Not sure about everyone else, but the Monday after the season ends combined with the first day of the Stanley Cup playoffs tend to be among the toughest of the year for me as a Canes fan (obviously in the years in which the Hurricanes do not make the playoffs). I ride up and down with the team during the regular season, but even if things are not going well, there is always a next game. Until suddenly this week there isn’t.
But I am also one not to wallow in whatever sorrow or frustration I have from our beloved hockey team, so by the time the pucks start flying on TV, I can mostly move past my Canes woes and enjoy the playoffs as a casual observer.
Here is an attempt for a quick guide for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Canes rooting interests. Please ping me in the comments or web form if I missed anything.
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals
No Canes rooting interest.
Columbus Blue Jackets
No Canes rooting interest.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Last year, Ron Hainsey’s long-awaited playoff debut was big news and a potential Pens rooting interest to go with Matt Cullen. But with both Hainsey and Cullen departed, the Pens have only short-time Canes player Josh Jooris who was a healthy scratch in game 1 and of course former general manager Jim Rutherford.
Philadelphia Flyers
No Canes rooting interest.
Tampa Bay Lightning
No Canes rooting interest
New Jersey Devils
After a brief stop in Calgary, Eddie Lack is now a member of the New Jersey Devils though not likely to see action unless injuries force New Jersey deep into its goalie depth chart.
Boston Bruins
After being part of a fourth line house cleaning a few years back that could repeat itself this summer, Riley Nash has established himself in Boston. His 2016-17 season was nothing too special with only 17 points, but Nash has taken a huge step forward in 2017-18 with 15 goals and a career high 41 points. The Bruins also have former Canes goalie Anton Khudobin.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Suddenly a grizzled veteran after his playoff debut and Cup win with the Penguins last season, Ron Hainsey is back at it but in a new uniform for the 2018 playoffs.
Western Conference
Nashville Predators
If it is Stanley Cup memories that you want, the Nashville Predators can offer that in the of head coach Peter Laviolette who of course coached the Hurricanes to the pinnacle of the hockey world in 2006.
Colorado Avalanche
No Canes rooting interest.
Winnipeg Jets
Again pulling from the coaching ranks, long-time Hurricanes bench boss Paul Maurice makes his first return to the playoffs since leading the Hurricanes in their last post-season run back in 2009.
Minnesota Wild
Making a strong case for being most Canes-worthy is the Minnesota Wild with long-time Canes captain Eric Staal and fellow 2006 Canes Stanley Cup winner Matt Cullen. The Wild also have Ryan Murphy who is on the roster but down the depth chart and a healthy scratch in Wednesday’s series opener.
Vegas Golden Knights
No Canes rooting interest.
Los Angeles Kings
No Canes rooting interest.
Anaheim Ducks
Short-time Canes depth forward Patrick Eaves is the lone former Hurricanes player on the Ducks.
San Jose Sharks
No Canes rooting interest.
What say you Caniacs?
1) Who did I miss?
2) Which former Hurricanes do you most with well in the 2018 playoffs?
3) Who are you rooting for in general?
Go Canes!
I’m pulling for the Jets. Small market team built the right way, albeit they did land a #2 overall pick which sped up their trajectory. Good American goalie storyline to boot. Always liked Maurice as a coach dating back to Hartford and his two stints in Carolina. I appreciated how he got the best out of his players (without all the star power). Sound familiar?
I’ll second that one. This year’s Preds. Maurice has come so close to being fired on so many different occasions during his stint with the Jets, it’s good to see him rewarded for hanging in there. Fun team to watch as well.
This is the time of the year when my interest in hockey wanes. I haven’t gone through the playoff rosters but I have to think there may be a few former Hurricanes bit players playing.
I would definitely like to see EStaal and the Wild do well and make it all the way.
But that runs counter to my hope that Vegas wins it all – I like the story of an expansion team winning the SC too much to root for anyone else.
I believe Nathan Gerbe is with the Columbus Blue Jackets now. Not sure if he will be on the roster in the playoffs, though.
Of the former Canes in the playoffs, I would like to see Eric and Matt have some success.
The teams I like in the playoffs are CBJ in the East and San Jose or Colorado in the West. I like the way those teams play, and I like some of the players on those teams.
I wasn’t sure what to do with the few former Canes who are tied to teams in the playoffs but at the AHL level right now. Gerbe is with Cleveland in the AHL but obviously available to Columbus if they have injuries. There are a few more fringe AHL/NHL players who suited up with the Canes who are similarly in the AHL.
I’m pulling for Nashville in the West, and Tampa in the East(Southern Hockey, y’all!). After that, it’s the Kings, and whoever is playing Boston, Washington, and Pittsburgh.