Counting Down The Top 10 Storylines From The 2022-23 NHL Playoffs

The Vegas Golden Knights have been crowned Stanley Cup champions and the 2022-23 NHL postseason has finally come to an end. Taking a look back at the past month and a half, here are the top 10 biggest storylines from all four rounds:

10. The Presidents’ Trophy Curse Lives On

Despite having a record-setting regular season and clinching the Presidents’ Trophy with 65 wins and 135 points, 22 more than the second-place Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins were not able to translate their success into the postseason. They were the heavy favorites going into a round one series against the Florida Panthers, but were bested by the “undercats” in seven games. It has now been ten years since the last Presidents’ Trophy winner also took home the Stanley Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013.

9. Highest-Paid Players Have Nothing To Show For In The Postseason Once Again

Although they are currently some of the highest-paid NHL players, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, and Artemi Panarin did not advance further than the first or second round in their most recent attempts at the Stanley Cup. Both teams in the Stanley Cup Final, Vegas and Florida, do not have any players on their rosters making more than $10 million. All-stars in the regular season, absolutely, but the playoffs have once again proved to be too big of a challenge for these players and their respective teams.

8. The Future Looks Bright In New Jersey

After finishing the regular season with 112 points, which equated to second place in the Metropolitan Division and third in the entire NHL, the New Jersey Devils were labeled a team to look out for in the 2023 postseason. With a young and exciting core that includes Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Akira Schmid, the Devils were able to take down their veteran-heavy rivals, the New York Rangers, in seven games. Despite the Carolina Hurricanes winning their second-round series, the New Jersey Devils have a lot to look forward to. With Luke Hughes expected to get a bigger look on defense, older brother Jack being one of the core forwards, an eight-year extension for Jesper Bratt, and an expected Timo Meier extension, the Devils are going to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

7. Quick And Surprising Turnaround For The Seattle Kraken

Unlike the Vegas Golden Knights, the Seattle Kraken took a year to find their footing as an NHL expansion team. After a lackluster first season, the NHL’s newest franchise earned the first wild card spot in the Western Conference with 100 total points. This meant that the Kraken were slated to play their first ever postseason series against the defending Stanley Cup champion, Colorado Avalanche. With arguably no star players and zero true expectations, Seattle was able to knock Colorado out of the playoffs in seven games.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs Finally Accomplished Mission Impossible

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs did not achieve their ultimate goal in winning the Stanley Cup, they achieved something that hasn’t been done in franchise history since the 2003-04 season. The team advanced past the first round of the NHL postseason. Coming into this season, there was a ton of speculation on whether or not Toronto’s “core four,” Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares would be willing to re-sign due to the lack of postseason success. While not a big feat to many teams, winning this series renewed the sense of hope within Toronto and showed that they should be taken seriously, especially considering they defeated the consistently victorious Tampa Bay Lightning.

5. Near Cinderella Story For The Florida Panthers

Having never won the Stanley Cup, and their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals being nearly 30 years ago, the 2023 postseason was quite an exciting one for the Florida Panthers. Despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the previous season, the Panthers were not expected to do as well as they did. The lesser-known Florida NHL franchise barely secured a ticket to the playoffs with the 16th and final spot. Once they were in, however, the Florida Panthers were a force to be reckoned with. They took out the record-setting Boston Bruins in seven games, Toronto Maple Leafs in five, swept the Carolina Hurricanes, but ultimately ended up losing the Stanley Cup to the Vegas Golden Knights in five. The NHL playoffs were spectacularly entertaining this time around, a lot of that credited to the Panthers. If nothing else, teams and fans were reminded once again to never underestimate the underdogs when it comes to the sport of hockey.

4. Jack Eichel Reignites His Love For The Game

After a whirlwind six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, the Vegas Golden Knights have been able to slowly but surely rekindle Jack Eichel’s love for the game of hockey. He led all postseason players in points and assists, was an instrumental piece in the Conn Smythe campaign of his linemate Jonathan Marchessault, more often than not had his name on the scoresheet, and was finally able to hoist the Stanley Cup. When it comes to personal struggle regarding the sport he plays professionally, Jack Eichel has been nothing but transparent about his experience. His new team and its successful postseason, however, seem to be exactly what he needed after an incredibly difficult start to his NHL career.

3. Matthew Tkachuk Solidifies Himself As An NHL Star

Following an outstanding regular season with the Florida Panthers, Matthew Tkachuk had nothing but high expectations set for the playoffs. This postseason, he was known for scoring meaningful goals when it mattered the most, as four of his 11 total were game-winning. Three of those four came in overtime, one in the midst of the eventual first-round upset against the Boston Bruins, and the other two coming back-to-back in games one and two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. Although he sustained a broken sternum in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals and could not help the Panthers extend the series, Tkachuk was arguably their best player and was in talks to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, despite being a member of the losing team. With his incredible on-ice play, Matthew Tkachuk led the Florida Panthers to the biggest stage and solidified himself as a true NHL celebrity.

2. Conference Finals Prove That Hockey Is Growing

In a surprising turn of events, the NHL Eastern and Western Conference Finals featured four teams located in the southernmost regions of the United States. The Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes each earned their spot as one of the final teams vying for the Stanley Cup. With hockey being primarily known as a sport played in the coldest of winters in Canada, and northern states such as Minnesota and Michigan, this was an extreme change of pace. However, with four passionate fan bases and entertaining game play, this year’s Conference Finals proved that the sport’s popularity is quickly and easily expanding.

1. Vegas Keeps Foley’s Promise

Before the Vegas Golden Knights even existed, owner Bill Foley had his sights set on what he wanted his NHL franchise to accomplish. “Playoffs in three, Cup in six,” was the phrase heard by players, executives, and fans everywhere. While some thought that it was far-fetched, Vegas overachieved in their inaugural season and lost in the Stanley Cup Finals, and so winning the trophy just five seasons later did not seem that far off. After not making the postseason in 2021-22, the Golden Knights came into this season with a vengeance. Vegas had all of the pieces to make Foley’s statement a reality with the first full season of Jack Eichel, Adin Hill’s playoff success, dominant defensive play by Alex Pietrangelo, and obvious Conn Smythe candidate and eventual winner in Jonathan Marchessault. The Vegas Golden Knights are no longer the “Golden Misfits,” as they came out on top in 2023 and followed through on Bill Foley’s promise just six short years later.

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