Who are the favourites to win the 2021 Stanley Cup?
The NHL is filled with strong teams but there is only one that can win the Stanley Cup. Let us talk about the top favourites in the premier hockey league.
Who are the favourites to win the 2021 Stanley Cup?
The NHL is filled with strong teams but there is only one that can win the Stanley Cup. Let us talk about the top favourites in the premier hockey league. While the Tampa Bay Lightning is the defending champions, there are teams that can make a case for the trophy in 2021.
Hockey is a tough sport to predict because of the number of moving pieces that you have to take into account. Roster moves are easy enough to follow but injuries are massive in the NHL. It is not easy to nail down a proper choice but if you look at how roster moves have panned out and the quality of their players, you can choose a team that can win the coveted title.
Here are some of the top teams that you can rely on when it comes to making and possibly winning the Stanley Cup.
Colorado Avalanche
Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Colorado Avalanche was the favourite for the Stanley Cup and with good reason. They have many good players in the Avalanche squad with Nathan MacKinnon leading the way. This is a tough team to beat as they are a complete lineup in every facet of the game.
Defence is elite when it comes to the Avalanche lineup but the best aspect of their play is definitely their powerful offence. They have a trio with MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar who have shined so far this season with their goals and assists towards one another.
They are a tough team to face and they have a squad that can be considered the best in the entire NHL. If you are familiar with esports, they are akin to the Astralis squad in CSGO who was a favourite when it came to free CSGO skins betting because of their cohesion and tactics.
They have faced some injuries but the Avs continue to thrive. They were underdogs in the past but they are now favourites. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog is still confident with this team as they faced injuries.
He said, ‘Obviously we need to stay healthy -- injuries happen for all teams, but ours came at a bad time. But ultimately it comes down to performing when it matters the most. That's what we need to realize as a group, we need to hit our stride when it matters most’.
Las Vegas Golden Knights
The Avs are not the only overwhelming favourites in the NHL. The Las Vegas Golden Knights is also a good team when it comes to their overall ability. They are a gritty team that knows how to play tough defence but they shine when they attack.
They usually love playing on the counter which is obvious during play. You can expect them to play with so much energy. They still have the tendency to slow down when they play similar levels of defence.
That is what they faced with the Dallas Stars in the 2019-20 Western Conference Finals which is why they did not make it to the Stanley Cup. The Stars would go on to face the Lightning in the final where they would lose to the Tampa Bay squad in six games.
It is a different story in the 2020-21 season as the Knights are out to prove that they are not purely a regular season team. In a short time frame since its inception, the Knights are still one of the best teams in the league. This was a quick turnaround from their time as a new team in the league. They need to step up and they have the ability to do so with the lineup that they have.
They are headlined by a top player in Mark Stone who has done well so far this season. He is not alone because Max Pacioretty and Shea Theodore are there to help him succeed. It is tough to stop them from scoring goals but it is not hard to see why people look at the Knights as favourites especially with the firepower that they have in the Stanley Cup.
Tampa Bay Lightning
While the two favourites have big arguments, the Lightning can still surprise people with the quality of their play. Of course, they are not the same team from the previous season but they are still a strong squad. The biggest difference from last season is that Nikita Kucherov is not with the team at the moment. That loss of a vital player is akin to CSGO pro Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut missing games for Vitality and is rough for free CSGO skins betting.
He will be on the sidelines until May which will be hard to deal with. He is their best player and losing him is definitely a huge blow to the team and their hopes for a repeat in the Stanley Cup. The Lightning has already proven that they are capable of pulling off big upsets but that was when they had Kucherov at full strength.
They are a consistent team that can contend for the Stanley Cup but this might not be the year that they can contest the top two. However, you should expect them to always compete at a high level because that is the essence of this squad who fights relentlessly for success.
Steven Stamkos is a bright spot for the team as he can fill in for Kucherov. However, he has not played at a similar level but he is a reliable player who fills the role well. Victor Hedman can also be a main reason for the success as he is an excellent defenceman.
Are there dark horses for the Stanley Cup?
With the number of teams in the NHL, there are some dark horses that can surprise people. Teams like the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs deserve mentions as they have the ability to pull off outstanding plays on both ends of the rink and they have a history of success.
These are just some of the teams that will be talked about for the remainder of the 2020-21 season as the NHL title race heats up.
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Words: Pocholo Magsino
