2020 was bizarre, but it was real hockey.

The 2020 playoffs were a bizzare time, but one we'll look back on... But seeing that shot of Benn on his own in the locker room after Tampa won the Cup still hurts.

Might be the best collection of teams we've ever seen in the West qualify for the playoffs.

Let’s go Stars! My dad died in November - he loved the stars since they started in Minnesota. Let’s win the cup for him.

As a Rangers fan, there are definitely other fan bases who would NOT be happy with the Rangers winning a cup lmao. I think the Canes would be the most acceptable from the Metro. There aren't as many long held rivalries against the Canes

As an Avs fan I’d be livid if the Stars won the cup.

The KZfaq comment bots suddenly becoming very positive is kind of funny honestly

Another Gotta-Watch from Hockey Guy . . . and thanks for the laughs, Shannon!

I like the Canes chances. That said, our success in the playoffs is tied to our offense not drying up. I think our PP and PK are good enough and with the options we have this year I think we're in a better spot.

A Stanley Cup for any of the Canadian teams would be amazing.

Dallas Stars look terrifying with their depth scoring. 7 players with 20 or more goals. Benn is 2 away from making it 8. That's almost 3 lines of 20 goal scorers. Tanev has done really good work shoring up the D-line. Feels much more intact than it did prior to the all-star break. Much better neutral zone disruptions, great poke checks, squeezing players to the boards or forcing dump-and-chases and then blocking off the route. It's looking way better. Goaltending is the scary part. Wedgewood is solid but he's not a starter, lacks rebound control. And Oettinger flip-flops between impressive and questionable. He's looked good lately but who can say when the next flip will be. If either of them can get and stay hot, I think the amount of pressure Dallas can put out offensively will take them deep.

I love your videos and i Dont think im a bot but im not sure of anything.

Most likey New York would be my best guess

If Vegas wins, it will implode NHL Twitter and KZfaq . So I hope they do so I can get my popcorn and watch the chaos happen .

Dallas or Carolina. Either would make me happy. Pavelski and Burns both have waited 22 years to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup, and either would feel like a San Jose Cup win no matter who won amongst the two teams.

Let’s go cats !!!!!! So excited for playoffs

I've never really cheered for or against most of the west coast teams. I would probably be happy if the Canucks won - mainly because Shannon would be elated to see something that he didn't think would happen in his lifetime! Well, maybe a little less happy if it was over the Canes.

Any team that hasn’t won the cup in 15 years I’d be happy for. Hockey below a certain line not being “real” or whatever is nonsense. Sounds like a twitter argument between 14 y/o’s. I like the way the Oilers, Stars and Meth Cats play.

rangers vs dallas

Hertl was in a regular jersey at today's practice and may debut on Friday.

There isnt a chance for Detroit to win the Cup but for fun ADB and Kane go vintage Chicago in the playoffs and Copp channels his Rangers playoff. Lyon and Husso make a killer tandem and Larkin gets the Cup winner

This is the oilers year I can feel it

Would love a future discussion on scoring chances after icing (with tired defensive skaters) vs goalie changes when both teams can make line changes. Would love to know whether the rule change has led to a significant improvement on offense.

Vegas Golden Knights... Punking the Canadian Hockey Mafia since 2017.

Dallas or Colorado in the West Carolina or Rangers in the East

Great Vid brother. I would love to see the Rangers win but to be honest I just want exciting playoff hockey.

Other than my Bruins, I’d be happy to see cup wins by CAR, WPG, NYI, or NAS.

Anyone who would refuse to acknowledge the stanley cup champions should lose their fan license

1967 is a long time ago 😄😄

The only teams I will root for are the Canucks, Predators, and Jets from the west and the Canes and Panthers from the east. Canes are my team and the rest have never won the cup. The rest of the teams don't need to win.

21:30 😂😂😂 definitely NOT

I'm a Vegas fan, and I'm definitely here to see everyone rage. Let's get another Cup this year!

I would rather see Vancouver win it myself.

Oilers or Bolts are my picks! Both would be fun ones.

My picks from each division are the Oilers, Av’s, Rangers and Panthers. For me the Stanley Cup champions should be one of these four. I could also see Vegas, Carolina and Dallas winning it but I don’t think they are as strong as the other four. My prediction is Colorado Vs NYR in the final with the Rangers taking it in 7

For me, if not the Blues (and it won't be): 1. Vancouver: THG, never won, don't have anything particular against them. 2. Winnipeg: Yvonne, never won, don't have anything particular against them. 3. Nashville: Kills me, but I have to respect their resurgence.

I once saw an video of the road runner and coyote where the coyote finally caught him. At first the coyote was happy that he had won but then got depressed when he realized it was all over. A big part of his life was done. While I’d be happy to see my leafs win a cup I think I’d be like the coyote catching the roadrunner. Despite the roller coaster of emotions, the past 20+ years of my life has been a blast watching the leafs. Will I even care anymore once they reach the top? It’s all downhill from there

i'm honestly grateful the blues are even conversation..

