With the NHL playoffs set to begin Wednesday, we rank the top 25 players who are hoping to claim the Stanley Cup (2018-19 stats in tables):

25. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Aho is one of the NHL's most unheralded young stars, but this postseason should put him firmly on the national radar. It'll be well-deserved for the leading scorer on one of the league's most entertaining teams.

24. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is back and ready to rock. Fleury lost consecutive tuneup games after returning from injury on April 4, but more importantly, he looked healthy between the pipes. Since 2014, the 34-year old is tied for third in both postseason appearances and playoff wins.

23. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have never missed the playoffs with Letang on their roster. Since the start of the decade, the 31-year-old ranks second in postseason points by a defenseman and has three Stanley Cup championships to show for his work.

22. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

Scheifele just wrapped up his second straight point-per-game season, and he'll need to carry that success into the playoffs for the Jets to capitalize on their Stanley Cup aspirations. The big center doesn't have a ton of postseason experience, but proved he's a big-time performer with 14 goals in 17 playoff games last spring.

21. Mark Stone, Golden Knights

Stone is probably the least flashy player on this list, but his high hockey IQ and 200-foot game always make his presence felt on the ice. The winger's 122 takeaways led the league by a wide margin in 2018-19, and he ranked third in Relative Corsi For percentage, which measures how effective a player is at driving possession.

20. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

After returning from a thumb injury on March 19, Pastrnak racked up seven goals and 15 points in 10 games to end the campaign. And despite missing an extended period with the ailment, the 22-year-old marksman scored a career-high 38 goals overall. Last season, Pastrnak tallied 20 points in 12 playoff contests, which were highlighted by a six-point outing in Game 2 of the opening round against the Maple Leafs.

19. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

Marner's magic was on full display throughout his third NHL campaign. The 21-year-old became the first Maple Leaf in more than 20 years to hit the 90-point mark and led the team in scoring for a second straight season. He's been the Leafs' top playoff performer in the past, too, producing at a point-per-game-pace in 13 career contests, which included nine points in seven games against the Bruins last year.

18. Blake Wheeler, Jets

Wheeler is the ultimate captain and set a new Jets franchise record with 71 assists this season to go along with a team-leading 91 points. The 32-year-old didn't miss a beat last postseason, contributing 21 points in 17 contests en route to the Western Conference Final.

17. John Tavares, Maple Leafs

It's safe to say Tavares got comfortable during his first season playing at home, as the Mississauga, Ontario, native set a franchise record for goals by a centerman and by a first-year Maple Leaf. The 88 points also marked a career high, as the 28-year-old is playing the best hockey of his life heading into the playoffs.

16. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

An incredible playoff run last spring saw Point rack up 16 points in 17 games while turning heads with his elite two-way play. The 5-foot-10 center went on to produce a breakout campaign in 2018-19 - enjoying one of the biggest statistical improvements in the league - and will look to keep it going in the postseason.

15. Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks

It's a shame that injuries sidelined Karlsson in the second half of the season, as he was rounding into top form after a slow start. Still, the defenseman racked up almost a point per game in his first campaign with the Sharks, including 27 points in his last 23 contests. We've seen Karlsson rise to the occasion as a playoff workhorse, and he'll need to play a key role for San Jose this time around.

14. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Vasilevskiy was incredibly consistent while backstopping one of the greatest teams in NHL history this season, losing back-to-back starts just once and never in regulation. The 24-year old is also no stranger to pressure, with 29 postseason appearances under his belt, including two in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final as a 20-year-old.

13. Brent Burns, Sharks

Burns notched a career-high 83 points this season, which led all NHL blue-liners. The 2016-17 Norris Trophy winner is seemingly getting better with age, as he became just the eighth defenseman in league history to record his first 80-point season at 34 or older. The strapping defenseman also brings a boatload of postseason experience to the table with 46 points in 74 career contests.

12. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

These playoffs will be a chance at redemption for Matthews, who found himself under the microscope last spring while recording only two points versus the Bruins. Now, he'll get another shot at Boston following his best regular season yet.

11. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

Gaudreau hasn't gotten enough love this season despite being the offensive catalyst for the resurgent Flames. "Johnny Hockey" took a big step forward in 2018-19, setting career highs in goals, assists, and points while further establishing himself as one of the game's most dynamic, consistent, and creative players.

