Playoffs 2021

[mrb842]

Questions
1. What's the value ceiling for the Canadian young guns-mcdavid/drais/marner/matthews?
2. Do any rookies/2nd year players-Makar, Kirilli steal the show and cement themselves as among the games stars
3. Which guys move themselves in HOF consideration w/a cup run-Rask/Marchand?
4. Will collectors embrace sun belt star brilliance-tampa/carolina/nash
5. Who wins it all
6. Who are we seeing for the last time-thornton, chara, rask, carter, malkin, krejci
7. Can anyone-winnipeg, st louis, islanders play spoiler?
8. What players break out a la binnington/o reilly 2019?
9. Will we see any non playoff trades, movement-rangers, flyers, calgary, columbus all look headed for major shakeups

[Jb55]

Answer...save all your money for Connor Bedard in 2023!

But honestly to answer #2, I saw Makar live a few weeks ago and he is special, he could very well steal the show even playing in MacKinnon’s shadow.

#4 Nobody wants my Svechnikov Cup RPA/99, so I’d say so far it’s not happening!

#5 I’m going Colorado, but goaltending could be their downfall?

#7 I wouldn’t be thrilled to be playing St Louis at any point in the playoffs, so they could definitely pull it off, but they’d need 2019 Binnington

#8 You never know with goalies, they all have the ability to get hot for a relatively short period of time. I’m hoping it’s Mike Smith, the ultimate streaky goalie!

#9 Columbus and Philly have to be headed towards a complete rebuilds. The Rangers are on the right path, they just had some drama this week, otherwise they have the core of a future dynasty, especially if they end up with another high draft pick this year although I don’t think there are any game changers in this years draft. 2022 and 2023 are the years to tank for Shane Wright and Bedard.

[mallowciraptor]

Originally Posted by mrb842

Questions
1. What's the value ceiling for the Canadian young guns-mcdavid/drais/marner/matthews?
2. Do any rookies/2nd year players-Makar, Kirilli steal the show and cement themselves as among the games stars
3. Which guys move themselves in HOF consideration w/a cup run-Rask/Marchand?
4. Will collectors embrace sun belt star brilliance-tampa/carolina/nash
5. Who wins it all
6. Who are we seeing for the last time-thornton, chara, rask, carter, malkin, krejci
7. Can anyone-winnipeg, st louis, islanders play spoiler?
8. What players break out a la binnington/o reilly 2019?
9. Will we see any non playoff trades, movement-rangers, flyers, calgary, columbus all look headed for major shakeups

1. I think Matthews and Marner could see their prices rise if Toronto actually goes on a deep playoff run. A riled up fanbase trying to end that Cup drought in the current market could give these two a large ceiling.

2. Makar and Kaprizov are easy choices but their prices are already reflective of their talent. Nick Suzuki seems like an easy pick to ascend if the Habs can upset a team like Toronto in R1. A darkhorse rookie that could see a bump when he gets rookie cards is Jeremy Swayman, if anything happens to Rask.

3. Rask should probably be there already, but if people want to keep sleeping on his resume that's fine. Another amazing playoff run (2013/2019 were both top 25 runs of all time, not bad for a "choker") and he locks his place for sure. I'm not sure if others consider Backstrom a HOFer (the lack of individual awards probably hurts him overall), but I could see him being a guy that could use another great playoff run.

4. I think a lot of collectors are really sleeping on the Canes young stars, especially Martin Necas. Maybe that will correct itself? Nashville just doesn't have any true starpower (Saros is probably undervalued right now) so I can't really see collectors latching onto anyone there.

5. I'm thinking Boston over Colorado in the Final.

6. Probably just Chara/Thornton, but I can see this being the end of the road for a guy like Jason Spezza as well.

7. If the Habs get Gallagher healthy I could see them playing spoiler, but in all reality Winnipeg and the Islanders seem like the likeliest teams to pull off upsets. Does Tampa as a #3 seed count as an underdog? lol

8. Rantanen is the big one for me. The Avs should go deep and this is a guy that played at a 100+ point pace this year, and has had plenty of stretches where he looks like the best player on the Avs (which is really a compliment to the strides he's taken this season). A deep playoff run and he is easily in the Conn Smythe discussion. I can also see Toffoli's breakout continuing in the playoffs. Feels like he's been on the scoresheet every night for the Habs recently.

