Four stealth Stanley Cup contenders this spring

[dash_pinched]

No mention of the Flames, but Alberta's other team gets some love:

Led by 20-year-old captain Connor McDavid, Edmonton looks likely to earn a postseason berth. The Oilers have youth, talent and a veteran presence -- which could provide a perfect storm for a deep playoff run. GM Peter Chiarelli decided to sign veteran free-agent forward Milan Lucic last summer for a few reasons. Sure, Lucic's looming presence serves as protection for McDavid and his teammates, but the veteran also brings a Stanley Cup-winning mentality. He understands firsthand what it takes to win one, as he helped the Boston Bruins bring home a Cup in 2011 and returned to the finals in 2013 before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. Lucic is also the type of leader who can keep his teammates focused and even-keeled during a stressful postseason run.

Speaking of focus, McDavid is beyond his years in that category, which bodes well for his first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Goaltending needs to be outstanding for the Oilers, and Cam Talbot has been solid for the majority of the season. He has limited Stanley Cup playoff experience, but he had a front-row seat as Lundqvist's backup when the Rangers reached the finals in 2014.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/1...y-world-spring

[CaptainCrunch]

Has Edmonton cornered the worlds supply of roofies?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Gonna be one hell of a thread

[Benched]

that's cause we're not stealth. we're on the radar.

[Toonage]

Well, if Johnson stays hard

[Hockeyguy15]

So basically this guy looked at the standings, and thought "hey why don't I just pick 3 wild card teams and instead of the 4th wild card team, I will pick the 9th place team who is tied with them."

[GreenLantern]

Ya hard to win 10 in a row, tie Anaheim for second in the division, push the Oilers into the wild card race and be considered stealth

This is Edmont's stealth:

[djsFlames]

Their reasoning being now average middle sixer Lucic has experience, Talbot watched a team get to the finals from the bench. And 19 yo McDavid is beyond his years.

[Ozy_Flame]

Edmonton has been the definition of mediocre from the All-Star break on.

But I'm sure they're saving all the good stuff for dominating playoff performances that will slaughter the best of the Western Conference.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Their reasoning being now average middle sixer Lucic has experience, Talbot watched a team get to the finals from the bench. And 19 yo McDavid is beyond his years.

And he is focused—so very, very focused.

[shermanator]

Honestly, why should anyone care what the media thinks of the Oilers? They are the media darlings. No need to bring it up whenever someone hypes them up.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

They didn't say my teams name in their article, I'm so mad!

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

And he is focused—so very, very focused.

His crossovers alone will get them to the 2nd round.

[H2SO4(aq)]

ESPN "power rankings" have us at 3rd so dont get too bent outta shape, you guys.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Honestly, why should anyone care what the media thinks of the Oilers? They are the media darlings. No need to bring it up whenever someone hypes them up.

More to the point, why should anyone care about what ESPN thinks about anything? They are the last place I would consult for anything resembling useful information or perspectives on hockey.

[Fan in Exile]

As much as it's tiring to hear the Oilers continued to get hyped, I think the supposed "stealth contender" that most discredits him in his analysis is the Blues. I really don't see them winning a round this year.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

This is Edmont's stealth:

That curtain looks more impenetrable than the Oilers' defence, however.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

They didn't say my teams name in their article, I'm so mad!

I actually don't think it's that. I think it's their stupidity in pointing to Edmonton as a stealth "contender", considering they are more or less being propped up by 2-3 players, which can't possibly be a recipe for success when the games start to matter.

I couldn't care less if they think the Flames are in that ball park. We know full well no one picks the Flames for such things, and we also aren't delusional enough to expect to be in the cup conversation this soon. But I think based on what the Flames have shown versus Edmonton down the stretch, where games get closer to playoff intensity, they are most certainly closer as a team than that hype circus.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

And he is focused—so very, very focused.

And his cross overs, oh god his crossovers.

[jeffman]

One person cannot win a cup so the Edmonton mcdavids will never win