The NHL finals are set. For the first time since 2009, the championship round is a rematch from the previous final series. Florida and Edmonton are stacked with stars, deep rosters, and savvy coaches. Their power-plays and penalty kills are some of the best since playoffs began. Whichever team wins the finals deserves the accolades and label of champion. It’s time to break down which franchise has the best chance of winning the finals and taking home both the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup.
#5 Florida Panthers v. 6 Edmonton Oilers
Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been better this postseason than he was last year. That’s bad news for Edmonton.
A lot has changed since game seven of last year’s Stanley Cup finals. Both Florida and Edmonton are more physical and smarter with improved rosters to better counter each other. The Panthers can now play the middle of the ice just as well as the Oilers and still play the sides with the same excellence they did last season. Edmonton’s improved forecheck and physical play made them the best team in the western conference.
Series deciding factor: Aaron Ekblad and the Panthers defense v. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Oilers forwards.
While Oilers centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will lead the offense against a deeper Florida defense, Edmonton’s forwards will feel the true test of this series rematch. With no Zach Hyman for the rest of the playoffs, it’s up to forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Corey Perry, Kasperi Kapanen, Evander Kane, Jeff Skinner, Victor Arvidsson and Trent Frederic to play the best series of their lives. Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, Seth Jones, Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Kulikov play well together and have shut down three of the best forward cores in the NHL (Tampa Bay, Toronto and Carolina).
Florida has some of the best two-way forwards and centers in the NHL. Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Tomas Nosek and Matthew Tkachuk throw their bodies into shooting lanes and block shots on penalty-kills. Their physical play will cause a lot of problems for whoever starts in net for Edmonton. The Panthers playing a more complete physical game on both interior bluelines and by the boards will give the Oilers more problems this year.
Verdict: The loss of Zach Hyman is massive for a team that found their groove games three and four in the first round. Hyman had 104 hits this entire postseason (almost as many as he had in the regular season) before he broke his right wrist at home against the Dallas Stars in game four. Without their best forward, that means someone else has to step up not named McDavid or Draisaitl. Florida’s smothering defense will lead to a lot of transition offense and make the Oilers defense more uncomfortable each game. Coach Kris Knoblauch did a great job stretching last year’s championship series a full seven games, but don’t expect replicated magic with Hyman’s loss and polar goaltender performances.
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov (16) will overwhelm Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) on every side of the puck.
Prediction: Florida Panthers defeat the Oilers 4-1 and win back-to-back championships and their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The first round of the NHL playoffs intrigued and entertained many viewers. The Capitals were the first team to advance to the second round after eliminating Montreal. Toronto won a gritty series in the Battle of Ontario. Florida easily won the Battle of Florida. Carolina proved they can take care of business with depth scoring regardless of who starts in net. Four fantastic teams will show audiences why they made it this far, but only two will go to the conference championship. It’s time to predict which two have the best chance of advancing to round three.
#5 Florida Panthers v. #2 Toronto Maple Leafs
Florida looks forward to testing the health of Toronto’s captain and star scorer Auston Matthews.
Florida and Toronto impressed viewers with their first round wins. While the Maple Leafs finally played like a championship caliber team unfazed by challenges, the Panthers snapped into playoff mode and made fast work of their Sunshine State rival. This could be the most fun series of the second round as many expect the winner to represent the eastern conference in the Stanley Cup finals.
While the Maple Leafs took mature steps to beat the best teams in their conference, there’s no doubt which one is favored in this series. The Panthers have everyone back healthy and from suspension. That means Toronto has to find answers for defenseman Aaron Ekblad, newcomers Seth Jones and hated rival Brad Marchand, and Florida’s relentless (brother of Ottawa’s captain) Matthew Tkachuk. The Maple Leafs will be a championship threat, just not this year.
Prediction: Panthers win series 4-1
#4 Carolina Hurricanes v. #1 Washington Capitals
Whichever team gets the best goaltending will advance to the eastern conference finals.
This is the hardest series to predict because of prior injuries to both starting goaltenders last round. Washington has the most injuries while Carolina has to make sure backup goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is better prepared to play at some point in the series.
As noted in prior discussions, a big development will be how Capitals head coach Spencer Carberry adjusts and plays his lines since this is his first time leading a team in the postseason. Rod Brind’Amour is no stranger to leading the Hurricanes in the playoffs whether he was team captain or as a coach. Unless Frederik Andersen and injuries take a toll for Carolina, it will be hard to see how Washington can win four games against Brind’Amour’s deeper roster. The Capitals struggled with Montreal more than expected last round. Expect the Hurricanes to implement similar tactics but with more hungry veterans wanting to return to the conference finals.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-2
Eastern conference first round playoffs record: 2-2
This could not be a more polarizing first round in the eastern conference. There are thrilling state and provincial rivalries, and then there are two simpler matchups. Despite the Washington Capitals being the best team in the east, their brilliant coach has never led a franchise into the postseason. The Carolina Hurricanes again have pressure to make it past the first round faster than their future opponents. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators look to upend everyone’s predictions while Florida and Tampa Bay make another push to return to the championship round. Most teams have their hands full against deep rosters wanting a conference finals appearance. It’s time to break down which four teams have the best chance of advancing to the second round.
