Like the East, the Western Conference side of the Stanley Cup playoffs is going to be fierce and competitive. Anything can happen and especially when you haven’t played in 4 months. Here are the 12 teams that will be spending the playoffs in Edmonton.
St. Louis Blues: There is no such thing as a Stanley Cup hangover in this city. The Blues don’t just want the Cup they had last year, they want to be the next great dynasty in the NHL. Most of last year’s team like Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Pietrangelo are back for a chance at a second straight title. In my opinion this team will go deep again on the back of Jordan Binnington because that is how this franchise is. I have a feeling their fanbase isn’t the only ones in the state of Missouri that has grown insufferable, just ask the Chiefs that same question.
Colorado Avalanche: For the 1st time in almost 15 years the Avs are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. It turns out that Nathan Mackinnon is the second coming of Joe Sakic from how he has once again dominated in every game he is in. This year they were blessed with Andre Burakovsky and Cale Makar being just as good but I do have one thing. How many times has Nazem Kadri burned them in late game situations with penalties? I don’t think he has changed since he was traded out of Toronto. I also don’t know who will be on the net either. Tough decision eh.
Vegas Golden Knights: Before the COVID19 shutdown this was the most dangerous team in all of hockey. A two headed monster in net in Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner makes this team even more dangerous. Then there is that ridiculous front line of William Karlsson, Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and former Hab (Canadien) Max Pacioretty. The weakness on this team is their soon to be full time head coach Peter DeBoer, did anyone see how stubborn he was in San Jose, this year could be redemption for him.
Dallas Stars: I think that this year is very pivotal in Big D, the Stars have returned to be the Stanley Cup contender they were 10 years ago but this offseason could be tricky because of many players contracts being up. The good news is that they should have some firepower with playoff vets Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry along with a beast in Tyler Seguin, but this team lives and dies by Vezina Caliber goaltender Ben Bishop. He was a key man that got Dallas past Nashville last year but how will he do this year. FYI they might have to face the Avs in the 2nd round.
Edmonton Oilers: You are the luckiest bunch of hockey players in the world Edmonton. Not only is the Western Conference playoffs at Rogers Place, the Stanley Cup will be there as well. The reason this team will be a force is based on the 3 gods of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nuggent-Hopkins. The bad part is that Colby Cave, their best defensemen, died of brain bleed and some of their top prospects nearly died of COVID19, oh my goodness. Other than that even though they bolstered the depth at the deadline this team is a 3 man crew. Prove me wrong Boys!
Calgary Flames: The Flames once again realized that playing down to their competition was happening again and they had no choice but to play up to their abilities before the break. Led by Johnny Hockey, and Matt Tkachuk Calgary looks like a dark horse unlike last year’s top seed power that crumbled in the first round. This year their likely first round opponent is their Alberta rivals in Edmonton and in my opinion that series could feature two teams with little depth. It is always fun when division rivals meet in the playoffs, especially those two.
Vancouver Canucks: This year is the first time since the riots after the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals that the Canucks are a playoff caliber team that has it’s championship window being open in the next few years. Other than JT Miller, and Elias Petterson this team doesn’t have any notable names that can be considered All Stars. If there’s an opportunity for an unexpected playoff run in the West this might just be it. This city is obviously mad that they aren’t one of the hosts of the playoffs but they can manage a deep run right.
Winnipeg Jets: After suffering the biggest cap hell in hockey last July the True North has done just enough to make it back to the playoffs while mostly relying on goalie Connor Hellebuyck to play like his Former Vezina Trophy self. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are once putting up 70+point seasons. With Blake Wheeler as well as perennial 25+ goal scorer Patrik Laine producing his usual numbers the depth is likely to come in handy for the Jets. They may be weaker than the 2018 team that made it to the Western Conference Finals but don’t let them fool you come playoff time. They like Vancouver are mad that they aren’t hosting the Stanley Cup, if that were the case it would be a true Whiteout.
Nashville Predators: This team was picked by many to win the Presidents Trophy last summer but instead underachieved and had to rally just to make the playoffs after their dinosaur of a coach was fired in December. Roman Josi, and Fillip Forsburg are once again anchoring the front lines but Matt Duchane so far has not lived up to the contract he got after the Preds traded PK Subban to the Devils for depth on the defense. The only thing killing this team is that Pekka Rinne has not performed as well as he did in 2017-18, since the 2018 Second Round series against Winnipeg he has been nothing but a meme to many hockey fans across North America. If he wants to turn back the clock now is the time to do it. I think this team is once again far from too good right now.
Minnesota Wild: We have witnessed a team that fires a coach like Bruce Boudreau who usually gets a team to a top 3 seed in the playoffs, yet makes the playoffs with a team that turns back the clock to 2015 when they upset the Blues in the First Round that year. Zach Parise, and Ryan Sutter were nearly traded at the deadline yet returned to old form to help out a group of physical attackers like Eric Staal, Kevin Fiala, and Mats Zuccarello. My big kick with the Wild is that in 2018 they got burned by the expansion draft in Vegas, and there is another one coming up with the new franchise in Seattle, all I can say is that they need to be prepared for this one unlike last time.
Arizona Coyotes: If you’re a Coyotes fan you are so lucky that your team made the playoffs because of COVID19, if the virus never happened they would have missed the playoffs for the 7th year in a row. They don’t have a ture superstar excluding Taylor Hall but Carl Soderburg, Phil Kessel, and Clayton Keller are the big guns that have plenty of playoff experience. Even though it has been a while since they made the playoffs the people of the Phoenix area finally have a local team besides the Diamondbacks that are actually good. Make it last for a while.
Chicago Blackhawks: This year might be the last chance the Blackhawks have at a 4th Stanley Cup in 10 years with this core. Even though Coach Q is gone and took his coaching talents to Miami Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Toews are still around and are still looking to succeed in the playoffs after a 2 year wait. The only reason they were even invited to the playoffs is because they have a dynasty that is technically still going and the Sharks, Ducks, and Kings do not have the following and record that Chicago has. If they are going to pull a 2012 Kings playoff run do it now.
Well it is time for a prediction for these playoffs and really almost every team has a shot at Lord Stanley’s Trophy which means there are so many options, HEAR IT IS!
Prediction: I am going with the two teams that dominated before the season went on hold, Philadelphia vs. Vegas. Both teams have talented first and second lines along with multiple goaltenders that can carry a team if the offense doesn’t score. The best part about this matchup is that both Peter DeBoer and Alain Vigneault have coached in the NHL for a long time and each of them are looking for their First Cup. Other than that I expect 2 months of bloodbaths on the ice.
Bragging Rights Sports 