2023-24 NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picks

What a fun offseason. The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions are back after another summer of free agency. The eastern conference hasn’t had a Stanley Cup champion since Tampa Bay’s back-to-back title run in 2021. No one outside the Sunshine State has even won the conference finals since the decade started. Most teams out west look a bit weaker while Metropolitan teams like the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins made trades to bolster their rosters and re-signed important depth players. The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are more determined to finish what they started in last year’s postseason. Then there are new teams such as Detroit and New Jersey with long-term playoff potential that will cause havoc while their young cores learn what it takes to win.

It’s time to break down which four teams in each division can make the push back to or surprise a lot of people in making the 2022-23 playoffs.

Atlantic

Toronto Maple Leafs

Take the drama and whining out of the offseason, the Leafs finally won a playoff series and continued improving the roster this summer. The additions of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reeves while re-signing Auston Matthews brings Toronto a lot more grit and physical play while retaining top scorers. Questions on goaltending will arise most of the season but the Leafs will make the playoffs.

Florida Panthers

Another team with question marks on goaltending and team defense but loaded with physical play and scoring depth. The Panthers have better coaching and will be targeted after their Cinderella run to the championship round. There could be a slow start but Paul Maurice-led teams usually find rhythm when the calendar year changes. Florida will be one of the toughest teams to eliminate. Many would like a fun sequel to last year’s title run.

Tampa Bay Lightning

There are many questions and concerns about Tampa Bay’s depth from defense, goalie and forward after last year’s first round exit. Captain Steven Stamkos opened an uncomfortable chapter with wanting a contract extension and now Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss two months with a lower body injury. While Buffalo and Ottawa could step up and steal a playoff spot if the Lightning falter or fall apart this season, don’t count on it. Coach Jon Cooper is a top three leader behind the bench and will find solutions barring an avalanche of injuries.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s possible Boston learns from last year’s first round implosion after having the best regular season ever in NHL history. However, the roster depth (five centers, eleven forwards and eight defensemen) says that could be a difficult process in addition to Brad Marchand being the new captain.

Detroit is in the best position with a bastion of first round picks still in the minor leagues if the roster succumbs to injuries. General manager Steve Yzerman realized last season that scoring and veteran presence alone wasn’t enough to contend for the playoffs. Additional premier defensemen, a solid goalie tandem and the right veterans for third line depth while complimenting the younger stars were the needed and right moves. The Red Wings took last season’s lessons against the Ottawa Senators well and now have the upgrades necessary to clinch a lower playoff seed.

Metropolitan

Carolina Hurricanes

Unless the Pittsburgh Penguins have a franchise record breaking season, there’s no excuse for Carolina to not win the Metropolitan nor conference title. They have everything an NHL team covets for a deep postseason run.

New York Rangers

The Rangers retained almost all of last year’s championship caliber roster but swapped out coach Gerard Gallant for Peter Laviolette after an embarrassing first round exit to New Jersey. The offense should overwhelm opponents early and often while the defense holds firm. This will be a hard team to eliminate once the postseason starts.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh did a hard evaluation after two embarrassing losses to Columbus and Chicago knocked them out of the playoffs and drastically changed the NHL playoff picture. After firing the general manager duo of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke, the Penguins signed needed depth players Rem Pitlick, Lars Eller and Vinnie Hinostroza. Then the franchise went for the biggest name of the summer, acquiring Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in a three team trade. Swapping out Casey DeSmith for Alex Nedeljkovic is a risky move given Tristan Jarry’s injuries the past few seasons, but one that might pay off once the new additions bolster the offense and special teams.

New York Islanders

Philadelphia and Columbus won’t be anywhere near the playoff race once the 2024 calendar year starts. Washington is on the decline and New Jersey will have a rude awakening from the rest of the league after last year’s unexpected success. The Islanders stand out as the most competent of the five teams remaining and should clinch a bottom seed minimum.

A big plus for New York is the full health of the roster to start October. Last year the slow start forced general manager Lou Lamoriello to trade for additional talent before January 2023. Bo Horvat, Julien Gauthier and Pierre Engvall should start the regular season strong and with little pressure compared to last year.

2022-2023 Eastern conference playoff predictions record: 5-3