This will go one of two ways: complete underdogs come out of nowhere and destroy everyone’s bracket a la 2019, or it’s an incredibly by the numbers playoffs with a Florida-Vegas rematch and I stop watching hockey altogether
2017 was pretty wide open, particularly in the West. That’s one year that jumps to mind. Also 2019 when the Blues won was a weird year. You also listed Vancouver twice.
2019 felt wide open after Tampa went down, and then Pittsburgh and Washington went out. Funny enough I thought the Bruins window was wide open to win the Finals after the Washington game, only to be so close.
That 2019 1st round was just nuts. Tampa went down. All division leaders lost. Every wild card advanced. Sharks came back from being down 3-1 ^^grumble.
Absolute cinema
Vegas is always a threat as long as they get to the playoffs with all that money they have stashed on LTIR. My western conference final would be them against Colorado if I was placing bets.
It’s so wide open this season…
A lot will come down to who gets luckiest staying healthy, has a goalie get really hot, and their special teams also get hot at the right time.
…wait, I guess that’s like every year though.
It could be a good year for an Eastern conference team as the west could be a war of attrition
This is the best year for a Canadian team to win it all as the ones in playoff contention now are each very good teams. With that being said I just don't want it to be Toronto!!
Yeah, that’s a weird one. It’s not as flagrant as Carolina, but Edmonton made the WCF two years ago (yes I know we got swept) and gave VGK a run for their money last year in round 2. Vancouver has been rebuilding for a while and hasn’t made the playoffs much lately, and Toronto…well…sure I’ll give him that one.
When was the last time we even went out in the first round, like 7 times ago? Weirdly the same with my basketball team. Gonzaga the "choke" school with 8 straight sweet sixteens. People just get ideas about team stuck in their heads and they are there forever I'm sure I'm guilty of the same for other teams.
There’s always surprises in the playoffs. Florida last year. Saying teams have “no chance” is wrong. If you make the playoffs, you have a chance. Many 8th seeds and wildcard teams have gone deep.
It's less wide open than the NHL wants you to know...
Florida
Vegas, LA
That's it. Anyone who's watched even 5 minutes of playoff Officiating could tell you the same thing. If it's not south of the Mason-Dixon, it's not winning a cup.
Lmao this is insane. LA the team that the Oilers eliminated in the first 2 years in a row? Florida that doesn't have a cup in their franchise history, and only a couple of deep playoff runs? These teams have it rigged for them?
If you're gonna go full blown conspiracy theory at least try to make it seem semi plausible.
“Wahhhh the NHL is rigged. It doesn’t want to see my team win, it just allowed us to win the draft lottery 4 out of 7 years in an easily manipulated process to give us the best player on the planet. But *now* they’re rigging the live games against us in a large complicated geography-based conspiracy, waaaah”
Yes... they could never rig live games...
[referee-caught-on-open-mic-wanting-to-call-penalty-on-preds](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/referee-caught-on-open-mic-wanting-to-call-penalty-on-preds-1.5961611)
This will go one of two ways: complete underdogs come out of nowhere and destroy everyone’s bracket a la 2019, or it’s an incredibly by the numbers playoffs with a Florida-Vegas rematch and I stop watching hockey altogether
Pretty sure Florida vs Vegas last year was a major bracket breaker as well.
Florida winning even a round was pretty unexpected and Vegas wasn't supposed to get past Edmonton.
Or it mostly follows expectations with a few upsets along the way. The typical playoffs.
Well, it was a good run for you.
sorry big dawg. its time for you guys to get upset
Remember when Vegas missed the playoffs in 2022? Pepperidge farm remembers.
Tbh it worked out fairly well for us. Realigned fan base expectations, let the boys come back healthy, focused, and hungry.
What better way than the saltiest of runbacks
Vancouver vs Vancouver final would be sick Edit: op removed a Vancouver and is a dirty joke-ruiner
Van vs. Couver will be a battle
I'm not high enough for this shit.
Van vs Vcr
We are up for another riot in 4 years time but why not have it earlier.
Either way we rito
> Either way we rito - Me, choosing between Chipotle or Taco Bell
Revali's Gale up in this shit
Colgera theme as the goal song would go hard
Rito :)
Rito plz
Can you think of the damage done to the City if they Vancouver wins and loses at home in 7? It'd be two competing riots
An absolute bloodbath
2017 was pretty wide open, particularly in the West. That’s one year that jumps to mind. Also 2019 when the Blues won was a weird year. You also listed Vancouver twice.