9. There will be a lot of movement with Seattle coming in next year, but I can definitely see Calgary as one of the teams blowing it up this offseason. The Bruins could theoretically lose all three of Hall/Rask/Krejci in the offseason and their Cup window could come slamming shut as a result.

[k13]

Lucky for the Canadian division they can win a few series before they get crushed.

[Clark]

Originally Posted by k13

Lucky for the Canadian division they can win a few series before they get crushed.

The Leafs are not getting crushed by anyone. I am not saying they are going to win the cup, but if they stay healthy they have as good of chance as anyone.

Who do you support?

[mmier118]

Why no love for Vegas, I’m biased because I live here, but they are playing some great hockey especially for always playing short a forward or two each game. I honestly think this is the best team the’ve had since they started. I’m not saying they will win it all but they should make a good run at it and probably have as good as a chance as the Avs or anyone else in the west.

[PejaD]

#2 More of a pre-rookie, but I like Cole Caufield
#3 Has not played yet this year, but Kucherov will have the Bolts playing like a division winner
#5 Sin City brings home its 1st championship
#6 Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, Zdeno Chara, Corey Perry, Travis Zajac
#7 Does Edmonton count as a spoiler? Canadian media assumes the North championship will be handed to the Leafs
#8 Mikhail Sergachev since Hedman will likely be out or not close to 100%
#9 Rangers ownership might blow it up even though they have one of the best young nuclei. The Kraken will be no doormat.

[mallowciraptor]

Originally Posted by mmier118

Why no love for Vegas, I’m biased because I live here, but they are playing some great hockey especially for always playing short a forward or two each game. I honestly think this is the best team the’ve had since they started. I’m not saying they will win it all but they should make a good run at it and probably have as good as a chance as the Avs or anyone else in the west.

If Vegas makes another deep run it'll be because Stone has a Ryan O'Reilly-esque run. He is a great player and could easily take them far, but I think a lot will depend on how they are allocating starts to their goalies. They've used the tandem well all season, but don't normally see teams take that approach in the playoffs.

[PejaD]

Originally Posted by mallowciraptor

If Vegas makes another deep run it'll be because Stone has a Ryan O'Reilly-esque run. He is a great player and could easily take them far, but I think a lot will depend on how they are allocating starts to their goalies. They've used the tandem well all season, but don't normally see teams take that approach in the playoffs.

Has to be Flower over Lehner for the playoffs based on 2021 performance and playoff experience. I think the Golden Knights are better built for the playoffs than the Avs with better goaltending, blue line depth and 3 true scoring lines. I also like that Pietrangelo, Martinez, Fleury and Stephenson have hoisted the cup before.

[WillyC]

1. an arm and a leg
2. no
3. Jumbo
4. no
5. Toronto
6. Jumbo
7. no
8. Jack Campbell
9. no

[mrb842]

Originally Posted by mallowciraptor

If Vegas makes another deep run it'll be because Stone has a Ryan O'Reilly-esque run. He is a great player and could easily take them far, but I think a lot will depend on how they are allocating starts to their goalies. They've used the tandem well all season, but don't normally see teams take that approach in the playoffs.

before sports illustrated went south they didn't make many hockey covers but they did make a stone SI for Kids as well as a mcdavid I picked up. If you're a vegas collector, worth picking up.

[k13]

Originally Posted by Clark

The Leafs are not getting crushed by anyone. I am not saying they are going to win the cup, but if they stay healthy they have as good of chance as anyone.

Who do you support?

They haven't made it past the 1st round since the lockout but they should finally be able to do that this year.

Penguins and/or whoever i have good money on.

[kellmuff]

Originally Posted by Clark

The Leafs are not getting crushed by anyone. I am not saying they are going to win the cup, but if they stay healthy they have as good of chance as anyone.

Who do you support?

while I agree with you, what does it matter who he supports? Why is that such a go to defense mechanism for people that criticize the Leafs? Fans of bad teams are allowed to make comments about good ones fyi

[Clark]

Originally Posted by k13

They haven't made it past the 1st round since the lockout but they should finally be able to do that this year.