#7 New Jersey Devils v. #4 Carolina Hurricanes
Injuries to star players put more pressure on the rest of the roster (like forward Jesper Bratt) to do more against the tough Hurricanes.
This is the most lopsided NHL first round series. New Jersey won’t have center Jack Hughes, defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, and forward Timo Meier due to injuries. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has been benched due to conflicts with coach Sheldon Keefe. Carolina has the conference’s best home record, and their offense yearns to run the score up against a top five defense. This will be a fast series and an ugly end to the season for the Devils.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-1
#8 Montreal Canadiens v. #1 Washington Capitals
Despite the one seed v. eight seed matchup, Washington v. Montreal will be violent and full of fights. Special teams will determine how fast the series ends.
Montreal remarkably went from the NHL’s second worst team to start 2025, to clinching the last playoff seed in either conference earlier this week. The Canadiens have a passionate, young and talented core coached by former Hall of Fame champion Martin St. Louis. They’re smart and constantly adapt to whatever situations are thrown their way.
Unfortunately, that won’t be enough against the top seeded Capitals. Washington had a top three offense and a top ten defense. Coach Spencer Carberry may the weakest link since he has not seen the playoffs as a coach before, but veteran team leaders Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome and Charlie Lindgren easily out-match Montreal’s young and inexperienced core.
Prediction: Washington wins series 4-2
#6 Ottawa Senators v. #2 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Battle of Ontario returns to the postseason for the first time in 21 years.
The Battle of Ontario could be the most important first round series in either conference. The winner not only plays the winner of the Battle of Florida series, but could wind up going to the conference finals depending on next round’s opponent.
Ottawa’s return to the postseason since their 2017 eastern conference finals appearance brings renewed vigor to the nation’s capital and the franchise’s fandom and ownership. Toronto has improved on defense and has the offensive firepower to outscore almost anyone, but the Senators are on another level when it comes to their provincial rivals. Usually, one wouldn’t pick the regular season series winner to replicate their success in the playoffs. However, the temptation to pick Ottawa wins out because they swept the regular season five game series against the Maple Leafs. Toronto tried to beat the Senators in different ways, but none were successful. If they had played each other three times, the Maple Leafs would be favored. Five straight losses to rising Ottawa shows how this series will turn out.
Eastern conference upset prediction of the first round: Senators win series 4-1
#5 Florida Panthers v. #3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite injuries and revamped rosters, the new round of the Battle of Florida will be fun to watch. Viewers want a nasty, seven game series.
If it’s not the Battle of Ontario winner, the Battle of Florida winner will determine who advances to the Stanley Cup finals in the eastern conference. The Sunshine State has represented the conference in the last five championship appearances. There’s a great chance the streak continues.
Florida and Tampa Bay look even to the average fan. To be fair, this is a 50/50 pick. For those who enjoy watching film, there are variables that decide who advances. The Panthers were battered with injuries to start 2025. Losing big name players like defenseman Gustav Forsling and forward Matthew Tkachuk were recent blows to Florida’s chances of winning the Atlantic division. Both are expected to play at some point, and the return of defenseman Aaron Ekblad (was suspended due to illegal substance use) are pluses. While this sounds good, it puts the Panthers at an early disadvantage against the determined and red-hot Lightning.
Tampa Bay is top three in total offense and defense. They know how to find every team’s weaknesses and play their best against championship contenders. The Lightning’s roster is fully healthy, focused and better coached this time. They also have the home ice advantage. Additional pressure on the Panthers to repeat last year’s championship run tilts this in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Prediction: Lightning win series 4-2
Regular season eastern conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
What a year it was for the western conference. Edmonton was one win away from the conference’s third straight Stanley Cup championship. Many viewers wonder if the Oilers can make another run this year with coach Kris Knoblauch’s interim tag removed. Edmonton doesn’t have any serious injuries before the season begins, but a lot of teams built up depth and are also healthy. There will be competition and pushback from teams like Nashville, Colorado and Vegas. Los Angeles and Winnipeg have a lot to prove after last season’s playoff exits. A team like Minnesota could break out and do damage to whoever clinches a top seed, possibly throwing the playoffs into doubt. It’s time to break down which four teams in each division have the best chances to make the 2024-25 postseason.
Pacific
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes (C) had a lot of success and growth his first year as team captain. Year two should be better.
Let’s start with the easier western division. Vancouver is a sure pick to reach the playoffs with head coach Rick Tocchet back behind the bench, Kevin Lankinen replacing the injured Thatcher Demko in net, Quinn Hughes returning as captain, and roster depth at every position. The Canucks were fun to watch last year and played great start to finish. Don’t be surprised if they look better this season.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton was one game away from winning Canada’s first Stanley Cup in 30 years. Can the Oilers replicate their second half regular and postseason success this year?
