(Photo Credit: @GoldenKnights on X/Twitter)
No matter what playoff position the Golden Knights end up in April, getting through the Western Conference will be difficult this postseason. Currently, four of the top five teams with the best playoff odds all come from the West—six in the top ten.
The Minnesota Wild have turned themselves into a very dangerous opponent with the acquisition of former Norris trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes. Minnesota’s ascent could potentially impact Vegas’ road to their third Clarence Campbell Bowl.
As of right now, the three teams with the most points are all Central Division teams. Colorado (53), Dallas (49), and Minnesota (43) all have high expectations. However, league rules will end up punishing one of those three contenders immediately.
Hockey Reference’s WC Playoff Projections
Central Division
- Colorado Avalanche (117.3)
- Dallas Stars (105.2)
- Minnesota Wild (99.6)
Pacific Division
- Vegas Golden Knights (100.1)
- Anaheim Ducks (96.6)
- Los Angeles Kings (94.5)
Wild Card
- Edmonton Oilers (90.3)
- Utah Mammoth (89.6)
Hockey Reference’s playoff probabilities report projects Colorado with the first seed in the West and Vegas with the second. The NHL’s playoff format forces Dallas and Minnesota to battle it out in the opening round. One of the two most complete teams in the entire NHL will be eliminated. This creates a much softer path for the teams in the Pacific.
Now for the bad news. Winning the Pacific comes with its own challenges. As of today, the Golden Knights would be hosting the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. As confident as some VGK fans are, they’d prefer to see another Oilers series much later in the postseason.
Also, if teams like the Stars or Wild drop to a Wild Card position, the Golden Knights would be forced to accommodate one of them for an opening round series. With two-time Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck in net, even the Winnipeg Jets are a handful, though we’ve seen how Vegas historically performs against him in the playoffs.
Of course, it’s early to begin predicting playoff matchups. However, if projections play out the Golden Knights, and other Pacific Division clubs will have a path much less challenging than their Central Division friends.
Emmanuel
I would only seriously worry about the Oil in the Pacific.
Conversely I would say that the Pacific is making VGK softer as the opposing talent in the playoffs will suddenly increase dramatically. The #4/#5 in the Central is on par with the #1/#2 in the Pac. Its that lopsided.
JB
Anything can happen in the playoffs!
Tim
The creative VGK management team can they pull another rabbit out of the hat? I’m talking about Alex Tuch talking a trade to Dallas. Could we bring him back in the fold or does he have a bad taste in his mouth the way we traded him to oblivion? Every time I see a Misfit playing for another team be it Carrier, Schmidt, Morrell, Tuch, Reaves, Nosak, Marshy, Fleury, I find myself cheering for them. I won’t be alive for the 20 year reunion but I’ll bet it will be a hell of a time.
hdbiker7851
Not sure why you are even worried about playoff matches with the season only two months old. There are many a slip between the cup and the lip and anything I repeat anything could happen. I guess you had time on your hands and nothing else to write about. Writing about playoff possibilities at this time of year is like guessing who will get the next DUI, the probabilities are endless. Let’s just concern ourselves with winning this evening as that is not a certainty as I am sure you could agree.