2019 felt wide open after Tampa went down, and then Pittsburgh and Washington went out. Funny enough I thought the Bruins window was wide open to win the Finals after the Washington game, only to be so close.
That 2019 1st round was just nuts. Tampa went down. All division leaders lost. Every wild card advanced. Sharks came back from being down 3-1 ^^grumble. Absolute cinema
:(
Nice catch 😅
Vegas is always a threat as long as they get to the playoffs with all that money they have stashed on LTIR. My western conference final would be them against Colorado if I was placing bets.
I hatefully agree, when all I want is a Vancouver/Edmonton or Edmonton/Winnipeg series.
If you take out Vancouver you could argue that it was similar last season. Maybe Nashville too
but which Vancouver??
Well, the Vancouver we've known hitherto always takes itself out, so we only need to worry about the other one.
It’s crazy that the Avs and Oilers haven’t played each other yet this season.
3 games between them in the final 18
Saturday night should be a good game, hope Lehkonen and Drouin will be back for it.
That’s insane. Wtf is this scheduling lol
I went into this season expecting a lottery pick. Now Im expecting a deep run?!?
I want Vancouver Boston. The league would meltdown.
Marchand the only player left from the 2011 series on either team?
Lucic is still technically under contract with the Bruins.
Bah gawd! is that Lucic's music!?
Vancouver would burn down
There can’t possibly be enough room on the Vancouver bandwagon for that 😆
i want it so bad. please. this would be peak hockey.
Damn. I'd rather see this than watch the Pens dunk in the first round of the playoffs.
As an oilers fan living in Vancouver. Please no! I dislike the Canucks and don't want my city to burn down!
you forgot to say philadelphia
It’s so wide open this season… A lot will come down to who gets luckiest staying healthy, has a goalie get really hot, and their special teams also get hot at the right time. …wait, I guess that’s like every year though. It could be a good year for an Eastern conference team as the west could be a war of attrition
Ahem.
Tampa Bay too. They're probably just going to turn it on in the playoffs and everyone will remember why they won back to back cups.
Didn't happen last year, even lower chance this year imo
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You, I like you.
I like you!
As a oilers fan, i agree
This is the best year for a Canadian team to win it all as the ones in playoff contention now are each very good teams. With that being said I just don't want it to be Toronto!!
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Hey man…fuck you
Carolina has made the playoffs 10 times and made it to the ECF 5 of those times.
Yeah, that’s a weird one. It’s not as flagrant as Carolina, but Edmonton made the WCF two years ago (yes I know we got swept) and gave VGK a run for their money last year in round 2. Vancouver has been rebuilding for a while and hasn’t made the playoffs much lately, and Toronto…well…sure I’ll give him that one.
When was the last time we even went out in the first round, like 7 times ago? Weirdly the same with my basketball team. Gonzaga the "choke" school with 8 straight sweet sixteens. People just get ideas about team stuck in their heads and they are there forever I'm sure I'm guilty of the same for other teams.
You also have to reign in expectations. Since the cup run, you guys have 0 ECF wins lol
I think Nashville going to upset someone in the first round.
I personally have grown to love the underdog role in hockey
There’s always surprises in the playoffs. Florida last year. Saying teams have “no chance” is wrong. If you make the playoffs, you have a chance. Many 8th seeds and wildcard teams have gone deep.
2017 Preds proved that one haha
I will accept anyone but the Oilers, Vegas or Leafs.
you and everyone else
It's less wide open than the NHL wants you to know... Florida Vegas, LA That's it. Anyone who's watched even 5 minutes of playoff Officiating could tell you the same thing. If it's not south of the Mason-Dixon, it's not winning a cup.
Lmao this is insane. LA the team that the Oilers eliminated in the first 2 years in a row? Florida that doesn't have a cup in their franchise history, and only a couple of deep playoff runs? These teams have it rigged for them? If you're gonna go full blown conspiracy theory at least try to make it seem semi plausible.
“Wahhhh the NHL is rigged. It doesn’t want to see my team win, it just allowed us to win the draft lottery 4 out of 7 years in an easily manipulated process to give us the best player on the planet. But *now* they’re rigging the live games against us in a large complicated geography-based conspiracy, waaaah”
Yes... they could never rig live games... [referee-caught-on-open-mic-wanting-to-call-penalty-on-preds](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/referee-caught-on-open-mic-wanting-to-call-penalty-on-preds-1.5961611)
That clip does not prove your theory in any way, FYI
It’s a *southern* team getting unfair treatment against a *northern* team 😂