Stanley Cup Playoffs rooting guide for fans of eliminated teams
Storylines include Patrick Kane seeking 4th NHL championship, Suter, Burns hoping to win 1st title
Remember when Ray Bourque won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001? The Boston Bruins missed the playoffs that season, but the eyes of New England were on the longtime Bruins defenseman during the postseason, rooting that he would win the Cup for the first time.
There are examples every year with every team of players who are still thought of fondly with a fan base even though they now play for a different team. With that in mind, here is who fans of each non-playoff team could be rooting for once the postseason starts Monday.
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Who's playing where:Boston Bruins: Hampus Lindholm, D; Carolina Hurricanes: Stefan Noesen, F; Colorado Avalanche: Andrew Cogliano, F; Josh Manson, D; Florida Panthers: Josh Mahura, D; Brandon Montour, D; Minnesota Wild: John Klingberg, D; Sam Steel, F; New York Islanders: Kyle Palmieri, F; Seattle Kraken: Jaycob Megna, D; Tampa Bay Lightning: Corey Perry, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Aston-Reese, F; Vegas Golden Knights: Ben Hutton, D; Shea Theodore, D
Missed the most:The Ducks bought out the final season of Perry's eight-year contract after he scored six goals in 31 games in 2018-19. Since then, he's helped the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Lightning (2022) reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Who to root for:Perry and Ryan Getzlaf helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007 and became foundational superstars for more than a decade. Perry still is a significant contributor for the Lightning. Some Ducks fans could have a hard time jumping on the Tampa Bay bandwagon after three straight trips to the Final, but if it means a chance for Perry to win another title, others may sign up.
ARIZONA COYOTES
Who's playing where: Boston Bruins: Taylor Hall, F; Carolina Hurricanes: Shayne Gostisbehere, D; Jordan Martinook, F; Antti Raanta, G; Derek Stepan, F; Dallas Stars: Max Domi, F; Scott Wedgewood, G; Edmonton Oilers: Nick Bjugstad, F; Florida Panthers: Nick Cousins, F; Anthony Duclair, F; Minnesota Wild: Alex Goligoski, D; Toronto Maple Leafs; Michael Bunting, F; Conor Timmins, D; Vegas Golden Knights: Adin Hill, G; Phil Kessel, F
Missed the most:Bunting was a fourth-round pick (No. 117) in the 2014 NHL Draft, but his development took a bit longer, and included some time in the ECHL. The Maple Leafs signed him as an unrestricted free agent in 2021, and he's emerged as a 20-goal scorer who has played in the top-six forward group for most of the past two seasons.
Who to root for:Gostisbehere has credited his two seasons with the Coyotes for helping him rediscover his confidence and offensive ability after a rough end to his time with the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored 14 goals in 2021-22, tied for the sixth-most in a season by a defenseman since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1996, and 10 goals in 52 games prior to being traded to the Hurricanes on March 1. Gostisbehere having a chance to win the Cup would complete a nice redemption story, and the Hurricanes should be an easy team for Coyotes fans to adopt considering there's also Martinook, Raanta and Stepan to cheer for.
BUFFALO SABRES
Who's playing where?:Boston Bruins: Taylor Hall, F; Linus Ullmark, G; Colorado Avalanche: Evan Rodrigues, F; Dallas Stars: Colin Miller, D; Edmonton Oilers: Evander Kane, F; Florida Panthers: Brandon Montour, D; Sam Reinhart, F; Eric Staal, F; Minnesota Wild: Marcus Foligno, F; New Jersey Devils: Curtis Lazar, F; Seattle Kraken: Will Borgen, D; Tampa Bay Lightning: Zach Bogosian, D; Toronto Maple Leafs: Jake McCabe, D; Ryan O'Reilly, F; Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel, F; Brayden McNabb, D
Missed the most: Eichel was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and expected to be the centerpiece of a return to contention. Instead, the Sabres missed the playoffs all six seasons Eichel was in Buffalo. He was traded to the Golden Knights on Nov. 4, 2021, after a dispute regarding treatment for a neck injury.
Who to root for:Ullmark was a sixth-round pick (No. 163) in the 2012 NHL Draft who played well for six seasons in Buffalo despite getting little support. He had a .912 save percentage while facing an average of 31.7 shots on goal per 60 minutes, tied for 14th most among the 61 goalies who played at least 100 games from 2015-21. He's taken that resiliency to Boston and emerged as arguably the best goalie in the NHL this season. Sabres fans should enjoy Ullmark's success with the Bruins, knowing they saw what he was capable of before anyone else.
