Stanley Cup Playoffs predictions by NHL.com

[Spyro Gyra]

16 writers, editors pick Cup, Conn Smythe winner, all 8 opening-round series

Blues aren't getting a whole lot of love from these folks. Hopefully, the boys can prove them wrong!

READ THE PREDICTIONS

[theograce]

It’s a really tough year for predictions. It’s going to be so much fun

[skilles]

I can't imagine 2nd wildcard team generally get much love.

[ForumPolice]

I can't imagine 2nd wildcard team generally get much love.

I'm not saying he's the be all end all but I would like our chances a lot more with a healthy Holloway in there

[dhsux]

Might not be seeing this right but provided there's no real upset who wins between EDM and LA.....also Avs and Stars....I think these are toss ups....of 128 picks there are 9 valid upsets predicted.

I find that extremely lazy or lame or both.

We all know who's favored....but is that what is actually going to happen?

[Spyro Gyra]

I can't imagine 2nd wildcard team generally get much love.

I'm not saying he's the be all end all but I would like our chances a lot more with a healthy Holloway in there

Indeed, I totally agree. His absence is going to make a world of difference.

[skilles]

I can't imagine 2nd wildcard team generally get much love.

I'm not saying he's the be all end all but I would like our chances a lot more with a healthy Holloway in there

I don't like our chances either way to be honest and that's OK. We are in a good spot and growing as a team and have no doubt taken a huge step in the right direction. I do wish Holloway would be in there gaining the experience though.

[82birds]

16 writers, editors pick Cup, Conn Smythe winner, all 8 opening-round series

Blues aren't getting a whole lot of love from these folks. Hopefully, the boys can prove them wrong!

READ THE PREDICTIONS

amen to that, bro'

[hullie]

It’s a really tough year for predictions. It’s going to be so much fun

You should definitely know that. Hahahaha

[smegma]

Someone send them a poster of the lady from Major League with 16 pull off stickers! With the "You guys stink" thought bubble.

[JB2011]

I can't imagine 2nd wildcard team generally get much love.

I'm not saying he's the be all end all but I would like our chances a lot more with a healthy Holloway in there

+1

Those predictions are nothing more than click bait. They're entertaining to read, but that's it.

[Harry S Deals]

I was watching On The Fly Steve Konroyd picked the Blues to upset the Jets, citing goaltending, Blues playing hot, Monte etc. Nothing in the NHL surprises me during the Cup run. I wouldnt put down money on the Blues but i also wouldnt be shocked

[George Zipp]

Might not be seeing this right but provided there's no real upset who wins between EDM and LA.....also Avs and Stars....I think these are toss ups....of 128 picks there are 9 valid upsets predicted.

I find that extremely lazy or lame or both.

We all know who's favored....but is that what is actually going to happen?

Feel like NHL, much more so than the NBA, MLB, NFL and event NCAA you see many more upsets in the first round in a typical year. I'm going to go back and take a look at some of the data and see what I can fish out. I know 8 seeds have won the Cup. The Kings come to mind. Heard Bruce Boudreau on Sirius NHL radio yesterday and they were chatting with him about the Habs Caps series back circa 2010is when Halak stole the series singlehandedly. Pretty sure the Habs were a much lower seed.

However, the converse can be true. This year's NCAA hoops was chalk full of chalk. Final four was all 1 seeds. There were a sliver of upsets all tourney. It was probably an outlier.

My point is guys who put these things out are looking for clicks. ESPN will have one out today most likely and I expect to see about the same thing.

[HighStick]

If the Blues make it passed the first round I guess anything can happen. I don't think this is a Cup team today but they are set up to be a top team and battle for the Cup in the very near future.

[callitwhatyouwant]

The West is a bloodbath this year. The Blues were an anomaly when they won the cup and all those series getting extended 6 and 7 games. If that happens again, good luck to whoever gets out of the west.

Dallas can win it and is my pick and on a 7 game losing skid
Avs has been there and can win it with their firepower and one of the top 3 players
Vegas has been there and can win it
Edmonton has 2 of the best 3 players in the league
Winnipeg is the flippin Presidents cup trophy winner and has what should be the MVP of the league in Helly
Kings are unbeatable at home so they present problems
Blues are the hottest team post 4 nations, their question mark is how much damage not having Holloway does to their 4 line mentality

Mild. I don't even feel confident saying this, because pre injuries they were one of the most cohesive teams in the league, they got their guys back so it's a question whether they can find their mojo like austin powers did.


The East while having a couple good teams, is significantly worse than the west in every way. There are only 3 teams in the West that had a regulation losing record vs the east this year, and thats the sharks hawks and perds. That's saying something. But because of that, it might benefit whoever comes out of the East because they might have more juice in the finals

[11WSChamps]

With a healthy Holloway you'd have two functioning scoring lines to throw out there and give the Blues a punchers chance given Binnington stands on his head.

Without him I feel the Jets will be very good at shutting down what scoring talent we have on a consistent basis.

Going to have to get a lot out of Snuggerud and Bolduc in their first taste of playoff hockey to have a chance.