Now that the NHL trade deadline has concluded, teams have their sights set on the Stanley Cup. Players have had a couple of days to settle into their new homes. With that said, new playoff contenders have emerged due to moves made at the trade deadline.
It is no secret that with the Stars’ recent acquisition of Mikko Rantanen they are now the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals. This team has debatably the best top-nine forward core in the league, which features a third line of Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston, and Evgenii Dadonov. They also happen to have one of the best young goaltenders in Jake Oettinger, who is having a great year statistically. Once they get guys back from injuries, the Stars will be a force to be reckoned with.
Although the Oilers had a quiet trade deadline compared to other West giants, they are still favored to make it back to the Stanley Cup. It’s hard to bet against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, especially come playoff time. Edmonton also addressed long-time needs in the form of depth players. Both Trent Frederic and Jake Walman will help the Oilers immensely in a deep playoff run. While goaltending is still concerning, the hope is that the offense will be so overbearing that it won’t matter how Stuart Skinner plays.
The Jets didn’t do a whole lot at the deadline, and that’s because they didn’t have to. They’ve stood atop the Western Conference for the entire season, in large part due to the cohesiveness of their team. The Jets have just about no weaknesses, and are looking to break their playoff curse. This may be Winnipeg’s best chance at a Stanley Cup, and they need to take advantage of it. The only reason they’re third on this list is due to their past inconsistencies in the postseason.
The Panthers are made for playoff hockey, plain and simple. They play a brand of hockey that is physical and will run the opposing team down throughout a seven-game series. This is the main reason why Florida has had the postseason success that they’ve had the past two seasons, and this year doesn’t look any different. Adding big names like Seth Jones and Brad Marchand will only aid the Panthers in their quest to defend their Stanley Cup title.
The number two team in the league, and number one in the Eastern Conference by seven points, the Capitals will undoubtedly be a scary team in the playoffs. Goaltending and goal scoring have both played major roles in the Caps’ surprising success this season. It seems as though Ovi is bent on breaking the all-time goals record, and bringing home another Stanley Cup for his legacy. The Capitals will be a tough out in April, as they have the chance to go from first-round exits to Stanley Cup champions in just two seasons.
The Lightning went from a team that lost their captain last summer, to a team that is a serious Stanley Cup contender in March. Riding an insane hot streak, going 8-2 in their last ten games, Tampa Bay decided to buy at the trade deadline. Adding both Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand is indicative that the Lightning are making a push for the cup. With the amount of playoff experience this team has, it wouldn’t be a shocker if this team went on a cup run.
The NHL playoffs will be one of the best to watch in a long time. With storylines running deep, and pride on the line, 16 teams will do their absolute best to take home the Stanley Cup. My personal pick is the Dallas Stars, but that may be a bit biased since I’ve been a fan my whole life.
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