Ranking potential Stanley Cup Finals for the Vegas Golden Knights

Nevertheless, the Golden Knights have a one in eight shot of representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final from a strict mathematical standpoint. Starting with the Utah Mammoth, Vegas will be duking it out from the best of the West (or at least in the ‘pillow fight’ that is the Pacific, as Connor McDavid so eloquently put it) for the right to lift hockey’s Holy Grail. For a season with so much chaos and turmoil, the Cup would make the strife all worth it in the end.

However, even if the Golden Knights make it to the end, one more test still awaits. The Eastern Conference’s depth has been made apparent, with expected playoff teams like the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs checking for tee times instead of puck drops. Even teams like the Washington Capitals would have made their way to the playoffs if only the District of Columbia migrated to the other side of North America.

Needless to say, all eight teams in the East earned their spots this postseason, and many of them would be worthy adversaries in the Final. However, not all series are created equally, and some contain stories that practically write themselves while others require a bit more legwork from the NHL’s marketing department. The Stanley Cup being on the line brings some allure simply on its own, but some extra storylines are never going to dial back the intrigue.

With all eight teams in the East set to do battle, here is the ranking on how much interest a series between them and the Golden Knights would contain. 8. Carolina Hurricanes Just because the hockey will certainly be good does not necessarily capture the imagination.