10. Steven Stamkos, Lightning

It's not very often that a 45-goal scorer flies under the radar, but teammate Nikita Kucherov's dominant play allowed Stamkos to quietly assemble the best season of his career. The two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in four campaigns and notched a career-high 98 points while captaining one of the greatest teams in league history.

9. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins

Malkin battled through injury this season but returned to the Penguins' lineup for a few tuneup games down the stretch. During his distinguished postseason career, Geno's notched 165 points in 158 games while earning a Conn Smythe and three titles.

8. Mark Giordano, Flames

Giordano produced a career year at age 35 and should warrant serious consideration for both the Norris Trophy and the Masterton. Calgary's captain excels in all situations while serving as the team's unquestioned leader.

7. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

While Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog missed extended time down the stretch, MacKinnon put the Avalanche on his back. The 23-year-old notched 15 points in the final 14 games, leading Colorado to a 9-3-2 record and into the playoffs. It's the first time the Avalanche have qualified in consecutive seasons since 2006.

6. Brad Marchand, Bruins

Marchand has rightfully earned his reputation as a pest, but his well-rounded game was on full display this season. The winger's 100 points easily set a career high, while he led the Bruins with nine game-winning goals, more than double anyone else on the roster.

5. Victor Hedman, Lightning

Has there ever been a defenseman with Hedman's combination of size (6-foot-6) and effortless skating stride? The Swede also played fewer minutes in 2018-19 than in any of the last three seasons, so he should be ready to log close to 30 per night when necessary in the playoffs.

4. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Like his teammate Marchand, Bergeron produced a career year in 2018-19. Despite playing just 65 games, he managed a personal best of 79 points and continued the kind of excellent two-way play you'd expect from a four-time Selke Trophy winner. With 112 games of postseason experience and a Cup win under his belt, Bergeron is the type of player who can be relied upon on the biggest stage.

3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Even at age 33, Ovechkin isn't slowing down. He surpassed the 50-goal mark yet again this season after leading all playoff scorers with 15 en route to winning the Stanley Cup last June. There's no reason the veteran can't get it done again.

2. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

What a season it was for Kucherov. The Lightning star blew away the rest of the league with 128 points - the most by a Russian in NHL history and the highest total by any player since Mario Lemieux had 161 in 1995-96. He may not have a Cup victory to his name, but Kucherov was a key piece of Tampa's run to the final in 2015 and has recorded 59 points over 62 career postseason games.

1. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

Yes, Kucherov was the most dominant player this season, but Crosby is still the top dog as far as the playoffs are concerned. Sid ranks eighth all time in postseason points per game, and let's not forget those three championships or the back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophy wins.

The Penguins captain is still playing at an elite level, so until that changes, he's the clear choice as the No. 1 player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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The New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft lottery on Tuesday night to lock up the 2019 first overall selection.

The Devils will make the first pick for the second time in three seasons after drafting Nico Hischier in the top spot in 2017. The pick also marks New Jersey's fourth top-10 selection this decade.

Taylor Hall was part of many draft lottery parties during his time with the Edmonton Oilers, and he had some fun on social media after his team secured yet another top pick.

The Colorado Avalanche entered the night with the highest odds to land the No. 1 pick (18.5 percent). But Colorado fell to the fourth spot after the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks jumped into the top three.

The Rangers will draft in the top ten for the third consecutive season, but the team hasn't selected this high since 1966. The last time the Blackhawks owned the third overall pick was 2006 when they selected future captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews.

Here's a look at the complete draft order from picks one through 15.

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It's playoff season once again.

Before you fill out your postseason bracket, we break down one key matchup across five first-round series that could make or break a team in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Top-line takeover

It's no secret - for the Leafs to trump the Bruins, they need to find an answer for the three-headed monster of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand.

The Leafs were tormented by the Bruins' top line in their seven-game series last postseason. Bergeron and Co. controlled possession, posting a Corsi rating of 64.90, and dominated Toronto in high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five, 49-26. An encouraging note for the Leafs is that the Corsi number dropped to 54.84 when matched with Auston Matthews and shot up to 75 when going against Tomas Plekanec - suggesting the trio dominated much of the play against a veteran player who is no longer in the league.

Looking at the regular season, both Matthews and Bergeron were out of the lineup for two of the teams' meetings this season, so we'll have to see how the coaches choose to deploy their top talent with the pair back in the mix.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders

Goaltending vs. star power

The Islanders claiming home-ice advantage was key, but perhaps their biggest edge sits between the pipes. Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss combined to capture the William M. Jennings Trophy this season, and their dominant play must continue for the team to be successful against the Penguins' offensive arsenal.

