Not with Mrazek and Reimer.

I don't know...I'm inclined to agree with you on the question mark in net, but the playoffs are typically a crapshoot. They're extremely deep both up front, and defensively (That d-core is insanely talented), so I think they've got as good of a shot as anyone.

Just gotta beat Tampa...

They are not a crap shoot, almost always the team's with biggest stars win. Tampa, Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago etc.

after seeing the 1st three games, i would say no. Then again its just 3 games.

Defense is still allowing too many high danger chances and we still lack secondary scoring. Hopefully a Trocheck line gets going. Oh and hopefully Daniels can stop playing dumb with the lines.

Ouf. A Leafs fan saying that the teams with the biggest stars almost always win is some pretty low laying fruit man...

Anyway, given that the regular season is typically 82 games (A decent sample size), one could conclude that by your logic, the winner of the regular season (The Presidents trophy winner) should be consistently the favourite. Since 2002, the Presidents trophy winner has won the cup twice. They've actually only made the finals 3 times total over that span. VERRRRYYYY Fun fact: They haven't advanced past the first round *FIVE* times during that span. FIVE! So, yes, one can very quickly conclude that the playoffs are in fact a crapshoot.

But yeah, the teams that win typically have a lineup with very good hockey players playing for them. Why? Because it's the NHL and almost EVERY team has big name players.

So, to go alllllll the way back to the original question, which was whether Carolina could make the cup or not: Yes. Yes they can. They likely have as good of a shot as most teams.

Just throwing words into my mouth. I am saying teams with the best players almost always win the cup. Not the best regular season record. While Carolina is a decent team, I just don't see the depth and top end talent to really challenge the likes of Tampa.

I mean, my point was that the playoffs are a crapshoot, which is completely based on the small sample size of a playoff series. There are oodles of examples of less talented teams riding a hot goalie, taking advantage of an injury, or just plain locking it down defensively. Heck, in Covid times there's a decent enough chance that some team ends up with star players having to isolate and missing important time, including the playoffs.

Do I think Carolina is better than Tampa? No, I'm not an idiot. But I do believe that in a short series, their defensive depth, and their solid-enough offense has just as good of a shot as anyone.

Sure it may let an underdog take a series or two but in the past decade it never lasts. It does seem that the days of an 8th seed going to the finals are over. Not that Carolina will be am 8th seed but I don't see them as a top ten team in the league.