2022 Stanley Cup playoffs – Answering the most important questions heading into convention finals spherical

The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs are right down to their closing 4 groups, because the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning battle it out within the East, whereas the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers match up within the West — and if Sport 1 of that sequence is any indication, we’re in for a wild sequence.

After all, the primary two rounds have been incredible as properly. A number of the sport’s greatest stars have shined brightest, some pending free brokers have made themselves some cash, and new postseason heroes have been revealed.

Because the penultimate spherical of the event will get rolling, we’re answering the most important lingering questions on the market — and looking forward to the Stanley Cup Closing and the offseason past.

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Why are the Lightning so good within the playoffs? Are they simply destined to win three straight Cups?

In the event you sweep the Presidents’ Trophy winner — and do it with out certainly one of your finest gamers (Brayden Point) — then yeah, you are destined for one thing particular. An enormous a part of the Lightning’s success has stemmed from their previous failures. In 2019, they have been the highest regular-season staff that got swept out of the playoffs by the staff they’d least anticipated (Columbus Blue Jackets). They usually found out a technique to not let that occur once more.

Tampa Bay is as well-constructed as it’s well-coached. Manufacturing comes from all over the place, however the roster is dotted with big-time gamers who know how one can make big-time performs in big-time video games. The largest being their goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy, who can get right into a scary-stingy groove this time of 12 months.

Now that the Lightning have gained, and gained once more, they do not carry the burdens that groups craving for that first Cup as a core battle with. The Lightning have had their battles — a few of them inner. It hasn’t been unusual in Tampa for gamers to name out one another, and even the teaching employees. However all of that results in a stage of belief and confidence that they will get via any opponent. The Lightning’s will to win is tangible. You see it when their finest gamers sacrifice their our bodies blocking photographs, heading again to the bench, at all times discovering a technique to come again out to battle for one another.

Is Igor Shesterkin again to being the man who can carry the Rangers on a nightly foundation?

Quick reply: Sure. Towards the tip of the common season, once I was working a Rangers-Lightning sport, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper agreed that Shesterkin was one of the best goalie this season. However then he pointed to a mural within the hallway of Vasilevskiy celebrating the Stanley Cup with teammates. “However till he does that,” Cooper mentioned, “my man is one of the best.”

Although it was an inauspicious begin for Shesterkin within the postseason, the doubtless Vezina winner has rebounded in an enormous means, posting a .949 save share towards Carolina up to now spherical. The Rangers usually gave up too many high-quality possibilities in entrance of him, however Shesterkin steadied the ship.

One vital factor to recollect about Shesterkin is that regardless of being 26 and having a good quantity of professional and high-level expertise, he was not the predominant starter on any of his KHL groups or with the Russia nationwide staff. He usually has needed to share the web. So maybe the playoffs required a psychological adjustment.

One factor I’ve appreciated in regards to the Rangers is coach Gerard Gallant’s candor. After profitable the Carolina sequence, Gallant admitted that whereas he brushed apart the query of “expertise” for his staff within the first spherical towards Pittsburgh, privately he really was apprehensive about it. That is not an issue.

Gallant additionally admitted that he pulled Shesterkin in two straight video games towards the Penguins as a result of he needed to maintain him assured and protect him mentally. That call has paid off, as Shesterkin appears as assured and competent as ever getting into what ought to be an exhilarating showdown with Vasilevskiy.

Any on-ice traits you’ve got seen on this postseason?

Although we have seen a handful of standout goaltending performances, this postseason feels all in regards to the offense. And also you’re about to see much more of it within the Western Convention finals between the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers — Sport 1 was clearly on development there.

The Battle of Alberta undoubtedly helped skew the numbers. It had been 34 years since there was a sequence with 45 targets scored that lasted solely 5 video games.

One other development is that no staff is out of it till it is actually out of it, which appears to be the Rangers’ mantra, as they’ve gone 5-Zero in elimination video games this spring. Almost 40% of video games performed to this point (28 of 73) have featured a staff getting back from a deficit to win.

What in regards to the officiating?

Everybody goes to search out complaints about officiating. It is the NHL. It is the playoffs. One factor that is been obvious: The refs have not been placing the whistle away. That is been a development lately. In eight of the previous 10 seasons, there have been extra power-play alternatives per sport within the playoffs than within the common season. We’re seeing loads of penalties known as, and in huge video games. Contemplate there have been 4 penalties known as (two for every staff) in Sport 7 between the Hurricanes and Rangers on Monday … simply within the first interval.