Though neither netminder has a ton of playoff experience, the job will likely be Lehner's to lose. Since returning from injury on March 19, the 27-year-old has posted a 5-2 record with a .942 save percentage.

Barry Trotz's club allowed a league-low 191 goals on the campaign and posted a record of 38-2-2 when scoring at least three times in a game. Led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins boasted the fifth-best offense this year and rostered four players with 70-plus points.

Pittsburgh mustered 13 goals in four games against the Islanders during the regular season, with Crosby and Malkin combining for eight points.

Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche

Can 'Johnny Hockey' outperform MacKinnon?

Calgary's Gaudreau and Colorado's MacKinnon each notched a career-high 99 points this season. Though they play different positions up front, the two will be a joy to watch compete as they best embody the speed and skill that will be on display in this series.

The All-Stars have no problem facing the pressure of playoff hockey, either, as MacKinnon has tallied 16 points in 13 career contests, with Gaudreau posting 11 points in 15.

Both men know how to deliver when it matters most, too. "Johnny Hockey" racked up 39 points and 17 goals in the third period or overtime this season, while MacKinnon contributed 37 points and 15 goals in those clutch moments. When the game is on the line, look for one of these two studs to follow through.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Stingy penalty kill vs. Electric man advantage

Special teams will heavily influence this matchup between one of the greatest regular-season teams ever and a franchise looking for its first playoff series victory.

The Lightning's power play was lethal this season, clicking at a league-leading rate of 28.2 percent. The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, deploy the NHL's top penalty kill.

The Lightning and Blue Jackets posted similar possession numbers with Corsi ratings of 51.59 and 50.21, respectively. The more even-strength hockey Columbus can play, the better its chances of pulling out the upset - in the regular season, the Lightning erupted for six power-play goals on 11 attempts in their three victories over the Jackets this year.

St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets

Battle in the crease

This Central Division clash is about as even as any playoff series on the slate. The Jets won 47 regular-season games and sported a goal differential of plus-28, while the Blues won 45 contests and were plus-24. Both teams finished with 99 points, but what may ultimately separate the two in this series is the play in the crease.

The Blues netminder was one of the best stories of the season. In 32 appearances, Binnington posted a .927 save percentage and an unbelievable 1.89 goals-against average en route to setting a franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender with 24. The 25-year-old has yet to face the Jets this season, perhaps to the Blues' advantage.

Hellebuyck was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season but will need to regain his form in a hurry after taking a step backward this year. The 25-year-old won 10 fewer games and saw his goals against average spike from 2.36 to 2.90.

With two netminders trending in opposite directions, goaltending will be the deciding factor in this series.

(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)

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(Warning: Story contains coarse language)

It was late February in Columbus, Ohio, and the San Jose Sharks were in the middle of a seven-day road trip. As Brent Burns processed a question about the aura of Joe Thornton, his longtime teammate and close friend, a tsunami of laughter and chatter robbed his attention.

"He's always talking - I mean, listen to him, he's fucking nonstop," Burns said of Thornton, who was holding court nearby with a handful of Sharks personnel. Burns couldn't see what was going on, but it didn't really matter. "Fuck," the defenseman barked. "He's a mess. He's unreal."

Minutes earlier, hollering teammates had rushed to hug Thornton after the 6-foot-4, 220-pound center scored during a routine practice drill. The goal held no significance whatsoever, yet a group of grown men felt compelled to swarm a grey-haired guy affectionately known as "Jumbo."

"There's a lot of people who create a great culture around here, starting with our management and our coaches," Burns continued. "But he's a huge, huge part of creating that."

At that point, a familiar frame came into view, half-naked. "I mean, look at the idiot," Burns said of Thornton. "Look at him. He's just incredible. He's a special guy."

It's clear the admiration comes from all corners - both inside and outside the Sharks organization.

Joel Ward, a former teammate in San Jose, called Thornton "the epitome of the game, if I had to pick one person." Steven Stamkos perked up at the mention of his countryman - "He's a legend, right?" the Lightning superstar asked rhetorically. And Los Angeles Kings blue-liner Drew Doughty, who's skated against Thornton for 800 minutes during their careers, only needed one word to express his feelings: "Respect."

