Would it be a failure if your team lost in the first round of the playoffs?

[Super Cake]

I would take getting swept 4-0 and outscored 20-0 if it meant the Sabres played a playoff series before the draught graduated high school

I am honestly quite the opposite. If i knew my team was going to get beaten that badly in round one, i would rather just not make the playoffs then have to watch them get obliterated game after game.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

As an Oiler fan it’s a failure of catastrophic proportions. Losing in the second round is also a failure.

 

[zar]

As an Oiler fan it’s a failure of catastrophic proportions. Losing in the second round is also a failure.

Agreed. If the team played well but lost against the Avs or even the Stars in the Conference Finals… or against almost any team in the finals… I would say; OK, fine. Anything else is failure.

The Oilers window is this year or next but with some of their poor cap management, Canadian teams being on most players NT lists, combined with a small market teams’ inability to attract/extend better UFAs for decent prices… a Stanley Cup victory is going to be a reach.

 

[ORRFForever]

As an Oiler fan it’s a failure of catastrophic proportions. Losing in the second round is also a failure.

Based on possible matchups, assuming the season ended today, the Oilers seem to have a pretty easy path to the Conference Finals.

 

[ORRFForever]

Agreed. If the team played well but lost against the Avs or even the Stars in the Conference Finals… or against almost any team in the finals… I would say; OK, fine. Anything else is failure.

The Oilers window is this year or next but with some of their poor cap management, Canadian teams being on most players NT lists, combined with a small market teams’ inability to attract/extend better UFAs for decent prices… a Stanley Cup victory is going to be a reach.

Based on this link...

NHL Playoff Picture: Updated Playoff Bracket for 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Here's the updated NHL playoff bracket for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

sports.betmgm.com

I can't imagine the Oilers losing to the fading Kings.
I also see the Oilers taking out the Jets.

Can the Oilers beat the Avs with MacKinnon and Makar? That will be the test.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Every team who loses in the first round is a failure.

 

[Chet Manley]

Based on this link...

NHL Playoff Picture: Updated Playoff Bracket for 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Here's the updated NHL playoff bracket for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

sports.betmgm.com

I can't imagine the Oilers losing to the fading Kings.
I also see the Oilers taking out the Jets.

Can the Oilers beat the Avs with MacKinnon and Makar? That will be the test.

Don't believe that site is correct on the western brackets. The winner of the Oilers vs Kings would play against the winner of Vancouver vs a wildcard team.

 

[ORRFForever]

Don't believe that site is correct on the western brackets. The winner of the Oilers vs Kings would play against the winner of Vancouver vs a wildcard team.

Fair enough. Thanks!

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

It would be a monumental failure for the Canes, especially if we are M2. This Canes team should be aiming at the Cup finals at least. Florida and New York will definitely have something to say about whether we get there but that’s the goal.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

Vancouver - it depends on how the games go.

Hard fought back and forth 7 game series with Vegas? Less so, upset by Nashville? Yes

I would hate to see you guys lose to Vegas but all a fan can ask for is a hard faught series

 

[johnnyonthspot]

I would take getting swept 4-0 and outscored 20-0 if it meant the Sabres played a playoff series before the draught graduated high school

If there is a fan base that desrves a playoff series it is the Sabres
I hope they can somehow get in.

 

[Matty Sundin]

It’s always gonna be disappointing for the leafs. I will say though, this is the least expectations I’ve had for them since Matthews rookie playoff season.

 

[Summer Rose]

Losing in the first round would mean the Coyotes actually made the playoffs... so no, not a disappointment at all! I'd be thrilled.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Every team who loses in the first round is a failure.

Yep. That's the reason to why the NHL absolutely should go back to 1-8 playoff format. The great teams of the era should play against each other year after year in the later rounds like the late 90s/early 00s Stars, Avalanche, Red Wings and Blues.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Yep. That's the reason to why the NHL absolutely should go back to 1-8 playoff format. The great teams of the era should play against each other year after year in the later rounds like the late 90s/early 00s Stars, Avalanche, Red Wings and Blues.

They should go to a 1-32 playoff format.

Expand the playoffs by a round. Create greater playoff revenue. Give every team the opportunity for greatness and expose the playoff frauds as the pretenders they are.

 

[Score8]

If you’re not LA, Nashville, Philly or Detroit/NYI/Washington, the answer has to be yes.

Boston could also be a no considering their core is on their last legs and their monumental collapse last year

Their core is on its last legs? Other than Marchand who’s old?

 

[Bijelo]

They should go to a 1-32 playoff format.

16 teams in SC are significance.

 

[wintersej]

If you’re not LA, Nashville, Philly or Detroit/NYI/Washington, the answer has to be yes.

Boston could also be a no considering their core is on their last legs and their monumental collapse last year

I don't why people keep saying Boston's core is on its last legs.

The only old they have left is Marchand. Everyone else from the last core is already gone.

But, yes, they need to win a round because of last year.

 

[TBF1972]

If you’re not LA, Nashville, Philly or Detroit/NYI/Washington, the answer has to be yes.

Boston could also be a no considering their core is on their last legs and their monumental collapse last year

as a devils fans it would be no
making the po would be great

 

[wintersej]

Sort of, yeah.

The Rangers aren't that good imo but the East is really bad and it's hard to see them drawing a really terrible matchup.

It would be a shock if there wasn't a NYR/Carolina matchup in round 2. Can't imagine a more likely 2nd round matchup as things stand now.

 

[ManofSteel55]

I'm an Edmonton fan. For us, anything less than a cup final is failure. I am prepared for that failure though, the West is so competitive this year, with Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg and Vancouver all terrifying to face, Nashville will be scary if they keep up their current momentum, and you can't ignore the cup champions, if they hold on to their spot. It's a tight year in the West.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

No, it would require a miraculous run for the Flames to even make the playoffs, that we would all be talking about for years

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

For some teams it does, for Buffalo that would be parade on the streets.

 

[Zenos]

Oilers:

Absolutely. It isn't "cup or bust", but playing only one or two rounds of hockey would certainly be viewed as a disappointment.
McDavid and Draisaitl are both in their prime. Ekholm, Nuge, Kane, and even Hyman are already on the back-half. The time to win is now.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

More of a miracle