NHL Network Radio presents the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions Round One

Here we go, yet again, with the Stanley Playoffs! And here we go, yet again, with the World Famous SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction Pool. This is the 17^th year we’ve foolishly laid everything on the line. There are 24 participants this time around, all looking to hoist the “Cup”. 

The Boston Bruins ran away with the 2022-23 regular season, setting impressive records for most wins in a season (65) and most points in a season (135). But that was then, and this is now, and everybody keeps pointing to the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, who racked up 62 wins only to be swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets.  (The Bolts recovered nicely, and won the Stanley Cup the next two times after this rather shocking exit.)

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid ran away with the 2022-23 regular season, putting up impressive totals in goals (64) and points (153). His team-mate Leon Draisaitl wasn’t too shabby either, finishing second in points (128). But all you hear is, have they won a Cup yet?

The answer is a resounding no. But they’re not alone in still being a number of yards short of reaching the summit. Is this the year for the Oilers, the Hurricanes, the Maple Leafs, the Stars, or the Golden Knights, or the…or the…

In a league that features more parity than arguably at any previous point in its long history, the factor you’ll keep hearing about is goaltending. And this isn’t new; that factor/concern has been around since they began playing the game. Modern analytics have illustrated/underscored that you don’t need superstar goaltending to win it all (Exhibit #1 – the 2022 Colorado Avalanche), but it helps.

The Avalanche are indeed the defending Stanley Cup Champions and will have plenty of challengers as they attempt to go back-to-back. Same scenario here in our esteemed pool. Steve Kouleas finally ascended to the mountain top last spring with an impressive win. Steve correctly picked 14 of the 15 playoff series last spring. Kooly looks to repeat his championship this time around, but that has not been accomplished in this esteemed pool since 2010, and one player has never won the pool solely two years in a row.

The pressure is on the Avalanche; the pressure is on Steve Kouleas. Can the two champions repeat?

Truth is, there is pressure on a number of teams this spring. A quick glance at the last time the 16 current NHL playoff teams held a Stanley Cup winning parade…

Colorado Avalanche              2022
Tampa Bay Lightning             2021
Los Angeles Kings                   2014
Boston Bruins                          2011
Carolina Hurricanes               2006
New Jersey Devils                  2003
Dallas Stars                              1999
New York Rangers                  1994
Edmonton Oilers                    1990
Calgary Flames                        1989
New York Islanders                1984
Toronto Maple Leafs             1967
Florida Panthers                     never
Seattle Kraken                        never*
Minnesota Wild                      never*
Winnipeg Jets                         never*
(*teams that have yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Final)

Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge.  We will submit our predictions round by round.  Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91 every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.

2022 FINAL RESULTS

• Steve Kouleas               30 points (14 for 15 series picked)
• Jonathan Davis             28 points (12 for 15)
• Scott Laughlin               28 points (12 for 15)
• Dave McCarthy            23 points (13 for 15)
• Bernie Corbett             22 points (12 for 15)
• Dennis Bernstein          21 points (9 for 15)
• Mick Kern                      20 points (11 for 15)
• Gord Stellick                 19 points (9 for 15)
• Peter Berce                   19 points (8 for 15)
• Mike Lippa                     19  points (8 for 15)
• Jim Gordon                    18 points (11 for 15)
• Joe Thistel                     17 points (11 for 15)
• Jesse Ralph                    17 points (9 for 15)
• Shane Malloy                16 points (9 for 15)
• Tyler Madarasz             15 points (10 for 15)
• Bruce Bolton                 15 points (9 for 15)
• Jake Hahn                      15 points (9 for 15)

FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS

• 2023 Champion – ???????
• 2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas
• 2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
• 2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
• 2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
• 2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
• 2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
• 2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
• 2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
• 2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
• 2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
• 2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
• 2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
• 2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
• 2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
• 2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
• 2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern

46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016.  REMEMBER: This is NOT a bracket challenge.  We will make subsequent picks every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• 1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1^st round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2^nd round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3^rd round series
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Conn Smythe winner
• 1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin

As for favoured teams this time around, here is the statistical breakdown (18 votes in all):

2023 Stanley Cup Champion:

• Boston Bruins 9 votes
• Edmonton Oilers 9 votes
• Dallas Stars 3 votes
• Toronto Maple Leafs 2 votes
• New York Rangers 1 vote

Teams that nobody picked to win a playoff series:

• Seattle Kraken
• Florida Panthers (wait…Bruce Bolton picked them)

And Now…Our Fearless 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Steve Kouleas – DEFENDING CHAMPION
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 4
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Brad Marchand

Linda Cohn
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Connor McDavid
Conn Smythe: Edmonton Oilers

Martin Biron
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 4
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Linus Ullmark

Mike McKenna
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 5
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jason Robertson

Jonathan Davis
NY Islanders in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Dallas in 5
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Scott Laughlin
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak

Dave McCarthy
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Bernie Corbett
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Dennis Bernstein
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak

Mick Kern
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak

Gord Stellick
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe: Mitch Marner

Peter Berce
Carolina in 7
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jake Oettinger

Mike Lippa
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup:  Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Jim Gordon
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 5
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Miro Heikenen

Joe Thistel
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Linus Ullmark

Jesse Ralph
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Shane Malloy
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak

Tyler Madarasz
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 7
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Igor Shesterkin

Bruce Bolton
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 6
Florida in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Jake Hahn
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Ryan Paton
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup:  Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe: Mitch Marner

Russ Cohen
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak

Lucas Critelli
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Designated Listener: Brad from Trail, B.C.
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Patrick Bergeron