The 2024 NHL Fearless Playoff Predictions: Round One

It’s time again for the Stanley Playoffs.  And here we go, yet again, with the World Famous SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction Pool.  This is the 18^th year we’ve gone for silver.  There have been 12 different winners over those years.

This time around, most would agree that there is not a clear-cut favourite to hoist the Stanley Cup this June.  There may be four, or five, or six…or seven, teams that all could be considered front runners.  The variety of picks this time around from our 23 participants bear this out.

Remember, this is all for fun.  The majority of the opening round series are coin flips.  You would be advised not to take any these picks to the bank, or wherever you lay your money down.

A quick glance at the last time the 16 current NHL playoff teams held a Stanley Cup winning parade:

Vegas Golden Knights           2023

Colorado Avalanche              2022

Tampa Bay Lightning             2021

Washington Capitals             2018
Los Angeles Kings                   2014
Boston Bruins                          2011
Carolina Hurricanes               2006

Dallas Stars                              1999
New York Rangers                  1994
Edmonton Oilers                    1990

New York Islanders                1984
Toronto Maple Leafs             1967

Nashville Predators               never

Florida Panthers                     never

Vancouver Canucks               never

Winnipeg Jets                         never*

(*have yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Final)

Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge.  We will submit our predictions round-by-round.  Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific, for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.

2023 FINAL STANDINGS

• Dennis Bernstein          20 Points (8 for 15)
• Steve Kouleas               19 Points (9 for 15)
• Ryan Paton                    19 Points (9 for 15)
• Mick Kern                      19 Points (9 for 15)
• Martin Biron                  18 Points (9 for 15)
• Jonathan Davis             17 Points (9 for 15)
• Russ Cohen                    16 Points (8 for 15)
• Peter Berce                    15 Points (9 for 15)
• Linda Cohn                    15 Points (8 for 15)
• Joe Thistel                      14 Points (8 for 15)
• Tyler Madarasz             13 Points (6 for 15)
• Shane Malloy                13 Points (6 for 15)
• Jim Gordon                    12 Points (8 for 15)
• Bruce Bolton                 12 Points (7 for 15)
• Designated Listener    12 Points (7 for 15)
• Gord Stellick                  12 Points (6 for 15)
• Mike McKenna             12 Points (6 for 15)
• Mike Lippa                     11 Points (7 for 15)
• Scott Laughlin               11 Points (6 for 15)
• Jesse Ralph                    11 Points (5 for 15)
• Bernie Corbett              9 Points (5 for 15)
• Jake Hahn                      7 Points (4 for 15)
• Dave McCarthy             6 Points (4 for 15)
• Lucas Critelli                  6 Points (4 for 15)

ALL-TIME FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
2023 Champion – Dennis Bernstein (2)

2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas

2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern

REMEMBER: This is NOT a bracket challenge.  We will make subsequent picks every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016.  Steve Kouleas went 15-for-16 in series correctly chosen back in 2022.

• 1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1^st round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2^nd round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3^rd round series
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Conn Smythe winner
• 1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin

As for favoured teams this time around, here is the statistical breakdown (23 votes in all):

2024 Stanley Cup Champion:

Dallas Stars 6 votes
New York Rangers 6 votes
Carolina Hurricanes 4 votes
Florida Panthers 3 votes
Edmonton Oilers 2 votes

Vegas Golden Knights 1 vote
Toronto Maple Leafs 1 vote

Team that nobody picked to win a playoff series:
Washington Capitals

And Now…Our 2024 Fearless Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Dennis Bernstein – DEFENDING CHAMPION
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 7
Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 6
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe: Jake Guentzel

Steve Kouleas
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 6
Bruins in 7
Stars in 6
Canucks in 5
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Ryan Paton
Rangers in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Lightning in 6
Maple Leafs in 6
Golden Knights in 7
Predators in 6
Oilers in 6
Avalanche in 7
Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe: Auston Matthews

Mick Kern
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 6
Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 6
Canucks in 7
Oilers in 5
Jets in 6
Cup Winner: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe Winner: Jason Robertson

Martin Biron
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 7
Bruins in 5
Stars in 6
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Davis
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Lightning in 6
Bruins in 5
Stars in 5
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe: Jake Guentzel

Russ Cohen
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 7
Bruins in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 5
Avalanche in 7
Stanley Cup: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe: Matthew Tkachuk

Peter Berce
Rangers in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 7
Bruins in 7
Stars in 7
Predators in 7
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jason Robertson

Linda Cohn
Rangers in 7
Hurricanes in 6
Lightning in 7
Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 7
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Igor Shesterkin

Joe Thistel
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Lightning in 6
Bruins in 6
Stars in 7
Canucks in 7
Oilers in 5
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Roope Hintz

Tyler Madarasz
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 4
Lightning in 7
Maple Leafs in 6
Golden Knights in 7
Predators in 7
Oilers in 6
Avalanche in 6
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Artemi Panarin

Shane Malloy
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 6
Bruins in 6
Stars in 6
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe: Matthew Tkachuk

Jim Gordon
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 6
Panthers in 5
Maple Leafs in 7
Stars in 7
Predators in 6
Oilers in 4
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Miro Heiskanen

Bruce Bolton
Rangers in 4
Hurricanes in 4
Lightning in 7
Bruins in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Predators in 6
Oilers in 6
Avalanche in 7
Stanley Cup: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe: Jack Eichel

Gord Stellick
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 5
Lightning in 6
Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 6
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 7
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe: Sebastian Aho

Scott Laughlin
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 7
Panthers in 6
Bruins in 6
Stars in 6
Predators in 7
Oilers in 6
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe: Matthew Tkachuk

Bernie Corbett
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 5
Lightning in 7
Bruins in 7
Stars in 6
Canucks in 6
Kings in 7
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Artemi Panarin

Jake Hahn
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 5
Panthers in 7
Bruins in 7
Stars in 6
Predators in 6
Oilers in 6
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Artemi Panarin

Dave McCarthy
Rangers in 4
Hurricanes in 6
Lightning in 7
Maple Leafs in 7
Stars in 6
Predators in 7
Oilers in 7
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Joe Pavelski

Lucas Critelli
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 5
Panthers in 7
Maple Leafs in 7
Stars in 6
Canucks in 7
Oilers in 7
Jets in 7
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jake Oettinger

Anthony Stewart
Rangers in 5
Hurricanes in 5
Panthers in 6
Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 7
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 5
Avalanche in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid

Victoria Matiash
Rangers in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Panthers in 6
Maple Leafs in 7
Stars in 7
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Avalanche in 7
Stanley Cup: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe: Sebastian Aho

Mikey Bonora
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 7
Lightning in 7
Bruins in 6
Stars in 7
Canucks in 6
Kings in 7
Jets in 6
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Artemi Panarin