The sheer volume of questions about the NHL's season restart this summer can leave one feeling woozy. Will teams and players come back? Can they come back? Should they come back? And that's not even getting into the mysteries concerning locations, schedules, and the hundreds of health and safety considerations necessary for playing out the 2019-20 season in a global pandemic.
But putting the mountainous logistical and ethical questions aside -- if that's possible -- there's also a hockey tournament to be played to determine the Stanley Cup champion, one featuring 24 teams. There are 12 teams in each conference, with the top four teams facing each other in a round robin and the other eight teams playing in a bracketed qualification round. Full details of the format can be found here.
As the 24 postseason teams return to the ice and vie for the Cup, what are the biggest questions facing each club? Glad you asked:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Bruins
How badly were they jobbed by the playoff format?
The Bruins were the NHL's best team by leaps and bounds during the regular season. Before the season was paused on March 12, they were the only team to break 100 points and the only team with a points percentage greater than .700 (at .714, to be exact). They led the NHL in wins (44), regulation wins (38) and regulation or overtime wins (44), as well as in goal differential (plus-53). They were eight points ahead of the Lightning with 12 games to go, giving Boston a 94.4% chance of winning the Atlantic Division.
What did the Bruins get for all of this achievement, under the league's new playoff format? The promise of a top-four seed and a tiebreaker against three other teams in the round robin. But here's the thing: The Bruins had a combined record of 3-3-4 against the Lightning, Capitals and Flyers. They were 2-0-1 against the Islanders, who would have been the second wild card and their first-round opponent in a traditional 16-team tournament.
"It's never a perfect scenario. It's not going to be as set in stone as it was after an 82-game season," captain Zdeno Chara said. "But I think you have to give these guys a lot of credit for working hard on the format that was presented."
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Will this be the warm-up the Lightning wanted?
First, the good news: Injured star Steven Stamkos has been skating throughout the shutdown and should be ready to go when the Lightning hit the ice for the playoffs. He was out for the rest of the regular season and might have missed the first round of the playoffs if the season hadn't been paused.
Now, the frustrating news: The Lightning were one of two teams that voted against the playoff format not only because they felt it allowed undeserving teams into the postseason but also because of the bad memories from last year's first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Blue Jackets.
"My team felt it was unfair that the teams with a bye would not be as well prepared for a playoff series as the teams that had already basically played a playoff series to get into the playoffs," NHLPA rep and Lightning forward Alex Killorn told The Athletic.
The Lightning diagnosed "a lack of important games" as one of the reasons for their stunning defeat last season. Will the round robin be enough to stoke a postseason fire ahead of the round of 16?
3. Washington Capitals
What impact will Ilya Kovalchuk have?
One can be excused for forgetting that Ilya Kovalchuk is now a member of the Capitals, seeing as how the trade deadline was 27 years ago when measured in pandemic time. But the star winger had four points in seven games with the Capitals, skating on their third line with Lars Eller and Carl Hagelin. That's pretty impressive depth, made even more impressive when you consider how rested the 36-year-old winger will be and how good he has been in the playoffs, with 25 points in his past 28 postseason games.
"We had trouble evaluating in what was the cause for the play in L.A., but he played really well in Montreal. Come trade deadline, we identified him as a good fit for our team," Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said.
4. Philadelphia Flyers
Are these away games for Carter Hart?
The Flyers finished 11 points behind the Bruins with 13 games to go. While that wasn't an insurmountable lead, the math wasn't in Philly's favor. No doubt, the Flyers like these odds better: With three wins in the round robin, the fourth-place Flyers would be the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the round of 16. If the Flyers can rekindle the momentum they had at the end of the regular season -- going 12-3-0 in their last 15 games -- while adding a healthy James van Riemsdyk and Philippe Myers back to the lineup, they could be very dangerous.
That said, the Flyers are likely to go only as far as their brilliant young goalie, Carter Hart, will carry them, which brings us to the hub cities. Will they feel like home for Hart? He was 20-3-2 in Philadelphia with a .943 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average. On the road? Hart was 4-10-1 with an .857 save percentage and a 3.81 goals-against average. Quite a swing.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
Will the Carey Price prophecy come true?
Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang, the Penguins' NHLPA rep, said his team prefers a seven-game series to a five-game series. "You know how it feels when you lose the first two or you win the first two. I think it's an easier thing to put a best-of-seven, because everybody knows what to expect," he said.
Which is to say that in a five-game series, no one is sure what to expect. Hence, since the playoff format has been announced, there has been a nightmare scenario for the Penguins theorized by many in which Carey Price -- by reputation one of the best goaltenders in the world, by goals saved above average around the 24th best over the past three seasons -- could lead the Canadiens to victory over Pittsburgh.