It was a tale of two seasons for Edmonton. The team played better once Knoblauch became coach. The most important adjustments he made were improving the penalty-kill and getting additional scoring from the third and fourth lines. Those changes got the Oilers one win away from the Stanley Cup.
While some are unsure how Edmonton’s scoring and defensive depth will perform the whole season, having Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together again means a future playoff berth.
Vegas Golden Knights
After a first round elimination against Dallas, Vegas should be back to full health once the puck drops tonight.
It wasn’t a surprise Vegas struggled the last half of the season. Injuries and some fatigue kept the Golden Knights in a lower seed. Then they were eliminated in the first round to number one seeded Dallas. Vegas should rebound this season.
The Golden Knights might not have former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault anymore, but we’ll finally see a healthy Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin play together. The addition of forward Victor Olofsson should help center Jack Eichel score more this season.
Los Angeles Kings
Despite a second half sputter, there’s optimism in Los Angeles.
There’s a lot to love with the Kings this year. Los Angeles let goaltender Cam Talbot leave in free agency and traded for Darcy Kuemper to replace him. The former champion will be hard to score against, and even if he misses time, David Rittich and Pheonix Copley have enough to hold the Kings defense together.
Barring another mid-season collapse, Los Angeles should have a breakout year with the offensive depth at center and forward.
Central
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado almost back to full health means more one-on-one scoring chances for reigning league MVP Nathan MacKinnon (29).
This could be the year captain Gabriel Landeskog returns from his long sustained leg injuries. For now, reigning league MVP Nathan MacKinnon, top scorer Mikko Rantanen, top defender Cale Makar and top five coach in the league Jared Bednar are more than enough to push Colorado into the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets
Regardless of wherever Winnipeg lands in the playoffs, they have the talent and depth to return.
There was disappointment in Manitoba after last year’s playoff flop to the Avalanche. Poor season finale aside, no team in the central has better depth scoring than Winnipeg. The offense should be one of the league’s best again. The Jets also have a two time Conn Smythe winning goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck with at least six quality defensemen to help. It’s up to coach Scott Arniel to find ways to win this postseason.
Minnesota Wild
All Minnesota needs to make the playoffs is a better start to the regular season. The Wild can’t end goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s career with a whimper.
Minnesota missing the playoffs last year was due to a poor start that got coach Dean Evason fired. A difficult two months led to inconsistent play. While interim John Hynes did his best getting the Wild to play better defense, scoring went down. This season should be different.
It’s important Minnesota has a better start. The division is still the most competitive in the conference and most of the eight teams feel there’s something to prove. It’s also the last season for legendary goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, so the Wild have to do well if he wants to win a final championship.
Nashville Predators
(Left to right ) Nashville’s captain Roman Josi, Juuse Saros and Robby Fabbro will be playoff favorites this season.
General manager Barry Trotz is a happy and busy man. After he chose to keep the Predators core unit together after last season’s trade deadline, Nashville finished hot and almost made the second round of the playoffs.
This year it’ll be more fun in Music City. Trotz signed former champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, and added defensive depth with Brady Skjei and Scott Wedgewood. The Predators want to play lockdown defense on one end and high-scoring offense the other. It would take a lot to keep Nashville out of the 2025 postseason.
The finals are set. Florida and Edmonton are stacked with stars, deep rosters, and savvy coaches. Their power-plays and penalty kills are some of the best since playoffs began. Whoever wins the finals deserves the accolades and label of champion. It’s time to break down which team has the best chance of winning the finals and taking home both the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup.
#4 Edmonton Oilers v. #3 Florida Panthers
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky must play the best series of his life against Oilers captain Connor McDavid if he wants to win the Stanley Cup…and maybe the Conn Smythe trophy.
There couldn’t be two, more different finals opponents. Edmonton has two league MVPs, a defensive minded coach still in his first season with an NHL team and one of the best season turnarounds this decade. Florida has the second oldest and most winningest coach who’s never won a championship, a two-time Vezina winner in net, and fulfilled expectations to repeat as eastern conference champions. The province of Alberta has its first team back in the championship since 2006 while a Florida team is back in the finals for the fifth straight year.
The Oilers love to play the middle of the ice, use speed to drive to the net, and enjoy disrupting opponents from settling into their offensive attacks. The Panthers excel at playing the middle of the ice on defense, wear down opponents with brutal forechecking and create offense with multiple scoring chances better than anyone.
Series deciding factor: Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers power-play v. Mattias Ekholm and the Oilers penalty-kill
Florida learned the valuable lessons in last year’s beat-down against Vegas. The Panthers have perfected the focused, disciplined championship mindset. It shows best on special teams, and will face its ultimate test against the best penalty killing team this entire playoffs. Edmonton gave up a shocking zero power-play goals in the conference finals against Dallas, single-handedly swinging the series in their favor. A big reason the Oilers penalty kill succeeded was coach Peter DeBoer’s stubborn mindset of having the offense pass the puck around and take shots on the outside. Too many outside shots means little rebounding opportunities for second or third scoring chances.
