The primary spherical of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs continues to be underway with us having simply over per week of video games within the books. The primary likelihood for collection to be wrapped up is on Tuesday, with Toronto and Carolina having the chance to close the door and transfer on.
Playoff hockey and the common season are totally totally different beasts. Hockey stays the one sport the place postseason success not often, if ever, aligns with what a workforce did forward of the playoffs. Which means now we have the proper alternative to dive in now and see which groups really feel like they may go all the best way, and who’re wanting like pretenders.
CONTENDER: Toronto Maple Leafs
I’ll personal that I had main doubts in regards to the Leafs getting into the playoffs as a result of, effectively… [looks at the last six decades]. Nevertheless, after a handful of video games in opposition to the Senators I’m shopping for into this workforce.
The most important situation with the Leafs final yr was that when the workforce hit the playoffs their prime gamers disappeared. Mitch Marner and John Tavares roughly vanished, whereas Williams Nylander battled damage. This left a large void the place the one gamers like Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi have been actually performing.
Already we’re seeing that that is totally different. Marner, Nylander, and Auston Matthews are anchoring the workforce and proving the celebrities are actually aligning. I do know lots of people are spooked after Toronto’s extra time loss to Ottawa on Saturday — however I don’t see historical past repeating. While you additionally contemplate that the Atlantic path to the Stanley Cup Finals aligns effectively for the Leafs it means we might see huge issues from Toronto.
PRETENDER: Winnipeg Jets
I don’t actually know what to say right here. For a very long time the Jets have been my favourite to win the cup, however the workforce we’re seeing proper now’s nothing like their common season counterpart. Loads this comes all the way down to Connor Hellebuyck, who has became a pumpkin these playoffs.
It’s robust to recollect the final time a Vezina-favorite goaltender was pulled twice within the opening collection for permitting delicate objectives, however right here we’re. Merely: WInnipeg is constructed round effectivity and protection. If Hellebuyck is permitting 5 objectives in opposition to a workforce just like the Blues, then he positive isn’t going to have the ability to hold the Jets’ head above water in the event that they transfer on to face the likes of Colorado, Dallas, or Edmonton.
Whereas it’s nonetheless very attainable the Jets make it previous the Blues and transfer on, it’s tough to check them going a lot additional within the playoffs except one thing modifications in a giant approach. Winnipeg simply isn’t constant the identical approach they have been through the common season, and people points will solely improve with each loss, or shut sport they’ve.
CONTENDER: Carolina Hurricanes
That is beginning to really feel just like the yr the Canes are literally for actual within the playoffs. Whereas a gap spherical in opposition to the Devils won’t seem to be the most effective litmus check, what it has proven us is that Carolina’s brutal forecheck and deep traces can hand with a sooner workforce designed round finesse play.
The celebs of this workforce, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis are all exhibiting up in a giant approach — however whenever you issue within the breakout play of the workforce’s youth in Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven it bears very effectively for a deep playoff run. What we’re seeing is the following evolution of the Rod Brind’Amour system, which marries hard-line two-way play with permitting sufficient wiggle room for stars to point out their persona.
All of that is earlier than we start to say that the Hurricanes have a significant x-factor ready within the wings: Alexander Nikishin. The KHL phenom arrived in Raleigh shortly earlier than the playoffs, and has been training with the workforce in preparation for his debut. Nikishin is the whole lot this workforce has been lacking as a quarterbacking defenseman with the potential to giving a giant pop on the powerplay along with his Cale Makar-esque play, and if he’s in a position to are available and provides Carolina one other dimension they’ll be robust to beat.
PRETENDER: Tampa Bay Lightning
There’s little doubt that Tampa drew a brief straw by getting Florida within the opening spherical, however I’m simply not seeing it from this workforce in 2025. Andrei Vasilevskiy is enjoying actually poorly within the internet, which has been heightened by a struggling Lightning protection. In the meantime on the offensive facet the workforce simply isn’t getting a lot out of anybody however Jake Guentzel and Brayden Level. Any individual else has to step up and get some objectives.
Tampa is kind of who we thought they have been. An excellent workforce, however missing the X-factor to be a Stanley Cup profitable workforce. The addition of Guentzel in free company was implausible, but it surely hasn’t essentially made the Lightning a dramatically higher workforce.
Florida getting wholesome for the playoffs has roughly uncovered this workforce’s weaknesses.
What about Dallas and Colorado?
Undoubtably probably the most brutal opening spherical collection has been between the Stars and Avalanche, each groups who had official Stanley Cup potential getting into the playoffs. That collection has proven we all know the whole lot, and nothing about both workforce.
The night-to-night consistency hasn’t been there from the Stars. Mikko Rantanen hasn’t proven up the best way Dallas wants him to, but it surely’s a testomony to how good they’re as a workforce that they’re nonetheless competing with out their ace enjoying his finest hockey.
In the meantime the Avs have all the trimmings of an elite workforce, however we’ve but to actually see them reap the benefits of the actual fact the Stars are struggling offensively. With a view to put this workforce in contender standing it will have been good to see a bit extra enamel, and attempt to step on Dallas’ neck early. As a substitute this collection is dragging on.
In the end it looks like each the Stars and Avs will probably be victims to one another. Cannibalizing one another in a brutal seven sport collection to develop into pickings for whoever strikes on. It’s a disgrace, however a foul break for 2 groups who’re neither contenders, nor pretenders — however each extremely good.
