It’s playoff time. For half the league’s fan bases, meaning you already know what to do: lay on the ground, rocking within the fetal place and hating every thing on this planet. Rinse and repeat, for roughly two to eight weeks.
The opposite half of us are jealous of you. That’s why a few of us is perhaps interested by crossing a really controversial line, and hopping on the bandwagon of one of many playoff groups. Only a momentary fling, you know the way it goes. A few of you’ll by no means think about it, after all. However in case you would, it’s best to not less than select properly.
This 12 months, it’s a simple selection: It’s best to bandwagon the Buffalo Sabres.
Severely, we’ve already been by way of this. The Sabres is perhaps the single best bandwagon story of all time, and once we requested their followers in the event that they’d be OK with some exterior assist, they gave us an enthusiastic thumbs up. So it’s settled. This 12 months’s bandwagon group is the Sabres, and we don’t want the annual information to everybody else.
Except … I imply, if everybody is bandwagoning the Sabres, isn’t {that a} motive to possibly look elsewhere? In spite of everything, we’re hockey followers — we will’t ever agree on something. Not unanimously. That’s simply not how this works.
So be it resolved: This 12 months’s greatest bandwagon group is the Sabres. However we’re nonetheless going to do the annual information, simply in case anybody out there’s feeling a bit contrarian. Buffalo takes prime spot, for all the explanations we laid out a couple of weeks in the past. Right this moment’s checklist is for the opposite 15 slots on the checklist.
As all the time, we would like a group that has a semi-realistic likelihood of profitable all of it, as a result of it’s no enjoyable bandwagoning a group that’s gone after every week. However we’d additionally favor to not be too clear about simply taking one of the best group, as a result of that may get you accused of front-running. We’d favor a likable group, ideally with a fan base we will tolerate. Some enjoyable tales all the time assist. And naturally, it’s more durable to root for anybody with a latest Stanley Cup win.
Most years, we start the checklist with the earlier 12 months’s winner, as a result of no one needs to bandwagon the defending champs. We don’t get that simple begin this 12 months as a result of the Florida Panthers determined to skip the playoffs for a change. However that doesn’t imply there aren’t any choices that stand out as poor selections, so let’s dive in …
15. Tampa Bay Lightning
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re an especially good group with a fairly sturdy likelihood of profitable a couple of rounds, and possibly the entire thing. They’ve Jon Cooper, who’s all the time enjoyable, and everybody ought to get to benefit from the expertise of rooting for Nikita Kucherov in some unspecified time in the future of their lives.
Why you shouldn’t: There are three large issues with choosing the Lightning. For one, they’ve a number of recent-ish Cup wins, so it appears like a front-runner choose. Two, they’re a group that tiptoes as much as the road of being soiled pretty typically, and would possibly often step over it, so finally you’re going to be halfheartedly attempting to defend one thing everybody else is mad about. And eventually, their path out of the Atlantic goes to contain beating some massively likable younger groups. Is that basically what you need to be rooting for?
Backside line: There’s a sure attraction right here, in the identical method that it may be enjoyable to go to the wrestling present and cheer for all of the villains. Simply know what you’re getting your self into.
14. Vegas Golden Knights
Why it’s best to get on board: It’s roster that’s been constructed by way of the form of aggressive, take-no-prisoners method you solely want your group wasn’t too scared to attempt. They’ve acquired pretty much as good a shot as anybody to win the Pacific, however with solely 95 factors, you’re not precisely choosing a powerhouse.
Why you shouldn’t: You’re signing up for John Tortorella and Kelly McCrimmon and no goaltending and the Mitch Marner playoff expertise, whereas implicitly supporting a fan base that’s by no means suffered by way of any actual on-ice hardship. Come on.
Backside line: Vegas the bandwagon group is so much like Vegas the town — a number of enjoyable for a weekend, however you’ll begin to hate your self in case you keep too lengthy.
13. Colorado Avalanche
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re a unbelievable group with a ton of enjoyable expertise, plus it’s all the time good to root for Gabriel Landeskog. And regardless of having 121 factors, they’re within the league’s hardest division, so their path out of the primary two rounds is a tricky one. When you concentrate on it, meaning they may not even really matter as a front-runner choose.
Why you shouldn’t: Come on, they’ve been in first place all 12 months. That is undoubtedly a front-runner choose, and also you’ll get no respect for following alongside in the event that they find yourself profitable.
Backside line: Additionally, in case you bandwagon the Avs, you then’re solely allowed to eat chickpea pasta and drink beet juice for the complete playoffs.