Florida doesn’t have that mindset. They will challenge defensemen Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard more than the trio faced at any point in previous series. The main question many wonder about is how the almost perfect Edmonton penalty-kill and coach Kris Knoblauch respond and adjust once Florida scores. Captain Aleksander Barkov has always been a bright-minded scoring threat. His added determination to break defenses in layers this season has decimated the league’s best goaltenders and most creative coaching minds. Barkov will have the league’s second best goal-scorer of 2024 in Sam Reinhart, playoff leading scorer Carter Verhaeghe, the ever-dangerous Matthew Tkachuk and either one of the best defensemen in Aaron Ekblad or former champion and star Vladimir Tarasenko each power-play opportunity.
The Panthers have shown both audiences and teams they’ve played how to dictate gamepace. It comes with brutal, physical checking into the walls and around the net while creating quality shots and rebounding opportunities in front of the goaltender. No one embodies this like former Flame and Oilers rival Matthew Tkachuk, who will have goaltender Stuart Skinner (and maybe Calvin Pickard?) on edge every minute Florida’s in the offensive zone.
Verdict: Coaching is one of the two major factors determining who wins the championship. Dating back to his Winnipeg days, Paul Maurice has played the Connor McDavid-led Oilers perfect in the postseason. No other coach has frustrated or even shut-out Edmonton in a way the Oilers appeared to quit. Maurice hasn’t coached Florida as hard as he did with the Jets for various reasons, but when he does, he’s the best voice anyone could listen to and learn from. He has a two time Vezina winning goaltender playing like his prime self again and even star goal-scorers such as Vladimir Tarasenko bought in 100% to his philosophy.
Panther right-winger Evan Rodrigues loves fore-checking opponents, using his body to shot-block and make opponents like Edmonton’s Warren Foegele (37) commit more turnovers before they settle into their offense.
The other factor will be which team physically batters the other. The Stars decided not to rough up the Oilers in the conference finals, and it might have cost them the series. Florida is one of the meanest teams on ice, baiting opponents and initiating fights. Captain Connor McDavid is not a star player who likes to fight nor get physically assaulted during a game. The Panthers will have plenty of opportunities to establish their dominance by causing altercations after the whistle. Florida fan-favorite Ryan Lomberg alone could throw half the Edmonton roster off their focus.
Prediction: Florida Panthers defeat the Oilers 4-1 and win their first championship in franchise history.
What a round! The two best teams in the east are in the conference finals. On one side, the well designed, balanced and deep New York Rangers. Led by coach Peter Laviolette, captain Jacob Trouba and veteran forward Chris Kreider, the Rangers are the best and most complete of the remaining four postseason teams. Their opponent is last year’s eastern conference champion Florida Panthers. Defensive leader Aaron Ekblad, two time Vezina winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and captain Aleksander Barkov lead Florida’s return to the ECF. All three are Conn Smythe worthy after their team ousted two deep, well built division rivals. Both squads will have their hands full and many believe whoever wins this series is the favorite to win the championship. Time to break down who has the best chance to win the eastern conference and advance to the Stanley Cup finals.
#2 Florida Panthers v. #1 New York Rangers
This could be the best series in the entire 2024 NHL playoffs. Both teams have great coaches, great offenses and scoring depth, strong physical presences around the net and shutdown defenses. Florida and New York have some of the best special teams (power-play and penalty-killing) units in the league and make some of the quickest adjustments each game. Unlike last year’s conference finals matchup between the aforementioned Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, this series shouldn’t be a four game sweep.
Physical play and depth scoring from talented players such as Florida’s Sam Bennett (left) and New York’s Barclay Goodrow (right) will determine who wins this thrilling series.
The Rangers drastically improved under coach Peter Laviolette and remain a threat even if they’re down three goals on the road. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s given up more than three goals in the postseason once in the last three years. A deep defense led by captain Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox makes this hard for the Panthers to consistently score.
New York loves to play an aggressive 1-3-1 formation that overwhelms opposing defenses. It’s deadlier when New York’s on the power-play with their top scorers. However the Panthers defense has improved and gave up one power-play goal last series, frustrating the veteran Boston Bruins. A major reason comes from their brutally physical 2-1-2 style of play where an extra player is left higher/further up on the ice as an offensive option while the other four forecheck opponents at the walls. Florida’s mastered how and when to dump the puck into an offensive zone, hit an opponent near the boards, and pass it to an area close to the net giving a player a good shot on goal. This wears down an opponent over time faster than a typical bump-and-skate approach. The Rangers playing an aggressive version of 1-3-1 means a smarter veteran team like the Panthers can exploit more holes in the defensive end and play more transition offense once forcing more turnovers.
