Stanley Cup: Favorites and Frauds! | The Drop

Welcome back to the Drop! Arda Öcal and Greg Wyshynski are back to deliver you the winners and losers from the NHL this weekend! The Eastern Conference playoff race is heating up, the PWHL continue to break attendance records, and one of the greatest American hockey player’s of all time is honored with a statue. Dom Luszczyszyn joins the show to talk all things data, and playoff races! You won’t want to miss which team he thinks is a fraud! Lastly we take a look at the current favorites for the Stanley Cup and decide whether a couple teams are contenders or pretenders. All that and more on this episode of The Drop!
00:00 Welcome to The Drop!
1:00 Eastern Conference playoff race is heating up!
2:30 Avalanche and Oilers steal the show on Saturday night
3:37 PWHL breaking more attendance records
5:34 T.J. Oshie's 1000th game
6:41 Mike Modano statue
9:30 Dom Luszczyszyn joins the show!
13:40 Are the Red Wings frauds?
16:20 Are the New York Rangers cup contenders?
17:11 Hart Trophy leader
23:23 Stanley Cup Favorites
24:12 Number 1 Stanley Cup Contender
25:44 What team could make the jump to Number 1?
27:38 What teams are pretenders?
29:33 The Search for Merch!
32:07 Thank you for watching!
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[@lled23]

Where are the Jets ? #1 Defense, #1 Goaltending tandem, and with the addition of Monahan and Toffoli they have to be considered as much as any other team on your list.

[@saber2th77]

Classic Americans don’t mention Canadian teams. Left out the oilers too

[@tobinkern5389]

Because their defense (strictly talking defensemen stopping opportunities prior to the goalie) are average. And the Jets barely score.. 17th in the league last time I checked

[@lled23]

In the last 10 games the jet have outscored opponents 37 to 21. including 3 shut outs. You must be an Oiler Guy ? Cant wait to Sweep them, again. @@tobinkern5389

[@birddog3577]

@@tobinkern5389 I like that people are sleeping on the Jets. They are built for the playoffs. They don't need the chatter, especially from these pretender sport journalists. Guys who just like to say the players that are easiest to say. Low hanging fruit. Be better ESPN.

[@tobinkern5389]

@@birddog3577 their goalie is playoff caliber. The rest of the team is not. Their defensive metrics before the puck hits the goaltender is middle of the pack for the entire league, but once that puck hits the goaltender their average is first or second in the league. That means the defense is mediocre and goalie is awesome. They're offense is 17th and a league in scoring and when you hit the playoffs especially around three or four you need to elevate that and you need to be top to in the league. As of now they don't have the scoring power

[@millertime1101]

Jets are in convo after Toffoli trade

[@prongATO]

As an Avs fan since day 1 who lives in Oklahoma, I’m NOT a Stars fan. I attended a Stars vs. Avs game in Dallas and for treated like crap. That being said, Modano is a class act, much respect.

[@TheJasonVoorhees]

If VGK ices a full lineup with Hertl and Stone back.... look out

[@cliffbowls]

They need to look out against almost every west playoff team, the oilers are frauds and everyone knows it. The real question and this is the only question, is how far can mcdavid and Leon carry and otherwise sub par roster.

[@mattmaraia3503]

yeah because mcdavid, kucherov, matthews play with scrubs. mack is the only one to play with good players around him. *sarcasm*

[@thenextgreat8652]

I thought the exact same thing when I heard that ridiculous argument. Can ESPN “c’mon man” their own guy? 😂

[@jerry2968]

West is loaded this year Stars, Canucks, Oilers, Avalanche, Jets, and Knights are all good enough to come out of the West.

[@Katie-hb8iq]

I dunno if I would say Vancouver is a pretender... but playing Vegas or Nashville doesn't exactly give me confidence they will win the first round. Very unlucky to face either the champions or one of the hottest teams in the league right now as I think we can all agree the point totals here don't reflect the caliber of these teams at all. Doesn't feel like much of a 'reward' for getting 1st place.

[@deeshmond]

I’m an Oilers fan but I know they are absolutely a fraud. The main issue is that the D, particularly the right side, is just not good enough to win a cup. I’m going into playoffs assuming Bouchard will cost us a series due to a dumb decision

[@GrillVogel]

They’ll go as far as Skinner will take them

[@simondaughtry4619]

NO doubt.... they lack total killer instinct and rely on finesse on offense that disappears when lanes close to top checking defenses.

[@saber2th77]

We have a 2.39 gaa since January. What are you talking about

[@AveryA-vn8qk]

How are the leafs not a loser? They blew a 2 goal lead with a minute and a half left!

[@bustertn2014]

Edmonton still has the same issue they had last year. They still have sub par defense and average goal tending at best. When the grind of the playoffs start and heavy teams start crunching them up and they run into serious skill teams, it will be interesting to see if they get past the conference finals.

[@MrRiley0042]

You clearly don't pat Attention since Nov, 2 they have the best GAA , and Defensive numbers Your just like all idiots that pretend you know hockey and don't know shit

[@jamess1021]

another "fan" that cant make an original thought and just parrots tired and WRONG narratives. Im shocked you didn't pull the PP merchants tag. why not go actually look at the stats yourself and come up with something factual.

