Non-Traditional Markets Spice NHL Final Four

Good morning and happy Thursday, May 18th.

Pretty remarkable results from Tuesday’s poll as exactly 52% of voters like the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights winning their respective Conference Final series and earning a Stanley Cup Finals berth.

Today’s lineup:

• Non-Traditional Markets Spice NHL Final Four

• Coyotes arena plan rejected, future uncertain

• Conference Final previews

• And a lot more 👇

This is not your grandfather’s NHL Conference Finals. There are no Original Six teams, even no Original 12 teams. Not a single franchise from the New York or Los Angeles metropolitan area.

None of the teams in the Eastern or Western Conference Finals even have real winter, at least not the kind of winter we associate with the NHL. Bitter cold. Heavy snow. Ice outside of arenas.

The four teams in the NHL’s Final Four are all considered non-traditional markets. Don't be afraid. This is meant to be.

This may be one of the most wide open Final Four competitions that the NHL has known. Betting odds support that claim.

FanDuel Sports has the Carolina Hurricanes as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +200, while the Vegas Golden Knights are at +240 and the Dallas Stars at +300. The Florida Panthers are at +350.

The best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final starts tonight with the Panthers at the Hurricanes (8 p.m. ET, TNT). The Western Conference Final launches tomorrow with Stars at Vegas (8:30 p.m., ET, ESPN).

The uniqueness of this Final Four is that every team has reasons to believe it has a good shot to win the Stanley Cup. Vegas and Florida have never won a Cup. Carolina hasn’t won since 2006 and Dallas is in a 24-year Cup drought.

The Hurricanes had the NHL’s second-best record (52-21-9) in the regular-season and their defensive corps, led by Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin, are among the league’s best. Their goalie, Frederik Andersen, is 5-0 in the postseason.

Meanwhile, Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been one of the game’s most beastly difference-makers and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is playing at a high level.

Out west, Stars forward Roope Hintz is the top-scoring player still left in the playoffs (19 points in 13 games) and 38-year-old Joe Pavelski has discovered the fountain of youth. He has eight goals in eight games.

For Vegas, Jack Eichel leads the way with 14 points in 11 games.

🌵 Arizona Coyotes arena plan in Tempe rejected, long term future uncertain. The Coyotes were seeking to build a 16,000-seat arena and an entertainment district on city-owned land at the west end of Tempe Town Lake. The total project cost was estimated at $2.1 billion, with at least $1.9 billion privately funded, and would have included two hotels, a 3,500-person theater and up to 1,995 residential units. 

There is speculation the Coyotes will relocate, with Houston being a potential landing spot. Arizona Coyotes President and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez issued the following statement in response to the results:

Quebecers eyeing up the Coyotes…

What NHL franchise holds the record for quickest to win the Stanley Cup following expansion?

• Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Final preview

• Golden Knights vs. Stars Western Final preview

• Four X-factors to watch in the Conference Finals

• Conference finals storylines include Staal family feud, coaching intrigue

• Conn Smythe Watch: Leaders for Stanley Cup playoff MVP

• Devils GM says Lindy Ruff to return as team's coach

• Babcock among coaches to interview with Blue Jackets

• Five reasonable destinations for the Arizona Coyotes (and one pipe dream)

• VIDEO: Best of round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs

• World Championship Power Rankings: Canada, USA, and Switzerland lead the pack

• Body Checking Basics

• Some early off-season upper body exercises & tips

TRIVIA ANSWER

The Philadelphia Flyers hold the NHL record for quickest franchise to win the Stanley Cup after expansion, capturing their 1st title in the 1973-74 season, just 7 seasons after entering the NHL in the 1967-68 season.