HannahPeck

Where Things Stand

A few short days are all that separate us from Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey. For some teams, these next seven days are about preparing for the playoffs. For others, they’re simply what remains of their season. And for a handful, these next few days may be the most important stretch of the year.

Teams Already In

In the Eastern Conference, there are currently four teams that have clinched: the Lightning, the Sabres, the Canadiens, and the Hurricanes have all secured their playoff spots. In the Western Conference, we have three teams locked in—the Avalanche, the Stars, and the Wild.

While the clinching teams are fairly predictable, the real surprise here is who has already been eliminated. Notably, the Maple Leafs are out of the playoff picture, which begs the question: did trading Mitch Marner hurt them more than it helped? This team will have to answer some big questions over the offseason about their future.

The Panthers have also been eliminated, making a three-peat impossible. It also means that no matter what, we will have a new Stanley Cup champion this year.

The Contenders

If you asked me right now, my eye is on the Central Division. With strong contenders like the Avalanche, Stars, and Wild, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the next Stanley Cup champion come from this group.

The Bubble Teams

While some teams are enjoying the comfort of a clinched playoff spot, for many others these next few days will be everything.

In the Eastern Conference, the Blue Jackets, Islanders, Capitals, and Red Wings all still have a chance to beat out the Bruins or the Senators for a Wild Card spot. In the Western Conference, the Sharks, Jets, and Predators could make a strong push to bump the Kings out of their current Wild Card position.

With how tight these races are, many of these teams may need to win out just for a chance at a playoff run.

Final Thoughts

While playoff hockey is always a game of inches, right now my money is on a Western team. The biggest question mark is a potential first-round matchup between the Wild and the Stars—one that could go either way.

That said, this could finally be the year the Avalanche take it all the way.