Florida has a major advantage over New York with not just their physical play, but their determined mindset. In both the playoffs and regular season, the Panthers lost only three games where they had a lead in regulation or went to overtime. That means their opponent has to score and overwhelm them early. While it can be done a few games at a time, doing it four times in a series is close to impossible. The Rangers have great roster depth, a tight playing style and a bastion of scoring options, but they don’t have the determination to play mean and physical like Florida. The longer this series goes (and it will be long), the more Florida breaks down New York in every facet.
Prediction: Panthers win the eastern conference and the series 4-2
Eastern conference playoff predictions after two rounds: 5-1
The first round of the NHL playoffs intrigued and entertained many viewers. The President’s trophy winning New York Rangers were the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping Washington (the only first round sweep). Boston became the first NHL team to win four straight game sevens over a single opponent. Florida won their first Battle of Florida matchup against Tampa Bay. Carolina proved they can take care of business with depth scoring and goaltender Frederik Andersen still finding his groove. Four fantastic teams will show audiences why they made it this far, but only two will go to the conference championship. It’s time to predict which two have the best chance of advancing to round three.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes v. #1 New York Rangers
Mika Zibanejad (left) and Sebastian Aho (center) will have a lot of scoring opportunities this series.
Almost everyone who watches the NHL knew this would be a second round matchup once the Rangers clinched first in the Metropolitan. Obvious or not, Carolina versus New York will be one of the funnest series. Both teams are loaded with scoring and defensive depth, play well on special teams and are led by great veteran coaches. The Hurricanes and Rangers mostly mirror each other and are even in many categories.
The tipping point will be goaltending. Former Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin isn’t just the better of the two starting netminders in the series, he’s also the healthiest and plays better. The Hurricanes Frederik Andersen can steal wins and give Carolina a deep run, but he’s not playing at Shesterkin’s level and still needs to find his rhythm after missing half the regular season with deep-vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolisms.
Prediction: Rangers win series 4-2
#4 Boston Bruins v. #2 Florida Panthers
Despite a re-match from last year’s series, Florida is the stronger, deeper team.
This is a re-match of last year’s first round series where Florida overcame a 3-1 series deficit and shocked the sports world, pulling off the biggest upset in NHL history. This year the Panthers won the atlantic division and the Bruins are the underdogs.
Many believe this will be an easier series for Florida after they eliminated Tampa Bay. It’s important to remember Boston swept the Panthers in their four game regular season series. Yes, Florida brings a different level of physical play and has a better coach than Toronto, but the Bruins are the best veteran team remaining in the east that can counter the aggressive Panthers.
If Boston wants to make this a long, close series, they need to attack Florida’s defense in the first two periods each game. The Panthers have yet to blow a lead in the third period (regular or postseason) this season. They also play better if there’s overtime. Don’t be surprised if the Bruins tire easily after game four.
Prediction: Panthers win series 4-2
NHL eastern conference first round playoff predictions: 3-1
Left winger Anthony Duclair won’t be an MVP candidate but he’s having another solid season. Duclair’s been an important player and face in the media.
After Wayne Simmonds retired last month, there are currently 34 black players in the NHL. Some notable players and starters include former 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield, K’Andre Miller and Seth Jones. A good number such as Ryan Reaves, Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway and Kyle Okposo are found on third or fourth lines to provide stronger, physical presences or defend on the penalty kill.
There’s one who stands out the last five years in a class of his own. That would be forward Anthony ” “The Duke” Duclair. Duclair’s been on eight teams (including two this season) and has impressed on each one. From setting a franchise scoring record in 2019 with Ottawa to making a Stanley Cup finals appearance last year in Miami, Anthony Duclair is a hot name because of what teams look for and want in a forward.
After last year’s finals appearance with the Florida Panthers, Duclair was traded to San Jose for Steven Lorentz and a fifth round draft pick. Most NHL teams in a long-rebuild don’t trade draft picks unless it’s for a quality player. Anthony Duclair was a bright spot for San Jose despite the team’s offensive and defensive woes. He tallied 16 goals and eleven assists, averaging 16 minutes of ice time in 56 games on the worst team in the league. Cup contenders took note of Duclair’s efforts and many hockey news outlets had him going somewhere needing both scoring depth and veteran presence for deep playoff runs. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois traded Jack Thompson and a 2024 third round pick for San Jose’s only quality player (who wasn’t injured) a day before the trade deadline.
The Lightning made one of the best trades at the deadline. Anthony Duclair has scored five goals and added four assists in the ten games played since March seventh. Coach Jon Cooper put Duclair on the first line with MVP favorite Nikita Kucherov and phenom center Brayden Point. They’ve won all but two games since the move, and one of the losses took overtime in Los Angeles. When coach Cooper was asked by the TNT panel before Tampa’s 3-1 home win against Boston on March 27th about what Duclair brought to the team Cooper replied, “He (Duclair) slots all the guys in spots they should be.” The most tenured coach in the NHL added that the Lightning looked at and heavily considered trading for him months ago. The decision has Tampa Bay six points back of Toronto for third in the Atlantic and at fifth place in the eastern conference. If the playoffs were held today, the Lightning would play the Leafs and possibly take the series to seven games.
