The Vancouver Canucks will be a team entering the newly approved 24-team playoff format actually having very little playoff experience amongst players throughout their roster. Tanner Pearson having been crowned a Stanley Cup winner back in 2014 as a member of the L.A. Kings, will be expected by management to help guide this team’s young core of players into this best-of-five play-in series versus the Minnesota Wild.
Like the 2014′ Kings, depth is what will win the Stanley Cup this year. Because for the first time in the history of the National Hockey league, the most prestigious trophy in all of sports will be awarded to the team that can outlast 23 other clubs and wins five consecutive rounds of grueling all-out hockey warfare.