2020 Analysis
|
Team |
Average Ranking |
#1 Rankings |
Highest Ranking |
Lowest Ranking |
Standard Deviation |
Commentary |
|
The Favourites |
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| Vegas Golden Knights | 4.13 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 2.71 | The Golden Knights are the weakest favourites in the history of the pool, with an average ranking over 4...which really means there are no clear favourites this year, but Vegas does come out on top of the pool average rankings, and they're the top seed in the west, so could they actually win the Cup in just their third year? |
| Colorado Avalanche | 4.42 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 2.94 | The Avalanche have the second-highest average ranking and the second-most #1 rankings, as well as the highest bottom ranking, so they're a consensus pick to do well... |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 5.13 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 3.77 | Despite their epic collapse in last year's playoffs (against the same first-round opponent) the Lightning are favoured to win the east, and actually have the most #1 rankings... |
|
The
Dark Horses |
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| Washington Capitals | 5.58 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 3.41 | Three entries are calling for the 2018 Cup champions to return to form and make last year an aberration, but on average the Caps are only favoured to win a single round... |
| Boston Bruins | 6.08 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3.32 | The President's Trophy winners don't get a whole lot of respect, with only only the fifth-highest average ranking and one pick to win the Cup... |
|
The
Longshots |
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| Philadelphia Flyers | 7.08 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 3.93 | The Flyers come in as the top seed in the east, but that's still only good enough for the sixth-best average ranking, probably because they face the polarizing Habs in the first round... |
| Calgary Flames | 7.08 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3.48 | The Flames are the highest ranked Canadian team, and the only consensus first-round upset winner, but most entries have them only winning the first round... |
| St Louis Blues | 7.17 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 3.73 | No one is calling for a repeat of the Blues Cup victory last year, but they are favoured to win one round... |
|
The
Faint Hopes |
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| Carolina Hurricanes | 9.71 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 3.18 | Carolina has had a wealth of entertaining storylines this year (from the Toronto backup goalie to their sweep of the Rangers in the qualification round) but few think they'll get past the President's Trophy-winning Bruins in the first round... |
| Montreal Canadiens | 9.92 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 5.20 | With an all-time record high standard deviation, the fate of the Habs will unquestionably have an impact on the fate of the pool... |
| Dallas Stars | 10.04 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3.31 | The Stars are on the wrong side of the only consensus first-round upset... |
| Vancouver Canucks | 10.38 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3.58 | The Canucks have few boosters who believe they can defeat the defending Cup champions in the first round... |
| New York Islanders | 10.96 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3.60 | Barry Trotz faces his old team in the first round, but not many think his new team can come out on top... |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 11.33 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3.18 | Can Columbus repeat their huge first-round upset of the Lightning from last year? The pool consensus seems to be no... |
| Arizona Coyotes | 12.83 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 3.10 | The Coyotes are the only team no one has picked to make the finals, and with the third-lowest standard deviation, there's very little confidence in them to get past the Avalanche in the first round... |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 14.17 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3.22 | The Hawks come in as the biggest underdogs, despite upsetting McDavid and Draisaitl and the western bubble hometown Oilers in the qualification round... |