Now in his 21st NHL season, Thornton's time in the public eye is winding down, with his playing future uncertain beyond the Sharks' upcoming playoff run, which will begin Wednesday at home versus the Vegas Golden Knights. He'll be 40 in July and, aside from finally winning the Stanley Cup, has nothing left to prove.

But whenever Thornton does decide it's all over, the sport will dearly miss one of its greatest players - and greatest characters - ever.

'No bad days at the rink'

The legend of Joe Thornton has been marinating for 25 years.

Ever since the lanky kid from small-town St. Thomas torched Ontario's 1993-94 minor midget loop for 168 points in 67 games, he's left an unmistakable impression on everyone in his path.

When bumping into Thornton on the street, though, you wouldn't guess he's earned north of $100 million, captained two NHL franchises, and won Olympic gold among a host of other international medals. A boyish charm persists to this day, even for a seasoned veteran who recently passed Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman in career assists and leap-frogged Stan Mikita and Teemu Selanne in career points. He's now eighth and 14th, respectively, on those all-time lists.

"I have a smile on my face every day. Because I know it can be taken away at any time," Thornton told theScore at his stall in a quiet moment after the room cleared in Columbus.

"I knew as a kid how much I enjoyed playing street hockey with my brothers, or my dad flooding the backyard to skate until 1 o'clock in the morning. I just always remember that feeling."

Thornton's remained unapologetically himself throughout two years of junior hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, seven-plus NHL seasons in Boston, two lockout years in Switzerland, and 13-plus campaigns in San Jose. By all accounts, his personality is some mixture of happy-go-lucky, competitive, loyal, warm, and zany. Burns lovingly labels Thornton "a piece of work."

"I first met him in 1997 at the world juniors, and he had it then and he hasn't changed to this day," longtime Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "Pure, unadulterated passion and love for the game. I've been in the business for 40 years, and I've never been around anybody like that."

Even now, in the twilight of his career, amid peers nearly half his age, Thornton is still the nucleus of joy within the Sharks' dressing room. "Magnetic personality," head coach Pete DeBoer said. "You want to find him in the morning, really, because after a bad game he energizes you, always in a positive way. There's no bad days at the rink for Joe."

Nor is there any shortage of tales about Thornton's habit of turning the mundane into a carnival.

Is a Sharks trainer suddenly growing a beard or shaving his head? That was probably the result of a friendly bet with Thornton. Did a San Jose player laugh hysterically on the bench because someone screwed up the lineup card and accidentally scratched teammate Mirco Mueller? Yup, that was Thornton. How about when the team badly needed a lift following a tough loss? That's a Jumbo Joe special.

The latter is one of Burns' favorite Thornton stories. "We get cleaned out, and you can hear a pin drop on that bus (back to the team hotel). It's like a morgue," the defenseman said with the excitement in his voice rising. "And then you hear him go, 'Fuck, boys! What a life we got!'

"It's just fucking unbelievable."

Hal Gill, an old Bruins pal, added that Thornton would help the team bond away from the ice. "We used to always play the credit-card game at lunch," he said. "Put your cards in a hat. That was his doing.

"And he was the first one doing a whiteout - where he'd be waving his towel around in the middle of a restaurant to get all fired up."

Senators defenseman Dylan DeMelo spent the first three years of his career in San Jose. On the topic of Thornton, he got straight to the point. "Jumbo's a once-in-a-generation player," DeMelo said, "and a once-in-a-generation human being."

Team Canada teammates Claude Giroux and Ryan O'Reilly both said Thornton is hilarious in the room and on the ice, but stopped short of revealing any specific details.

"Getting a chance to play on a line with him, it's the little comments he makes during a game," O'Reilly said. "He's still going out there and playing intense, but he's also keeping it loose."

Thornton's antics have been even more of a hoot in the social-media era. Everybody chuckled when he and Burns posed naked for ESPN Magazine in 2017. Ditto for Thornton's R-rated insinuation ("I'd have my cock out, stroking it") following a four-goal performance from teammate Tomas Hertl in 2013. And there was the classic lawn mower photo from two summers ago, in which Thornton beamed with a gigantic beard while signing a contract extension in flip flops.

"There's no other Jumbos," Burns concluded.

When asked how he's able to maintain such a sunny disposition - shift after shift, game after game, season after season, summer after summer - Thornton shrugged. "It's a grind," he said of the NHL's peaks and valleys. "We've got to enjoy the grind together."

