The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and our experts are predicting how it will turn out.
We had 40 writers and editors answer questions about the post-season, which starts Saturday. As always, the results are intriguing.
Here are who they think will make the Stanley Cup final, who will win it all, some of the standout players and more.
1. Which team will win the Eastern Conference?
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have had early exits in the last two years, and they look refreshed. Voters picked them at nearly a 2-to-1 ratio over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bolts must get past the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers in the first round, but with star goalie Andrei Vasilevsky thriving, the Lightning won’t shock anyone if they beat the Panthers and embark on a long playoff run.
Also check out Adam Proteau's first-round predictions for the Eastern Conference.
2. Which team will win the Western Conference?
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Based on the voting, the Central Division looks very strong this year. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are going head-to-head in the first round, but a combined 27 voters have one of them winning the Western Conference final. The Vegas Golden Knights also got some love from voters, but with the Winnipeg Jets winning the Presidents’ Trophy, whichever team gets out of the Central can take on any club.
Also check out Adam Proteau's first-round predictions for the Western Conference.
3. Which team will win the Stanley Cup?
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The Avalanche’s lineup was altered extensively this season after a slow start. Dallas and Tampa Bay also made major moves on the trade front to make themselves favorites to win it all. But two of those three teams could be eliminated in the opening round.
4. Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP?
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Given that many picked the Avs to win the Cup, it makes sense that Nathan MacKinnon is the consensus pick to win the Conn Smythe. When Colorado last won the Cup in 2022, star D-man Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe. So MacKinnon has a chance to add the Conn Smythe Trophy to his trophy collection, which already includes a Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and – of course – the Stanley Cup.
5. Which player will be the playoff scoring leader?
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The general love for Colorado this spring extends into the category of top playoff scorer. In 2021-22, MacKinnon had 13 goals and 24 points in 20 playoff games, but he finished third on the team in playoff scoring behind Makar and Mikko Rantanen. Art Ross winner Nikita Kucherov also has many votes for him in this area, suggesting the scoring race both players had near the end of the regular season will continue in the post-season.
6. Which NHL GM has done the most for his team this year?
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Voters picked Colorado’s management as far and away the most active and effective group in the NHL this season. The willingness of GM Chris MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic to radically remake their goaltending while getting a return for Rantanen and adding depth to their defense takes guts. Colorado’s wise gambles make the team winners in this category.
7. Which player should you pick first in a playoff pool?
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Kucherov won this year’s Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season point-getter – the second straight time he’s won it, and the third time in his career – by posting 121 points in 78 games. Thus, voters feel he’s the best pick in anyone’s playoff pool. Finishing third is Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, even though not many voters predicted that Edmonton would reach the final.
8. Which Canadian team will go furthest in this year’s playoffs?
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The Jets had the NHL’s best record this year, so it’s only natural they garnered the most votes for the Canadian team that will go on the longest post-season run. Not all that far behind them are the Maple Leafs, who will have a difficult path in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. And the Oilers could have a relatively easier road in the Pacific Division, although the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights aren’t slouches.
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