMHO.
 
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JFedol

Registered User
May 25, 2023
132
166
Calgary, Alberta
LOL @ people picking New York, may I remind people that their 1C is Mika f***ing Zibanejad. One of the low end mediocre 1c's of his era and possibly the most inconsistent superstar/playoff performer in Rangers history. It has been 4 to 5 years consecutively where he's been getting dominated by other 1C's in a playoff series. Barkov, Hischier, Hughes, Crosby, Stamkos have all put belt to ass on this FOOL. They also have Playoff Panarin which is YIKES but....

If the Rangers win a cup, it will be IGOR's heroic efforts driving the bus followed by a god tier PP 100%. Their superstars are mid playoff performers, no question.
 
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banks

Only got 3 of 16.
Aug 29, 2019
3,796
5,545
I'll say Toronto. I know it's been like a decade of one-and-done postseasons. But the goaltending looks like it'll be dependable thins time, and the defense looks good for the first time ever. I think the time is now.

I'm fully prepared for the laugh reactions.
 

hoglund

Registered User
Dec 8, 2013
5,881
1,335
Canada
Colorado over Edmonton
New Jersey over Florida

Colorado wins the cup.
I'll say Toronto. I know it's been like a decade of one-and-done postseasons. But the goaltending looks like it'll be dependable thins time, and the defense looks good for the first time ever. I think the time is now.

I'm fully prepared for the laugh reactions.
I'm a Leafs fan too, but the Atlantic division it too tough, that's why they can't win more than one round. They always face Boston, Florida or Tampa
Bay. The team that wins the Atlantic will probably be in the finals, but I don't think that it will be the Leafs, but who knows.
 
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Ghost of Murph

Registered User
Dec 23, 2023
1,103
1,812
Have to look at which rosters are best built for a long playoff run. East it is FLA yet again, but if NYR enters healthy with a hot goalie they can beat anyone.

West I am tired of my annual picking of Dallas. Can't figure out why they can't get over the hump. That roster is awesome. Ah, to hell with it, I'll go with Dallas yet again. VGK honorable mention -- incredible skaters, goaltending suspect to go all the way.

Ultimately I still think FLA is the class of the league when it comes to the best playoff roster and will repeat.
 

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
59,542
26,222
New York
LOL @ people picking New York, may I remind people that their 1C is Mika f***ing Zibanejad. One of the low end mediocre 1c's of his era and possibly the most inconsistent superstar/playoff performer in Rangers history. It has been 4 to 5 years consecutively where he's been getting dominated by other 1C's in a playoff series. Barkov, Hischier, Hughes, Crosby, Stamkos have all put belt to ass on this FOOL. They also have Playoff Panarin which is YIKES but....

If the Rangers win a cup, it will be IGOR's heroic efforts driving the bus followed by a god tier PP 100%. Their superstars are mid playoff performers, no question.
You are half right and half ridiculously wrong. You won’t find any serious Ranger fans that think Zibanejad is our 1C. Trocheck is much better at this point, and you can make a serious argument for Chytil over him. Also, our two superstars are Shestyorkin and Fox, two of the best playoff performers of this era. Zibanejad is not one of our superstars anymore. Panarin, sure, there’s a fair point there, but he lags behind Shestyorkin and Fox for importance to the team because he only shows up in the regular season. Other two show up regular and postseason.
 

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
59,542
26,222
New York
Teams I’m seriously considering are Vegas, Dallas, Florida, and Rangers.

I don’t buy into Edmonton. Their defense lacks any depth and the goaltending is no better than it was last season.

Can Florida make the finals three years in a row? My thinking is someone takes them out early, even if it’s a team that’s worse than them. 3 years in a row playing that many games seems too unlikely to me.

I don’t trust Dallas like most do. They have a good roster, but I don’t feel they have the true superstars of most of the other best teams in the league. I also think their defense isn’t deep. Good team though. They aren’t there yet. Maybe another year or two or three they’ll be there.

Rangers vs. Vegas is my final. And I’m worried. If Kakko is for real this year and Chytil stays healthy, I think we win it. If we’re the one line team we were last year, probably a loss.
 
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SimpleJack

Registered User
Jul 25, 2013
6,720
4,435
COL was my initial thought here but Colton now out for an extended period of time it appears. At what point does it become too much and start to impact them in the standings to the point where they fall outside of the playoff picture? Or as long as they have MacK/Rant/Makar/Toews is that enough to eek by?
 

scoopscj

Registered User
Feb 13, 2009
925
789
Central Joy-See
I'd have said New Jersey before the season started but after watching Markstrom and Allen in net, I'm less inclined at this time.

Early take, Florida again. Dallas looks promising.

Florida over Dallas.
 

Hint1k

Registered User
Oct 27, 2017
4,128
2,529
Oilers are not going to repeat anything like the last playoff. That was one time miracle - with Vegas out of the division playoff and Vancouver having like 4th goalie in the net, etc. Most likely, if Edmonton even makes playoff this year, it will lose in the 1st round.

Atlantic is basically Cats vs Bolts vs Leafs vs Bruins. Whoever wins it - will face probably Rangers, because Carolina's coach is still the same dude who has no clue whatsoever.

Home bet on Bolts to go to SCF and lose it to Vegas or Dallas.
 

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