'Wow, did you see that play?'

On March 18, with two Sharks streaking toward the Golden Knights' crease, Thornton slung a no-look shot from the high slot with his head turned to the left. The puck swooped under goaltender Malcolm Subban's glove, nicked the post, and then bounced past the goal line.

It was the 16th and final regular-season goal for No. 19 in teal this season - and the 413th of his NHL career.

The unexpected snap shot from just inside the blue line was prototypical Secret Sniper Thornton. He's always been a picky shooter - processing the game through a less-is-more lens - while saving that hard, accurate shot for the right moments.

While the gaudy career assists tally (1,065) is his statistical calling card, Thornton certainly wouldn't have all those goals without a trick or two up his sleeve. Sneakily, he's one of only 11 NHL players with at least 400 tallies and 1,000 assists.

"If you cheat (for the pass), you're going to give him an easy goal," Ducks goalie John Gibson said. "You definitely respect his playmaking; it's in the back of your mind, but you do what you can. ... He can shoot it or make a great pass."

NHL points leaders since Jan. 1, 2000

Since his early days, Thornton's playing style has been the result of elite vision, a special feel for the game, an enviable wingspan, a healthy dose of dad-strength, and a rare ability to alter the pace of any matchup.

When added together, those traits allow Thornton to play with equal parts grace, finesse, and power.

"I could talk about him for hours," Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. "I just love watching him play, and to be on the same ice with a guy like that, and to see some of the things he's able to do, you come back to the bench and say, 'Wow, did you see that play?'"

"At the end of the day, hockey sense trumps speed," Wheeler added. "The guys that are able to think the game at a very high level are going to be the best players. In terms of hockey IQ, he's up there with the best there ever was."

Overall, an incredible 63 total goal-scorers have been on the receiving end of Thornton's offensive wizardry in San Jose. The list stretches from Rob Blake, who's now 49 years old and GM of the Los Angeles Kings, to current 22-year-old teammate Timo Meier.

"His fingerprints," Wilson said, "are all over this organization."

Remember Devin Setoguchi? He recorded a career-high 31 goals in 2008-09 while playing with Thornton. How about Jonathan Cheechoo, who somehow bagged 56 in 2005-06 to win the Rocket Richard Trophy. Even bona fide stars such as Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski can attest to the Thornton effect, owing chunks of their respective successes to the all-time great distributor. The same goes for Glen Murray, Thornton's top running mate back in Boston. "You find a spot, put your stick where it's supposed to be, ready for the pass, and it'll be in the spot where you need to shoot it," Murray said.

And for years, frustrated opponents have failed to contain any line driven by Thornton. "If there's a hole the size of a puck in between your skates, he'll find it and thread it through,” former NHL defenseman and childhood friend Brian Campbell said. "You know what he's going to do and you still can't find a way to defend it."

This year, Thornton is flanked by late bloomers Kevin Labanc, 23, and Marcus Sorensen, 27. In 399 minutes together at five-on-five, the trio has accounted for 53 percent of the on-ice shot attempts and 51 percent of the scoring chances while outscoring the opposition 23-12, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Labanc (17 goals, 56 points) and Sorensen (17 goals, 30 points) ranked sixth and 10th, respectively, on the Sharks' end-of-season leaderboard for 2018-19. For his part, Thornton broke the 50-point barrier once again, finishing with 51.

"Statistically, you go way up when you play with Joe Thornton, and that's the ultimate compliment," Wilson said.

Growing up, but staying the same

Thornton, for all of his on-ice accomplishments and off-ice shenanigans, can be an acquired taste. That was especially true in his early days, long before he earned league-wide respect.

For instance, in Thornton's 1997-98 rookie season, Bruins bench boss Pat Burns wasn't always impressed with the 18-year-old hotshot who'd been taken first overall in the previous draft.

"Pat called him into his office between periods, and we could hear him just screaming at Joe," Gill said, retelling one of several hairy moments from Thornton's Boston days. "Joe came out of there after getting yelled at - we all heard it and had our heads down trying to pretend like we didn't hear it - and he looked at all the boys and started giggling and laughing."

It's easy to forget that Thornton, a surefire future Hall of Famer, began his career buried on the fourth line and in the coach's doghouse. That debut season yielded a measly seven points in 55 games, and it took four years to truly establish himself as a premier point producer.

