Playoff Primer: who should you bandwagon? (Part 1) (ARCHIVED POST)

THIS IS AN ARCHIVED POST FROM MARCH 21st, 2018, FROM MY PERSONAL SITE

Life as a fan of the Edmonton Oilers is an eye-opening experience. Save for that magical spring of 2017, when the calendar turns to April we are getting ready to put away the blue and orange for another long summer, looking longingly at the list of teams advancing to the playoffs and deciding who to become a semi-fan of until early June, because it's always more fun when you have a horse in the race. I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this for the eleventh time in the last twelve seasons, but alas, here we are. Amidst all of the questioning of what went wrong and where, this year it might especially sting to look on with envy at those teams who get a chance to battle for Lord Stanley's Cup, so to ease the pain I'm here to help you with your selections to minimize your workload. Since the regular season has yet to come to its conclusion, this post will be split into two parts: this first part will comprise of eight teams that are sure fire bets to clinch a playoff spot or who have already done so, and the second part will have the remaining teams closer to the edge that we will have a better idea of come mid-April. Without further ado, and in no particular order, let's start with...

The Nashville Predators

Notable Players: P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Pekka Rinne, Mike Fisher, Kyle Turris

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: If you like a party atmosphere, the Nashville Predators are your team. There are so many reasons to want these guys to win, but none more than the fun-loving P.K. Subban, who would most assuredly bring the Cup back to the Montreal Children's Hospital, where only a few years ago he pledged $10 million and still makes regular visits. Plus, they swept Chicago in round one last year.

Why you should hold off: If you hate all that is joyful in the world and want the NHL to continue to be the official sport of one dimensional personalities and cliche-riddled interviews, not to mention you despise hockey in any place that doesn't reach negative ten degrees Celsius during the winter, then I guess the team in bright yellow isn't for you.

Bottom line: Nashville is a fun city with great fans and a team that's easy to cheer for. Thumbs up to the Predators.

The Tampa Bay Lightning

Notable Players: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevski, Victor Hedman

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: Tampa Bay is a team whose season was cut short due to injury last year, but with Steven Stamkos finally playing on the regular for extended periods of time the Cup is theirs to lose. You like to see the regular season pay off for a team that worked hard all year, and so you'll take to the Lightning very quickly.

Why you should hold off: You just love a good upset, so you're ready and waiting to see Tampa Bay fizzle out early on. With how the NHL playoff format works, you just might get your wish, since they are destined to face a top tier opponent by the second round.

Bottom line: If you can't take fringe teams for any longer, take the (relatively) safe bet with the Lightning.

The Boston Bruins

Notable Players: Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, Charlie McAvoy

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: The Bruins seemed to be on a down swing these last few years, getting rid of General Manager Peter Chiarelli (who Oilers fans have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with the last three years) and head coach Claude Julien. They've seemed to turn it around, however, so now is your chance to hop on the hype train when it's still just rolling out of the station.

Why you should hold off: Brad Marchand is the short and simple answer, but it also wouldn't hurt to see the Boston sports scene take a break from championships for a while. A year where all of the squads in the Boston are all denied a title wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

Bottom line: The longest championship drought for any of the major sports teams in the Boston area belongs to the Celtics, who last won in 2008. Time to share.

The Winnipeg Jets

Notable Players: Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Dustin Byfuglien, Paul Stastny

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: Making fun of Winnipeg is getting old, and maybe you're sticking to Canadian clubs only. If you're from Edmonton, you can surely sympathize with the city-is-too-cold jokes, too. Not to mention your only other choice might be Toronto (*shudder*).

Why you should hold off: Honestly, the Jets don't have many off-putting qualities for me. The fan base is seven years removed from just being glad to have a team, and the Thrashers/Jets franchise has only appeared in the playoffs twice, getting swept both times.Bottom line: Unless you're a purist who only wants the Oilers to be the Canadian team winning a Cup, I can't really find a reason NOT to go for the Jets.

The Vegas Golden Knights

Notable Players: Marc-Andre Fleury, James Neal, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: Wouldn't it be something to see an expansion club win it all in year one? Especially since Knights owner Bill Foley once said that he wanted playoffs by year three. If you really want to take temporary fandom to the next level, convincing others to take a trip to Vegas to see a playoff game (among other things) probably wouldn't be too difficult either.

Why you should hold off: It's just not fair. You've suffered through awful team after awful team for far too long only to see some new kids on the block stride in and take the league by storm. Be it resentment, jealousy, or both, the NHL's 31st team should have to pay their dues before they can soak in the glory.

Bottom line: You've really got nothing to lose with this one. Cheering for Vegas just seems like the cool thing to do at this point.

The Toronto Maple Leafs

Notable Players: Auston Matthews, Morgan Reilly, William Nylander, Nazem Kadri

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: Toronto winning a Cup would surely usher in the new era of the NHL, and seeing such a young squad win it all could maybe convince some of the old guard once and for all that youth and skill rule the ice these days.

Why you should hold off: Well, if you live anywhere in Canada other than the GTA, this really isn't a tough call. Oh, and Nazem Kadri.

Bottom line: If you really want to make enemies in the workplace, choose the Leafs.

The Pittsburgh Penguins

Notable Players: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Phil Kessel

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: You like a winner, and that's all the Penguins have been the last two years. You also like a good Canadian lad, something that Sidney Crosby epitomizes both on and off the ice. The excitement of a team winning three straight Stanley Cups in the salary cap era is too much to ignore, and going from watching a number 97 to 87 tear apart other teams seems pretty easy.

Why you should hold off: You like to spice things up once in a while, and the idea that the same team will win AGAIN annoys you to no end. Spread the wealth, won't you Pittsburgh?Bottom line: Seriously, don't pick Pittsburgh. Challenge yourself here.

The Washington Capitals

Notable Players: Alexander Ovechkin, Braden Holtby, John Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov

Why you should hop on the bandwagon: The playoffs have been a difficult time for Washington, as they have yet to make it through to the third round in the Alex Ovechkin era. Maybe after all this time you pity them and wish them the best, or maybe you just love the irony of a Russian captain on a team that resides in the U.S. capitol. Either way, the Cap's time might have finally come, and you're ready for it (this line may have been on repeat for the last seven years).

Why you should hold off: The question is always asked if Washington has what it takes this year to win it all, yet the answer also remains the same. You just know they won't do it, so why waste your time and energy? You've already had to sit through one disappointing team this year, no need to make it two.

Bottom line: You're an Oilers fan, so you're used to crushing disappointment anyway. Go with the Caps.

Part Two will be up as soon as we have a better idea of who will join the eight teams above.