The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Majingir]

You know the deal.

Leafs will lose round 1.

Division leading Canucks are losing by round 2

Oilers might win a round or two before they're done

Vegas and their cap circumvention will pay off

Avs are either out early or winning the cup

[Majingir]

Round 1 picks:

Bruins over Leafs

Panthers over Lightning

Canes over Islanders

Rangers over Caps

Canucks over Preds

Avs over Jets

Oilers over Kings

Vegas over Stars

Finals picks:
Canes vs Vegas

[DrJones]

Here's my hot take: the Rangers are the most underwhelming Presidents' Trophy winners ever.

1st place overall teams since 1967/68 without either a top-3 offence or top-3 defence:
- 2011/12 Vancouver Canucks (T4th in Goals For, 4th in Goals Against)
- 2023/24 New York Rangers (6th in GF, 7th in GA)

1st place overall teams since 1967/68 that finished outside the top-3 in Goal Differential:
- 1979/80 Philadelphia Flyers (4th in GD)
- 2023/24 New York Rangers (7th in GD)

1st place overall teams since 1967/68 that finished with a worse GD than the Rangers' +53:
- 2011/12 Vancouver Canucks (3rd in GD with +51)

(Yes, all the 1st place teams from lockout- or COVID-shortened seasons had a GD of +53 or better without the need for prorating!)

The Rangers are also extreme special teams merchants. Here's how their 5-on-5 GD stacks up against the most recent Presidents' Trophy winners:

2008/09 Sharks: +8 GD (11th)
2009/10 Capitals: +74 GD (1st)
2010/11 Canucks: +39 GD (2nd)
2011/12 Canucks: +25 GD (5th)
2012/13 Blackhawks: +39 GD (1st) - in 48 games!
2013/14 Bruins: +64 GD (1st)
2014/15 Rangers: +42 GD (1st)
2015/16 Capitals: +36 GD (1st)
2016/17 Capitals: +66 GD (1st)
2017/18 Predators: +40 GD (2nd)
2018/19 Lightning: +49 GD (1st)
2019/20 Bruins: +34 GD (3rd) - in 70 games!
2020/21 Avalanche: +42 (1st) - in 56 games!
2021/22 Panthers: +57 (T1st)
2022/23 Bruins: +86 (1st)
2023/24 Rangers: +1 (16th)

In case you were wondering if the Rangers were exceptionally unlucky 5-on-5, it doesn't appear so: their expected 5-on-5 GD actually ranks 21st! Among playoff teams, the only ones worse 5-on-5 are Tampa (also reliant on special teams) and Washington (who just suck).

Now, does this necessarily mean anything when it comes to postseason success? Nope: it's the NHL, after all. Regular season frauds can and often do turn things around in April and May. Especially since their 1st round opponent is probably the worst playoff team in 30+ years.

Keeping company with the 08/09 Sharks and 11/12 Canucks though doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, though!

[DrJones]

Let's get weird.

Lightning over Panthers in 6
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Capitals over Rangers in 7
Hurricanes over Islanders in 6
Stars over Golden Knights in 6
Jets over Avalanche in 6
Predators over Canucks in 7
Oilers over Kings in 5

Lightning over Bruins in 6
Hurricanes over Capitals in 4
Jets over Stars in 7
Oilers over Predators in 6

Hurricanes over Lightning in 5
Jets over Oilers in 6

Hurricanes over Jets in 6

[bhurst99]

I'll give it a shot with my Jontay Porter-approved playoff predictions

Boston over Leafs in 7
Florida over Tampa in 7
Islanders over Hurricanes in 7
Rangers over Capitals in 5
Colorado over Winnipeg in 6
Vancouver over Nashville in 6
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 5
Las Vegas over Dallas in 7

Boston over Florida in 6
Islanders over Rangers in 7
Edmonton over Vancouver in 6
Colorado over Las Vegas in 7

Boston over Islanders in 6
Edmonton over Colorado in 7

Edmonton over Boston in 6

(I cheered when Edmonton was terrible early in the season. Clearly, their sole motive is get back at me).

[Majingir]

Nylander hasn't missed a game in 3 years.

Game 1 of the playoffs...he's out.

24/25 Leafs will be different, just you wait.

If they lose in round 1, I expect LOTS of changes. Keefe gone, probably Shanahan gone, something big will happen.

[Kobalt]

Florida over TB in 5
Boston over Toronto in 6
Rangers over Caps in 4
Hurricanes over Isles in 4

Dallas over Vegas in 7
Jets over Avs in 5
Vancouver over Nashville in 5
Edmonton over Kings in 6

Boston over Florida in 7
Hurricanes over Rangers 6
Stars over Jets in 6
Oilers over Canucks in 6

Bruins over Hurricanes in 6
Oilers over Stars in 5

Bruins over Oilers in 6

[Majingir]

That was fun while it lasted.


See you next year.