NHL 2023-24 at the 2/3rd Mark - Who Ya Got for Conf.Playoffs?

[Pengwin7]

Prediction time - round out your 8 playoff teams in each conference.
Who will be in each conference's 8 this season?!

Each conference is shaping up similarly... 12 teams in contention, 4 pretty much out.
Overall, the bolded 12 teams seem in - at 97% likelihood... but there's 4 spots (3 East, 1 West) very much up for grabs.


The East looks like it has 5 teams shaping up well in FLA (78pts), NYR (77pts), BOS (77pts), CAR (71pts), TOR (68pts).
Of the next 3... very iffy with PHI (65pts), TB (65pts), and DET (64pts).
And then 4 are right there chasing NJD (60pts), NYI (60pts), WAS (58pts), PIT (56pts).
PIT has played least games in East... 53 to TB's 57 most.
The Red Wings don't seem to have the roster to run... but they ARE a team that has been banking cap space... with $9.9m available.

In the West, EDM (67pts) & LA (66pts) have caught fire to rise into the top 7 with VAN (80pts), DAL (76pts), COL (74pts), WPG (73pts) and VGK (70pts).
The battle for #8 between STL (60pts), NAS (60pts), MIN (58pts), SEA (57pts), CGY (57pts).

MIN & CGY are very likely sellers.
Though, I don't think MIN management will/would officially say such until the final days (but their cap situ for this year & next suggests they should).

The latest from Dom (theathletic)...




ps. What do VAN fans think of this 4% Cup Win odds?!?!

[hockeyrobot]

Atlantic
Florida
Boston
Torontololol

Metro
Rangers
Carolina
New Jersey

WC
Tampa
Detroit

East: Panthers vs Rangers

Central
Colorado
Dallas
Winnipeg

Pacific
Vancouver
Edmonton
Vegas

WC
LAK
Minnesota

Man the Central is stupid.....

East: Dallas vs Edmonton

[Eskimo Brother]

I think that 4% for VAN is because the model likes McD and EDM a lot.

(annoying that it all bolded when I pasted it but whatever)

Atlantic
Boston
Florida
Toronto

Metro
Rangers
Carolina
Philadelphia

WC
New Jersey
Tampa Bay


East: Carolina vs New Jersey

Central
Dallas
Winnipeg
Colorado

Pacific
Vancouver
Edmonton
Vegas

WC
LAK
Nashville

West: Dallas vs Edmonton

Cup: Dallas over Carolina

[PenguinHunter]

Atlantic
Boston
Florida
Toronto

Metro
Rangers
Carolina
New Jersey

WC
Detroit
Tampa

East: Boston vs Rangers

Central
Dallas
Colorado
Winnipeg

Pacific
Vancouver
Vegas
Edmonton

WC
Los Angeles
Seattle


East: ​Vegas vs Colorado

SC - Colorado over Rangers

[lobo1969]

Did everyone copy/paste the same mistake for EAST instead of WEST??

[Eskimo Brother]

I noticed HR make it, and then I still made it anyways haha

[ross10019]

Atlantic
Boston
Florida
Toronto

Metro
Rangers
Carolina
Philadelphia

WC
Tampa
Detroit

East: Bruins vs Rangers

Central
Dallas
Colorado
Winnipeg

Pacific
Vancouver
Edmonton
Vegas

WC
LAK
StLouis

East: Dallas vs Vegas

Dallas def Rangers in Cup Final

[Pengwin7]

You guys ran all the way to Stanley Cup Final!

East: (5)Locks - BOS, NYR, FLA, CAR, TOR.... and then my(3) NJ, TB, NYI. [I like the Isles depth & G... they could run. Though, Detroit, with their cap space... is interesting - especially since their D/G can easily be upgraded with trade. It's crazy to leave PIT out... but they have no 3rd/4th line scoring.]
West: (7)Locks - VAN, DAL, COL, WPG, VGK, EDM, LA... and then my (1) SEA. [I just think SEA is more well-rounded team than STL & NAS.]

I'm rooting for a TOR-(VAN or DAL) final.
It's just... damn time for a Canadian team to win.

But... being Joe Pavelski's possible last year... I really want nothing more than a Dallas cup.
We'll see.

If I had to bet though... COL-FLA seem like the two strongest teams to me.
COL seems like the team most able to shut down McDavid - and it will get to that at some point, I think.

[hockeyrobot]

I really hope Detroit makes it so I can laugh in ALL your faces.

[ShawneePanthers]

Florida comes out of the East- I think they are the strongest.

Tougher to decide the West. I think Colorado has got a shot, but not as confident about it as I am about Florida

[hockeyrobot]

Updated

[hockeyrobot]

How the heck are 9 East teams above 50%?

[loppantorkel]

The % should add up to 800% for each conference. I think you could have 15 teams above 50% at worst.

[Pengwin7]

Jeez... the Preds put the pedal to the floor right when/after I made this thread.
West seems "locked up". I don't think my choice (SEA) has a chance with how cohesive the Preds have been playing.

East will be interesting.
Detroit looking good for the 6/7. TB for the other.
I do not have faith that PHI can play well enough to hang onto the 8.
Pressure has set in on Ersson now that he's #1.

PIT will be interesting... they've got games in hand.
They won a big game last night.
If they can win Thursday... they might not be sellers.
Brutal decision for Dubas on Guentzel... that's going to be sour for fans either way he goes with it.

[Eskimo Brother]

Yeah, very happy with the Preds proving me right there. Too bad the Devils went the opposite way. Red Wings are looking good! Will be curious what they do in net when Husso gets back though.