CALGARY FLAMES
Who's playing where?:Boston Bruins: Garnet Hathaway, F; Edmonton Oilers: Brett Kulak, D; Derek Ryan, F; Florida Panthers: Sam Bennett, F; Ryan Lomberg, F; Matthew Tkachuk, F; New Jersey Devils: Dougie Hamilton, D; Curtis Lazar, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Brian Elliott, G; Toronto Maple Leafs: TJ Brodie, D; Mark Giordano, D; Calle Jarnkrok, F; David Rittich, G
Missed the most:Tkachuk was a standout during his six seasons with the Flames and was a huge part of their run to the Pacific Division title last season with 42 goals and 104 points. But he was granted the trade he requested during the offseason, and without him Calgary struggled offensively. Tkachuk has fit in well with the Panthers with an NHL career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 games.
Who to root for:Giordano is held in the same esteem as Flames legends Lanny McDonald, Jarome Iginla and Al MacInnis because of his work on and off the ice during his 15 seasons in Calgary. He won the 2016 NHL Foundation Player Award and the 2019 Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL. He was captain for eight seasons (2013-21), and the Flames haven't had one since he was claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The "C of Red" likely would feel its own victory if Giordano got to carry the Cup.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Who's playing where?: Carolina Hurricanes: Calvin de Haan, D; Teuvo Teravainen, F; Antti Raanta, G; Colorado Avalanche: Jack Johnson, D; Dallas Stars: Max Domi, F; Florida Panthers: Gustav Forsling, D; Los Angeles Kings: Phillip Danault, F; Minnesota Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury, G; Ryan Hartman, F; New York Rangers: Patrick Kane, F; Tyler Motte, F; Artemi Panarin, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Brandon Hagel, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Erik Gustafsson, D; David Kampf, F; Sam Lafferty, F; Jake McCabe, D
Missed the most:Teravainen is seen by Blackhawks fans as one that got away. The first-round pick (No. 18) in the 2012 NHL Draft was starting to blossom into a big piece when he was traded to the Hurricanes with forward Bryan Bickell on June 15, 2016, to create room under the salary cap. The Blackhawks' loss has been the Hurricanes' gain. Teravainen has three seasons with at least 20 goals and 60 points in seven seasons in Carolina.
Who to root for: Kane's trade to the Rangers was seen as the end of an era that saw the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) during the forward's 16 seasons. The only player with more points in Blackhawks history than Kane (1,225) is Stan Mikita (1,467), and the only ones to score more goals than Kane's 446 are Bobby Hull (604) and Mikita (541). Kane is a legend in Chicago, and Blackhawks fans certainly wouldn't mind seeing him lift the Cup one more time.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Who's playing where?:Boston Bruins: Nick Foligno, F; Colorado Avalanche: Jack Johnson, D; Dallas Stars: Max Domi, F; Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Murray, D; Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Los Angeles Kings: Vladislav Gavrikov, D; Joonas Korpisalo, G; Minnesota Wild: Gustav Nyquist, F; New York Rangers: Artemi Panarin, F; Seattle Kraken: Oliver Bjorkstrand, F; Alex Wennberg, F; Vegas Golden Knights: William Karlsson, F; Jonathan Marchessault, F; Winnipeg Jets: Pierre-Luc Dubois, F; Kevin Stenlund, F
Missed the most:Bobrovsky emerged as a star with the Blue Jackets, winning the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL twice (2013, 2017) during his seven seasons. They also made the playoffs four times, and he had a .929 even-strength save percentage. Since he signed with the Panthers in 2019, the Blue Jackets have made playoffs once in four seasons.
Who to root for:Few players have embedded themselves in a community the way Foligno did during his nine seasons in Columbus. In October 2016, he made a $500,000 donation to Nationwide Children's Hospital, which renamed its cardiovascular research center the Foligno Family Cardiovascular Research Lab, and he won the 2017 King Clancy Trophy as the player who made a noteworthy contribution to his community. If the Bruins win the Stanley Cup, they should fire the cannon in Foligno's honor at Nationwide Arena.
