In honour of the start of Playoff hockey being nigh, lets just imagine you have been declared the new "Hockey God"; the first thing you will do would be to have your favorite team win the Cup, correct? So in a perfect world, where you could guarantee the outcome of every best of seven series, what path to the Cup (constrained by current NHL playoff rules and divisional/conference compositions) would you design for your team for next year (2019)?
For me:
Toronto Maple Leafs:
1st round vs the Boston Bruins:
-I loathe the Bruins most of all and would love to see the Buds extract revenge for 2013. I either want to see them beaten either in 7 games, with a big game 7 comeback by the Leafs, to mirror 2013, or them just flat out sweeping Boston in 4... with Brad Marchand somehow breaking his knuckles trying to sucker-punch a Leafs player.
2nd round vs the Montreal Canadians
-This one is mostly for the sake of history, the actual game on the ice wouldn't likely be brilliant since Montreal's toothless offense means to make the 2nd round of the playoffs, they would need to have Price just stand on his head through a full season. Still Montreal and Toronto is the big rivalry in hockey and seeing that resurgent would be awesome (one team always seems to be crap when the other is decent). I would take the Leafs in a tight-checking 6 game, low scoring series.
Conference finals vs the Pittsburgh Penguins
-This one is simple: to be the best you have to beat the best, and for me a run to the Finals wouldn't be complete without having to go through the two best centres of their generation in Crosby and Malkin and their (current) two-time defending championship Penguins. It would be amazing to see the young players on the Leafs rise to the occasion and knock-off the best team of the previous generation. I would hope ideally for a high-scoring 7 game series.
Stanley Cup Finals vs the Edmonton Oilers
-Another current non-playoff team here, which a lot would have to change for them to make the 2019 Finals, but seeing Matthews, Marner and Nylander go up against and win the cup vs the best player in the world in Connor McDavid would be amazing. I would want a 7 game overtime victory (all Stanley Cup Finals should last 7 games in a perfect world) with Auston Matthews scoring the winning goal. That would be the most perfect way for the Leafs to break the '67 curse.
Honorable mentions:
Winnipeg Jets- are an awesome young team and my favorite team out west, but I want them to win a Cup of their own and seeing the Leafs beat them in the Finals would be bitter-sweet.
Tampa Bay Lightning- Are a stacked with offensive talent and are the sexy Cup pick this year. A series between them and the Leafs could likely happen this year (although I don't think the Leafs would actually win it if it does) and would likely be a wonderful gong-show of speed and beautiful offense. The issue here is that they just don't have the rivalry with the Leafs that Montreal and Boston do.
So what are your guys scenarios for your teams?