It’s a big deal Anthony Duclair is coveted by multiple playoff contenders wanting a finals appearance. I wrote at the beginning there are 34 black players in the NHL, and while some of them are or will become stars, none of them have the unique career trajectory as Duclair. Quinton Byfield will probably be a star, but right now he’s injured while Los Angeles sputters. K’Andre Miller takes a backseat to multiple stars in New York while Ryan Reaves is known for physical play and fighting. There’s Seth and Caleb Jones, who are afterthoughts in Chicago. Most black players such as the aforementioned Okposo, Greenway and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are depth players. Matt Dumba is the closest to receiving similar attention as Duclair, but he’s also on Tampa Bay and takes a backseat to defenseman Darren Raddysh.
Many black viewers have wanted to watch ice hockey for a long time but sadly haven’t been able to watch someone who looks like them elevate a team’s performance the way Matthew Tkachuk or Valeri Nichushkin have on Florida or Colorado. It’s why Anthony Duclair is a big deal. He’s been on title contending teams, makes everyone around him better while growing his game and sometimes sets a record. The NHL’s return to ESPN and ABC means more audiences are finally watching the first black hockey star in over a decade. Duclair’s 28 years old, so expect continued, growing interest from all kinds of viewers.
Forward Anthony Duclair (10) and center Brayden Point (21) lead a red-hot Tampa Bay power-play at 29%.
Here’s the April 2024 power rankings. These will be the last power rankings for the season due to the playoffs starting April 20th.
#32 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 31)
Many knew San Jose would be awful this season with a continued roster teardown. We’re witnessing a full rebuild that will take at least five years to construct. The Sharks best players are Logan Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and they might not be around after 2024 with how San Jose needs high draft picks. This will be a long, painful process for northern California hockey fans.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 32)
Chicago’s had one of the best power-plays since March began. Number one overall pick Connor Bedard returning is a big factor for the team’s improvement, but Ryan Donato and Philipp Kurashev are peaking at a good time. Coach Luke Richardson might have saved his job for the rest of the calendar year.
#30 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 30)
General manager Pat Verbeek has a lot to consider once the season ends (if owner Henry Samueli doesn’t fire him). Many expect starting goaltender John Gibson to finally be traded, but who else will go before the 2024 draft? Coach Greg Cronin is probably done and free agency always has a lot of valuable talent wanting to sign with warmer climate teams. Anaheim has to get better than this season’s disaster.
#29 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 29)
Like the Ducks, Columbus will be a name to watch in the draft. As written last month, a new general manager means a new vision and ideas. The Blue Jackets could retool most of the roster centered around rookie center Dmitri Voronkov. We’ll find out what kind of revamp Columbus will have at the start of free agency.
#28 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 27)
This is a good time to look back to the 2018 draft where Montreal picked Jesperi Kotkaniemi ahead of Brady Tkachuk. How big was that move? To start, Kotkaniemi isn’t with the Canadiens anymore while the younger Tkachuk brother is Ottawa’s captain. It didn’t matter when Montreal made the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup finals, but every season besides that one shows how the Canadiens could use the extra goal scoring. Montreal is currently 27th in goals scored with 201. Ottawa is 15th with 235, and Tkachuk is the leading scorer with 33. If we wanted to transfer all 33 over, it would give Montreal 236 and place them between Vegas and Ottawa. The Canadiens would have more goal scoring than the Capitals, Penguins, Flyers, Wild, Kings, Jets and hilariously, one more than the Senators. They’d also be closer in the playoff race.
#27 Arizona Coyotes (last ranking: 28)
It’s a shame Arizona had a winless February. The Coyotes could’ve ended some conference rivals playoff chances with their play in March. Instead they have to add more scoring depth while bolstering the defensive lines. Maybe we’ll look back a year or two from now and consider February 2024 a turning point for a more competitive team clinching a playoff berth.
#26 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 26)
Management has to be careful about who to move once the season ends. If we were to start a list by position on who the Senators should keep we’d start with:
Defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson.
Centers Shane Pinto, Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris and Ridly Greig.
Forwards Claude Giroux, Drake Batherson, Brady Tkachuk and Boris Katchouk.
Goalie Mads Sogaard
If new management decides to keep these players while adding roster depth and doubles down better defensive play, then more free agents will see Ottawa as an attractive destination. Most of the Senators listed are still young and seen as high-grade offensive playmakers eager to make the postseason.
#25 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 23)
That eight game losing streak pretty much eliminated the Kraken from postseason contention. Bummer for a top ten scoring defense that got little help. Seattle scored four goals once during the slump and averaged one goal a game in seven of the eight losses. General manager Ron Francis still has an ongoing plan for how this team should look, but it still feels disappointing after last year’s postseason success.
#24 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 18)
Trading Jake Guentzel to Carolina ended their season. There are more difficult decisions that will be made after the season ends from who to keep, who to trade and if there will be a retooling versus a rebuild. It will be a long offseason.