Again, there's not much evidence to suggest this will happen -- Price is 13-14-5 with a .907 save percentage lifetime against Pittsburgh -- but that doesn't mean it can't happen in a five-game sprint.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
What does the defense look like?
Sami Vatanen is a member of the Hurricanes, although he hasn't played a game for them, having been injured when they acquired him from the New Jersey Devils. Dougie Hamilton hasn't played for the Canes since Jan. 16 because of a fractured fibula.
Both will be back in the Hurricanes' lineup if the season restarts. Brett Pesce, the rock-solid defenseman who had shoulder surgery in March, could be back in August. They'll join a group that includes Jaccob Slavin, Joel Edmundson, Jake Gardiner, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Brady Skjei. That's a lot of tools in the chest for coach Rod Brind'Amour.
7. New York Islanders
Is Adam Pelech the secret weapon in the East?
The Islanders would seem to be one of the teams that can rely on their system if the season restarts, as one of the best defensively structured teams in the NHL.
But that defense was at its best with defenseman Adam Pelech in the lineup. The Islanders were fourth in the NHL with a 25-10-3 record before Pelech went out with a season-ending lower-body injury. Without him, they limped to a 10-13-7 record. But the season didn't end, and the extension into the summer means Pelech will be back to solidify the Islanders' lineup.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Playoff reseeding or playoff bracketing?
The Leafs know which team they're facing in the first round of the playoffs: the Blue Jackets, in a five-game series. If they defeat Columbus ... well, their fate will be determined by which playoff format the NHL and the NHLPA ultimately decide to use.
If the postseason is bracketed, then Toronto is on a collision course with the Bruins, who have eliminated the Leafs in two straight postseasons and in three of their past four appearances in the playoffs. If they beat the Blue Jackets and it's decided that the playoffs will reseed ... well, there's still a chance they'll face the Bruins anyway, but those odds get longer when you factor in the potential for upsets and the moving pieces in the round robin among the top four teams.
So, in summary: Toronto would like that reseed, thank you.
9. Columbus Blue Jackets
How far can a healthy Jackets team go?
The Jackets are one of the teams who will benefit the most from the delayed postseason. Star defenseman Seth Jones and forward Oliver Bjorkstrand were in danger of missing the first round of the regularly scheduled playoffs. They'll be back. Cam Atkinson, Alexandre Texier and Nathan Gerbe, who were banged up when the season was paused, will all be back. There's even a chance forward Josh Anderson, who appeared done until next season, could be back for a summertime playoff.
But GM Jarmo Kekalainen said that while reinforcements are great, they are not the determining factor in the Jackets' success. "We've said it all along with the injuries that we've had that we're going to have success as a team if we're going to have success," Kekalainen said. "That's been our key to the points we've gotten this year. We play a real tight team game. The coaching staff has done an excellent job of having everyone buy into the way we have to play to be successful. The individuals will help us, but our success will still come from the same ingredients as a team."
10. Florida Panthers
Will last postseason's Sergei Bobrovsky make an appearance?
Bobrovsky had been arguably the best regular-season goalie in the NHL but had been unable to find that same success in the playoffs. Then came last postseason, when Bobrovsky gave up eight total goals in four victories over the Lightning and then six total goals in the first three games against the Bruins. He finished with a .925 save percentage in 10 games.
This time around, it wasn't a good regular season for Bob, with a 23-19-6 record and a .900 save percentage under the weight of a massive free-agent contract and playing in an unfamiliar system. The Panthers were three points out of a playoff spot when the season was paused, and were one of the bubble teams the NHL wanted to do right by with this playoff format. Could a monthslong break, and the promise of last postseason, make Bobrovsky a difference-maker for coach Joel Quenneville?
11. New York Rangers
Will the King rule the crease?
No goalie in Rangers history has started more playoff games (128) or won more of them (61) than Henrik Lundqvist. But the 37-year-old King found himself sitting third chair in the Rangers' goalie rotation behind Alexandar Georgiev and standout rookie Igor Shesterkin, who went 10-2-0 in his first 12 NHL games. Lundqvist has historically fared well against the Hurricanes in his career: 33-12-1 with a .934 save percentage.
Lundqvist obviously wants the crease this summer, potentially for a final postseason ride with the Rangers. Do they start with Lundqvist and ride him? Or do they give him a short leash before opting for Georgiev or Shesterkin?
12. Montreal Canadiens
Are the playoffs really what the Canadiens need?
Canadiens forward Paul Byron figured that his team, which was 10 points out of a playoff spot with 11 games remaining, wasn't going to be a popular invitee to the postseason party. "I'm actually surprised [the NHLPA vote] passed 29-2. I thought there would be more objection to that," he said.
