The hype is constructing for this best-on-best Stanley Cup Remaining. I’m positive you’ve seen this hype out on the streets like I’ve, at bus stops, espresso retailers, and hospital examination rooms.
It’s the league’s most immovable playoff machine versus the league’s most unstoppable participant — one thing’s gotta give.
In an effort to empirically decide which workforce has the higher hand on this collection, I assembled an All-Cup-Remaining Group, choosing the most effective participant from every workforce at each place.
Hopefully, it’ll assist present some experience to the numerous discussions occurring on the streets of North America.
Middle – Connor McDavid, Oilers
McDavid is the apparent option to be within the beginning lineup on the heart place on this collection.
In his 16 video games this postseason, he’s had 26 factors, with six objectives and 20 assists. Moreover, he’s a +10 in his time on ice. It goes with out saying that he’s the primary engine of this Oilers offense.
McDavid, 28 years previous, is taking part in in his seventh postseason for Edmonton. Throughout this postseason, McDavid joined the Oilers leaderboard for all-time playoff factors, the place he now ranks fifth behind Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Glenn Anderson.
He leads the pack in odds for the Conn Smythe. BetMGM has him at +100 to win the Trophy.
2nd Line C: Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
Third Line C: Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
4th Line C: Sam Bennett, Panthers
Left Wing – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers
Edmonton’s 32-year-old ahead Nugent-Hopkins narrowly leads a surprisingly competent group of left-wing forwards on this Cup Remaining collection.
Nicknamed ‘The Nuge,’ he’s change into a flexible utility participant for the Oilers on this postseason. McDavid referred to as him a “Swiss-Military Knife” when speaking to reporters after Sport 3 of the Western Convention Finals.
“[He’s] simply strong general, making performs, doing his factor, he’s requested to do all the pieces each single night time, he’s taking part in nice,” McDavid mentioned.
He made huge performs within the final collection in opposition to the Dallas Stars, delivering multi-point video games within the first 4 of the collection.
Nugent-Hopkins has 18 factors within the postseason, with 5 objectives and 13 assists. He was drafted by Edmonton first general within the 2011 entry-level draft.
2nd Line LW: Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers
Third Line LW: Evander Kane, Oilers
4th Line LW: Jeff Skinner, Oilers
Proper Wing – Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
From my viewpoint, Tkachuk could be the primary general decide in a draft of essentially the most annoying gamers within the NHL, however the truth that he’s one of many league’s most elite gamers could be essentially the most irritating factor about him.
It could really feel prefer it’s been a barely quieter playoffs for the 27-year-old in comparison with final 12 months, however the stats don’t inform the identical story.
By way of 17 video games this postseason, he’s posted 16 factors, comprised of 5 objectives and 11 assists. In 22 video games final postseason, he had six objectives and 16 assists.
The arrival of a brand new irritant on the Panthers roster, in Brad Marchand, has dampened the discourse on Tkachuk. If that’s the case, it’s additionally dampened his penalty minutes, the place Marchand now leads with 46 whereas Tkachuk solely has 29. In final 12 months’s playoffs, he led with 31.
2nd Line RW: Brad Marchand, Panthers
Third Line RW: Sam Reinhart, Panthers
4th Line RW: Corey Perry, Oilers
Left-Shot Defenseman – Gustav Forsling, Panthers
Florida’s 28-year-old Swedish left-shot defenseman Gustav Forsling is without doubt one of the finest lockdown defenders within the playoffs.
He’s received essentially the most pictures blocked and most takeaways of any defenseman on the Panthers. He additionally leads all of Florida’s defensemen in plus-minus with a +10 in 378 minutes performed.
In a narrative in the course of the Panthers’ semifinals collection in opposition to the Maple Leafs, the Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson described his play as “wizardry.”
“The Florida Panthers’ prime defenseman is so sound together with his actions, so correct together with his positioning, that his manufacturing comes quietly,” McPherson wrote.
That is Forsling’s fifth postseason run with Florida.
2nd-pairing LD: Mattias Ekholm, Oilers
Third-pairing LD: Niko Mikkola, Panthers
Proper-Shot Defenseman – Evan Bouchard, Oilers
Bouchard has change into one of the vital crucial gamers within the Oilers’ success this postseason.
Offensively, he’s change into an unimaginable weapon. He’s a +9 by means of 16 video games this postseason, and he’s logged 17 factors with six objectives and 11 assists. He additionally has the best objectives above anticipated of any participant within the postseason, with 4.5.
However the superior stats additionally say he’s top-of-the-line defensemen on this collection.
Amongst certified defenseman (who’ve performed greater than 250 minutes within the playoffs), he has one of many lowest one-ice anticipated objectives per recreation with 2.53. He has the second-best on-ice anticipated aim differentials within the league with a +9. And in easy stats, he has essentially the most takeaways within the playoffs, with 16.
Bouchard was drafted tenth general by Edmonton in 2018.
2nd-pairing RD: Aaron Ekblad, Panthers
Third-pairing RD: Seth Jones, Panthers
Goalie – Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers
It shouldn’t be shocking that Bobrovsky’s the decide right here in web, given the state of issues on the opposite facet of the ice.
However even with the subpar goaltending in Edmonton, Bobrovsky’s nonetheless an elite goalie worthy of beginning on this workforce of make-believe. He’s put up spectacular numbers whereas having far and away essentially the most ice time of any goalie within the postseason.
He’s received an outrageous 8.5 objectives saved above anticipated, second behind Washington’s Logan Thompson, and a 1.48 wins above alternative, additionally second behind Thompson.
What’s additionally spectacular is that Bobrovsky’s doing all this with one of many worst shot-blocking percentages from the defenseman in entrance of him.
Solely 22.19% of shot makes an attempt in opposition to Bobrovsky have been blocked by teammates, the fourth lowest within the NHL amongst goaltenders who’ve began at the very least six video games this playoffs. Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has 23.67% for reference.
Backup Goaltender: Stuart Skinner, Oilers
