vs
CENTRES: I prefer Crosby to Zibanejad, I slightly prefer Dubois to Krejci, Overall I just think
ST. LOUIS is stronger here.
LEFT WINGS: I think DeBrincat is comparable to Kreider, if not slightly better. After that, I don't think I like either group, Sheary/Baerstchi are weak sauce but Greenway has a role there. Foligno is barely a top six forward anymore if at all but Foegele is a pretty fast and fun usable guy. I think the best way I can tiebreak this for myself is whoever has most upside, which to me is DeBrincat and that's
ST. LOUIS
RIGHT WINGS: Mark Stone is the runaway best RW, Toffoli compares to either or of Rakell or Zuccarello, for me that means
TAMPA BAY
DEFENSE: I think Orlov-McAvoy is a really solid pairing and I also think Klefbom-Weber does the job well, so both top pairings can do damage, if I had to pick one it'd be the Blues. I think Dillon-Hronek is a better 2nd pair to me than Gardiner-Myers and both bottom pairs are competent. The second pair difference in physicality and upside with Hronek makes me lean
TAMPA BAY
GOALIES: With everything on the line, I'd trust Gibson more than I'd trust Raanta. Both are quality goalies but Gibson has stolen games when it matters before and Raanta has less examples to me.
ST. LOUIS
VERDICT: Blues in 7, tough series with overtimes probably, I trust the Blues in clutch times a little more with Gibson flanked by solid shutdown D on the top pair and Crosby/Dubois, even though Tampa can counter decently well with Stone/Weber.