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Ranking each Stanley Cup playoff team’s chances of winning it all

By Adam Strangis

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created with a smartphone.) The Stanley Cup is seen on display during the PreGame
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created with a smartphone.) The Stanley Cup is seen on display during the PreGame /
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COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 17: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets head up ice with the puck against the Ottawa Senators on March 17, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Artemi Panarin;Cam Atkinson
COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 17: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets head up ice with the puck against the Ottawa Senators on March 17, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Artemi Panarin;Cam Atkinson /

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Fourth place in Metro, 45-30-7

Why they can win – They might be a lower seed, but the Blue Jackets are a dangerous squad that has plenty of depth to roll out in a seven game series. The forwards are led by Artemi Panarin (Chicago could use a young player like that, couldn’t it?) who wasn’t fazed by being traded this past off-season. He is almost certainly the most talented forward for the Jackets, but they have plenty of other rock solid forwards like Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and Pierre-Luc Dubois. They are one of the lowest scoring teams left, but that isn’t the biggest deficiency in the postseason when games tend to be slower paced.

Young stud Seth Jones is the anchor of the defense, and Columbus did well to add Ian Cole at the trade deadline to round out the defense. Cole knows what it takes to win the Cup as he’s won the past two with division rival Pittsburgh. Zach Werenski and Jack Johnson are also fine players, while the last line of defense is enigmatic goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has enjoyed another good season and looks to lead his squad deeper into the playoffs in 2018.

Why they can’t – Aside from Panarin, they lack any high-end scoring threat. They don’t have another forward that eclipsed 50 points, although defenseman Seth Jones did. Can they score enough to string together four straight series victories? It seems unlikely that they can hang with teams like the Penguins, Bruins, Leafs and Lightning when those teams are so much more talented up front. Their defense isn’t good enough to suffocate those clubs and their goalie doesn’t exactly have a reputation for rising up in the postseason. Pittsburgh especially lurks as a bogeyman in the first round.

X Factor – Sergei Bobrosky: There’s really no other player this could be for the Jackets. Bobrovsky has been flat out miserable in the postseason, especially last year. Columbus bowed out to the eventual champs in a mere five games but Bobrovsky was a disaster after having taken home the Vezina trophy for the regular season. He had an insanely bad 3.88 goals against and an .882 save percentage. If he plays like that again, the Jackets will make another quick exit. If he plays up to his potential, Columbus could at least compete with any team in the field.

First Round Matchup – Washington Capitals; Caps won regular season 3-1

Columbus is up against it in the first round, although they night be happy to not see Pittsburgh. The Blue Jackets appear to be ill-matched against the Capitals, although the Caps only won four more games during the regular season. Netminder Sergei Bobrovsky has the chance to redeem himself after falling on his face in previous years. If he can carry the Jackets to the upset, much of the past would be forgiven.

Prediction –  Capitals in 6

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