Lord Stanley's Pool 2022 - Opening Analysis

Will the third time be the charm? The Colorado Avalanche are the favourites in Lord Stanley's Pool for the third year in a row, with 103 Cup picks and 695 player selections. The Avalanche haven't quite been busts in recent seasons, winning their first round matchups and even placing a player or two on the Dream Team despite second-round exits, so they seem a safe bet even if they don't win, but this year many expect them to represent the West in the final series.

Meanwhile Canadian teams are well represented with Calgary a surprise second with 469 picks, Toronto fourth with 308 and Edmonton with 231 while the two Florida teams are mixed in among the favourites as well.

The two-time champ Tampa Bay Lightning are given some love at fifth with 273 picks, but since their colossal flameout in 2019, haven't quite been trusted - even with two Cups under their belt.

As for the Leafs, a solid 50 of our 332 pool entries pick them to win this year after their best-ever regular season, but that is down from 55 last year, and player picks dropped significantly from 415 to 308. Was the regular season too good to be true, or are many simply afraid that Tampa Bay will have their number?

Cale Makar is the top pick in the pool and has set a new standard for defensemen.

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar (236 picks) is the top selection in this year's pool. Makar is only the second defenseman to lead the pool in total picks and first to lead outright, after Nicklas Lidstrom tied for most in 2006 and 1999. Makar and forward Nathan MacKinnon are also the first players since Lidstrom (1998-2000) to lead their positions in pool picks three straight years. Makar was picked on 71% of all entries, a hair below Rob Blake's 72% set in 2002 (back when there were only 39 entries in the pool). That Makar has only been in the league for three seasons and has been the top defenseman every year suggests a long and dominant reign as a top vote-getter.

Nathan MacKinnon (213 picks, 64%) is the top forward for the third straight year, and with good reason. Despite second-round exits the past two years, MacKinnon seemed to score at will and racked up enough points both years to place on the pool's Dream Team. Even if the Avs don't make it farther this year, it would be a safe bet that MacKinnon would still be among the must-selects.

Beyond the top picks, Johnny Gaudreau (172, 52%) is one of two Flames forwards picked prominently, along with Matthew Tkachuk (134, 40%). With Huberdeau (149) and Rantanen (139) up there as well, regular season stars Auston Matthews (117) and Connor McDavid (114) have been pushed down the list.

Poolies have picked Calgary in a big way this year, making Jacob Markstrom the top goalie pick with 93 selections (28%), ahead of Colorado's Darcy Kuemper (70, 21%). With two Flames also among the top forward picks, poolies are placing a lot of faith in the Flames to carry the Canadian torch this year.

Despite the Florida Panthers winning the President's trophy and Sergei Bobrovsky (39 picks) making the clearest case for the Vezina, Calgary (469 picks) has come out ahead of Florida (389) in total picks, and though the Panthers edge the Flames in Cup picks 53-49, it is the Flames goalie who is being counted on shine in the playoffs.