The 2022 NHL playoffs are right around the corner and teams are getting ready. Under 10 games remain for all teams and those games left are for big points, positioning, and seeding as the season winds down.
Some teams have already clinched a spot and those who are close to clinching may come down to the last few days. The playoffs are almost here, the part of the season where players play with injuries, the games are extremely close and the teams are fighting for the best trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup.
5 teams that are in the playoffs this season have more on the line than anyone else. The Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Colorado Avalanche is going to finish either first or second in overall points this season. The offensively gifted Avalanche has been a wrecking ball over the past five seasons, creating havoc on the ice and going through their competition like a hot knife through butter. Their offense can score at will and in a variety of ways.
The Avalanche has been extremely dangerous in the regular season, boasting one of the best offenses in the league. The defense has been good, not great and their goaltending has been adequate. The reasoning is unknown why they have a great regular season but can’t get it done in the playoffs. This postseason could be critical as this team may look completely different come next season. Forwards Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, Defenseman Josh Manson, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper are all UFA’s at season’s end. With next to no cap space the team will need to make a trade or hand out team-friendly deals. If the Avalanche is expecting people to believe they are an elite team this playoff is extremely important to the organization.
The Washington Capitals have won a Stanley Cup recently and have proven they are made for the playoffs year after year. However, with playoff experience comes age. The Capitals are not one of the league’s youngest teams in the NHL and they could be facing some challenges after their playoffs are over, regardless of the result. While still bringing a competitive team year after year the team is facing a downslide as the team is getting older.
This could very well be the last time the Capitals have this group together with possible moves in the offseason and a difficult goaltending situation that needs to be sorted out. The goaltenders, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, are both UFA’s at the end of the season and the Capitals have no cap space.
While the Capitals still prove they are a force to be reckoned with they have not made it past the conference quarterfinals since the 2017-18 season. This could be a big playoff for the Capitals to shine as they may not look the same next season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team that is hard to figure out once playoff time rolls around. One of the better teams in the regular season, like the Avalanche, the Maple Leafs just can’t figure out the playoffs. An offensively loaded team the offense goes completely silent once the second season begins. They are becoming known only as a good regular-season team that folds in the playoffs.
With the offense a question in the playoffs the team should switch to becoming more of a defensive team and shutting down the opposition. The playoff goals they score are usually scored within five feet of the net or on a screen/ deflection while the team is used to highlight-reel goals. The Maple Leafs are not a get in your face, get in the dirty areas type of team and it could cost them again.
Like the Capitals the playoffs this season are important because some important pieces could be on new teams next season. Defenseman Mark Giordano and goaltender Jack Campbell are both UFA’s and promising defenseman Timothy Liljegren is an RFA. If Toronto wants to change minds they have to not only win a playoff series but bring another Stanley Cup to Toronto.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are running out of time with this core and could be in a make-or-break, win at all costs mode. Sidney Crosby is getting older, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Rickard Rakell, Casey DeSmith are UFA’s, and Bryan Rust is an RFA. The Penguins have no cap space, which is going to be a huge problem once the season ends. One way or another they need to find a way to bring back a few of these players to stay competitive or the team may be facing tough times ahead.
The core of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have been together for over a century. They have had success, individually and as a team, won Stanley Cups, and have had some good memories along the way. However, this core does not have much time left together, which makes this year’s playoffs even more important. This time may be the year too, if not win the Cup, go deep in the playoffs to send those who may leave out on a high note.
The St. Louis Blues are a team built for the playoffs. Just enough scoring, NHL defense, a good goaltending tandem, and big, physical players. They will hit, get in your face, get in scrums, and let you know who you’re playing against. The Blues won the Stanley Cup not that long ago, coming from nowhere and do the unthinkable. With this version of the Blues, they could very well do it again as they have an experienced group, along with talented youngsters, to surprise some people.
The Blues have a playoff-type roster and that could come in handy. As the Western Conference is becoming tighter and more competitive, the Blues may not have as many chances to hoist the Cup, which is why the 2022 playoffs are important.
Like the teams above the Blues may have a different roster come next training camp. Although forward David Perron and goaltender Ville Husso are the biggest UFA’s they are two of the biggest pieces on the roster. With only $22,000 of cap space, the front office will have to get creative to bring these two back. Having missed the playoffs only once since the 2010-11 season, it is important to bring back these two as they add that playoff experience that the Blues need to make another Stanley Cup run.