Granted, not everyone is supportive of it. "[They] have a chance at a play-in to get into the actual playoffs? I think it's the stupidest thing that I've ever heard in my life," said TSN 690 host Tony Marinaro.
The Canadiens are in a five-game series with a far superior team in the Penguins. Even if they get past the Pens, not many would take odds on this Canadiens team skating away with a championship. And a win against the Pens would mean the loss of their shot at the draft lottery.
Now, let's say one of the "placeholders" wins the draft lottery's first draw. If the Habs lose to the Penguins, that means they'll have double the chances (12.5%) they would have had under the traditional lottery format. The Canadiens should not be a postseason team; it could be argued that, under the right circumstances, losing in the qualification round would be the best thing for them. (This is not, for the record, an argument that the Canadiens will or should tank in the postseason. Players don't tank. Teams are built to tank. There's a difference.)
Western Conference
1. St. Louis Blues
Are the Blues now a refueled bulldozer?
The Blues' championship run last postseason had its hallmarks. Like "Play Gloria." Like rookie goalie Jordan Binnington with ice water in his veins. Like the blunt force of their style of play, a brand of "heavy hockey" that was physically draining for St. Louis as well as for its foes.
It was a surprise, then, to see them at or near the top of the Western Conference for most of the season, and with their best offensive player Vladimir Tarasenko limited to 10 games by injury. In a normal season, an 82-game grind combined with the mileage the Blues logged during their Cup run would logically lead to a team running out of steam at some point in this postseason. But with months to recharge, the Blues might be in position to repeat if they can find that postseason groove again.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Will the Avalanche remain healthy, or is this just an injury-cursed season?
One of the reasons Nathan MacKinnon is in the Hart Trophy conversation is because he finished 43 points(!) better than anyone else on the Avalanche. One reason for that: He was one of only five forwards to appear in at least 65 of their 70 games this season. The Avalanche were hit with ... um ... a monsoon of injuries by the end of the season.
That included MacKinnon, who was hurt in the second-to-last game before the pause. Forwards Andre Burakovsky, Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, plus goalie Philipp Grubauer, will all be healthy and ready. Will we finally get to see the awesome power of their fully armed and operational battle station? Or are the Avalanche just going to be that team that gets feasted on by the injury bug? (There seems to be one every season.)
3. Vegas Golden Knights
Home-ice advantage or what?
It's no secret that the Golden Knights have one of the NHL's best home-ice advantages. That's been especially true in the first two seasons of their brief playoff history: The Knights are 8-2-2 at T-Mobile Arena in the postseason, with both overtime losses coming to the San Jose Sharks. But the summer restart will happen in empty arenas, so the Golden Knights will have to find that fire inside themselves, just as other teams have spoken about.
Ah, but there's a twist: Las Vegas is being considered as one of the hub cities. The NHL hasn't made a decision on whether teams can play within their own cities, so in theory the Golden Knights could play at home, just not in front of their raucous crowds. Oh, and as Gary Bettman mentioned: "If a team happens to be in its own market, the players I don't think should be planning on going home. They'll be staying in the same conditions that everybody else is." Luckily for the Knights, that means on the Strip.
4. Dallas Stars
Can they make the 12-point jump?
On March 11, the Stars had a 0.2% chance of winning the Central Division (per Money Puck) and, considering the strength of the Blues and Avalanche, probably the Western Conference in the process. For context, the last-place Blackhawks had the same odds of winning the Stanley Cup.
But under the new playoff format, all the Stars need to do is string three wins together in the round robin and they'll jump ahead of the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Blues to take the West's top seed. Of course, that's easier said than done for a team that was saved by the bell on March 11 after a 2-5-2 stumble. Which Dallas team will we see in the round robin?
5. Edmonton Oilers
Can they get on the power play enough?
The NHL started tabulating power-play proficiency stats in 1977-78. Since that time, only three teams finished their seasons with a better conversion rate than the Oilers' 29.5% this season -- although it should be said the 1977-78 Canadiens (31.9%) and Islanders (31.4%), as well as the 1978-79 Islanders (31.1%), played 80 games while the Oilers played 71. But in those games, the Oilers posted the best power-play conversion rate in over 40 years.
Leon Draisaitl (44) and Connor McDavid (43) were Nos. 1 and 2 in power-play points. Of James Neal's 19 goals, 12 came on the power play. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins plays his part to perfection. It's an absolutely outstanding power play: Consider the Oilers led the NHL with 59 power-play goals despite being 20th in opportunities (200).
But how often will the Oilers get to wield this weapon in the playoffs? We all know the added leeway officials give teams in the postseason. The Blackhawks, the Oilers' first-round opponent, were 18th in the NHL in times short-handed and will have a mandate to stay out of the box. But as Edmonton has shown, it can make a lot out of a few opportunities.
