Wednesday marked the start of the 2017 NHL playoffs. For the eighth consecutive season, those playoffs do not include the Carolina Hurricanes. To offer some consolation to the Caniac Nation, we did our best to offer alternatives to actually being in the NHL playoffs. Cory Fogg put together a top 10 list for Canes prospects in the Canadian juniors playoffs. Jordan Futrell provided an update on the Checkers’ chances to make the AHL playoffs. And I provided an NHL playoffs viewing guide with draft pick implications and former Canes to watch.
Today’s Coffee Shop takes on a playoff theme with polls and discussion questions on the playoffs. Since the list of polls is huge with picks for each first-round NHL playoff series, we will flip the usual order and put the discussion questions first.
Discussion questions
1) Which first round NHL playoff series have the greatest potential to turn into long, exiting series worth watching?
2) For those who watched any/all of the player exit interviews and also Bill Peters/Ron Francis’ end of season media session, what jumped out as most notable to you? (A couple highlights are covered in today’s Daily Cup of Joe.)
Polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
What are your general thoughts on the NHL playoffs?
- I am rooting for Pens, Rangers, Senators and Bruins to lose to boost the draft picks that the Canes acquired from them. (28%, 10 Votes)
- I am pulling for a list of former Canes players? (22%, 8 Votes)
- I am pulling for a team or 2 but not because of Canes' ties. (22%, 8 Votes)
- I am mostly checked out from 2016-17 NHL hockey and will maybe catch bits and pieces of the playoffs. (19%, 7 Votes)
- I am with the group that is tracking whatever series John Forslund covers. (6%, 2 Votes)
- Other (include in comments) (3%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 36
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Which former Canes are you pulling for most? (Choose up to 3.)
- Ron Hainsey (Penguins) (34%, 27 Votes)
- Eric Staal (Wild) (28%, 22 Votes)
- Viktor Stalberg (Senators) (9%, 7 Votes)
- Justin Williams (Capitals) (8%, 6 Votes)
- Peter Laviolette (Predators) (5%, 4 Votes)
- Matt Cullen (Penguins) (4%, 3 Votes)
- John-Michael Liles (Bruins) (3%, 2 Votes)
- Riley Nash (Bruins) (3%, 2 Votes)
- Andrej Sekera (Oilers) (3%, 2 Votes)
- None (3%, 2 Votes)
- Anton Khudobin (Bruins) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Kris Versteeg (Flames) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Patrick Eaves (Ducks) (0%, 0 Votes)
- Other (add in comments) (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 39
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Who wins
- New York Rangers (51%, 18 Votes)
- Montreal Canadiens (49%, 17 Votes)
Total Voters: 35
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Who wins?
- Boston Bruins (66%, 23 Votes)
- Ottawa Senators (34%, 12 Votes)
Total Voters: 35
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Who wins?
- Washington Capitals (85%, 29 Votes)
- Tornonto Maple Leafs (15%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Who wins?
- Pittsburgh Penguins (71%, 24 Votes)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (29%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Who wins?
- Chicago Blackhawks (74%, 25 Votes)
- Nashville Predators (26%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Who wins?
- Minnesota Wild (70%, 23 Votes)
- St. Louis Blues (30%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 33
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Who wins?
- Anaheim Ducks (82%, 28 Votes)
- Calgary Flames (18%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Who wins?
- San Jose Sharks (61%, 20 Votes)
- Edmonton Oilers (39%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 33
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Who wins the Eastern Conference
- Washington Capitals (50%, 17 Votes)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (29%, 10 Votes)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (6%, 2 Votes)
- Montreal Canadiens (6%, 2 Votes)
- New York Rangers (3%, 1 Votes)
- Ottawa Senators (3%, 1 Votes)
- Boston Bruins (3%, 1 Votes)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Who wins the Western Conference?
- Chicago Blackhawks (42%, 14 Votes)
- Minnesota Wild (27%, 9 Votes)
- Anaheim Ducks (18%, 6 Votes)
- Nashville Predators (6%, 2 Votes)
- San Jose Sharks (6%, 2 Votes)
- St. Louis Blues (0%, 0 Votes)
- Edmonton Oilers (0%, 0 Votes)
- Calgary Flames (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 33
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Who wins the Stanley Cup?
- Wahington Capitals (35%, 12 Votes)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (18%, 6 Votes)
- Chicago Blackhawks (18%, 6 Votes)
- Minnesota Wild (12%, 4 Votes)
- Anaheim Ducks (9%, 3 Votes)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (6%, 2 Votes)
- Nashville Predators (3%, 1 Votes)
- New York Rangers (0%, 0 Votes)
- Montreal Canadiens (0%, 0 Votes)
- Ottawa Senators (0%, 0 Votes)
- Boston Bruins (0%, 0 Votes)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (0%, 0 Votes)
- St. Louis Blues (0%, 0 Votes)
- San Jose Sharks (0%, 0 Votes)
- Edmonton Oilers (0%, 0 Votes)
- Calgary Flames (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
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Will the Charlotte Checkers prevail and bring playoff hockey to North Carolina?
- Yes. (72%, 23 Votes)
- No. (25%, 8 Votes)
- I have no idea. (3%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 32
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Go Canes!