Penguins and/or whoever i have good money on.

You don't need to remind me. lol After the lockout, moving to the hard cap system really set them back. They could not longer use their financial might to sign free agents and had to rely more on the draft and developing. No more "draft schmaft" ideology.

I believe this is the most balanced team they have had since the lockout.

[Clark]

Originally Posted by kellmuff

while I agree with you, what does it matter who he supports? Why is that such a go to defense mechanism for people that criticize the Leafs? Fans of bad teams are allowed to make comments about good ones fyi

No kidding? Thanks. No defensive mechanism here, I make comments about the Leafs and criticize them as well. I am not such a homer to think everything my team does is the best.

As for k13, I was simply asking because he is a pretty pessimistic guy. I was not sure if supports anyone or anything.

[mallowciraptor]

Originally Posted by mrb842

before sports illustrated went south they didn't make many hockey covers but they did make a stone SI for Kids as well as a mcdavid I picked up. If you're a vegas collector, worth picking up.

I don't really PC Stone, but I have picked up a few nice cards of his from shows on the cheap since he came into the league just to have in my collection because I like him.

[mrb842]

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Oilers went 7-2-0 in 9 games against the Jets this year. McDavid led EDM with 22 points. Ehlers had the most points on WPG with 8.
Leafs went 7-2-1 vs the Canadiens this season (Habs were 3-6-1). Matthews led the Leafs with 14 points in those matchups; Petry had 10 for MTL.

-could be fast series north of the border. Leafs and canadians squaring off in playoffs for first time since 1979, oilers eliminated jets in all 5 of their cup runs. Really feel for the fans up there who won't be able to see this in person.

[BaseballKing]

4. You missed Florida. They have a puncher's chance - Barkov.

[BaseballKing]

I'm assuming with the way the play-offs are structured one Canadian team is guaranteed to make the final 4? Is that how it works? Intra division play with the winner of each division going throught to the last 4?

I haven't been on the NHL site lately so not sure how they're planning to do it.

[k13]

Originally Posted by BaseballKing

I'm assuming with the way the play-offs are structured one Canadian team is guaranteed to make the final 4? Is that how it works? Intra division play with the winner of each division going throught to the last 4?

I haven't been on the NHL site lately so not sure how they're planning to do it.

Yes. One of them will be in the Semi-Final.

Then teams are re-seeded after.

[PejaD]

The schedule will be interesting since the North division playoffs likely starts over a week after the other divisions due to the rescheduled Canucks games from the covid pause. I wonder if this causes a rare long break between playoff rounds eventually to allow the North to catch-up.

[mallowciraptor]

Originally Posted by mrb842

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Oilers went 7-2-0 in 9 games against the Jets this year. McDavid led EDM with 22 points. Ehlers had the most points on WPG with 8.
Leafs went 7-2-1 vs the Canadiens this season (Habs were 3-6-1). Matthews led the Leafs with 14 points in those matchups; Petry had 10 for MTL.

-could be fast series north of the border. Leafs and canadians squaring off in playoffs for first time since 1979, oilers eliminated jets in all 5 of their cup runs. Really feel for the fans up there who won't be able to see this in person.

Pretty sure I heard each time the Leafs/Canadiens have met in the playoffs one of them has won the Cup.

[discostu]

Originally Posted by mallowciraptor

Pretty sure I heard each time the Leafs/Canadiens have met in the playoffs one of them has won the Cup.

1993 called on a bag phone, just saying "hi."

$10 later.

[BaseballKing]

Originally Posted by k13

Yes. One of them will be in the Semi-Final.

Then teams are re-seeded after.

Thanks.

[kellmuff]

Originally Posted by mrb842

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Oilers went 7-2-0 in 9 games against the Jets this year. McDavid led EDM with 22 points. Ehlers had the most points on WPG with 8.
Leafs went 7-2-1 vs the Canadiens this season (Habs were 3-6-1). Matthews led the Leafs with 14 points in those matchups; Petry had 10 for MTL.

all of this means squat tbh