Who’s in and who’s out if NHL playoffs started today
By Tyler Brown
Central Division
1. Nashville Predators
Last season’s Cinderella run was no fluke; the Preds are for real. Nashville (44-14-9) boasts one of the best blue lines in the NHL and four lines of talented forwards who roll over opposing teams with their imposing depth. PK Subban is again one of the best at what he does in the NHL. He joins the severely underrated Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis to form the highest-rated defense in the NHL, allowing a stingy 170 goals against, best in the league.
Nashville’s platoon of forwards is led by the rangy Ryan Johansson, Swedish sniper Filip Forsberg and sparkplug Victor Arvidsson. The unit received a shot in the arm through the aggressive moves of GM David Poile, who went out and got Kyle Turris and Ryan Hartman to make sure that the Preds’ success in 2017 was no one time affair.
2. Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg (41-17-9) has been the trendy pick for a breakout team for what seems like years. This year, the Jets finally put it all together and put up numbers to back up the talent that has been assembled way up north in the NHL’s smallest market. Deep at forward and boasting former No. 2 pick Patrick Laine, assists machine Blake Wheeler, and the speedy Nik Ehlers, it’s easy to forget they also have superstar in the making Mark Schefiele, trade acquisition Paul Stasny and rookie Kyle Connor.
A hulking defense core led by Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers is punishing to play against for opposing forwards and will wear down teams in the long seven-game series of the NHL playoffs. Long considered one of the most electric arena atmospheres in the NHL, get ready for all of Canada to get behind this team as the playoffs start.
3. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have been a perennially a good team that hasn’t yet made the leap to greatness. Last year’s disappointment at an early exit for Minnesota (38-22-7) and the failed acquisition of Martin Hanzal at the deadline last year led the Wild to be timid at the deadline this year, but make no mistake; this team is deep and dangerous. Led by a resurgent Eric Staal and the criminally underrated Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker, the Wild will lean heavily on their sixth-rated powerplay to score and on minute munching defenseman Ryan Suter to prevent them.
If they go deep, Chuck Fletcher will be a genius for staying pat. If they don’t, he may be looking for a new job in the summer.