[@jordandaniels1988]

Tired af

[@bustertn2014]

Still correct.

[@saber2th77]

2.39 gaa since January. Your just plain wrong

[@Jonathan-xt6jw]

The argument against Mackinnon is ridiculous. Mikko and Makar have been way below their own standard this season, Val has missed a big chunk of time and Nate has driven the bus for the team all year.

[@tobinkern5389]

Yeah Gretzky was not great because he played with Messier, Kurri, Lafontaine, Hull... thats the level of dumb fuckery in that argument.

[@Ericlharvie]

Oilers are going as far as Skinner takes them if he is decent they have a shot at winning the cup he doesn't need to be spectacular. Oilers have enough skill and grit to win the cup. Though not getting Tanev no matter the cost was a big mistake because Oilers just have decent defenceman. A Tanev, nurse would of unleashed Nurses offensive talent with player that can cover for him. Ceci is just a decent defenseman but not good enough to unleash Nurse. Also Tanev would of been able to guard and make the other teams top players less effective which is huge. I love Elkom but he can only be on the ice for limited amount of time if they had one more shutdown defenceman then I would confident Oilers should win cup. Unless they come against a goalie that is playing historically good like Tim Thomas for Boston or Rolson for oilers until he got hurt. If oilers are healthy in playoffs I think they might have the best scoring in playoffs

[@vinny_vertigo]

Who was the goalie for NYR, when Connor, couple years ago, went thru 4 Rangers at the blue line and ultimately scored in the greatest goal ever in the history of the NHL?.... hmmmmm, let me see, was it Mike Richter? ... don't think so... Eddie Giacomin?... don't think so.. Igor Shesterkin... nope... THINK, DEAN, THINK... that's right!!... it was ALEXANDER GEORGIEV!

[@davidwilliams9489]

These two look like twins. Are we sure they're not related?

[@gregwyshynski6103]

It's actually the same person. I quickly change clothes in between takes.

[@ninjaxjets7821]

leafs.... another 1st round exit

[@simondaughtry4619]

Oilers are pretenders.... complacent, lack killer instinct and their Blue Line is very vulnerable to speed of top teams....I'll even go as far as saying their offense I don't trust as well... When good defenses block the lanes their finesse offense falls FLAT! They are not dirty enough.

[@tobinkern5389]

I am no Oilers fan but I really hope McDavid leaves Edmonton. It would be an absolute shame to waste his career in that hell hole

[@bluethunder1951]

VGK getting help to stay in the playoff race, Devils didn’t challenge the second goal that clearly had two players a mile offside, they just threw it for the knights since the Devils are out of the race. BS game.

[@QuinnHockey412]

I'm so tired of these changing requirements for the Hart. Kucherov won the Hart with an all-star cast around him. There should really just be a checklist instead of people's shifting logic

[@nugglife3035]

How can the oilers be cup favorites while Nathan MacKinnon is still alive? McDavid will always be second best.

[@zigfield723]

The only thing MacKinnon has over McDavid is a Stanley Cup, which is a team award, and he didn't even win the Conn Smythe. Connor McDavid has destroyed him(and everyone else) since entering the NHL. He's right there with Gretzky and Lemieux and has the accomplishments and accolades to prove it. MacKinnon has literally none of those, at all. Nice try tho 😂😂😂

[@richardyu1931]

@@zigfield723we found the Mcdavid dick rider

[@LiveLXStudios]

@@zigfield723 I remember McDavid getting swept when it mattered, lol. He’ll learn how to play defense or physically eventually

[@todddavis5433]

​@@zigfield723yeah but the cup is the only thing that matters..he can win the hart every year but if he doesn't win a cup he will be labeled as a failure

[@josephbrennan8151]

You’re living somewhere in the past, MacKinnon has beaten McDavid 5v5 metrics for past 3 years. Nice try, but your guy is the Dan Marino of the NHL 😂

[@iskyoot88]

No Jets? This show is a fraud.

[@FischerFan]

The Jets could be considered a fraud if they don't do something about their special teams pretty darn soon. Look what happened in New Jersey last night.

[@TheRealAaron-vj5ub]

The Jets 😂 you’re funny

[@TheBadonski]

Of course these clowns are going to harp on Mack for playing with good players lol

[@bhenderson2725]

The Neon Dion Sanders shoes were the best, best ive ever had.

[@jayTeal]

Kucherov plays with point Stamkos hedman. On the top. Powerplay in the league. These guys are idiots.

[@KMK7355]

The greatest US player is Mike Modano? Lol, lol, lol. The list begins and ends with CHRIS CHELIOS. Can't believe you guys said Moreno or Kane...lol.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

Brett Hull?

[@DiogenesTheCynic.]

Conman McFraud

[@jayTeal]

Some people really shouldn’t be allowed to talk about sports with stupid takes like these.

[@waldmarwolchuk9483]

COILERS will not get passed the 2nd round maybe not even the 1st round take them out of Favorites PERIOD

[@jamess1021]

Im guessing a nucks fan? usually the brain dead comments are them, it has been nice not seeing the scum in comments for the last 10 years!

[@GoodMenstruationAttitude]

Wow the tides are turning... suddenly I can picture a day when a conversation with an "analytics person" won't feel like talking to ChatGPT!! To all those that humble themselves before the hockey gods, you have my respect.