DETROIT RED WINGS
Who's playing where?: Boston Bruins: Tyler Bertuzzi, F; Tomas Nosek, F; Colorado Avalanche: Darren Helm, F; Dallas Stars: Luke Glendening, F; Florida Panthers: Givani Smith, F; Marc Staal, D; Minnesota Wild: Gustav Nyquist, F; Oskar Sundqvist, F; New Jersey Devils: Brendan Smith, D; Tomas Tatar, F; Winnipeg Jets: Sam Gagner, F; Vladislav Namestnikov, F
Missed the most:Bertuzzi has the combination of skill and grit that any team would love. He scored at least 20 goals three times in his seven seasons with the Red Wings, including 30 last season. His physical style led to injuries, and he played 29 of 60 games prior to his trade to the Bruins on March 2, but on a team that has struggled to develop consistent offense around captain Dylan Larkin, Bertuzzi generally was a reliable performer.
Who to root for:Bertuzzi's heart-and-soul style endeared him to fans and teammates in Detroit and his surprising trade was not received well by
some members of the roster, including Larkin
. The best way for everyone to get over that disappointment would be to see Bertuzzi lift the Cup in June.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Who's playing where?: Carolina Hurricanes: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, F; Colorado Avalanche: Lars Eller, F; Artturi Lehkonen, F; Dallas Stars: Evgenii Dadonov, F; Max Domi, F; Edmonton Oilers: Brett Kulak, D; Florida Panthers: Eric Staal, F; Los Angeles Kings: Phillip Danault, F; New Jersey Devils: Tomas Tatar, F; New York Islanders: Alexander Romanov, D; New York Rangers: Jaroslav Halak, G; Tampa Bay Lightning: Corey Perry, F; Mikhail Sergachev, D
Missed the most:The Canadiens selected Sergachev with the No. 9 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, but traded him a year later to the Lightning, where he's become a key part of two Stanley Cup championships. Montreal received Jonathan Drouin in the trade. The forward has been a solid player but hasn't reached 40 points in four straight seasons.
Who to root for:Danault developed into a dependable shut-down center during his six seasons with the Canadiens and was a key player in their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. He's continued to excel in two seasons with the Kings as the No. 2 center behind Anze Kopitar. Danault couldn't get the Canadiens the Cup, but it certainly would be nice for Montreal fans to see him lift it with Los Angeles.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Who's playing where?: Dallas Stars: Ryan Suter, D; Edmonton Oilers: Mattias Ekholm, D; Florida Panthers: Nick Cousins, F; Patric Hornqvist, F; Los Angeles Kings: Viktor Arvidsson, F; Kevin Fiala, F; Minnesota Wild: Frederik Gaudreau, F; Ryan Hartman, F; New Jersey Devils: Erik Haula, F; Seattle Kraken: Eeli Tolvanen, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Tanner Jeannot, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Calle Jarnkrok, F; Winnipeg Jets: Nino Niederreiter, F; David Rittich, G
Missed the most: Fiala was selected by the Predators with the No. 11 pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, but his development was inconsistent. The forward scored 23 goals in 80 games in 2017-18, but after scoring 10 goals in 64 games the following season, he was traded to the Wild for forward Mikael Granlund. Some more patience might have been in order. Fiala blossomed in a new environment and has four straight 20-goal seasons between the Wild and Kings.
Who to root for:Suter was a stalwart in Nashville for seven seasons, a consistent defensive presence able to provide secondary scoring. He teamed with Shea Weber to give the Predators a legitimate shutdown defense pair that helped them reach the playoffs six times between 2005-06 and 2011-12. The 38-year-old is the active leader in games played without his name on the Cup (1,361). If the Predators won't get to have a championship parade down Broadway in Nashville, it would be nice to see Suter skate around with it.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Who's playing where?:Boston Bruins: Nick Foligno, F; Edmonton Oilers: Cody Ceci, D; Florida Panthers: Anthony Duclair, F; Colin White, F; Minnesota Wild: Filip Gustavsson, G; New Jersey Devils: Curtis Lazar, F; New York Islanders: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, F; New York Rangers: Tyler Motte, F; Mika Zibanejad, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Brian Elliott, G; Nicholas Paul, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Victor Mete, D; Matt Murray, G; Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone, F; Winnipeg Jets: Dylan DeMelo, D
Missed the most: Zibanejad looked like he was about to take the next step in his development when the Senators traded him to the Rangers for forward Derick Brassard on July 18, 2016. He's grown into a foundational piece with New York, scoring at least 20 goals six times, including 39 this season and a personal NHL-best 91 points. Brassard lasted less than two seasons with the Senators.
