The playoffs are nearly right here, and whereas we’re nonetheless ready on a few matchups, we all know the 16 groups. In case you root for one in all them, you’re not studying this since you’re curled up in just a little ball, twitching and sweating and attempting to not puke. Playoffs, child!
That leaves the remainder of you, the followers of the 16 groups that spent the season being large losers strategically retooling for a brighter future. You’ve received to determine who to root for over the approaching weeks and months. You may skip that half fully, after all, and simply benefit from the playoffs as a impartial observer. You may hate-watch your crew’s rivals. Or you can choose and select, dropping out and in of whichever sequence seems good and cheering on whoever appears like the appropriate alternative within the second.
These are all legitimate choices. However there’s one other, and it’s a considerably controversial one: You may choose a bandwagon crew to trip with all spring. It’s good apply for the actual factor, in any case, supplying you with a style of the ups and downs of following one crew for so long as it may final. And when your crew will get knocked out, you’ll be able to really feel unhealthy for 10 minutes earlier than shrugging and shifting on to another person.
In case you’re contemplating a bandwagon crew, I’ve received you lined. Right here’s my annual take a look at all 16 playoff groups, ranked from the worst bandwagon choices to the easiest.
Why it’s best to get on board: You’re a contrarian.
Why you shouldn’t: I’ve been doing these lists lengthy sufficient that “Don’t root for the defending champs” has nearly turn into a trope. It’s traditional front-running, in any case, and the rarity of repeat champions within the cap period means that it’s additionally normally futile. So yeah, normally, don’t root for the defending champ.
However these specific champs? Come on. Everybody hates the Golden Knights, the too-much-too-soon enlargement crew that received’t cease buying and selling for All-Stars and skipped to the entrance of the road, partly by dishonest the wage cap.
Backside line: The Knights had been all the time a enjoyable choose for a selected sort of bandwagon fan again after they had been the brand new guys nonetheless attempting to defy custom and buck the chances. However now that they’ve received, this can be the best rating within the historical past of this column.
Why it’s best to get on board: It’s all the time enjoyable to choose a wild card that goes on a run, and the Lightning seem like an inexpensive guess to just do that. And the narrative of the previous champs attempting to get again to the highest of the mountain yet another time earlier than all of it crumbles is one you can get behind.
Why you shouldn’t: Actually, what’s the best-case state of affairs right here? The Lightning pull off an upset or two, possibly even go all the best way to the ultimate, and … congratulations, you’re bandwagoning a crew that’s already been there 3 times in 4 years. It’s all the chance of selecting a wild-card crew, with none of the enjoyable underdog vibes.
Backside line: There’s additionally the Nikita Kucherov issue, which is able to assist or harm relying on how a lot you want the concept of an MVP-level wizard who may also come throughout as form of a jerk typically.
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re a possible underdog, one that everybody appears to be forgetting about however that’s been constructing to this for years now. It’s not unprecedented for groups just like the Kings to emerge as contenders, and after they do everybody else is normally only a bit too late to determine what they’re watching. You may be the one who already had their seat on the bandwagon.
Why you shouldn’t: The Kings peaked early, received some consideration after which pale within the second half earlier than ending robust, in order that they match the profile of a crew that in all probability deserves extra respect than they’re getting. However that doesn’t imply they’re not underdogs, and using with them in a first-round matchup towards a high-flying crew in Dallas or Edmonton might not be your concept of enjoyable.
Backside line: Talking of not all that enjoyable, there’s additionally this complete factor. The Kings are going to rank excessive on this checklist some yr quickly, however that yr will not be this one.
Why it’s best to get on board: One of many longest-suffering fan bases within the league is again within the playoffs but once more, this time with a loopy new coach to go along with their crusty previous GM. No person is selecting them to win something and their followers understand it, so in the event you like an excellent “us towards the world” story then you could have discovered your non permanent residence.
Why you shouldn’t: We received’t escape the dreaded “b” phrase, however we’ll level out that no playoff crew aside from Washington scores lower than the Islanders, and their ticket to a long term in all probability entails using their goaltending to a bunch of low-scoring wins. Selecting this crew to bandwagon would really feel just a bit like having a cheat day in your eating regimen and selecting to spend it on the salad bar.
Backside line: In the event that they beat the Hurricanes and go on to play the Rangers in Spherical 2, it’s important to get a Denis Potvin jersey. Simply preserve that in thoughts.
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re an excellent crew with loads of star gamers, together with the doubtless MVP. And after final yr’s first-round catastrophe towards the Kraken, they need to be motivated.
Why you shouldn’t: Shaky goaltending has led to a troublesome closing stretch, which means they’ll begin the playoffs on the street towards an excellent Jets crew in a sequence that’s mainly a coin flip. And since they received all of it in 2022, you don’t even get any underdog factors for choosing them.
Backside line: For sheer enjoyable issue, this roster is fairly stacked. However it’s a little bit of a front-runner choose mixed with a troublesome first matchup.
