Stanley Cup playoffs storylines: Are Hurricanes, Avalanche best bets in wide-open race?

2. The Canes may regret trading Mikko Rantanen.

FanDuel gives Carolina the best odds (+650) to beat the field. That narrowly beats out Colorado (+700) and Florida (+750). In a wide-open tournament, the Hurricanes may regret their refusal to keep Rantanen, who was dealt to Dallas before the trade deadline.

3. The league-leading Jets (West) and Capitals (East) have been doubted all season. Now's their chance to prove themselves.

The gambling odds don't have either team as a favorite, with Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg (+1000) and Eastern Conference leader Washington (+1100) rounding out the top half of the field. There are reasons to doubt both teams, but if you look under the hood at the advanced possession metrics, you won't find smoke and mirrors. These are good 5-on-5 teams with dangerous special teams.

4. Hockey's best player makes another run.

The big question is if Edmonton has the goods to deliver on the promise of last season's near-comeback against Florida. Connor McDavid remains without a championship, and that may not change for the injury-plagued Oilers.

5. It's now or never for Toronto... sort of.

Losing in the first round would be catastrophic for a Maple Leafs team that has sacrificed much of its explosiveness. If they win the Battle of Ontario against Ottawa, Toronto could face a nightmare matchup against either Florida or Tampa. 

6. There's nothing blue about red-hot St. Louis.

St. Louis finished the season on a 21-5-4 run. Center Robert Thomas played a sheltered role as a rookie, when the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019. Now he's their No. 1 center on the heels of a second consecutive 80-plus points campaign (this time in 12 fewer games). Goaltender Jordan Binnington is on a roll. The Blues are not a pushover.

7. The champs are back.

Florida's injury concerns are not to be taken lightly, but if healthy, it is a real contender to return to the Stanley Cup Final. The recent Cup winners — Vegas (2023), Colorado (2022) and Tampa (2020-21) — look dangerous, too. 

8. Is this finally the year for Canada?

A Canadian-based team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Five of the seven Canadian teams made the field of 16, and two (Toronto and Winnipeg) were division winners. 

9. One last ride for the best goal scorer of all-time

Washington's Alex Ovechkin has the goal-scoring record. Now is the chance for him to atone for Washington's recent playoff disappointments. The team is 7-20 in playoff games since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.

10. It has never been so open

There's not really a clear favorite. The bettors don't seem to like the regular-season leaders (Capitals in East, Jets in West). That leaves room for shocking outcomes, whether by an upstart team like Ottawa or an upstart player turning in the type performance that creates Conn Smythe winners.