Amid that growth period, some within the hockey world questioned Thornton's worth as a player and a leader. A slow burn to elite production could be tolerated, sure, but would this dude with a big grin and natural talent actually care about team success? "That's such bullshit," Murray said. "He’s the most competitive guy."

Clearly, the Bruins didn't see Thornton as part of their long-term plan. On Nov. 30, 2005, general manager Mike O'Connell shipped his captain to San Jose for forwards Wayne Primeau and Marco Sturm, and blue-liner Brad Stuart. The blockbuster trade flabbergasted the room. Gill still remembers Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton standing up and grilling O'Connell in front of everyone:

What did you do? Why would you do that? And why did you just give away our best player?

Seven months later, with a career-high 125 points in his back pocket, Thornton was named league MVP. "Players of that ilk rarely come available," said Wilson, who 13 years later would snag another superstar, Erik Karlsson, via trade. "And when they do, you do not hesitate."

Even in San Jose, there have been obstacles to overcome. Wilson says he and Thornton have maintained a "very close" and respectful relationship since the franchise-altering trade, which is notable because it was the GM who infamously stripped Thornton of his captaincy in 2014, citing the need for a cultural reset in San Jose.

The polarizing decision set off a five-alarm fire and a war of words between the organizational pillars. In hindsight, would Wilson do it again? As an ex-Sharks captain himself, he had difficulty finding the right words on the topic. For 37 seconds, he false-started his answer before finally settling on a reply.

"I would say this: It was done to probably spread the leadership out on our team and have other people step up and be involved in it," Wilson said.

"Joe's a huge, huge part of this team, always has been. And we've got a group of guys who bring that to the table. You have to go forward in your life, with your decisions, but my respect for Joe's never changed, never has, and never will. I guess that's the best way of putting it."

One final Cup chase?

The captaincy controversy is now a distant memory. And, quite simply, both Wilson and Thornton just want to win a damn Cup. It's been disappointment after disappointment - 26, to be exact - for a franchise founded in 1991.

This time around, San Jose finished second in the Pacific Division with 101 points, and the veteran-laden roster stacks up fairly well against other Western Conference contenders. Objectively, the West is crowded, and every team is imperfect. The Sharks' concerns - namely shaky goaltending and a 3-9 end to the regular season - are largely counteracted by a glance at their lineup card, which features four 30-goal scorers and two Norris Trophy-caliber defensemen. There's no doubt that this club has an opportunity to succeed.

For his part, DeBoer didn't hesitate when asked if the 2018-19 Sharks are the strongest team he's coached in 11 NHL seasons. "Absolutely," he said. "Not even close. I look back at the two teams that I took to the finals (the 2011-12 Devils and the 2015-16 Sharks), and this team on paper is much deeper."

On the whole, the Sharks are faced with another seize-the-moment postseason. Besides Thornton, captain Pavelski turns 35 in July, Burns is already 33, and younger star pieces - the 29-year-old Karlsson and No. 1 center Logan Couture, 28 - are not exactly spring chickens. The latest infusion of talent, led by Hertl and Meier, won't have this multi-layered, battle-tested support forever.

On an individual level, this could be Thornton's final stab at achieving the dream. Father Time is taunting him. There's that ever-present 1979 birth certificate, and now lower-body injuries galore. ACL and MCL tears in both knees - the left in 2017, the right in 2018 - forced Thornton to undergo multiple surgeries and extensive rehab periods. And, earlier this season, he endured a right knee infection and a broken toe.

But despite his relatively limited role compared to seasons past, San Jose's third-line center remains as motivated as ever to lift the Cup. It makes him tick.

"Yep, that's it," Thornton replied, acknowledging both the complexity and the simplicity of the task at hand. "That's what I've been driving for, trying to do for my entire career. I think it could be the year."

Has he thought about the next step? Will it be a third one-year deal next season? How about retirement?

"I haven't. Even five years ago, I've always been day to day," he said softly, later adding: "I'm just going. I had a great skate today, I'll have a great lunch, and I'll come out and compete tomorrow and just repeat it all over again."

John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.

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The Western Conference was as wild as ever this year. It doesn't seem too far-fetched to believe all eight teams have a legitimate chance of advancing to the second round. With that said, let's dive into our predictions, X-factors, and breakdowns for each Western series.

Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche

Prediction: Flames in six

Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer was red-hot down the stretch, going 9-2-2 with a .956 save percentage and three shutouts in his final 14 contests. He may be able to steal a game or two against the Flames, but stifling the league's second-ranked offense over a seven-game series will be a tall task.