TAMPA

Are we in for a SHOCKER? I hope it's someone new AGREE REAL HOCKEY

Definitely

As my team isn’t a playoff team, from each division, I’d be ok with these teams winning a cup: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Detroit, and Carolina. I’d be ok with a few others, but if I had to pick one from each, this would be it (there was a part of me that wanted to say no one in the Atlantic - haha).

If Vegas pulls off a back to back it'll really shine a spotlight on how important management is and what it means to be a good GM. I know the slow-rebuild through drafting talent and developing is considered the "right way" to win a cup. But owners are going to start wondering why when what Vegas is doing seems so effective.

God these bots are so fucking annoying...

2014 playoffs were when I first started watching hockey, now 10 years later it’s time for the rangers to complete unfinished business

VGK fan. I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but growing up here, we have always gotten hate. We got hate when the UNLV Runnin' Rebels won the NCAA basketball championship in 1990. The haters called that team "thugs" and the UNLV program "cheaters," when they weren't doing anything different than any other major NCAA athletic programs. (Shout out to Adin Hill for wearing a Larry Johnson UNLV jersey at the Stanley Cup parade! We understood! ) We've gotten this hate mainly because of the mobster "Sin City" stigma (as if every other city has no crime or other lascivious activities going on!) Vegas got hate just for being awarded an NHL team. Haters hoped the team would be a disaster from the start! We got hatred for making it to the Cup Final in our first season. We got hate for our continued playoff success, and we got MORE hate for winning the Cup. The only time that the VGK haters are happy, is when VGK DOESN'T win, or when we missed the playoffs altogether. We will get hate whether we win or lose. But, there's one thing the haters can't do; THEY CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY. That beautiful golden championship banner is hanging in T-Mobile Arena , and the Vegas Golden Knights are emblazoned on the Stanley Cup FOREVER. Go Knights Go!

The 2020 playoffs were absolutely legit, as a fan of a team that choked HARD during those playoffs.

As a Knights fan, I would REVEL in the hate if Vegas won again. Being a fan from the beginning, having a short stint as the "sweetheart" of the league, being the heel is sooo much more fun.

Kyle Connor is ruining the jets. You can actually trace their bad play to the day Kyle came back from injury. Before that they were a team that all played as one unit. Now you add a guy who can score but plays zero defence and everything is off. I know it sounds crazy but I would rather play with axl jonsson Fjällby in the lineup. Dude might not score a lot but he shows the rest of the lineup what hard work looks like.

As a hawks fan i hope Detroit makes the playoffs! Give my boi Kane another crack at it!!!

Dude that Jersey looks BEAUTIFUL ON YOU! PERFECT FIT!

As a Sabres fan, I would love to see McDavid hoist the Cup. I hope to see Edmonton win it.

My Panthers will be fine once the playoffs start. #TimeToHunt

I’m happy with any team winning besides Vegas, Colorado, Dallas, LA, Toronto, and Tampa. But the 5 teams I would absolutely love to see win a cup are Florida, Arizona, Ottawa, Buffalo and Columbus.

Let's go Islanders! Otherwise I can't work up much enthusiasm for any of these teams. Maybe the Canucks. It would be fun if when a Canadian team finally wins the cup, the captain who raises the cup is an American guy (who grew up in Toronto).

In 2020/21 The real cup was awarded, so that makes it real hockey.

KZfaq muat hate your channel, I can't get it to recommend your videos to me, no matter what I've been trying! Super frustrating, but keep up the good work

As a vegas fan... it just makes it all the sweeter. A back to back win would cement us as the evil villains of the league and I would enjoy every second of it

Who would be happy if “Red Ass Rod” wins a Cup as a coach?

With 4 Canadian teams in the playoff, is this finally the year a Canadian team wins it? From a MN fan.

There is no acceptable team for winning the Stanley Cup, except for the Canadiens of course.

I get that you're watching all the games going on but don't look now but Vasilevskiy is top ten in wins and made it back to 0.900 save %, our defense has been looking better too. So take a closer look.

Give me one good reason why 2020 wasnt THE HARDEST playoffs in recent memory? Ontop of actually winning hockey there is so much bullshit those players went through with COVID... it was exhausting.

It's hard to expect much as a Leafs fan. Between their past playoff performances and the fact that they will almost certainly play Florida or Boston in the first round, we can't get our hopes too high. High enough to be disappointed when they lose but not high enough to be surprised.

Best argument for Detroit wining the Cup: +10000

Great Video, as usual, Shannon - I am going with thinking that The Rangers have the greatest chance to Win, even though there are better teams, they (The Rangers), even playing bad, somehow keep winning, as your last Power Rankings have shown & as you've said.

