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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

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]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

That was fun while it lasted.


See you next year.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

This is why I was so upset when I found out we were getting Boston.

That was fun while it lasted.


See you next year.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Operation Sports mobile app

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I've never seen the Leafs beat the Bruins in a game in my life.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Just want to point out that the Leafs would still be playing the Bruins in a 1-vs-8 format (or a 1-vs-16 format, for that matter).

Seriously, though - the Leafs' issues seem to be a mix of complacency (how did Keefe survive the Montreal series?) and the original sin of overrating Justin Pogge enough to deal Rask for Raycroft. The best thing for them would be to get drilled in 4 or 5 games, but I'm sure they'll somehow take it to 7 regardless.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

They absolutely need to gut their management if/when they lose.

Keefe and Shanahan gone for sure. Trade one of the core too.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

They absolutely need to gut their management if/when they lose.

Keefe and Shanahan gone for sure. Trade one of the core too.

It's amazing Keefe has survived this long. I thought they would have canned him after the seven-game loss to Tampa. (I wouldn't have fired him after the playoff loss to Montreal during COVID-19. It was his first full season being coach and I'm sure the COVID-19 format made things extra difficult. I think only two coaches were fired after that season).

I've got to believe GM Brad Treliving must want to pick his own coach as well.

I don't see any reason to fire Shanahan. We're a little blind to it but this has been the best prolonged period of regular season success for the Leafs since pre-1967 expansion.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

It's amazing Keefe has survived this long. I thought they would have canned him after the seven-game loss to Tampa. (I wouldn't have fired him after the playoff loss to Montreal during COVID-19. It was his first full season being coach and I'm sure the COVID-19 format made things extra difficult. I think only two coaches were fired after that season).



I've got to believe GM Brad Treliving must want to pick his own coach as well.



I don't see any reason to fire Shanahan. We're a little blind to it but this has been the best prolonged period of regular season success for the Leafs since pre-1967 expansion.

Shanahan has been the best head guy they've had, but he's also accomplished nothing in the playoffs, and with a new boss for him to report to, don't know if he's able to survive that.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

They absolutely need to gut their management if/when they lose.

Keefe and Shanahan gone for sure. Trade one of the core too.

How long is Treliving signed for? I can't recall a situation where a team President got canned but the GM didn't, and any new President is gonna want to choose his GM. (Also, Treliving sucks.)

As far as trading one of the core, they all have full NMC. It's the Muskoka Five all over again. The Leafs might be able to convince Marner and/or Tavares to waive around the trade deadline, but you won't like what you get in return.