Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
With the 2015 NHL playoffs set to begin today, the hotstove gives their pre-playoff Stanley Cup prediction.
Todd Cordell I'm going to go with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
They are the best offensive team in hockey and, while there isn't as much open space in the playoffs, I think their offense coupled with a very capable defense core will be enough to make some serious noise.
Ultimately it comes down to Ben Bishop. If he plays average-to-above average I think the Lightning will be just fine, and there is no reason to believe he isn't capable of doing that.
I'll take Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, and the high powered Bolts to win the Cup -- just as I predicted before the season.
Tim Chiasson St. Louis Blues.
I picked the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Hockeybuzz Hotstove pre-season picks but due to the massacre to their blueline I'm going to go with the team I picked to come out of the West.
The St. Louis Blues are due. They've got a great team, a great coach and a massive streak of years without winning the Stanley Cup. I'm on the Tarasenko bandwagon - the kid is amazing. The Blues won the toughest division in the NHL and if they keep their season rolling along they should win the playoffs, too.
I think (hope) this is the year for the St. Louis Blues take it all.
New York Rangers I think it's way too early to decide this. Since I have to choose though...I'm going to go with the Rangers. Watch them get swept now or something. They have enough of the parts to be dangerous. An elite goalie that has been the most consistently elite goalie for the past decade. Probably the best and most well rounded defense in the playoffs. McDonagh, Yandle, Girardi, Staal, Klein and Boyle is simply filthy and ridiculous. They have some strong scoring depth throughout the lineup, though Rick Nash actually showing up will be a major factor for their Cup dreams. If the old adage of "defense wins championships," is real...well no team has as strong a one. If the old adage of "build from the net out" is real...well look no further. I picked them to win the President's Trophy, so I might as well go all the way with them.
Michael Stuart This is almost an impossible question to answer. The race is so wide-open this year. My NHL.com bracket says that I think the Tampa Bay Lightning will win the Cup, but there may be a hint of bias there. My honest answer/prediction is that the Chicago Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup.
Hungry after reaching the Conference Final last season, the Blackhawks will take the Western Conference by storm this time around. With no Los Angeles team to stand in their way, Chicago’s road to the Cup looks somewhat easier than it has for the last few seasons. That, coupled with the expected return of Patrick Kane, makes the Blackhawks the favorite in my book.
Of course, they could just as easily find themselves out in the first round. This year is going to be crazy.
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