Who to root for: Elliott was a ninth-round pick (No. 291) in the 2003 NHL Draft by the Senators and became an NHL regular in 2008-09 at age 23. He's carved out a solid 16-season career that included winning the 2012 William Jennings Trophy with the St. Louis Blues and playing two NHL All-Star Games (2012, 2015). At 38 years old, this could be Elliott's final chance at winning the Stanley Cup. He should be an easy player for Senators fans to root for.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Who's playing where?:Carolina Hurricanes: Shayne Gostisbehere, D; Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Nick Cousins, F; Radko Gudas, D; Alex Lyon, G; Los Angeles Kings: Zach MacEwen, F; Seattle Kraken: Martin Jones, G; Tampa Bay Lightning: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, F; Brian Elliott, G; Toronto Maple Leafs: Erik Gustafsson, D; Luke Schenn, D; Wayne Simmonds, F
Missed the most:Simmonds developed into an elite power forward during his eight seasons with the Flyers, scoring 20 goals six times and 30 goals twice, almost all of them from within 10 feet of the net. He also became a vocal locker room leader with a presence that has been missed significantly since he was traded to the Predators on Feb. 25, 2019.
Who to root for:Simmonds' blend of goal scoring and physicality made him incredibly popular among Flyers fans, and he's one of the few visiting players in the NHL to be cheered when his name is announced during games. He also took a lead role off the ice with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. Simmonds likely won't play much of a role for the Maple Leafs during the postseason, but in what's been a rough season for the Flyers, seeing him skating with the Cup in June would provide a needed smile.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Who's playing where?: Colorado Avalanche: Jack Johnson, D; Evan Rodrigues, F; Edmonton Oilers: Nick Bjugstad, F; Cody Ceci, D; Florida Panthers: Patric Hornqvist, F; Minnesota Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury, G; Alex Goligoski, D; Ryan Reaves, F; Oskar Sundqvist, F; New Jersey Devils: John Marino, D; Seattle Kraken: Jared McCann, F; Jamie Oleksiak, D; Justin Schultz, D; Daniel Sprong, F; Brandon Tanev, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Ian Cole, D; Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Aston-Reese, F; Sam Lafferty, F; Matt Murray, G; Vegas Golden Knights: Teddy Blueger, F; Phil Kessel, F
Missed the most:McCann had trouble getting into the lineup during his three seasons with the Penguins and was left unprotected in the 2021 Expansion Draft. The 26-year-old has blossomed into a high-end scorer in two seasons with the Kraken, scoring 40 goals this season after he had 27 in 2021-22.
Who to root for:It's been six seasons since Fleury last wore a Penguins jersey, but he remains one of the most popular players in team history. At 38 years old, he will be the oldest goalie in the playoffs, and he could start the postseason as the backup to Filip Gustavsson. Regardless of his role, Penguins fans disappointed over the end of their 16-season playoff streak would at least enjoy seeing Fleury skate with the Cup one more time.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Who's playing where?: Carolina Hurricanes: Brent Burns, D; Colorado Avalanche: Andrew Cogliano, F; Matt Nieto, F; Dallas Stars: Joe Pavelski, F; Edmonton Oilers: Evander Kane, F; Minnesota Wild: Jake Middleton, D; Gustav Nyquist, F; New Jersey Devils: Timo Meier, F; New York Rangers: Barclay Goodrow, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Michael Eyssimont, F; Seattle Kraken: Ryan Donato, F; Joonas Donskoi, F; Martin Jones, G; Jaycob Megna, D; Vegas Golden Knights: Adin Hill, G; Winnipeg Jets: Dylan DeMelo, D; Brenden Dillon, D
Missed the most:Pavelski was a leader on and off the ice for the Sharks, averaging 34 goals per season from 2013-19, and was captain from 2015-19. After 2018-19, the Sharks were hesitant to commit long term and Pavelski, at age 34, signed with the Stars. Pavelski has since averaged 23 goals per season, helped Dallas reach the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and skated in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. Meanwhile the Sharks have missed the playoffs all four seasons, and his leadership would be vital with them looking to integrate young players.
