2024-25 OOTS: Playoff Edition

[Strangelove]

Ottawa just couldn't pull it off.

I like the way Ottawa is trending, but I figure they were the worst team going into the playoffs.

Hey, Leaves earned that matchup with their regular season play, but still...

Now they face the Panthers.

Well I think we all know those Cats will severely fuck up those Leaves.

[Cornuck]

That 5th Avs goal OMFG!

[Strangelove]

What a game!

Game 7 in Dallas should be spectacular.

[donlever]

Fuck

[JelloPuddingPop]

LA was also the league's best home team this year - by a lot. They hard match, and get great goaltending, the road is a slightly different story.

I think Edm will make a go at it, this series is destined for 7.

Kings in 5.

Huh.

LOL. Can't wait for your next take.

[donlever]

It would be....

Va?

Right Per?

[Chef Boi RD]

In watching these playoffs the Canucks are so not ready to get past the first round in the playoffs, they maybe wild card hunters at moment but nothing more than that if they sneak in to a wildcard position. We need more horses. Our top two lines at the moment are a pretty pathetic sight when compared with most teams. Especially since your so called “best” forward is a malcontent.

[donlever]

My guess is current Western Conference hierarchy is...

8 current playoff teams

Anaheim
Utah

Us

[Chef Boi RD]

My guess is current Western Conference hierarchy is...

8 current playoff teams

Anaheim
Utah

Us

Utah is a team on the rise, Leves. Anaheim has got the young buck stud horses and plenty of them but need more experience. It won’t be long.

[donlever]

I expect Verbeek will be active in obtaining veteran presence(s) on the ice and behind the bench.

Imagine Joel Quennville and Sam Bennett as Ducks.

Throw in one of the following:

Ekblad
Pionk

..or even Brad Marchand or Brock Nelson.

Ditch Zegras.

They'll kill us.

[UWSaint]

My guess is current Western Conference hierarchy is...

8 current playoff teams

Anaheim
Utah

Us

As for Anaheim, they've been in a rebuild with potential for long enough to look to move guys that were initially going to be part of the wave. Its not to say they will fail -- but lots of teams in that position keep failing. I'm just not a believer. Yet.

Utah strikes me as a group getting the most out of what they have, trending positively. Something that could be built into a regular bottom half playoff team, but they need something else to be more. Its possible it could happen; they've made some decent subtle moves. I think they are similarly positioned to the Canucks, except they are teams travelling in opposite directions. Momentum isn't permanent, but it sure feels that way.

As for the playoff teams, I think a lot can change in the next couple of seasons. I'm not going to go team by team, but let's just say that most are in a "mature" stage on their development curve. There will be cap issues for some, bad signings catching up to others, age catching up to others. Nothing lasts forever.

[donlever]

Indeed nothing lasts forever UW.

But we are talking today (now) and tomorrow (next year) is my understanding.

As far as your Anaheim comment goes see my post before yours.

[UWSaint]

I expect Verbeek will be active in obtaining veteran presence(s) on the ice and behind the bench.

Imagine Joel Quennville and Sam Bennett as Ducks.

Throw in one of the following:

Ekblad
Pionk

..or even Brad Marchand or Brock Nelson.

Ditch Zegras.

They'll kill us.

Bennet is a great complement to a good core, but not more. Has the core arrived? Will Bennet still be effective when they do?

As for Eklblad and Pionk, they need both right now to be a playoff contender (IMO) because that defense is miles away -- though there's quality parts that could develop into very good players. Of course, in signing both they would find themselves quickly feeling cap pressure if they get success from the young guys and those contracts get to RFA. That's a problem every team faces, for sure. But they might want to not quite go all in this off season.

EDIT ADD: But adding one of those defenseman and paying for it would really improve what they have. I might get the coach in place first and see how Carlsson and Gauthier take that next step before I did a lot more.

[donlever]

I'd bring in the coach and 2 of those vet names (1F 1D) and try and make post season in '26 as next developmental step.

[Meds]

That 5th Avs goal OMFG!

I thought that sort of thing only happened to the home team in Rogers Arena.