Playoff Primer: who should you bandwagon? (Part 2) (ARCHIVED POST)

THIS IS ARCHIVED POST FROM APRIL 10th, 2018, FROM MY PERSONAL SITE

The regular season has mercifully ended for Oilers fans, but the hockey keeps on going for sixteen teams who qualified for the playoffs. We've already taken a look at the upper echelon of teams who made the postseason, but now it's time for the rest:

The Minnesota Wild

Notable Players: Zach Parise, Devan Dubnyk, Mikael Granlund, Mikko Koivu

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: You really feel for Bruce Boudreau, who despite all of his regular season success cannot get in done in the playoffs. Maybe you also feel for Devan Dubnyk, who is on a long list of Oilers that were given up on, despite a decent track record until a slow start to the 2013-14 season.

Why you should hold off: The original Oilers first round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft was used to take Zach Parise, instead using a later pick in that round to select Marc-Antoine Pouliot. That still haunts you to this day, especially since that draft was one of the deepest in history. This annoyance has carried over to the Wild as a whole.

Bottom line: Nobody cares about Minnesota. Be the difference.

The Los Angeles Kings

Notable Players: Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: You just love the skill and defensive awareness that Anze Kopitar brings to the game.

Why you should hold off: You just hate the brute nature and dirty plays that Dustin Brown brings to the game. You also have a grudge against all of the blown calls going against Edmonton seemingly every time they play the Kings.

Bottom line: If you can look past Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown, it isn't an awful choice. They've also already won a few Cups this decade though, so maybe try someone else.

The Anaheim Ducks

Notable Players: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, John Gibson

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: No.

Why you should hold off: Just look at the notable players list. I didn't even include Kevin Bieksa.

Bottom line: Finish this sentence:  the Ducks (hint: the missing word rhymes with duck).

The San Jose Sharks

Notable Players: Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, Martin Jones, Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: Out of the three California teams in the playoffs, the Sharks are probably the easiest to cheer for. The towering bearded duo of Brent Burns and Joe Thornton has too much charm to ignore, and you love a good personality in the NHL.

Why you should hold off: Any team from California is an automatic no-go for you. The Sharks are guilty by association of the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in this instance.

Bottom line: Joe Thornton is the epitome of an Old Guy Without a Cup, but you can't betray division loyalties. It's gonna have to be a no-go for NoCal.

The Philadelphia Flyers

Notable Players: Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Nolan Patrick, Brian Elliott

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: The Flyers won ten games in a row last season and missed the playoffs. They lost ten in a row this season and just squeaked in by game 82. Perhaps you're curious to see how far they take this, so you'll encourage their success.

Why you should hold off: Remember that time Brandon Manning hurt Connor McDavid (on purpose or otherwise)? He was playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bottom line: If you're willing to forgive and forget a broken clavicle almost three years ago, go for the Flyers. I'm not.

The Colorado Avalanche

Notable Players: Nathan McKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Bernier, Erik Johnson

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: #YakCity south, amiright? You just loved Nail Yakupov when he was with the Oilers, even if the on-ice results weren't exactly consistent. His infectiously positive attitude is something you want to see on your television all the way through early June.

Why you should hold off: You really wanted the St. Louis Blues in the playoffs, but they were knocked out by the Avalanche. You proceed to carry this resentment through to the postseason, hoping the Avs get buried early.

Bottom line: Yak City Supreme.

The Columbus Blue Jackets

Notable Players: Sergei Bobrovsky, Zach Werenski, Artemi Panarin, Seth Jones

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: It seems like no matter what Columbus accomplishes they'll never get the full respect they deserve. You're sick of people counting them out, so you'll cheer for the perpetual underdog.

Why you should hold off: The more Columbus loses, the better the post-games with John Tortorella will be.

Bottom line: You like variety, and the Blue Jackets certainly offer it. Going from never winning a single playoff series to winning it all in one year is a nice storyline as well.

The New Jersey Devils

Notable Players: Nico Hischier, Patrick Maroon, Sami Vatanen, Taylor Hall

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: You want nothing but the best for former Oilers, and that's why the Devils are your team. The player I'm referring to, of course, is Taylor Hall Patrick Maroon. Maybe the Big Rig was your favourite Oiler when he was here, and the only thing you want more than a Cup in Jersey is for him to re-sign here on July 1st (at value pricing, hopefully).

Why you should hold off: You can't stand the success of a team that ripped your team off in a trade, and you now resent them for all of time.

Bottom line: Do it for young Anthony Maroon.