Exactly one year ago, we spent a week looking at alternate history, asking a few of the biggest "What if?" questions we could conjure up. Among the topics discussed last summer were the Canes' rise in the 2018 draft lottery, Adam Fox signing his entry-level deal, and a timeline where the team actually got over the hump during their previous trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
As I've said before, I find alternate history so intriguing because it opens a never-ending door of possibilities. This week, we're going to do it again. I've got a lineup of topics to explore some questions we'll never get the answers to in Carolina Hurricanes history. Today, we're winding the clock back a few months to look at how the team's Stanley Cup run could've looked very different.
The Canes' Stanley Cup win is still fresh in my mind, and I've probably watched the same highlight montages a dozen times since they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights. On our timeline, the Canes swept Ottawa and Philadelphia in the first two rounds before beating Montreal in five games and Vegas in six to win the Stanley Cup. But what if their run featured four different teams?
To set the stage, the Hurricanes finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference, putting themselves in a spot to face the second Wild Card team. In reality, that was the Ottawa Senators. However, the difference between the Senators and the Boston Bruins, the top Wild Card team, was only one point. For this scenario, let's imagine that Boston was in Raleigh for Game 1.
1st Round- Boston Bruins
Facing the Senators gave the Canes a first-time opponent to open the playoffs. The same wouldn't have been the case if they'd played the Bruins. These two franchises are well-acquainted with one another in the postseason. It would've been their sixth meeting since relocation, the fourth under Rod Brind'Amour, and the third time in the opening round, with the last coming in 2022.
The Canes won the season series against Boston, splitting their games up north before a wild 6-5 overtime win for the Canes in their home finale, which featured a hat trick for former Hurricane and current Bruin Morgan Geekie. Of course, when facing the Bruins, David Pastrnak is the one you have to look out for, especially after posting his fourth straight 100-point campaign.
The Bruins actually faced the Sabres in the first round, falling in six games to the Atlantic Division champs. They wouldn't have faced an easy task against the Canes either. Carolina's depth would've proven too much, even if Boston's stars came to play. The Canes would've called upon everyone to overwhelm the Bruins, likely winning the series in five games after dropping one in Boston.
2nd Round- Pittsburgh Penguins
If the Penguins had started a little better against the Flyers, they might've stood a better chance. Instead, they fell in a 3-0 hole and couldn't climb back, losing in six games. There's a part of me that wanted to see the Canes face the Penguins in the second round because of all of the storyline possibilities that would've come with it.
I mentioned many of these stories when highlighting how Philadelphia robbed the Canes of their chance for revenge. They'd only met once in the playoffs, with the Penguins beating the Hurricanes decisively in an Eastern Conference Finals sweep in 2009. On that Pittsburgh team was current Canes captain Jordan Staal, so seeing him go toe-to-toe with Sidney Crosby would've been cool.
Both teams played two very tight games in March, both shootout wins for Carolina, before the Canes steamrolled the Penguins in their barn during the final meeting of the regular season. While sweeps are hard things to predict, I don't think it would've been very far-fetched in this scenario. Carolina would've been the clear favorite on paper, paving the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Eastern Conference Finals- Buffalo Sabres
Standing in front of them for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final would've been a familiar foe in a familiar situation. After beating Boston in the first round, the Buffalo Sabres went the distance with the Montreal Canadiens, losing in Game 7 in overtime. The Sabres were literally one shot away from setting up a conference finals rematch 20 years in the making.
This potential matchup would've been their first encounter since MLK Day, which I still believe was the most entertaining game of the Canes' season. Brandon Bussi absolutely stole two points for his group with one of the best goalie performances of the year. The Sabres also featured a high-powered offense that can score in bunches, much like Montreal's.
While the battle on paper would've been much tighter, this is where the Canes could've leaned on a few different things, namely their recent frustrations in the conference finals. I also think they would've come into this series with the stronger goaltending, especially after Buffalo used both guys in the second round. I think the Canes still would've prevailed, but not without a speed bump or two.
Stanley Cup Final- Colorado Avalanche
Of the four alternative matchups we could've seen this postseason, this was the furthest from happening. Much like the Canes, the Colorado Avalanche barrelled through their first two opponents, Los Angeles and Minnesota, losing just once before meeting the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals, where they were promptly swept. Injuries might've been a factor.
Had these two met for the Stanley Cup, home ice would've belonged to the Avalanche after winning the Presidents' Trophy. This would've been the first in several wrinkles we could've seen. This would've been touted as the "We Don't Need Mikko Rantanen" Final, which would have surely been mentioned a million times. It also would've meant facing Brett Burns in pursuit of his first Cup.
Colorado's depth feels on par with Carolina's, but I think their top-end skill probably overshadows the Canes'. It's pretty easy when you have one of the best forwards on the planet and one of the two best defensemen. It probably would've come down to goaltending, and that might've been a coin flip. I'm not sure who would've won, though none of that matters now. The Stanley Cup belongs to Carolina.
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