Why it’s best to get on board: They had been the highest choose for the 2022 checklist, and an terrible lot of what we stated again then nonetheless holds. They’re a enjoyable crew, they’ve by no means received a Cup, and their followers have needed to take care of infinite negativity over the previous few a long time. Heck, they’d in all probability even welcome some bandwagon love. Oh, and so they’re actually good, having adopted up a 2022 Presidents’ Trophy with a run to final yr’s closing.
Why you shouldn’t: A couple of weeks in the past I attempted to promote you on the Panthers because the NHL’s new crew you like to hate, with combined success. However yeah, between Matthew Tkachuk, Nick Cousins, Sam Bennett and others, you’re going to see them do one thing nasty over the subsequent few weeks that you just’ll must fake to defend.
Backside line: They’re additionally taking part in the Lightning, the massive brother that’s been kicking sand of their face for years. These guys can’t even villain appropriately.
10. New York Rangers
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re the most effective crew within the league, not less than in keeping with their common season report, and a roster stacked with expertise seems to agree. However with just one Stanley Cup to point out for the final 84 years, you’re hardly chasing after current success right here. In case you’re on the lookout for a bandwagon, you can do loads worse than an enormous market with an excellent goalie and many star energy that can get a ton of protection.
Why you shouldn’t: The Rangers have been a captivating crew to look at this yr, with not less than some statistical proof exhibiting that they might not be pretty much as good as their report suggests they’re, particularly on the even power that makes up most of how essential playoff video games are performed. Then once more, we’ve been having that argument for years, and so they simply preserve successful.
Backside line: Hey, do you are feeling just like the first-place crew within the league’s greatest U.S. market nonetheless in some way doesn’t get sufficient consideration? Guess what: You do now, so don’t assume too onerous about it.
Why it’s best to get on board: We are saying it yearly, nevertheless it stays true — if you may get previous the truth that it’s the Leafs, you’ve received an excellent crew with numerous thrilling offensive gamers, attempting to snap a historic drought for one of many sports activities world’s most loyal fan bases. Bear in mind how a lot enjoyable it was when the Chicago Cubs lastly received the World Collection? It could be form of like that.
Why you shouldn’t: You’ll be able to’t get previous the truth that it’s the Leafs. (Or you’ll be able to, however you don’t see a path out of the Atlantic for a crew with shaky goaltending and a historical past of postseason failure, which works too.)
Backside line: There are three kinds of hockey followers: Unbearable Leafs followers, unbearable followers of different groups whose brains have been damaged by the Leafs and followers who can’t perceive what the massive deal is. Solely that third group is eligible right here, but when that’s you, there are worse decisions. But in addition higher ones.
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re arguably the league’s finest second-half story, in some way turning a canceled crew outing to a live performance right into a playoff push that simply by no means stopped. They’ll be underdogs in each sequence, however have one of many league’s finest goalies in order that they’ll all the time have a puncher’s likelihood. They employed a GM with no front-office expertise and let him make a bunch of bizarre strikes, and I believe we will all agree this copycat league could be extra enjoyable if different groups needed to observe that technique.
And bear in mind, they made their solely closing look in 2017 as a wild-card crew, so there’s a recent-ish precedent right here.
Why you shouldn’t: The U2 factor is cool now, however examine again within the convention closing if the Predators are nonetheless round and also you’re listening to about it for the four-hundredth time.
Backside line: For the report, in the event you select the Predators and so they make the ultimate, you just about must take a roadie to Nashville.
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re a superb crew that’s a yr faraway from a record-breaking season and didn’t take a lot of a step again this yr regardless of dropping their beloved franchise participant to retirement. Since final yr ended with a surprising first-round loss, they nonetheless have loads to show and don’t really feel like an apparent front-runner choose. And whereas they’re an Authentic Six crew with all of the over-the-top pomp and circumstance that entails, they’ve received one Cup since 1972.
Additionally, David Pastrnak wears bizarre garments to the sport typically, if that’s your factor.
Why you shouldn’t: Brad Marchand. The Jack Edwards farewell tour, which his followers will love however your mileage could differ. Pat Maroon hogging all of the Stanley Cups and by no means letting anybody else have a flip.
Backside line: Look, I’m a bitter previous man with a coronary heart of stone, and even I really like the goalie hugs. With Linus Ullmark in all probability getting traded in the summertime, wouldn’t you like to see one final hug because the Cup is being handed round?
(Verify again after the primary few video games of the Leafs sequence for my column on why goalie hugs needs to be banned.)
6. Washington Capitals
Why it’s best to get on board: You want underdogs? You don’t get a much bigger underdog than this, not less than within the parity period. The Capitals had been presupposed to be rebuilding, with nearly no one selecting them as a playoff crew heading into the season, and even heading into April. You solely bothered to be taught their goalie’s identify two weeks in the past. They earned the final wild-card spot on their season’s closing evening, regardless of dropping extra video games than they received and posting the worst objectives differential on any postseason crew since 1991. Their reward for all that will likely be a matchup with the Rangers, in a sequence no one will assume they will win. MoneyPuck has them with 0 p.c Cup odds, which I’m undecided I’ve ever seen earlier than. In case you consider in no guts no glory, that is your crew. Do it. Do it!
