Ridiculously False Narratives Surrounding Several Playoff Teams This Season
How did these playoff teams get a certain reputation this season?
The NHL playoffs often bring out the best in teams, but the most interesting takes from fans and analysts. Each season, a handful of narratives gain traction despite having little basis in reality. This season is no exception.
Whether it’s overblown criticism, outdated assumptions, or just flat-out misinformation, these false storylines can shape our fantasy picks, select our playoff brackets, and assume the future for certain players. They can certainly affect predictions as to who might win the Stanley Cup.
Here are the most ridiculously false narratives surrounding this year’s playoff contenders—and why they don’t exactly hold up when examined more closely.
Edmonton Oilers - Walking Wounded
There’s an early feeling that playoff brackets and fantasy teams might be best not to go heavy on the Edmonton Oilers. With several injuries having impacted the team as the season comes to a close, many are assuming Edmonton stands no chance without a healthy Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Trent Frederic, Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Mattias Ekholm, and iffy Stuart Skinner.
The reality is, some of these players aren’t 100 percent, but the sky isn’t falling.
McDavid said on Tuesday, “We have this like aura about us that we’re the walking wounded, but we’re just fine. Everybody’s going to be ready to roll. Everybody is doing whatever they can. I don’t like this whole notion that we’re the walking wounded here. We’re ready to roll.”