Stars and Cats in finals. Book it!!

how many cups are won per players with multi 60 plus goal seasons

Its Gotta be Dallas Stars. I think they'll get the job done this year

Panthers need this to establish the market for good. Lord knows when we will get another window like this.

I think that fans don't mind it when a team which has never won a cup finally gets one. In the first expansion year the cup final was between St. Louis and Montreal. It only went four games but the fans in St. Louis were singing When The Saints Come Marching In and having a great time. I was very happy when they finally won the cup. Most people will be just as happy if Vancouver wins it.

I think the cup will be the avs vs the canes

If I had to put money on a finals match up it would be Carolina vs Edmonton with Edmonton winning it. I think this might be the year for McDavid. A player like that is not gonna be held cupless forever.

THG: (1) I love you! (2) As a 60-yr old Sabres fan (yes, a (mostly) sad life I have lived) ... I will be OK with ANYONE winning the Cup. Except our expansion kin (BUF first, please, but if it happens ... sigh) and Toronto. The Leafs must never win in my lifetime before the Sabres do. NEVER!! (But after watching this report I have a sinking feeling in my gut that it may just be the Leafs year.) Excellent work as always!

There is a portion of public that would rate all Canadian Teams as less acceptable than others ... maybe except Vegas.

Never Toronto. That’s all

🇨🇦

As a rangers fan…we need it…oilers and Winnipeg for Canadians teams…these are the only acceptable answers

Forever a Jets fan.

Panthers or rangers vs Dallas East coast team in 6

As a Vegas fan, I love nothing more than the salty tears of Canadian fans claiming Bettman "gifted" them a cup, or that there should be an asterisk on their win due to LTIR manipulation. It literally puts a smile on my face every time I read those jealous, whining comments. I write this to say, NO, VGK fans will not be afraid of other team's fans if they happen to win back-to-back Stanley Cups! We will be everywhere!

Im pissed at the bubble year because Boston was on top of the league, and Covid stops the rest of the season. UNTIL, they open up, go "hey, lets just go to the playoffs" and BAM.... 7 game series vs. Carolina. Lost all the momentum we had, and had to play THAT team. Maaan I hated that.

Isn 't Anaheim just part of greater LA

I hope this is the Panthers year after what happened to us from 2020-2023. I’d be fuming if the Oilers, Bruins, Leafs, Knights, and Rangers got it.

There are a lot of teams I don’t want to see win it, and there are some that I could stomach. The only one I would really be happy with is my favorite team, the Avs! But I’m not sure about their chances. I think it really comes down to their effort, and goaltending is something of a question mark. I’m not banking on them winning, but I’m also not going to be the person when the playoff brackets come around that doesn’t pick his team only to have them go all the way.

my capitals are just happy to be here :)

Hoping the Blues can eke out a playoff spot, but if not, I’ll root for the Jets from the Central. And the Canucks, Panthers, and Canes from the other divisions. Let’s have some dramatic hockey! (And what would be more exciting than STL getting in just under the wire and then going on a run?)

I'm biased being from Boston, but if the Bruins don't make it far I have to root for Vegas just to prove again that they made a mistake letting Cassidy go. I still think Monty screwed them last year by not playing Swayman in game five. I hope he stays with a rotation of some sort this year. I can't root for Toronto, any NY team or LA and especially not Vancouver. If Boston and Vegas are out, I would like to see McDavid and Draisaitl win and could even go for Carolina just to see Guentzel win after being stuck in the goaltending black-hole of Pittsburgh since they went all in on Jarry. How many more cups would Sid have if they didn't let Fleuy go?

Dallas or Oilers vs Canes or Boston

yeah 30 years since the last one, and 54 years before that one, 1 cup in the last 84 years for the NY Rangers..

If the Avs don't make the final this year (moot point given they're probably gonna 16-0 to the cup, but anyway), I think Vancouver vs Florida would be a fun final, based on the teams, fanbases, and geography.

this season im really not sure the top teams are all pretty even

As an islander fan I could see the rangers going on a run but I think I can speak for the fan base we would not say good on them

The hardest Cup winner to pick in a very long time. Avs vs Canes with canes winning would be my very low confidence prediction.

Teams i would like to win the Cup that i dont cheer are Edmonton, Dallas/Nashville, Florida or Carolina. Vancouver, Colorado, Winnipeg and NYR are ok. I dont seriously even count STL, DET, WSH, PHI or NYI to be possible.

The Islanders are proof the NHL needs to change the loser point rule. They don't belong anywhere near the playoff race with only 32 wins. They have less wins than almost every team in the league accept the bottom feeders. Theres 2 teams in the Eastern Conference with less wins. Even Ottawa has more wins than them somehow.

The Oilers have been winning a lot more under the new coach and now have a points percentage of .733 (42-14-4). This is higher than any team's overall points percentage. The Oilers are massively underrated.

You cannot predict anything...Look at who won last year...The Wildcard team.😊😊😊😊😊

Let’s go panthers!

Edmonton needs silverware haha