Why you shouldn’t: They’re not good.
Backside line: Oh cool down, Capitals followers, you understand it’s true. And it doesn’t matter as a result of all of the common season is for is getting in. They’re in. Now something can occur, and that’s the fantastic thing about it. DO IT!
(You’ll be able to choose a brand new crew after they’re out by subsequent weekend, it’s high-quality.)
Why it’s best to get on board: They had been my prime choose final yr, and never a lot has modified since. If something, the Zach Hyman story may make them much more likable. Apart from that, return and browse final yr’s piece, all of the arguments just about nonetheless apply.
Why you shouldn’t: They added Corey Perry to a crew that already consists of Evander Kane, in order that they’re clearly in “something goes so long as we win” mode. That’s not essentially a foul place to be in the event you’re a die-hard fan, nevertheless it may give bandwagoners some pause.
Backside line: You deserve just a little little bit of cheering for Connor McDavid as a substitute of being afraid of him, as a deal with.
Why it’s best to get on board: They’ve spent all yr as among the finest groups within the league, however no one outdoors of Vancouver appears to truly assume they’re good, which means you get the uncommon alternative to bandwagon a prime contender whereas additionally taking part in the “no one believes in us” card. Past that, the Canucks are only a flat-out enjoyable crew, with all kinds of firepower and a few fascinating characters. And at 54 years and counting with out a Cup, it’s honest to say they’re due.
Why you shouldn’t: Canucks followers have been ready endlessly for a Cup, and so they’ve been via some professional heartbreak alongside the best way, so in the event that they ever do get there, they could not take kindly to any bandwagon followers attempting to crowd in on their glory. That’s cheap, and a part of being an excellent bandwagon fan is figuring out your home, however preserve it in thoughts.
Backside line: Wait, 54 years with out a Cup? Didn’t another crew have a well-known drought like that, one which ended towards … the Canucks? That crew may even be the favourite to be ready for the Canucks within the closing. This appears like destiny lining up, proper? Oh man, I believe I simply spoiled this yr’s playoffs, sorry everybody …
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Why it’s best to get on board: As a result of the highest of those rankings is actually Western Convention heavy, and let’s be sincere, no one actually desires to remain up that late.
Oh, and in addition the Hurricanes are an excellent crew, fairly presumably the most effective within the convention. They’ve enjoyable gamers, are well-coached and have a forward-thinking entrance workplace. Additionally they have among the finest Outdated Man With out A Cup tales of the yr in Brent Burns, and an inspiring comeback from Frederik Andersen.
Why you shouldn’t: Sooner or later, Rod Brind’Amour goes to say one thing that’s going to make you are feeling unhealthy about your exercise habits.
Backside line: Additionally, a Hurricanes championship would make Montreal followers mad, which is a plus.
2. Winnipeg Jets
Why it’s best to get on board: One yr in the past, all of us figured they had been accomplished for, an inevitable rebuild beginning years too late. Right this moment, they’re ending off a incredible season, they’ve the presumptive Vezina winner in web, they had been aggressive on the deadline and their coach is the last word OGWAC. And so they’re doing all of it in entrance of among the finest fan bases within the league, one which has a super-cool playoff custom however has by no means seen their Jets get previous the third spherical, and oh yeah, had no crew in any respect for 16 lengthy years.
Additionally, and Jets followers won’t like me mentioning this nevertheless it needs to be stated: All of your favourite gamers have the Jets on their no-trade checklist. That implies that the Jets are constructing a contender with one hand tied behind their again. A deep run could be further spectacular beneath these circumstances, and it may additionally change a number of minds.
Why you shouldn’t: They in all probability must undergo Colorado and Dallas to get out of the Central, which is sort of presumably the ugliest playoff path that any crew within the league is dealing with. There’s an excellent likelihood this ends each badly and rapidly.
Backside line: Oh, and the franchise itself is at risk. However don’t let that guilt you into something, go forward and cheer for them to lose their crew once more, it’s not prefer it makes you a foul particular person.
1. Dallas Stars
Why it’s best to get on board: They’re an extremely expert and entertaining crew, they’ve an excellent shot at successful the Stanley Cup, they haven’t received this century so it’s not fairly a front-runner choose, and Joe Pavelski will be the single finest OGWAC story within the league. Combine in alternate-OGWAC Ryan Suter, plus Matt Duchene’s comeback season, plus Mason Marchment attempting to win the Cup that eluded his late father, plus not one however two enjoyable rookie tales, and the Stars are simply in regards to the excellent bandwagon choose.
Why you shouldn’t: They’ve been recognized to cheat to win the Stanley Cup, or so it has been defined to me. Additionally, they had been my choose to win each in October and earlier this week, so in the event that they do then I’ll be much more unbearable than ordinary.
Backside line: The Stars have a lot going for them that it’s nearly annoying, which I suppose is also a motive to activate them. However there’s no motive to overthink this one — in a league with a handful of very stable choices, the Stars are the most effective of the bunch.
(Picture of Mark Stone and Connor McDavid: Ethan Miller / Getty Pictures)