Calgary's depth - both up front and on the blue line - should prevail in this series. Colorado's top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen may go off in a couple of games, but its lack of secondary scoring should ultimately lead to a first-round exit.

X-factor for Flames: Mikael Backlund

With home-ice advantage, the Flames' top line of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Elias Lindholm will have its way with whichever soft matchup it encounters. If Calgary's checking line, centered by Backlund, can keep one of hockey's best trios in check - or better yet, force the Avs to break it up - this series could be over early.

X-factor for Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen

Though nothing is set in stone, the Avalanche expect Rantanen to be ready for Game 1 after he missed the last eight games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. If he misses time in this series or is ineffective due to his ailment, Colorado doesn't stand much of a chance. But if he's playing like his normal self, don't be shocked to see the Avs push this series to the limit on the shoulders of their top line.

San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Prediction: Golden Knights in seven

The Sharks and Golden Knights meet in a rematch of last year's second-round clash, which Vegas won in six games. As most series between two evenly matched clubs go, the team with the better goaltending should prevail. That could prove especially true in a series featuring two of the league's top teams in terms of generating scoring chances, and it means the Golden Knights have a sizable edge.

Martin Jones is coming off the worst regular season of his career by far. He does boast an impressive playoff resume, but returning to that form isn't as simple as flipping a switch.

Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, is well rested after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury. He showed some rust in his two-game tune-up to cap the regular season, but it's hard not to trust Flower after a solid campaign.

X-factor for Sharks: Erik Karlsson

If San Jose gets the 2017 playoff version of Karlsson, it's difficult to imagine the Sharks losing this series. But the superstar Swede is coming off a groin injury that cost him 17 games before he returned for the season finale. He's excelled on one good ankle before, but can he thrive if his groin fails? Time will tell.

X-factor for Golden Knights: Mark Stone

The other former Ottawa Senator in this series projects to play a huge role. Stone tallied eight points in his first 10 games in new threads but managed just three in the eight contests that followed. Everyone knows Stone is a defensive stalwart, but he needs to produce offensively if the Knights are to advance.

Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars

Prediction: Predators in five

The Predators and Stars meet in the only playoff series to feature two teams that ranked in the bottom half of the league in offense. In what projects to be a low-scoring matchup, the advantage goes to the battle-tested Predators, who have far more playoff experience.

Playoff hockey requires depth scoring and the Stars rely almost exclusively on their top line for goals. Putting all the scoring weight on the shoulders of Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov doesn't bode well against a Predators squad that can neutralize opposing offenses with one of the best top-four defense corps in the league. Jamie Benn has struggled this year, but the postseason is a great time to rediscover one's form.

X-factor for Predators: Filip Forsberg

Nashville's Achilles' heel is its lack of true game-changers up front, but Forsberg certainly fits the bill. Coming off one of his worst seasons since entering the league, he'll need to elevate his game in the playoffs - as he's done in the past.

X-factor for Stars: Ben Bishop

If the Stars are going to win this series, Bishop is going to have to steal it. He certainly seems capable of doing so after posing a .934 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average during the regular season.

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Prediction: Blues in seven

The Blues' 2018-19 campaign was a tale of two calendar years. From October through December they were 15-18-4 and sat dead-last in the league on Jan. 2. They went 30-10-5 from that point onward in one of the most spectacular second-half turnarounds in recent memory.

The Jets, meanwhile, stumbled their way to the finish line, compiling a 13-14-3 record over their final 30 games. Injuries certainly played a part, but they were plagued by inconsistent play throughout the lineup.

Winnipeg may be the more talented squad on paper and is certainly capable of turning it on at any moment, but it's difficult to go against a team that comes in riding an unbelievable second half.

X-factor for Jets: Josh Morrissey

Morrissey hasn't played since Feb. 24 due to an upper-body injury and his status for Game 1 is still up in the air. Even if he plays, it could take him some time to return to game shape. He's one of the most underrated blue-liners in the league and one of the Winnipeg's most valuable players. The Jets went 36-19-4 with him in the lineup, but just 11-10-1 without.

X-factor for Blues: Colton Parayko

Parayko didn't make the significant strides many expected of him this season, but the playoffs seem like the perfect setting for his coming-out party. If the Blues are going to go deep, the 6-foot-6 defenseman will have to be a horse on the back end.

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