Who is the current 2023-24 Stanley Cup favorite?
We’re nearing the end of the calendar year 2023. What a year it has been.
We’ve seen the NHL in action for roughly a third of the year now. And with some shocking teams sitting high in the standings, it seems like a good time to update our championship picks.
Whether it has changed from your pre-season pick or not, the Daily Faceoff Roundtable has decided to get together once more to ask: Who is your current Stanley Cup pick right now?
STEVEN ELLIS: I picked the Dallas Stars to beat the New Jersey Devils prior to the season. While I’m definitely not taking a chance on the Devils, I’m sticking with the Stars. They’ve proven they can get things done, no matter who’s in net or who’s playing hot – or not. Joe Pavelski has shown no signs of slowing down, Matt Duchene was a huge addition to the club, Thomas Harley is stepping up offensively and Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have both remained relevant on the scoresheet. Jake Oettinger is hurt now, and his stats haven’t been spectacular by any means, but Scott Wedgewood has given the team some reliable goaltending, which is so huge.
COLBY COHEN: I’m rolling with the Vegas Golden Knights. I just always go back to that D core and the mix of skills and talent they have back there. You’ve got size, you have skill, you have a mobile group and you have total buy-in for what roles each player fulfills. This D core knows how to get it done and their forwards aren’t exactly a group of slouches either. When you pair it all together with Bruce Cassidy’s tight structure and his ability to make in-game adjustments, I think the Golden Knights are poised for a repeat this year.
SCOTT MAXWELL: Like Steven, I also thought the Stanley Cup would involve the Devils and Stars, but I’m going to change up my pick with new information present. The Los Angeles Kings have been a wagon this season, and are a tough out for pretty much any team. While they don’t have a pure finisher outside of Adrian Kempe, their offensive depth can overwhelm their opponents, and what impresses me most about it is that they don’t let up even if they’re running away with the score. Their defense continues to be one of the best in the league even after removing both Seans from the equation, and they also still have prospects like Brandt Clarke waiting in the wings in case of injuries. Their goaltending might be their biggest uncertainty, but they’re playing well enough in front of Cam Talbot to not give him too much of a workload, and Talbot has stopped just about everything behind him. Besides, the last couple of Cup wins have shown us that you don’t always need an elite goaltender to win, just one on a hot streak that will be good enough for the team in front of them. The Florida Panthers are also looking really strong again, but it wouldn’t shock me if the Kings manage to get themselves back in the Cup contender conversation not even 10 years removed from their last mini-dynasty, and that was with a rebuild in the middle.
MIKE GOULD: It feels like the New York Rangers’ year to me, just so long as they don’t go out and make any ill-advised deadline additions to blow up their chemistry. That’s a team with very few weaknesses. Even while Igor Shesterkin was fighting off some early-season blues, the Rangers were still racking up wins. All the Norris Trophy conversation has been so focused on Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes that people have begun to lose sight of Adam Fox, who has been damn good this year (when healthy). This Rangers team has incredible depth and some true stars. The Cup is coming back to Broadway.
Tyler Kuehl: I initially had the Edmonton Oilers finally running through the West and to the Cup. However, with their goaltending woes, I have to turn my attention to a team that (knock on wood) looks stable between the pipes, and re-establish my Eastern bias. The New York Rangers look like they are finally putting it all together. Sure, Igor Sheskterkin is not playing like the guy who won the Vezina two seasons ago. but with the veteran Jonathan Quick showing that he can give support, Sheskterkin is able to be rested heading into the postseason. Obviously, Mika Zinbanejad and Chris Kreider will be there, offensively, but with a guy like Alexis Lafrenière find his touch, the Blueshirts have the scoring depth that will get them over the hump.
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