12. Boston Bruins
Why it’s best to get on board: Written off a 12 months in the past, they skipped the entire “five-year rebuild” factor all of us agreed they wanted and jumped proper again into the playoffs. David Pastrnak is enjoyable. Jeremy Swayman is sweet sufficient to win a sequence or two if he heats up. And as a bonus, that is your first likelihood in almost twenty years to bandwagon a Bruins playoff run with out getting Brad Marchand stench throughout you.
Why you shouldn’t: Most years, this version of the Bruins would rank increased. However this season is unusually stacked with underdog tales, so choosing one from the town that already will get to play for a serious championship each few years appears like a stretch.
Backside line: Additionally, they’re enjoying the Sabres in spherical one. And you’re keen on the Sabres.
11. Los Angeles Kings
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re one other underdog, one which was enjoying poorly sufficient at one level to get their coach fired. However they acquired rolling down the stretch and enter the playoffs with some momentum. Plus, it’s your final likelihood to cheer for Anze Kopitar, who guidelines.
Why you shouldn’t: They’re going to get completely destroyed in Spherical 1.
Backside line: I imply, you’d definitely earn some bandwagon cred by getting in early in the event that they did go on a run. However that feels so unlikely that I simply can’t put them within the prime ten.
10. Philadelphia Flyers
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re one other one in every of this 12 months’s massive surprises, they usually put on the underdog position properly. It took some time, however Rick Tocchet has them locked into a Flyers identity, they usually’ve acquired the vibe of a group that may very well be an unexpectedly robust out.
Why you shouldn’t: Even given the quantity of Penguins fatigue on the market, rooting towards Sidney Crosby and buddies in what may very well be their last run will likely be robust for lots of followers. And realistically, the Flyers aren’t profitable the Cup this 12 months.
Backside line: Just like the Bruins, the Flyers are a narrative that may be arduous to withstand most years, however that will get somewhat bit misplaced within the muddle of this one.
9. Dallas Stars
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re in all probability the second-best group within the league, however as a result of they’re caught in a division with the Avs they get to fake to be underdogs. Put it this fashion, you might by no means get an opportunity to bandwagon a greater group that didn’t end first in something. Their Cup chances are high very legit, they usually’re loads of enjoyable to look at.
Why you shouldn’t: They’re navigating some robust harm luck heading into the playoffs, and a first-round loss is totally doable.
Backside line: The Stars have been a well-liked choose on this characteristic for years, however I’m undecided that is the season to journey with them. Put it this fashion: Do you actually need to leap on board with a 112-point group which may solely final a spherical?
8. Edmonton Oilers
Why it’s best to get on board: For a similar motive we checklist for this group 12 months after 12 months — each fan deserves to cheer for the Connor McDavid expertise not less than as soon as of their life. As an added bonus, in case you determine to latch onto the Oilers, you’re just about assured to see a ton of targets.
Additionally, if McDavid wins a Cup right here then he’ll lastly really feel justified to depart Edmonton, which implies he’ll virtually definitely land along with your favourite group.
Why you shouldn’t: The Leon Draisaitl harm scenario makes their early prospects not less than a bit shaky, though they need to be capable of beat the Geese with out him. Nonetheless, after back-to-back convention titles, this choose feels somewhat front-runny.
Additionally, if McDavid can’t win a Cup right here then he’ll lastly really feel justified to depart Edmonton, which implies he’ll virtually definitely signal along with your favourite group.
Backside line: There’s additionally the entire Canadian Stanley Cup drought factor, which you may or may not care about.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
Why it’s best to get on board: As a result of, regardless of being extensively assumed to be the one group that was overtly tanking from October, they made the playoffs with room to spare. And extra importantly, this is perhaps your final likelihood to root for a Sidney Crosby playoff run. Combine in a really winnable first-round matchup, and there’s room to imagine that we might get some actual magic out of this group. If that’s the case, you’ll need to have been on the bandwagon early.
Why you shouldn’t: It’s nonetheless the Penguins, dwelling of 5 Stanley Cups and several other of the best gamers within the sport’s historical past. It’s OK to say you’re jealous.
Backside line: You’ve hated them earlier than. Are you able to get previous that now? Not everybody can, and that’s comprehensible. However in case you might ever get on board, now’s the time.
6. Minnesota Wild
Why it’s best to get on board: The Wild are in a bizarre spot because of the playoff format, having firmly established themselves as one of many league’s greatest groups and but dealing with life with out dwelling ice benefit by way of the primary two rounds. That’s robust, however in case you like the thought of nailing an underdog choose, that is about one of the best likelihood you’ll have.
Past that, they’re a enjoyable group constructed round Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes. And keep in mind, they acquired Hughes within the form of midseason blockbuster that’s virtually extinct, so a Wild championship would put some strain on the league’s boring GMs to begin doing their jobs.