#23 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 20)
Another team that has a lot of hard decisions to make once the regular season ends. While the Flames had an ok March, they didn’t have enough to close the gap in the wildcard race. That could lead to goaltender Jacob Markstrom getting traded in the offseason. If Calgary moves Markstrom, then the team could regress at a pace many expected before the 2023 season began.
#22 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 25)
Buffalo’s nemesis for the second straight year is the number of remaining games on their schedule. The Sabres are close to being a playoff team but can’t pull out big wins when it matters most. It’s not all on coach Don Granato either, but management could stick him with the blame once the season ends. A lingering issue Buffalo has to address is the struggling play from rookie and younger players when they’re brought up from minor league systems compared to their opponents.
#21 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 21)
The trade for goalie Jake Allen could work well next season. Right now there aren’t enough games nor easier opponents for New Jersey to get many quick points over and leapfrog into the eighth seed. It would be smart to retain interim coach Travis Green for next season and implement more of his schemes with a young, determined roster.
#20 New York Islanders (last ranking: 24)
New York started March hot and then reality set in. They’ve lost eight of the last eleven and all were ugly. Three were shutouts and then an angry Red Wings getting captain Dylan Larkin back drove home how poor the Islanders decisions have been the past few years. The genius of Lou Lamoriello will cost them another shot at the playoffs.
#19 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 10)
Wow. Sometimes a player can be what holds a team together but nobody thought Detroit would tumble without captain Dylan Larkin. General manager Steve Yzerman’s plan was revealed when Larkin wasn’t playing: continue developing young talent in the minor leagues while finding who works best with the current roster.
#18 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 17)
Nashville’s ascent probably sinks Minnesota’s season. The Wild have to play Colorado twice and face Vegas, Winnipeg and Los Angeles one more time. Minnesota needs a lot of help to get into the eighth seed. The Wild have San Jose twice and Chicago in their remaining games but it won’t be enough.
#17 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 19)
The Blues are five points ahead of Minnesota and three behind Los Angeles for the last wildcard spot. They’re 25-1-0 in games where they score four or more goals, and 16-3-4 in one goal games (with a win percentage over .700). Finally, the Blues have the second highest winning percentage when scoring first this season at .882 (behind only Winnipeg). St. Louis has a good chance at squeaking into the eighth seed with the Kings falling apart. If the Blues make the playoffs, it will be a headache for whoever has the top seed in the west.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 13)
Washington will surpass Philadelphia in the standings if the Flyers keep playing down to their competition. Coach John Tortorella already let his players and media know the last two weeks have been awful. Philadelphia needs to improve on defense and create better scoring chances on the power-play. Bringing in goalie Ivan Fedotov after the Russian KHL rescinded his contract could bring spark the change Tortorella’s looking for.
#15 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 22)
All the thought pieces on captain Alex Ovechkin being too old to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record and Washington being eliminated from the playoffs were useless. As I wrote in previous power rankings, no team in the east wants to face the Capitals if they somehow clinch a playoff berth. Well, they’re a top eight team in the east and are one of the hottest since the trade deadline. Washington has the fifth best winning percentage when scoring first this season at .759 and the highest win percentage in one goal games at 17-2-10. The Capitals are also playing their best against the hardest part of their schedule. Coach Spencer Carbery should be considered for coach of the year.
#14 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 16)
Los Angeles was in a better position to seal a playoff berth until their current three game losing streak. It would be disheartening for one of the league’s best defenses to miss the postseason due to a second half collapse. The Kings also can’t play down to their competition. They’re under a lot of pressure to have a strong finish when many didn’t expect them to be in this position at the start of 2024.
#13 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 11)
It’s easy to make excuses for Vegas regarding their health, defense and roller coaster performances but remember, this was the last team to lose a game starting the 2023-2024 regular season. The Golden Knights were the best team in the league for almost two months. They’ve followed up impressive wins with deflating losses. Yes, Vegas is a big name contender if they make the postseason, but they haven’t played like the reigning champions enough and probably wouldn’t be favored in a first round matchup against any of the central division teams trying to clinch the first seed.
#12 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 9)
Toronto’s in a sticky spot. Right now they’re the atlantic’s third seed, which is great until one factors the Maple Leafs will play either the Bruins or Panthers in the first round. Given how Boston is 7-0 against Toronto (with total goals being 25-13) in their last seven games, Toronto’s lost the last eight of nine games at TD Garden, and the first round game seven PTSD against the Bruins lingers over a decade, this isn’t a matchup the franchise wants. However the Maple Leafs would get mauled by Florida if they decide playing the Panthers is the better option. One could say if Toronto lost a good amount of games to drop down to the seventh seed, that would improve their postseason outlook. That means Auston Matthews could miss the 70 goal mark to remain a top MVP candidate. No matter the choice made, the result won’t end well.
