Who are your Stanley Cup favorites right now?

[PunkRockLocke]

Kings?

Yeah man. I picked them to be a serious contender this year and got laughed at by my friends. But their core of Kopitar, Carter, Doughty, Quick is too good to underestimate. The depth of Toffoli, Kempe, Pearson, Muzzin, Martinez, Forbort, etc is very strong

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Kings or blues. Whoever gets better goaltending. As of now

This will probably change by the end of the year

 

[Maurice Del Taco]

1.
2.
3.

 

[The Podium]

Tier 1
Tampa
Nashville

Tier 2
Winnipeg
Toronto
St. Louis
LA

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Makes no sense to categorize Toronto as a heavy contender imho. Playoff success doesn't build up linearly and they could easily lose in the 1st round again because they're not experienced in the playoffs.
I would also be apprehensive about my Preds.
That was the 1st time for them in the SCF, although they have seemed like a better team than for example, the 2014-2015 team which they are on pace of at this time of year, funnily enough. That team had Mike Fisher in the 1st line and Ekholm and Ellis in the 3rd pairing.

 

[Sam Spade]

Preds - Can't see a hole on that team
Bolts - Best balance in the league
Kings - 2nd best balance, plus Doughty
Pens - Not playing great now, will make a trade to fix 3c and they are favorites again.
Jackets - Only question is Bob come playoff time

I don't see another team in the NHL with a chance against the ones listed above.

 

[MajorLeafsFan]

Tampa Bay (like I said at the beginning of the season) and Nashville (who I'd like to see win the cup)

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Preds - Can't see a hole on that team
Bolts - Best balance in the league
Kings - 2nd best balance, plus Doughty
Pens - Not playing great now, will make a trade to fix 3c and they are favorites again.
Jackets - Only question is Bob come playoff time

I don't see another team in the NHL with a chance against the ones listed above.

I think with the addition of eaves, and a healthy roster by the end of the month the ducks are going to be the dark horse. 2 good goalies, a great top 4 defense, and our top 9 when healthy looks pretty good. With all the injuries we got to see a little from our depth guys too. I think people are sleeping on Anaheim a bit because of the injuries.

 

[vanarchy]

 

[Sam Spade]

I think with the addition of eaves, and a healthy roster by the end of the month the ducks are going to be the dark horse. 2 good goalies, a great top 4 defense, and our top 9 when healthy looks pretty good. With all the injuries we got to see a little from our depth guys too. I think people are sleeping on Anaheim a bit because of the injuries.

Exactly why I don't think they should be considered. Too many key players are older and often injured.

edit: I just I realized I completely disrespected the Blues in my list. Unfortunately like the Capitals I just don't think the franchise has it in them, no matter how well they play in the regular season.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think with the addition of eaves, and a healthy roster by the end of the month the ducks are going to be the dark horse. 2 good goalies, a great top 4 defense, and our top 9 when healthy looks pretty good. With all the injuries we got to see a little from our depth guys too. I think people are sleeping on Anaheim a bit because of the injuries.

I don't know if it's sleeping, but it's going to take a hell of a run from here on out from them. The kind that should make them scary should they make it, like I wouldn't want to face them (and frankly history shows they're probably just going to win 50 straight and win the division), but I think people are leaving them off the list because they're not remotely close to a 'playoff team' right now (makes it easy to forget them).

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I don't know if it's sleeping, but it's going to take a hell of a run from here on out from them. The kind that should make them scary should they make it, like I wouldn't want to face them (and frankly history shows they're probably just going to win 50 straight and win the division), but I think people are leaving them off the list because they're not remotely close to a 'playoff team' right now (makes it easy to forget them).

I mean were only 2 points out of a playoff spot as is, 5 points from 2nd in the divison, and 9 behind the lead... now the pacific might take a run but the playoffs should be a pretty easy task.

 

[pucky]

In the playoffs, your play without the puck has to improve considerably (checking, coverage, etc.) and the Leafs just are not close to being there yet. They might win games (right now) but if you check the games, it's always their goalie bailing them out after stopping over 40 shots a game. They won't win games in the post season with a D like that. No way.

 

[General Disarray]

TB, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Columbus

 

[naruto]

In the playoffs, your play without the puck has to improve considerably (checking, coverage, etc.) and the Leafs just are not close to being there yet. They might win games (right now) but if you check the games, it's always their goalie bailing them out after stopping over 40 shots a game. They won't win games in the post season with a D like that. No way.

Freddy A. could win 16 games. The Danish wall. Sounds tasty.

 

[Choralone]

From the NHL.com Team Leaderboard today:

# 1 POWER PLAY %
Tampa Bay Lightning
28.3%
League Average:19.5%

# 1 PENALTY KILL %
Los Angeles Kings
89.0%
League Average:80.2%

# 1 GOALS / GAME
Tampa Bay Lightning
3.75
League Average:2.97

# 1 GOALS AGAINST / GAME
Los Angeles Kings
2.20
League Average:2.96

Looks like a hell of a match to me.

 

[volcom92886]

From the NHL.com Team Leaderboard today:

# 1 POWER PLAY %
Tampa Bay Lightning
28.3%
League Average:19.5%

# 1 PENALTY KILL %
Los Angeles Kings
89.0%
League Average:80.2%

# 1 GOALS / GAME
Tampa Bay Lightning
3.75
League Average:2.97

# 1 GOALS AGAINST / GAME
Los Angeles Kings
2.20
League Average:2.96

Looks like a hell of a match to me.

Didnt go so well for the Kings earlier in the season. Haha

 

[quickfeet]

It's the one year nobody is talking about the Caps.
So they'll probably win the cup this year.

 

[Butch 19]

SCF:

over

in 7 games. Kempe w/ GWG in 3rd OT

 

[northeastern]

Preds and bolts. And I would enjoy watching that series.

 

[chethejet]

Probably a better question in March. But still comes down to who can win a series of 4 to 7 games. If all are healthy and ready to go, home ice will be important for teams who lack experience. Pens, Bolts, Columbus and Leafs look to be the favorites. The east except for Buffalo doesn't have crap teams this year. Metro is a far more balanced division. Rangers, NJ, Iles, look better. So hard to see the Pens win 3, but never underestimate Crosby, Malkin, Murray and Kessel in a series.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

East
Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh

West
Anaheim, Dallas

I think Anaheim will finally get healthy and make deep run in the postseason. I picked Stars over Lightning in SCF before the season and I'm pretty sure Lightning will win the East.

 

[Syckle78]

I think with the addition of eaves, and a healthy roster by the end of the month the ducks are going to be the dark horse. 2 good goalies, a great top 4 defense, and our top 9 when healthy looks pretty good. With all the injuries we got to see a little from our depth guys too. I think people are sleeping on Anaheim a bit because of the injuries.

Eaves is going to play again?

 

[b in vancouver]

Going into the year I thought it'd be Boston vs. Columbus (pittsburgh, new jersey - metro is tough to pick) and Winnipeg vs. Anaheim - in the conference finals. no reason to change that.

didn't see L.A. doing as well as they are.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Lightning