Who to root for:Burns is the all-time leader among Sharks defensemen in goals (172), assists (422) and points (594), won the 2015 Norris Trophy as best at the position and helped San Jose reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. The outstanding play, as well as his shaggy beard, gap-toothed grin and affinity for reptiles, made him a fan favorite during his 11 seasons in San Jose. He hasn't missed a beat since being traded to the Hurricanes on July 13, leading Carolina defensemen with 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) in 81 games. Seeing Burns celebrate with the Cup likely would be a thrill for Sharks fans.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Who's playing where?:Carolina Hurricanes: Paul Stastny, F; Colorado Avalanche: Lars Eller, F; Erik Johnson, D; Edmonton Oilers: Klim Kostin, F; Los Angeles Kings: Pheonix Copley, G; Minnesota Wild: Ryan Reaves, F; Oskar Sundqvist, F; New York Rangers: Jaroslav Halak, G; Niko Mikkola, D; Vladimir Tarasenko, F; Tampa Bay Lightning: Ian Cole, D; Brian Elliott, G; Pat Maroon, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Noel Acciari, F; Ryan O'Reilly, F; Vegas Golden Knights: Ivan Barbashev, F; Alex Pietrangelo, D; Seattle Kraken: Vince Dunn, D; Jaden Schwartz, F
Missed the most:After playing four seasons as part of a deep Blues defense core, Dunn has emerged as a top-pair defensemen in two seasons with the Kraken. The 26-year-old has set NHL personal bests this season in goals (14), assists (50) and points (64); no Blues defenseman has even reached 50 points the past two seasons.
Who to root for: Maroon always has been proud of his St. Louis roots, and he's already celebrated three Stanley Cup championships, one with the Blues in 2019 and two with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. What better way for St. Louis fans to get over the disappointment of missing the playoffs than by seeing one of their skate one more time with the Cup?
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Who's playing where?:Los Angeles Kings: Alexander Edler, D; Zach MacEwen, F; New Jersey Devils: Curtis Lazar, F; New York Islanders: Bo Horvat, F; New York Rangers: Jaroslav Halak, G; Tyler Motte, F; Seattle Kraken: Jared McCann, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Luke Schenn, D; Vegas Golden Knights: Ben Hutton, D; Winnipeg Jets: Nate Schmidt, D
Missed the most: Horvat was the Canucks captain and best all-around player, scoring at least 20 goals six times in seven seasons, including 30 in two straight. He also showed he could come up big in big spots, leading the Canucks with 10 goals in 17 games when they reached Game 7 of the 2020 Western Conference Second Round, the deepest Vancouver had gone in the postseason since reaching the 2011 Cup Final. Trading him to the Islanders on Jan. 30 left a sizable hole.
Who to root for:Edler holds Canucks records for most games played (925), goals (99), assists (310) and points (409) by a defenseman during his 15 seasons in Vancouver. He's been more of a complementary piece during his two seasons with the Kings, providing leadership for younger defensemen like Mikey Anderson, Sean Durzi and Matt Roy. With no chance for the Cup in Vancouver this season, the fans should be cheering for Edler to win it in Los Angeles.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Who's playing where?:Boston Bruins: Garnet Hathaway, F; Dmitry Orlov, D; Colorado Avalanche: Lars Eller, F; Florida Panthers: Radko Gudas, D; Los Angeles Kings: Pheonix Copley, G; Minnesota Wild: Marcus Johansson, F; New Jersey Devils: Jonas Siegenthaler, D; Vitek Vanecek, G; New York Islanders: Semyon Varlamov, G; Seattle Kraken: Andre Burakovsky, F; Philipp Grubauer, G; Justin Schultz, D; Daniel Sprong, F; Toronto Maple Leafs: Erik Gustafsson, D; Ilya Samsonov, G; Vegas Golden Knights: Chandler Stephenson, F; Winnipeg Jets: Brenden Dillon, D; Nate Schmidt, D
Missed the most:Stephenson was with the Capitals when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018 but never found consistent ice time behind a deep group of forwards. His game hit another gear when he was traded to the Golden Knights on Dec. 3, 2019, including two straight 60-point seasons.
Who to root for:Schmidt's smile has lit up every locker room he's been in, including the beginning of his NHL career with the Capitals. He had a shot at the Cup with the Golden Knights but lost to the Capitals in the 2018 Final. Washington fans certainly wouldn't object to Schmidt getting a championship opportunity again.