One factor that hasn’t been over-disciplined: excessive hits that are not instantly concentrating on the pinnacle. Essentially the most frequent hitter in these conditions has been Jacob Trouba. The Rangers defenseman levied hits towards Sidney Crosby, which sidelined the Penguins captain for Sport 6 of the primary spherical, and Seth Jarvis, which knocked the Canes rookie out of Sport 7 within the second spherical.

Each Crosby and Jarvis sustained upper-body accidents, and sources inform ESPN each gamers entered concussion protocol. One development picked up by ScoutingtheRefs, a web site that tracks officers, is that Wes McCauley was the referee for each of these video games, in addition to for Trouba’s huge hit on Max Domi in Sport 4. McCauley, thought-about among the best referees within the NHL, didn’t name penalties on any of these performs. It is also value noting that Trouba didn’t obtain supplemental self-discipline for the hits.

Every other sizzling matters?

Properly, there’s the “kick or no kick” controversy within the deciding sport of the Battle of Alberta. Within the days following Blake Coleman‘s disallowed objective, that is all anybody needed to speak about — or, actually, opine about — on the rink.

Most gamers and coaches I talked to imagine the objective ought to have counted, particularly since Coleman by no means lifted his skate off the ice in a “distinct kicking movement.” I’ve heard just a few individuals who thought it was the suitable name (and sure, individuals exterior of Edmonton). That simply reveals how subjective it was, and maybe one thing we have to revisit this offseason. It actually jogs my memory of the “catch or no catch” conundrum from my time as an NFL beat author. And for the document, the final word name on the objective was made by the NHL’s centralized scenario room, not the on-ice officers.

One factor a number of coaches have commented to our broadcasting crew about is goaltender interference. They do not like the best way the foundations are set, the place the onus falls on the teaching employees to name a problem, particularly on one thing that’s as subjective as goaltender interference. Most coaches do not thoughts being penalized for calling a problem for offsides that’s unsuccessful. That is clear-cut. However to go on a penalty kill due to a distinction of opinion on what’s a murky subject anyway? That appears unsuitable.

How do you describe what we have seen from Connor McDavid to this point?

Brilliance. Dominance. Unreal.

McDavid is the purest expertise within the sport right this moment, full cease. The best gamers all do one thing that no person else can replicate. It is their signature side of dominance. McDavid’s is making prime ability performs at prime speeds. We have by no means seen something prefer it.

And naturally, the manufacturing has adopted. I typically really feel dangerous for Leon Draisaitl, who dazzles in McDavid’s shadow. They honestly are among the best duos in league historical past. Draisaitl and McDavid mixed for 52 factors via the primary two playoff rounds. What they’re each doing is historic. They grew to become the fifth and sixth gamers in league historical past to document a minimum of 26 factors in 12 playoff video games, following Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier and Rick Middleton.

Apart from McDavid, who’re another gamers who’ve “wowed” you?

When Seth Jarvis arrived at Hurricanes coaching camp this season, the staff did not anticipate him to compete for a roster spot. However the then-teenager was so spectacular, the staff confronted a conundrum. He was too good for juniors, the place he would dominate the competitors and due to this fact not acquire a lot from a growth perspective. However he additionally wasn’t AHL-eligible. So he began within the NHL, and has proved, particularly in these playoffs, that he belongs. He is fearless, performs an aggressive sport that fits the Canes’ fashion and in addition has a scoring contact. He leads all rookies with three targets and eight factors; no different rookie has multiple objective this postseason.

When it comes to goalies, the Stars’ Jake Oettinger was the first-round star (extra on him in a bit). In the meantime Jordan Binnington of the Blues wrote one other chapter in his unbelievable story of resilience and triumph. Binnington’s profession has been a curler coaster thus far, which uniquely ready him to step in halfway via the primary spherical and shut out the sequence towards the Wild. He performed extraordinarily properly till he was knocked out of the Colorado sequence with a knee harm. Binnington has confidence in himself, regardless of the circumstance. Once I sat down with him just a few weeks earlier than the playoffs, I requested if he ever feared dropping his beginning job. “No, by no means,” he mentioned with out hesitation, although, on the time, he had misplaced his beginning job to Ville Husso.

