NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Chris Pronger’s Picks

The NHL playoffs start this week, reminding hockey fans that the best of year is indeed the spring after the snow and ice melts. Of course, the regular Sports Interaction staff makes its picks for individual games, but who better than a former player and Stanley Cup champion to lend their expertise?

None other than Chris Pronger, who played a final with Edmonton in 2006 and won it all with Anaheim in 2007, is joining Sports Interaction to share his thoughts on what might go down in the 2023 playoffs. Check the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of our new promotional campaign. You thought playing hockey was tough? Try filming an advertisement!

As always, don’t forget to check out the NHL odds for individual games, the series odds, and futures for all your NHL action this spring.

Pronger’s Eastern Conference Round 1 Picks

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs: Maple Leafs in Seven

This series is on a lot of people’s radars. Toronto is long overdue to finally win a playoff series, whereas Tampa Bay lost a step this season despite still finishing with a solid record. They met last year in a first-round classic that finished 4-3 for the Lightning. Pronger believes the table will turn this time, albeit in a very close contest.

Panthers vs. Bruins: Bruins in Five

In an ironic twist, last year’s President’s Trophy winners, the Florida Panthers, face the club that earned the honour this season, the Boston Bruins. As excellent as the Floridian squad was in 2021-2022, Boston bested them this year. In fact, the Bruins bested a ton of records. Florida finished the season strong, but Boston has played god-like hockey, encouraging Pronger to predict a relatively short series.

Islanders vs. Hurricanes: Hurricanes in Six

It was looking a bit dicey for the Isles in the last couple of weeks of the regular season, but they punched their ticket to the playoffs just in the nick of time. On the other hand, Carolina was excellent all year, winning its third straight Metropolitan Division crown. Pronger believes that New York has it in them to take a couple of games (Ilya Sorokin might do that all to himself) but overall Carolina is the superior outfit.

Rangers vs. Devils: Rangers in Seven

Much like the Tampa Bay-Toronto series, our hockey expert believes this one will go the distance as well. However, in contrast, he gives a slight edge to the underdog club, the Rangers. To be fair, it isn’t as though New York finished way behind New Jersey in the standings, but a late-season acquisitions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane to go along with a goalie like Igor Shesterkin can make all the difference.

Pronger’s Western Conference Round 1 Picks

Wild vs. Stars: Stars in Six

In what feels like what will be a first-round series not enough people talk about (despite that both teams had commendable seasons), the two-time Olympic gold medalist favours Dallas in six games. It’s incredibly difficult to score on Minnesota, but even more so against the Texas-based unit. Furthermore, the Stars have just a bit more firepower with the likes of Jason Robertson.

Kraken vs. Avalanche: Avalanche in Five

Seattle has made it to the postseason in only its second year in existence. Not bad at all. Unfortunately for them, they get to taste playoff hockey by tussling with the defending champions in the first round. Not only that, but Colorado finished very strong whereas the Kraken tailed off a bit during the final month. As such, Pronger believes the champs will defend their title for at least one round, winning in five.

Jets vs. Golden Knights: Golden Knights in Five

A bit like the Islanders, the Jets nearly blew their chance at playing meaningful April hockey, but they got the job done in the end. Their reward? Playing the number one seed in the entire Western Conference. Just as Vegas favours its hometown boys, so does our new ambassador, who believes Vegas will strike gold and win in five.

Kings vs. Oilers: Oilers in Six

A repeat of last year’s first-round series, Los Angeles and Edmonton engage in an early postseason battle once again. The clubs didn’t finish far from each other in the standings and had first place in their sights right up until the final week of the campaign, but the Oilers have such extraordinary firepower that it might be too difficult for LA to keep pace. Pronger is taking Edmonton in 6 games.

Stanley Cup Final: Oilers vs Hurricanes

According to Chris Pronger, it will be another year without a President’s Trophy winner claiming the Stanley Cup along with it. The Eastern Conference will be represented by the Hurricanes, which in some ways is fitting. This would be the culmination of consecutive seasons when it feels like they have it all to go the distance. The same can be said of Edmonton, who played a conference final just a year ago. In a neat twist, this pick is a rematch of a Stanley Cup final Pronger himself partook in as a member of the Oilers in 2006.

Stanley Cup Winner: Edmonton Oilers

Well, it may not just be a rematch of the ’06 final, but a revenge mission as well. Oilers fans recall the bitter pill of losing game 7 that year, but Pronger believes in this generation of Oilers strongly enough to say they’ll get the job done this time and they won’t even need seven games. Oilers in six.

Conn Smyth Trophy Winner: Connor McDavid

Honestly, if Edmonton makes it to the final, and especially if they win it all, it would be difficult to imagine someone other than superstar Connor McDavid earning the playoff MVP award. The Oilers are loaded with talent, enough to get the job done, but it starts and ends with McDavid.