Fansided

Building the ultimate NHL playoff team from 2018 contenders

By Connor Ulrey

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: The Washington Capitals celebrate their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: The Washington Capitals celebrate their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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From the NHL teams that held spots in the postseason, which coach and players would make up the ultimate playoff contender?

Cue the sad music, or the Titanic music, whichever fits the scene. Another NHL season draws to a close, and the long wait for goal songs and playoff beards begins.

In what was a historic year for the league both conversationally and on-ice, the NHL has hit a new level. We got a really fun Cup Final matchup that pitted the most successful expansion team of all time against a legend waiting and working for his first chance at lifting the Cup.

It was a postseason to remember with highlights in every round on the road to the Final — from Vegas sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and going on to lose just two games en route to the Final, to the Capitals bouncing back from 2-0 down in the first round to becoming road warriors dominating every stretch of play en route to their first Cup berth in two decades.

Everything from an outright slugfest between Nashville and Winnipeg in the Western Conference Semifinals to a trio of Game 7s, hockey was at its peak over the course of the past month.

After the Capitals closed out the Cup Final in Vegas on Thursday night, the celebration began and the retrospective on another league season is underway.

But let’s pause for a second and have some fun. If we took two goaltenders, 12 forwards, six defensemen and a coach and formed a playoff super team from this year’s postseason contenders, who would make up the best team?

What have you done for me lately? Let’s dive into it.

LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: The scoreboard displays a “THANK YOU VEGAS” message before Game Four of the Western Conference Finals between the Winnipeg Jets and the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: The scoreboard displays a “THANK YOU VEGAS” message before Game Four of the Western Conference Finals between the Winnipeg Jets and the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Arena

T-Mobile Arena

How could we not go to Vegas to start? There were a lot of great atmospheres in the league this postseason. Bridgestone Arena is huge for the Nashville Predators and creates an insane scene for playoff hockey. The same could be said for Bell MTS Place, which was rocking for the Winnipeg Jets’ run to the Western Conference Final.

Vegas was a homebody this postseason. We’re talking atmospheres, and in their first postseason appearance, the Golden Knights had crowds for every game at T-Mobile Arena.

Add in the insanity that was the pregame entertainment from the Golden Knight on the ice — I mean, he cut a jet in half — and the Knights went above and beyond. I can’t say I wouldn’t want to catch a game in Sin City.

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Gnash, mascot of the Nashville Predators, holds a broom after a Predators sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-1 Predator victory in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Gnash, mascot of the Nashville Predators, holds a broom after a Predators sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-1 Predator victory in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Mascot

Gnash

It’s hard to talk about Mascot production and not look at Nashville. Gnash is fundamental to the Predators and makes everything in the city fun. After their run last year to the Cup Final, the Predators fell at home in Game 7 to Winnipeg and went golfing early, but Gnash lives, breathes and sleeps hockey.

He also didn’t forget to give credit to former Preds coach Barry Trotz:

Gnash has upped the antics since taking the mantle as mascot for the Predators and in their boom of success has been a showstopper. It’s hard to top him currently in the mascot landscape!

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