Trying on the groups nonetheless alive, there have been instances within the first spherical towards Pittsburgh, and early within the Carolina sequence, when individuals started questioning the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad, who at instances appeared a bit too quiet. Every time, Zibanejad answered these questions, enjoying an assured sport whereas additionally scoring within the clutch. However the participant who has stood out most to me on the Rangers, particularly watching him at ice stage, is Ryan Lindgren. He is clearly battling via a lower-body harm — and appears to be having points most nights, usually having to depart the bench — however is ultracompetitive each shift. You possibly can actually see the dedication on his face.

The Lightning have been aggressive on the commerce deadline, and that appears to have paid off big-time. Nick Paul, particularly, suits the Tampa Bay mildew so properly. Corey Perry, at age 37, remains to be the man to attain these greasy targets when the Lightning want him.

And Nathan MacKinnon — I can not assist however consider the Colorado ahead’s dejection throughout his elimination information convention final 12 months, when he lamented that he could be getting into his ninth 12 months within the league and “hasn’t gained s—.” MacKinnon has channeled that frustration right into a gutsy, extremely productive postseason to this point. And teammate Cale Makar appears to dazzle each evening too. So many instances we have seen Makar do one thing so onerous and make it look really easy.

Which pending free brokers have made themselves some cash this postseason?

Oettinger grew to become a family title in a single evening. That is what a 64-save Sport 7 efficiency will do for you. The Stars have been looking for their goaltending answer over the previous a number of offseasons they usually started this season with three NHL goalies, which meant they actually had zero. This summer time they will not face that query. They’ll pay the 23-year-old Oettinger, who’s coming off a three-year deal that paid him lower than $1 million yearly, and really feel assured he is the long-term reply in internet.

Dallas has transitioned rapidly to a brand new core, consisting of Oettinger, Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz. If the Stars can work out how one can shed a few of their bloated veteran contracts, they need to be aggressive for the foreseeable future.

Evander Kane goes to have an fascinating free company. Given all of his baggage this season, Kane simply may have been one other one-year, prove-it deal for the veterans minimal. However we all know the NHL is a performance-based league. The truth that Kane has 12 targets in 11 video games to this point for the Oilers within the playoffs, and hasn’t been a distraction off the ice, doubtless means there can be a common supervisor keen to pay him nearer to the extent dictated by his play this summer time, and will get him an additional 12 months or two of assurance tacked onto the contract.

No staff hit on its pre-trade deadline strikes fairly just like the Rangers. Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, Frank Vatrano and Justin Braun have all been so vital to New York, that coach Gerard Gallant informed me, “I am undecided how we gained in our first 50 video games with out them.” Out of the group, I believe Copp earns the most important contract this summer time, and has a great probability to remain in New York.

What are your picks for the 2 convention finals?

The Avalanche-Oilers sequence goes to be a doozy offensively, and we all know it has the star juice. MacKinnon and McDavid will steal the headlines, however it should come right down to the supporting forged for each groups. The Avs, I imagine, are deeper. And whereas each groups have journeyman goaltenders main the best way, I belief Darcy Kuemper greater than Mike Smith at this level.

The Lightning and Rangers have loads of historical past, particularly with so many gamers over time swapping New York for Tampa Bay. The Rangers have an important former Lightning participant on their roster: glue man Barclay Goodrow, who made a miraculous restoration from a damaged bone in his foot or ankle to be accessible in Sport 6 of the second spherical. The Rangers’ children have proven up, however the Lightning’s expertise will win out.

And what in regards to the Stanley Cup Closing?

It is by no means smart to take a untimely victory lap, however alas, right here we go. Forward of the season I picked Colorado over Tampa Bay within the Closing, and I am pondering my prediction nonetheless appears fairly sound.

The development we have seen with latest Cup winners is that they’ve been nice regular-season groups for some time, however needed to undergo some playoff heartbreak earlier than getting over the hump. That was Washington. That was St. Louis. That was Tampa Bay earlier than the Lightning gained back-to-back titles. Whereas I am not counting out the Lightning to win a 3rd straight — which might qualify as a dynastic run, particularly within the wage cap period, and particularly since two of the seasons have been impacted by the pandemic, making it arguably even more durable given the uncertainty and adversity — it looks like Colorado’s time.

After consecutive second-round exits, the Avalanche have discovered their playoff classes. They’re due. MacKinnon and Makar are going to will them there.

