Greg Wyshynski, ESPNApr 12, 2024, 07:45 AM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The Stanley Cup Final is the grand finale of the NHL season. It’s just that some finales are a bit grander than others.
Here are the 10 best possible Stanley Cup Final matchups in 2024, based on the teams that have a mathematically significant chance of making the playoff cut (better than 5%) heading into Thursday’s games.
Our rankings are based on storylines, star power and other attributes that might entice a casual sports fan to watch the greatest postseason tournament in sports. We tried to spread the wealth through all the possible playoff teams instead of just saying “Vegas vs. everyone” — as valid as that answer might have been.
We release this ranking with apologies to the good people of Winnipeg, as the Jets are a great team but one that didn’t naturally fit into our top 10. If it’s any consolation, the “White Out” remains one of hockey’s greatest playoff traditions.
Let’s look at the best Stanley Cup Final matchups on the board:
The battle of the bridesmaids, as it were. The Hurricanes were swept by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals last season, while the Stars lost a delightfully contentious Western final against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights — please recall the Jamie Benn vs. Mark Stone incident.
Beyond seeing these teams finally get their shot at the Cup, they’re both really compelling contenders. The Rod Brind’Amour Canes are trying to level up after defying their own trade deadline philosophy by acquiring Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Stars are trying to deliver the first Cup ring to a gaggle of veterans — chief among them Joe Pavelski — with one of the deepest rosters in the tournament.
It’s clear that Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record is something that resonates with casual hockey fans and general sports fans. That record chase could get some of the spotlight in a…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/39922550/nhl-playoffs-2024-ranking-stanley-cup-final-matchups
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-04-12 11:42:14
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