It has been a crazy playoff and it's about to get crazier as today we have SIX, yes SIX games that could be elimination games. INCREDIBLE...
And not only are there playoff bids at stake...there is an elephant in the room...a shot at the #1 pick hanging out there.
Where Are We?
The Flames and Canes are in.
The Canadiens, Hawks, Jackets, Canucks, Islanders and Coyotes are ALL just one win away from giving their fans the thrill of continuing on and the dream, no matter how impossible, that they STILL could raise a Cup in October...
Four of those teams, Montreal, Chicago, Arizona and Columbus will be upsets...
It's all thrilling and shows how while this sport is always going to be about skill it is less about stars sometimes and more about confidence (or lack thereof). So do superstars matter more on the ice or in the jersey and ticket sales?
What we are seeing now is Hockey's Woodstock. ALL DAY amazement... and all at once exhausting. Getting to watch EVERY game is simply crazy. These players are playing in empty building and you would NEVER know it by watching it.
BUT....
(you knew this was coming) There is a guy named out Alexis Lafrenière out there...
So, if all the current 2-1 series end with the teams who are currently leading their series, winning their series, that will mean there is a 50% chance that Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Toronto or Nashville will get to add a potential generational talent in Lafrenière. That is four teams with an average .588 winning percentage. The teams who will have beaten them? .530 winning percentage...
The eight teams with a shot at Lafrenière would be the Penguins, the Oilers, the Leafs, the Preds, the Jets, the Wild, the Panthers, the Rangers.
Do those teams need him as much as the winning teams?
Of those eight teams who would have a shot, There are many Superstars already. Crosby, Malkin, McDavid, Draisaitl, Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Laine, Scheifle and Panarin..Perhaps only Minnesota and Florida don't have a forward at Lafrenière's level.
Of the eight teams who by winning WON'T get a shot at Lafrenière...
Montreal: Doesn't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential
Chicago: Has Kane
Columbus: Doesn't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential
Arizona: Doesn't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential (when Hall leaves)
Calgary: Doesn't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential.
NY Islanders: Don't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential
Carolina: Doesn't have a superstar forward at Lafrenière's potential
Vancouver: Has Elias Pettersson.
In Summary
Eight teams out: 10 superstar forwards at Lafrenière's potential from 6 teams
Eight Teams in: 2 superstar forwards at Lafrenière's potential from 8 teams
So tell me...
If you are a fan of the eight teams in: Are you better with them going to the playoffs or a shot at Lafrenière.
AND
If you are a fan of the eight teams out: Are you better with them getting a shot at Lafrenière or making the playoffs?
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