2024 Analysis
|
Team |
Average Ranking |
#1 Rankings |
Highest Ranking |
Lowest Ranking |
Standard Deviation |
Commentary |
|
The Favourites |
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| Edmonton Oilers | 4.09 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2.27 | Almost hard to call them favourites, with an average ranking over 4, but the Oilers do have the best average ranking and lowest standard deviation in this year's pool, indicating a lot of consensus that they'll do well... |
| New York Rangers | 4.51 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 3.07 | The President's Trophy winners aren't the favourites to win the Cup, but they are the favourites to emerge from the East... |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 4.54 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 3.30 | The Canes surprise with the most picks to win the Cup, but with a fairly large standard deviation, they could be difference-makers either way... |
|
The
Dark Horses |
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| Florida Panthers | 5.34 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 2.74 | The Panthers get the highest average ranking in the Atlantic, but with two Metro teams above them, it doesn't seem that many think they can go beyond the conference final... |
| Dallas Stars | 5.80 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 3.90 | The Stars get the second-highest average ranking in the West, and with the second-highest standard deviation, they should have an impact on the pool results... |
| Vancouver Canucks | 6.00 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 3.00 | The Canucks are the only divisional top seed to not get the top average ranking in their division, but a fairly low standard deviation may mean they won't matter too much to the pool outcome... |
| Boston Bruins | 6.57 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3.00 | The Bruins share a relatively low standard deviation of 3.00 with the Canucks, their 2011 Cup final opponents, but still do pick up a pick to win the Cup... |
|
The
Longshots |
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| Winnipeg Jets | 7.54 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3.56 | The Jets are narrowly favoured over their first-round opponent Avalanche, but not to go much farther... |
| Colorado Avalanche | 8.74 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 3.59 | The Avalanche get two picks to win the Cup, but overall they're a consensus pick to lose in the first round... |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 9.57 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 3.92 | The defending Cup champs get into the playoffs as a wild card this year, but they get the best average ranking of any wild card... |
|
The
Faint Hopes |
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| Toronto Maple Leafs | 10.29 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 3.83 | The one sure thing in this pool is that if the Leafs qualify for the playoffs, someone will pick them to win the Cup, but facing their nemesis Bruins in the first round doesn't bode well... |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 11.00 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3.36 | The Lightning have the pedigree for a deep run, but as a wild card, they face an uphill battle... |
| Nashville Predators | 11.20 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 2.42 | The Predators get a pretty respectable average ranking, as the wild-card team that finished the season with the most points... |
| Los Angeles Kings | 12.80 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 2.41 | The Kings don't get much respect, ending up with the lowest average ranking in the West, below both wild cards... |
| New York Islanders | 13.23 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 3.23 | The Islanders end up with the second-lowest average ranking, below three wild cards, but with a relatively large standard deviation, they could be a surprise contrarian pick... |
| Washington Capitals | 14.77 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 2.77 | Having barely squeaked into the playoffs, and facing the President's Trophy winners, it's not too surprising that Washington is at the very bottom of more than half of the pool entries, but they don't quite break the record for worst average ranking in pool history, thanks to a few entries actually picking them to beat the Rangers... |