Eklund: Now, who do you think will represent the East in the Final?

So many good teams, I think you're going to see Vegas come out of the West but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's Dallas or Colorado.

Winnipeg just doesn't scare anyone and Connor Hellebuyck doesn't seem to come up big when he needs to.

Eklund: Now, who do you think will represent the East in the Final?
- Eklund

Vegas

I bet on Dallas at the beginning and will stick with Dallas.

I would say the best teams have TOP PK's and Top 5 on 5 play not Top PPs

I'm feeling pretty good about the Avs chances - not just because of the additions but because they've steadily gotten better as health has returned (Lehknonen, Drouin, Nichushkin) and the goaltending was drastically improved. But, like most fans, I think they're gonna win every year.

Concerns:

1) Blackwood and Wedgewood have been superb but they don't have a single playoff start between them, though Wedgewood has mopped up in 3 games. Probably not a huge concern given the playoff success we've seen from goalies without post-season experience over the years. But it's an unknown.

2) The D-Corps is not quite as strong as 2022 but it's close. The biggest missing piece is Byram who was fantastic in those playoffs, especially the Final.

2022

Toews / Makar
Girard / Manson
Byram /E Johnson

(J Johnson replaced Girard after his sternum was broken in Round 2)

2025

Toews / Makar
Girard / Malinski
Lindgren / Manson

3) Necas is magical to watch - particularly in combination with MacK and Makar. I sincerely feel badly for Carolina fans that the Canes gave him up. But I know that he's been a disappointment in past playoffs. Is that an experience thing or does he need to simplify his game? Or does he simplify his game but that makes him less effective? Or, as his production numbers have indicated, is he a better player now? I'd love to hear Canes fans weigh in on this.

Unfortunately the Dallas Stars !

I'm feeling pretty good about the Avs chances - not just because of the additions but because they've steadily gotten better as health has returned (Lehknonen, Drouin, Nichushkin) and the goaltending was drastically improved. But, like most fans, I think they're gonna win every year.

Concerns:

1) Blackwood and Wedgewood have been superb but they don't have a single playoff start between them, though Wedgewood has mopped up in 3 games. Probably not a huge concern given the playoff success we've seen from goalies without post-season experience over the years. But it's an unknown.

2) The D-Corps is not quite as strong as 2022 but it's close. The biggest missing piece is Byram who was fantastic in those playoffs, especially the Final.

2022

Toews / Makar
Girard / Manson
Byram /E Johnson

(J Johnson replaced Girard after his sternum was broken in Round 2)

2025

Toews / Makar
Girard / Malinski
Lindgren / Manson

3) Necas is magical to watch - particularly in combination with MacK and Makar. I sincerely feel badly for Carolina fans that the Canes gave him up. But I know that he's been a disappointment in past playoffs. Is that an experience thing or does he need to simplify his game? Or does he simplify his game but that makes him less effective? Or, as his production numbers have indicated, is he a better player now? I'd love to hear Canes fans weigh in on this.
- FoppaForever

you're looking for a guy named bingo.

you're looking for a guy named bingo.
- drew_doubty

Yep, that was the main person I had in mind.

My Oilers are not even in my top 4! What a disaster!!!

All I can say, if Dallas and Avs are a first round meeting, that is probably the best series of this year's playoffs (fan of neither, but that is must watch TV). Which again the current play-off set up is a joke. Stack em up 1-8 and reseed them after every round so the conference finals are best on best. This is not a knock on Winnipeg.

While you cannot count out the Oilers of Vegas...Going with the Avs.

Avs and Cats in the Finals. Cats win