What is going on on with the teaching market?

Yearly, there is a explicit title that every one groups go gaga over. This 12 months, it is Barry Trotz, who surprisingly was let go by the Islanders. For the document, I’m informed there’s nothing nefarious to the Trotz-Lou Lamoriello divorce. It was only a conflict of philosophies … and egos.

Trotz could be the highest title on most groups’ lists, and you may see his title floated for interviews and as a candidate for a number of vacancies. Nevertheless, a number of individuals within the league have recommended to me they would not be shocked if there is a facet deal already in place for Trotz to educate in Vegas. That is simply the best way the Golden Knights do enterprise.

I believe that may be a wise transfer by the Golden Knights, who want some critical restore work of their locker room morale. A giant subject on the finish of final season was a mistrust between Robin Lehner and the teaching employees, and I do know Lehner did not really feel snug with the best way he was handled. The Golden Knights have made an enormous funding in Lehner, who’s making $5 million per 12 months via the 2024-25 season. Lehner had certainly one of his finest seasons when Trotz coached him in Lengthy Island. Trotz is the kind of coach who can empower and convey out one of the best in his gamers, plenty of it through empathy.

Most groups are ready for the dominoes to fall on Trotz, however it’s early within the teaching cycle. Sometimes first interviews and conferences get finished on the scouting mix in Buffalo, which is occurring proper now.

Two coaches who everybody believes can be behind a bench subsequent season: Rick Tocchet and John Tortorella. For Tortorella particularly, the match must make sense, as I imagine his desire is to remain on the East Coast. Tocchet was near taking up Dallas midseason when administration thought-about a change from Rick Bowness. I used to be informed Tocchet and the Stars have been in superior talks however couldn’t agree on contract phrases.

Every other names to keep watch over?

Fairly just a few. Now that the Blues are eradicated, I would not be shocked if assistant coach Jim Montgomery will get just a few calls. Montgomery, whose time in Dallas ended due to “unprofessional conduct,” has gone to rehab and is in a a lot totally different place than he was 2½ years in the past. I am undecided if he’ll get a head-coaching job this spherical, however I do suppose there can be curiosity.

Calgary’s elimination additionally opens the door for Kirk Mueller to get some appears. Mike Vellucci, a well-respected assistant in Pittsburgh, has already proved he can win as a head coach within the OHL and is beginning to generate buzz. An up-and-coming title that is been on the market for some time is Spencer Carbery, who spent final 12 months as an assistant in Toronto. And I would not low cost this being the summer time that common managers and homeowners are extra keen to look exterior the field, and herald girls or minority candidates who would not beforehand have been thought-about. Name it the Jim Rutherford impact.

Has Jay Woodcroft or Andrew Brunette earned a everlasting head-coaching gig?

Taking Connor McDavid to his first convention finals in seven years? That alone earns Woodcroft a brand new contract. I imagine Woodcroft might need already sealed the job earlier than that with how he restructured the Oilers’ protection — to really have construction — and maximized the expertise round McDavid and Draisaitl. The very fact the Oilers have finished all of it with subpar goaltending, which is normally a dagger for coaches, proves Woodcroft is the suitable particular person for Edmonton.

As for Brunette? I might prefer to see him get the everlasting head-coaching job in Florida. Little doubt a second-round exit for a Presidents’ Trophy-winning staff is disappointing — particularly when Florida’s offense, probably the most prolific for the reason that 1990s Penguins, inexplicably dried up on the unsuitable time. However Brunette took over beneath difficult circumstances — the sudden departure of future Corridor of Famer Joel Quenneville, whereas the staff was off to a 7-Zero begin — and managed to keep up the trajectory and elevate the staff to new heights.

I bought the sense gamers revered Brunette and responded properly to his teaching fashion. That mentioned, I do not know if anybody — Brunette included — is aware of how that is going to play out. Maybe possession appears to take an enormous swing for an skilled coach, and even petitions the league to permit Quenneville to return. This previous season was the time for Florida to go all-in, with extensions to Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe about to kick in. So this summer time can be one for giant selections, throughout.

Let’s speak about a number of the groups which have been eradicated. What is going on to occur with the Penguins this summer time?

To me, the Penguins are the most important story simmering within the NHL proper now. Pittsburgh had been making an attempt all spring to fend off the storyline of this being its core’s “final dance.” However the fact is, I imagine it was.

Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin hit free company on July 13, and preliminary talks between each gamers’ camps and Penguins administration have felt fractured. They aren’t aligned on cash, nor time period, and there is a respectable probability each gamers stroll away this summer time. There’s going to be a ripple impact for Sidney Crosby, who’s beneath contract for 3 extra years. In accordance with sources, Crosby is not happy if his buddies are being disrespected, and who is aware of how that would have an effect on the tip of his tenure in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins did make an vital transfer, re-signing Bryan Rust on very amenable phrases for either side: six years, with a median annual worth of $5.125 million. Rust may have obtained a better cap hit on the open market, however he clearly needed to remain in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins are glad to maintain round a hardworking participant who overachieved on his earlier contract. Rust has been an important linemate for Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

With the potential cap financial savings from Letang and Malkin, the Penguins would possibly have the ability to retool on the fly. Mike Sullivan is among the finest coaches within the sport, and has perfected a next-man-up mentality with that group (which, I ought to point out, has weathered unrelenting harm woes over the previous few seasons). However the Penguins will look totally different subsequent season.

And the Leafs?

There was some shock within the hockey world that the Leafs opted for management stability after one more first-round playoff loss. They’re now 0-9 in elimination video games over the previous 5 years and have not gained a playoff sequence since 2004. Nevertheless there isn’t any disgrace in the best way they misplaced this 12 months, in Sport 7 of a hard-fought sequence with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. And that’s the reason it was introduced each GM Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe are returning. However make no mistake, there may be little room for error subsequent season.

So what occurs between every now and then? Change has to occur. A 3rd of the staff is on expiring contracts. Jason Spezza, a beloved veteran who made an indelible influence within the locker room, introduced his retirement and can be part of the entrance workplace in an advisory position. Ilya Mikheyev, who scored 21 targets in 53 video games, in all probability priced his means out of Toronto. The Leafs have already inked Mark Giordano to an inexpensive extension, however a very powerful UFA is Jack Campbell. The Leafs must resolve in the event that they need to hold the 27-year-old goaltender, however the larger query is, for the way a lot?

Ideally the Leafs need to fill some roster holes with younger gamers throughout the group, which is useful salarywise and sensible for long-term growth. That additionally may clear the best way to herald free brokers, however for the reason that staff is up towards the wage cap, there’s nonetheless maneuvering to be finished. Does Toronto discover a commerce marketplace for William Nylander? Do the Leafs clear $3.5 million by parting with the uber-versatile Alexander Kerfoot? Can they discover any answer for his or her Petr Mrazek conundrum?

No person is kind of certain what Toronto will do, however the staff cannot run it again with the very same roster, that is for certain.

What in regards to the Bruins?

Boston had one of many extra perplexing season-end availabilities that I’ve watched this 12 months. It is onerous to fault the Bruins on their first-round, seven-game exit to the Canes. Boston performed onerous, however Carolina was just a bit higher in the long run. Cam Neely appeared to counsel Bruce Cassidy’s job standing wasn’t sure, which shocked lots of people in hockey, who view Cassidy as among the best coaches within the sport.

“I believe we’ve got to have a look at making some adjustments so far as how we play and the best way we do a number of the issues,” Neely mentioned at his season-end session with reporters. “I believe Bruce is a incredible coach. He is introduced plenty of success to this group. I like him as a coach. We’ll see the place it goes. However I do suppose we have to make some adjustments.”

A few of these adjustments can be dictated by necessity. Captain Patrice Bergeron has but to resolve his future and really properly may retire. If Bergeron retires — and even when he does not — the Bruins want to deal with middle depth organizationally. Boston has sacrificed draft picks for short-term success lately, because the Bruins haven’t got a first-rounder in 2022 or a second-rounder in 2023 or 2024.

Brad Marchand underwent surgical procedures to each hips that can sideline him for the primary two months of the common season. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk underwent shoulder surgical procedure that would additionally hold him out for the beginning of 2022-23. Whereas I used to be informed the Bruins had a really constructive exit assembly with Jake DeBrusk, the winger remains to be going to take a while to resolve whether or not he needs to remain in Boston or keep his request to be traded.

The Bruins have been retooling on the fly, with gradual departures of their Cup-winning core (Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Torey Krug, Tuukka Rask), however much more adjustments seem on the horizon.