Edmonton
LA
Vegas
Wildcards - Vancouver and Seattle
I think the Pacific occupies 5 playoff spots this year grabbing both wildcards. And although I'd agree the Canucks have narrowed the gap from the top, that says more about how bad we were last year, rather than the Kings falling.
There's very little reason to suspect the Kings will regress next year. Their goaltending is their weakness and a wash from last year. But the Kings are one of the deepest teams in the West at C & D. To me ii's a strange team to pluck for regressing when they are very clearly on the upswing.
Edm, LV, LA (need goaltending to hold up), should make it.
Col and Dal should as well.
Min - nothing really added, but have good talent despite the $13 mill or whatever in dead cap.
Then, it's STL, Nas, Sea, Van. Don't think STL and Nas have done much to improve their roster. Who is expected to step up for them?
Win and Cal would be up there with Min and the others if they didn't have key UFAs to be in 2024. They can't afford to let those guys walk, not when you're only contending for a PO spot vs trying to win a Cup.
Then, it's the Ana, SJ, Chi, AZ rebuilding teams.
That's the hierarchy I would go with for playoffs.