#11 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 14)
If you wanted to know how better Anthony Duclair has made Tampa Bay’s offense, here’s a comparison with him being on the first line with Kucherov and Point compared to when Brandon Hagel was partnered with the duo during the Lightning’s March 14th 6-3 home win against the Rangers:
with Hagel
Time on ice: 4:40
0-4 on shots
0-2 on slot shots
0-2 on goals
With Duclair
Time on ice: 4:43
7-1 on shots
5-0 on slot shots
3-0 on goals
Brandon Hagel’s a good player, but he’s doesn’t elevate a playoff veteran offense versus some of the league’s best teams like Duclair will.
#10 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 15)
Until Arizona routed them last Thursday, Nashville had a franchise best run in points at 18 games going 16-0-2. Filip Forsberg had a seven game goal streak going until Saturday’s wild loss in Colorado, surpassing captain Roman Josi’s by three games. Goalie Juuse Saros has the second most shutouts in franchise history with 22 despite him being a starter less than five seasons. We’ll see how the Predators respond later into the month after three straight losses but right now, this is the team no one wants to face heading into the postseason. General manager Barry Trotz would be a solid pick at winning the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award.
#9 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 12)
Despite some mediocre streaks, the two players who have improved most since Kris Knoblauch’s taken over are Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard. We’re seeing Hyman’s improvement each week even if we looked past his career high 52 goals. He’s fourth in team points with 72 and has the team’s most shot attempts and game-winning goals. Bouchard has tied Paul Coffey’s 1984-85 franchise record for most game winning goals by a defenseman in a single season with six. He’s also ahead of Hyman in team points this season while anchoring an improving penalty-kill. Whoever Edmonton draws in round one will have headaches trying to contain them while defending captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
#8 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 3)
The NHL Network’s John Torchetti and Billy Jaffe made a great point on Winnipeg’s slump; the Jets have to start resting starters such as goalie Connor Hellebuyck before the postseason. Winnipeg’s dealing with both coach Rick Bowness coming back and finally snapping a six game losing streak. The Jets aren’t out of the central division race yet, but they should focus on preserving the health of their main core before the postseason begins. If nothing else, Winnipeg can see how good their depth and minor league stars are while trying to get as many points possible.
#7 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 6)
Famous goaltender and TNT panel guest Henrik Lundqvist had an eye-opening take in the middle of March: Colorado’s a great team at home (now having a record of 28-7-1), but on the road, they’re mediocre at best (posting a record of 18-15-5). It’s fine for one round if the Avalanche stay at three in the west, but that’s not an encouraging number if they play in a loud arena in Edmonton, Vegas or Nashville.
#6 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 1)
The Panthers clinched a playoff spot but you wouldn’t know it given how they’ve played the last eight of ten games. Poor performances led to coach Paul Maurice going on a tirade inside Florida’s locker room after an ugly loss to the Islanders. Then the Panthers lost in spectacular fashion against Montreal. There’s enough time to make a determined push but keep an eye on how well Florida plays the next week and a half.
#5 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 4)
Boston’s knocked down a spot due to a small goalie controversy regarding Jeremy Swayman being the long-term starting option and the other four teams ahead in the rankings. The Bruins also have a brutal remaining schedule and finish the regular season with one more game against Washington. If Boston struggles before April 20th, it might determine how they fare in the first round.
#4 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 2)
It would be a surprise if Rick Tocchet doesn’t win the Jack Adams award for best coach in 2023-2024 with how Vancouver wins. Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is out the rest of the season with a knee injury and the Canucks went 8-4 in March with Casey DeSmith starting most of the games. They might not make it past the second round against teams that can take advantage of the goaltending weakness, but Vancouver’s offense can make a series just as difficult with their offense. It also depends on the opponent the Canucks draw in the first round (should they remain the second seed in the west).
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 7)
The Hurricanes clinched their sixth straight postseason berth and goalie Frederik Andersen is gradually getting back to playing his best. There are a handful of teams that know how to slow down Carolina and none of them will face Rod Brind’Amour’s team in round one. The Hurricanes will be a hard out for whoever makes it to the later rounds.
#2 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 8)
The main concern with Dallas was how they would separate themselves from Jared Bednar’s Avalanche and the resurgent Jets later in the season. The Stars have been the most consistent of the three and is the only team that regularly pummeled the red-hot Predators. Dallas is peaking at the best time and they should clinch the top seed in the western conference.
#1 New York Rangers (last ranking: 5)
New York became the first team of the season to clinch a playoff spot and have more than 100 points. They finished March at 10-3-1 and averaged four goals a game while averaging three a game on defense. The power-play was over 31% and the penalty kill shut down opponents 85% of the time.
If you don’t find that impressive, then you must watch what the Rangers did to Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche in Ball Arena on March 28th. Goalie Igor Shesterkin made sure to shut the MVP favorite out of the scoring column, breaking his 35 home game point streak in over four periods of play. New York’s the team to beat unless injuries take a toll.
Rangers center Vincent Trocheck nets the game-winning shootout goal past Colorado goalie and former Ranger Alexandar Georgiev in Ball Arena. New York’s playing their best hockey just before the playoffs.
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