3. Both 2019 Stanley Cup Finalists Miss The Playoffs
The last time both Stanley Cup finalists missed the playoffs in the following year? You’d have go back to 2007, when the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers failed to qualify following their epic seven-game series, won by the Canes.
Well, the defending champion St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins both face strong uphill climbs as they try to get back to the Finals. The good news is that both teams are bringing back all their core players from 2018-19, but the Stanley Cup hangover is pretty difficult to ignore. It seems to hit Stanley Cup finalists far more often than not.
What are the odds that the Blues will be able to regain that incredible second half momentum after standing as the NHL’s worst team on Jan. 3? It doesn’t help that the Central Division is loaded with legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.
As for the Bruins, their Atlantic foes made necessary upgrades and figure to push hard for top-three spots in the division. This includes the Florida Panthers as well as the Montreal Canadiens.
Plus, what are the chances that 34-year-old Patrice Bergeron and 31-year-old Brad Marchand both repeat career years? Charlie Coyle is going to regress after a strong showing in the postseason. Goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak will also take steps back after impossible-to-repeat 2019-20 season performances.
The Cup hangover, more difficult divisions as well as the lack of lady luck this time around will add up to both the Blues and Bruins missing the postseason in 2020.