Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win The Stanley Cup: Eastern Conference
Photo from NHL.com
It’s playoff hockey season!
Tomorrow, the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, and one thing we know about the Stanley Cup Playoffs is that it just takes one hot stretch to turn a wild card team into a true Cup Contender.
So let’s go over why every single Eastern Conference team will, and why they will fall short.
Boston Bruins
Why They Will: Well, they only went and set the record for most wins and most points in a season.
Statistically speaking, the 2022-2023 Boston Bruins are the greatest team in NHL history.
That’s a pretty good resume heading into the playoffs.
Why They Won’t: Because teams that are the best in the NHL usually don’t win it all.
Whether it be some weird scoring slump, a hot goalie or costly injuries, the President’s Trophy winners don’t win it all.
It’s actually been 10 years since one has.
And may I remind you of the last “statistical best team in NHL history,” the 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning who went into the playoffs and got swept in four games by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It’s cliche, but the playoffs truly are a different season.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Why They Will: Do you remember the mid 2010’s Washington Capitals? They just could not get past the second round.
But in 2018, they did. And then they rode that momentum all the way to the Stanley Cup.
Toronto hasn’t made it out of the first round since 2004, and this team is insanely talented.
It feels like that opening round hump is the only thing they need to get past, and once they do, they will go on an absolute tear.
Why They Won’t: Well, for starters, it’s the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Secondly, if they do win their first round matchup they’ll likely play the Bruins, who are the team they’re most snakebit against.
But moreso than anything, the Maple Leafs goaltending could be what sinks them.
You don’t need elite goaltending to win a Stanley Cup. I’ve never believed that.
But you do need good enough goaltending, and I’m not sure Toronto has that.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Why They Will: They won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, and then made the Cup Final in 2022.
This team knows how to win, and the main core group is still there.
Why They Won’t: This isn’t the same team as years past.
I know that on paper it is, but whether it be injuries, age, or the simple fact that they’ve played more hockey than anyone else the past three years, there is something lacking about this Lightning team.
They’re still very good, but look at the Eastern Conference and how stacked it is. They aren’t going to get through all of those teams.
Florida Panthers
Why They Will: Do you remember that the Panthers won the President’s Trophy last year?
They did! And then they got better in the offseason by trading for Matthew Tkachuk! They’re very good!
Sure, they had to sneak into the playoffs after a very poor start to the season, but they got it fixed and made it.
If there is a single team I would predict makes a run as a Wild Card team, it’d be the Florida Panthers.
Why They Won’t: Unfortunately for Florida, that’s because the other Wild Card teams really aren’t Stanley Cup contenders at all.
Add in the fact that their first round matchup is against the Bruins, and the odds are surely against them.
Their slow start will be their downfall.
Carolina Hurricanes
Why They Will: The are 3rd in the NHL for expected goals, and they are far and away 1st in expected goals against.
So they can score, and they can keep the puck out of the net.
They would be easy favorites if the Bruins didn’t exist.
Why They Won’t: The Eastern Conference is an absolute bloodbath.
The Canes have to get through a combination of the Devils, Rangers, Leafs, Bruins or Lightning to win the Stanley Cup.
The odds aren’t great.
New Jersey Devils
Why They Will: The Devils are fast, young and fun.
And they know how to score goals.
When the playoffs come around, youth can be a big advantage with all those heavy legs from a long season.
Why They Won’t: Youth is also a big disadvantage when it comes to the playoffs.
Even though they shouldn’t be, the games are called differently in the postseason.
Some teams are aware of that and can expect it. The Devils might keep trying to play their game, and their game might not work in the playoffs.
New York Rangers
Why They Will: I mentioned earlier that I don’t believe you need elite goaltending to win a Stanley Cup, and I do believe that.
But elite goaltending sure as hell can be the difference maker that gets you there, and the Rangers have that.
Igor Shesterkin’s postseason last year was incredible to watch, and if he matches that performance again this time around with improved scoring from the Rangers, this could just be the year.
Why They Won’t: In terms of expected goals for, the Rangers are around the same level with the Flyers, Canucks, Coyotes and Blues.
If you know hockey, you know that that’s not very good.
If you don’t know hockey, let me be the first to tell you that that’s not very good! All of those teams missed the playoffs.
So if the Shesterkin doesn’t go on a heater, the Rangers might not get the goal scoring needed to stay afloat.
New York Islanders
Why They Will: You know everything I just said about Igor Shesterkin above?
Islanders goalie Ilya Sorotkin had an even better season than Shesterkin did.
He can make it very frustrating for opponents this postseason.
Why They Won’t: The rest of the team just isn’t very good.
Sometimes, it really is that simple.
My Eastern Conference Champion Prediction
Man, I already know I’m going to regret this. But I truly do feel it in my gut.
A first round win is going to make this team play loose and free, and that’s going to be the difference maker.
And that is why, and I can’t believe I’m falling in the trap again, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to win the Eastern Conference.