Why you shouldn’t: Not everybody needs to root for Invoice Guerin lately, which is fair enough. Additionally, that complete factor the place no one is definitely choosing them to win the Central.
Backside line: They’re a reasonably good choose. And as an added bonus, you’ll be able to turn out to be a type of followers who makes complaining concerning the playoff format your complete character.
5. Ottawa Senators
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re one more Japanese underdog, however this one has actual tooth. Now that Linus Ullmark appears to have rediscovered his sport, there aren’t any major weaknesses here. A win over the Hurricanes could be an upset, certain, however hardly a stunning one, and after that, who is aware of how far a run might go? If it occurs, everybody will say that they noticed it coming, however your stamped bandwagon ticket will show it.
Why you shouldn’t: when Brady Tkachuk does one thing particularly Tkachuk-y, and Sens followers need to fake to defend it by way of gritted tooth whereas wanting like they need to swallow their very own tongue? You’re signing up for that.
Backside line: They’re a stable top-five selection.
4. Anaheim Geese
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re younger and all kinds of enjoyable. They rating so much and quit much more. And no one on the planet thought they’d even make the playoffs, except you had been some sort of super genius. Now they’re not solely right here, they’ve a puncher’s shot at profitable a weak Pacific.
Why you shouldn’t: Joel Quenneville will likely be a non-starter for a lot of, for obvious reasons. Past that, whereas they might win a spherical or two, an precise Cup run feels exceedingly unlikely.
Backside line: They’re additionally apparently very mean to the league’s agents, and we’ll depart it to you to determine if that’s a plus or a minus.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Why it’s best to get on board: In a season the place nothing within the East has made any sense, the Hurricanes are the exception — the convention’s Ol’ Dependable, sitting on the prime of the standings and heading into the playoffs as fashionable Cup picks, identical to they do yearly.
Why you shouldn’t: Uh, yeah, about that “yearly” factor … it additionally includes collapsing within the playoffs. Not early, thoughts you, so you’ll be able to in all probability anticipate to see them win not less than a spherical or two. However after that, issues sometimes get dicey.
Backside line: Truthfully, I like this choose so much. It won’t be horny, in that you simply’re not pinpointing the league’s subsequent massive factor. However in a 12 months the place everybody will likely be attempting to try this, there’s a sure attraction in simply going with a favourite — particularly when it has not damaged by way of shortly, so that you’re not simply chasing previous glory.
2. Utah Mammoth
Why it’s best to get on board: The league’s latest group, form of, comes into its first postseason with a ton of potential. They’re group with a transparent path to postseason success by way of the dreary Pacific, and we should always all need that so we lastly get to see a group win a division they’re not even in. They’ve a weird Zamboni, which … certain, why not. They’re enjoying the Golden Knights, who’re simple to root towards, and can have an excellent shot at pulling off an “upset” that wouldn’t actually shock anybody. And their new and nonetheless growing fan base wouldn’t get all bizarre about having some momentary assist.
Additionally: They did it.
Why you shouldn’t: It’s arduous to see them going additional than the convention last except every thing broke excellent, and they need to have gone with the plural Mammoths. Apart from that, I’m not developing with a lot.
Backside line: That is the half the place you’re realizing which group is left and belief me, I’m not any happier about it than you’re.
1. Montreal Canadiens
Why it’s best to get on board: As a lot as I hate to confess it, there is probably not a group within the league that’s been as a lot enjoyable this 12 months, particularly over the previous few weeks. From Cole Caufield to Nick Suzuki to Martin St. Louis, that is an virtually embarrassingly rootable assortment of personalities. Even Brendan Gallagher is quasi-likable these days. They haven’t gained a Cup in many years, however the historical past is there, the constructing will likely be rocking and we all know this franchise can pull the occasional playoff run out of nowhere. If it occurs this 12 months, they’re going to be plain.
Why you shouldn’t: I say this with love, however there isn’t a fan base within the league that’s additional up their very own behinds than this one, which might make it robust for a bandwagon fan to slot in. However even that doesn’t really feel like as a lot of a problem lately because it has been up to now, so you’ll be able to in all probability overlook it. Simply don’t recommend that anybody is perhaps higher than Lane Hutson or point out the overrated scorching canines and also you’ll be high quality.
Backside line: Can they beat the Lightning? Certain. Will they? It’s dicey, so that you’re taking a danger right here. Will you’ve enjoyable rooting towards Nikita Kucherov, one of the crucial underrated villains within the league? You completely will. So do it. Cheer for the Montreal Canadiens.
(Till the second spherical, once we ought to all need them to get swept by the Sabres.)
