Top storylines going into the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Edmonton is the team that everyone is going to be zeroing in on these playoffs, and it's easy to see why. It is the teams first trip to the post season in 10 years, ending one of the longest playoff droughts in pro sports history. Bench boss Todd McLellan is set to face off against his former team, the San Jose Sharks. And their captain, Connor McDavid, is an untouchable phenom on skates. If you don't watch another team in these playoffs, watch this one. 

If there is a young team that could turn these playoffs on its head, it is the Blue Jackets. CBJ crushed each and every expectation set for them this campaign, behind the leadership of rookie phenom Zach Werenski. This is a squad that can play with little hesitation and take the Eastern Conference by storm. 

While the rest of the conference looked gased in the latter part of the season, the Blackhawks turned up the heat to take the top seed in the West. They are in familiar territory, after hoisting three Stanley Cups in a six year span. "We have that feeling again," captain Jonathan Toews told the Chicago Tribune, "that every single moment, every single game matters and it's a lot of fun to play this time of year. It's why we work all year to get to this point." The question now, is, whether or not the current roster has the right makeup to make that same push.

This time almost every year, scrutiny over how far the Capitals will get in the Stanley Cup Playoffs becomes a topic of discussion. This year, however, might be a bit different. The key will be for the team to stick together – especially when faced with a unified Leafs club. "You just have to stick to your structure," Leafs' forward Brian Boyle told TheStar.com, "to your game plan, don’t break off and do your own thing. A lot of competitive guys in here, but we have to make sure we’re playing as a unit, because that’s what’s going to get us through things." The Caps would be smart to take a cue from their opponent.

The defending Western Conference champions were at the top of their game until the month of March. A six-game losing streak knocked them down in the standings a few pegs, and injuries to key players Joe Thornton and Logan Couture could not have happened at a worst time. If Team Teal is going to make another deep playoff run, they will need small tweaks in several places. "It's about executing at times," captain Joe Pavelski told the media. "The smallest of details are going to get it done."

The team that has defined the rookie movement this season punched their playoff ticket just before the regular season ended. So are they some scrappy kids that got lucky, or are they ready to play playoff hockey – which, if you have ever watched it, is on a whole different level. The kids will have to fight off that "just happy to be here" feeling if they are going to make a decent run at the Cup. 

After catching fire this past December, the Flames had mixed result the second half of the 2016-2017 season. But despite ending the campaign with a loss in San Jose and not learning their Round 1 opponent until late Sunday night, Mark Giordano and company are ready for higher-level hockey. What will be their key success? GM Brad Treliving told the Calgary Herald: “We have to be more focused on what we’re doing than what everyone else is doing.”

The Blueshirts have been smack dab in the middle of the wild card race for so long, it will be nice to finally watch them play next-level hockey. (Particularly against a familiar foe in the Montreal Canadiens in Round 1.) While they proved early in the season that they can score goals up and down the lineup, going against highly-touted netminder Carey Price won't be a cakewalk. Plus, as ESPN points out. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist hasn't faired so well playing at Bell Centre in the past. If New York can get past Montreal in Round 1, there could be no holding them back.

After season after season of not going the extra mile, the Wild had a comeback season behind masterful goaltending from Devan Dubnyk. However, the month of March was not so kind to them, and their playoff history is not so stellar. The story here is that, while every team's wins and losses are set back to zero, Minnesota needs to take the momentum from their four-win season ending. (And use it to beat up an a struggling Blues team in the first round.)

In their return to the playoffs after missing out last season, the Boston Bruins are going to have to prove that their entire roster is up to the challenge. CBS Boston points out that, in addition to some players not appearing to being in that playoff state of mind quite yet, this Boston team has a tendency to squander chances. 

Also, keep an eye on Brad Marchand, who is coming off of suspension and  is reportedly not phased by his own actions.

Much like the division rival Sharks, the Ducks were hit with big injuries late in the season. That being said, they made a mean push at the end of the campaign, and are gearing up for a mean first round duel with Calgary. So while they will rely on players like Rickard Rackell to light the lamp, goaltending from John Gibson and sturdy defense are going to be what gets this team to the second round.

The focus on the Habs in these playoffs is going to be staggering. They are returning to post-season puck after a dumpster fire of a 2015-15 campaign kept them out of contention last year. They have Carey Price – world's most-watched goaltender – healthy and ready to start between the pipes. Newsday argues that Montreal is in need of some next-level intensity against first-round foe the New York Rangers. (However, given that these two teams have a history of not liking each other too much, that shouldn't be a problem.) 

Consistency has eluded the Predators for the bulk of this regular season, and they are about to face an all-too-familiar foe in the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. However, Nashville isn't going to just hand Round 1 over to Chicago. Adam Vingan of the Tennessean points out that the current squad is a more skilled bunch than the ones that lost to the Blackhawks in the past. Expect the Predators – who are a gritty bunch as it is – to be ready for a bloodbath in Round 1. 

In the season after missing out on the playoffs, the Ottawa Senators have become a much-improved hockey product. Now we will see whether or not that carries over into post-season play. The playoffs have not been kind to the Sens in the past, CBC points out – they have only won nine of 24 playoff appearances since 1992.  

St. Louis has proven in the past to be a mean opponent in the playoffs. (Remember last year when David Backes pulled Joe Thornton's  beard?) This season, the Blues have had to claw all the way into this year's playoffs despite a string of injuries and a struggling power play. The focus now is on whether or not the Blues and their familiar first round opponent, the Minnesota Wild, end up killing each other. And goaltending – Jake Allen versus Devan Dubnyk is the matchup to watch here.  

The story here is simple: Can the defending Stanley Cup champions repeat? They are set for a mean first round series against the scrappy Columbus Blue Jackets, with whom they split their regular season series. The Pens will surely end up being must-see hockey. it's just a matter of how far they go this year. The big storyline to follow in Round 1 will be how their defense, without Kris Letang, will be able to handle CBJ.