2018-19 teams that will make the playoffs (and those who will be replaced)

[MajorLeafsFan]

Starting off, we look at how many teams were in the playoffs in 2017 and 2018;

East
Boston Bruins: Lost rd 1 2017, Lost rd 2 2018.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Lost rd 1 2017, Lost rd 1 2018.
Washington Capitals: Lost rd 2 2017, Won Stanley Cup 2018.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Won Stanley Cup 2017, Lost rd 2 2018.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Lost rd 1 2017, Lost rd 1 2018.

West
Anaheim Duck: Lost rd 3 2017, Lost rd 1 2018.
Nashville Predators: Lost Cup Final 2017, Lost rd 2 2018.
Minnesota Wild: Lost rd 1 2017, Lost rd 1 2018.
San Jose Sharks: Lost rd 1 2017, Lost rd 2 2018.

Teams Who Will Return to the playoffs in 2019:

East:
Tampa Bay Lightning
Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets
New Jersey Devils

West
Nashville Predators
Winnipeg Jets
Colorado Avalanche
Vegas Golden Knights
San Jose Sharks

Teams that Will Miss the Playoffs in 2019 (And Those Who Will Make it Back):
Los Angeles Kings (replaced by the St. Louis Blues)
Anaheim Ducks (replaced by the Calgary Flames)
Minnesota Wild (replaced by the Dallas Stars)
Philadelphia Flyers (replaced by the Florida Panthers)

What do you guys think about this? Is there a particular team that you think will make it not mentioned? Or is there one leaving that you think should still be there?

(Mind you these could change easily after the July 1st free agent market opens)

Click to read more...

 

[Breakers]

Definitely agree with the Minnesota Wild missing the playoffs.

 

[tony d]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I think Mcdavid wills the Oilers back to the playoffs next yr. and they replace Anaheim so Option 3.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Option 3. I'm biased, but I see the Oilers making the playoffs instead of the flames.

 

[FlyTimmo]

Why do you have "accurate" in front of 10/11 options?

 

[Mickey Marner]

Why do you have "accurate" in front of 10/11 options?

The percentages are also nonsense. 70% of 16 is 11.2, for example.

 

[treple13]

Option 3. I'm biased, but I see the Oilers making the playoffs instead of the flames.

I hope it's just Flames, but I think both are going to make it in

 

[ccman68]

New jersey and Colorado aren't gonna fluke into the playoffs twice in a row.

 

[oconnor9sean]

It always seems weird to say there will be a lot of turnover in the playoffs, because the old season is all we have to base it on, but there always is a lot of turnover.

Imagine saying that Chicago, St. Louis and Edmonton all would've missed the playoffs before last season started... you would've been roasted alive on HF.

 

[MajorLeafsFan]

It always seems weird to say there will be a lot of turnover in the playoffs, because the old season is all we have to base it on, but there always is a lot of turnover.

Imagine saying that Chicago, St. Louis and Edmonton all would've missed the playoffs before last season started... you would've been roasted alive on HF.

And at this time you'd be able to roast them right back lol

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

New jersey and Colorado aren't gonna fluke into the playoffs twice in a row.

You think two of the youngest teams in the league to make the playoffs not only "fluked" into it the first time(Both guys got in on the backs of two of the best players in the game, so you're suggesting both guys are incapable of being among the best again next year), but that as both teams cores mature an extra year and become a year more developed that they're going to get worse?


quality analysis from a quality post.

 

[RandV]

You think two of the youngest teams in the league to make the playoffs not only "fluked" into it the first time(Both guys got in on the backs of two of the best players in the game, so you're suggesting both guys are incapable of being among the best again next year), but that as both teams cores mature an extra year and become a year more developed that they're going to get worse?


quality analysis from a quality post.

Not really disagreeing, but both of these teams only beat out the 9th place team by 1 point. For the teams that aren't locks (NAS, TB, etc) it can be a very fine line to make it after an 82 game season, reshuffle the deck then play another hand and maybe this time Florida or Dallas gets a few more points and now a team that previously made it gets knocked out.

Personally I'd say Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Nashville, and Winnipeg are locks. On the other side Philly, Jersey, Columbus, Minnesota, Colorado, Anaheim, San Jose, and LA made it last year and are generally good bets to repeat but don't have enough of a cushion that they can't get knocked out. That still leaves Boston and Las Vegas, who I feel punched above their weight class last season (Vegas especially, Boston remains to be seen) and will likely fall back into the latter group that's in range for getting knocked out.

You could make the argument against me that Boston should be the same as Winnipeg or vice versa, but that's just how I see it for the moment.

 

[ccman68]

You think two of the youngest teams in the league to make the playoffs not only "fluked" into it the first time(Both guys got in on the backs of two of the best players in the game, so you're suggesting both guys are incapable of being among the best again next year), but that as both teams cores mature an extra year and become a year more developed that they're going to get worse?


quality analysis from a quality post.

Yes teams with Sami Vatanen as their best D often make the playoffs. And other than like 3 players their offense is garbage as well. And it's not like they have a good goalie.
Avs i guess could make the playoffs if they improve their depth but right now they are a one line team and other teams are going to realize that and shut them down. They could really use a guy like Matt Duchene right now... Plus their goalie situation is also a pretty big question mark. Their defense is also pretty mediocre.

 

[MajorLeafsFan]

looking back, I had a perfect west bracket