6. Nashville Predators
Are these underachievers or a team ready to blossom?
The Predators (.565 points percentage) finished the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference. GM David Poile has called them underwhelming, which is why he made just the second coaching change in the history of the franchise in firing Peter Laviolette after 41 games and hiring John Hynes. Now Poile and the NHL will have a chance to see what this team has to offer.
Can $8 million centers Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene flip the script on lackluster seasons? Can Viktor Arvidsson stay healthy and turn his season around? Does Pekka Rinne have another run in him after he posted an .895 save percentage in 36 games? If the Predators are one and done in their series with the Coyotes, how will Poile change the formula? Unless, of course, it turns out he had the formula right all along.
7. Vancouver Canucks
Are the kids ready for this?
The last time the Canucks made the playoffs was in 2015, when Bo Horvat was just a pup at 19 years old. Now, he's a captain and an elder statesman who just turned 25 on a team anchored by three young dynamos -- Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes -- who have never appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs. One benefit for those youngsters: a collection of Canucks with a wealth of postseason experience, including J.T. Miller, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson and Jay Beagle.
In the case of Miller, he has experienced playoff highs and crushing lows, like last season's first-round loss by the Lightning when he was with Tampa Bay. "Anything can happen, and you can't take anyone lightly," he told ESPN.
8. Calgary Flames
Is every game a road game?
The Flames were eighth in the Western Conference in points percentage, but they were tied for second in another part of the standings: road record. The Flames were 20-14-3 away from Scotiabank Saddledome. They were 12-3-2 when scoring first on the road. They were 10-1-0 when leading after the first period and 13-1-2 when leading after two periods. They were 15th on the penalty kill at home and fifth on the road. Goalie David Rittich was 15-10-3 on the road with a .914 save percentage.
So while the Flames will be designated a home team in some of their "hub city" battles, clearly they need to treat every game as if it's on the road.
9. Winnipeg Jets
How much further can Connor Hellebuyck carry the Jets?
There's a strong case to be made that goalie Connor Hellebuyck should win the Hart Trophy this season. He had a league-best 26.7 goals saved above average and 4.8 wins above replacement to go along with a quality starts percentage of .643. He appeared in 58 of their 71 games. He did all this after the Jets lost four of their six defensemen last offseason.
Hellebuyck has been fine in the postseason, with a .919 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average in 23 starts. But the Jets need him to be better than fine if they're going to get past Calgary and make a run. They'll need those MVP efforts to extend beyond the regular season.
10. Minnesota Wild
Are the Dean Evason Wild for real?
The Wild went 8-4-0 under interim coach Dean Evason, an unexpected revival after Bruce Boudreau was fired late in the season. Minnesota was just a point out of the wild card when the season was paused. They averaged 3.08 goals per game under Boudreau and 3.67 after he was let go.
"I think everybody's involved. We're getting our D involved in our offense as much as we can. You look at our back end, and we're pretty good," Evason told ESPN. "Every hockey player wants to play offense. As long as we work our butts off to get back, as long as we support each other when we get in ... if we can create some offense, let's create some offense."
Can the uptick in offense continue in the season restart, or was that lightning in a bottle that Evason can't recapture? More to the point: Is Kevin Fiala going to carry that hot streak of 14 goals in 19 games over into the summer?
11. Arizona Coyotes
Can they score enough to win in the playoffs?
The Coyotes finished the regular season 23rd in goals per game at 2.71, which was just a shade higher than their goals-against per game (2.61). They had only one player crack 20 goals: Conor Garland, with 22. Taylor Hall finished with 16 goals combined between New Jersey and Arizona. Phil Kessel had his lowest goals-per-game average (0.20) since his rookie season, hitting the back of the net 14 times.
We know how good the goaltending can be and how tough it can be to play against the Coyotes. But their offensive stars need to shine.
12. Chicago Blackhawks
Can the former dynasty become a spoiler?
The Blackhawks don't belong in the postseason. They're in it for the sake of even numbers in the conferences and for the added eyes (and revenue) they can bring in for the summer season restart. We know it, and they know it.
Yet although it's not a good hockey team -- 18th in offense, 16th in defense -- it's not a terrible one either. Any playoff team with Patrick Kane and Corey Crawford isn't necessarily one you want to face; and maybe Jonathan Toews can at least slow Draisaitl and McDavid in their qualification-round matchup.
Sure, the best thing for the Blackhawks would be to land a very high draft pick for more talented cheap labor to surround their pricey, aging core. But we're suckers for recent nostalgia and for utter chaos, and an extended playoff run for the Blackhawks would provide heavy doses of both.