Shayna Goldman of *The Athletic* did an interesting analysis of how each non-playoff team stands in relation to current playoff contenders. You can read the full piece [here](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5491172/2024/05/14/nhl-western-conference-stanley-cup-playoffs/) (paywall). Before here team-by-team breakdown, she summarized the necessary pieces an NHL team must have to contend for a Cup:
• Elite first-line center who’s among the very best players in the world
• Elite first-line winger to support the elite center
• Two other top-line wingers on each of the top two lines
• Top-line center to play behind the elite center
• Two more top-six forwards for depth in the middle six
• Elite No. 1 defenseman
• A second No. 1 defenseman to play behind him
• A top-pairing defenseman to help anchor a strong second pair with the No. 2
• Another top-pairing caliber defender to crush soft minutes on the third pair
• A top-10 caliber starting goaltender
Obviously, the Ducks don’t have any of those boxes checked … yet. Goldman writes the following:
>”On the surface, this is a daunting checklist. But we can see the vision in Anaheim. [Leo Carlsson](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/leo-carlsson-PiwGKVavDSEGENJY/), [Mason McTavish](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/mason-mctavish-ARvBfj05R8KlXYCY/), [Pavel Mintyukov](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/pavel-mintyukov-Ve09cWInj1q8AgCR/) and [Olen Zellweger](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/olen-zellweger-vKYDnJww2u7VOYwV/) gave glimpses this year of what the Ducks can become. [Troy Terry](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/troy-terry-6fMEcYNivRE3njjg/) did, too, after a strong second half of the season. And there will be even more young guns ready to add a spark depending on who makes the team, from [Cutter Gauthier](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/cutter-gauthier-HbjdkbnCWnI0uB1R/) to the Ducks’ 2024 draft pick.
>[Lukas Dostal](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/lukas-dostal-egGtCQRN5CXnGKvO/) had the better numbers this year, while [John Gibson](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/john-gibson-sQpqyVdw5tZ2yVUw/) has the experience to back him up and boost his projected value. The better the team gets in front of the blue paint, the better its goalies should be thanks to that much-needed support.
>There are obvious flaws on both ends of the ice in Anaheim. But the Ducks just need some time to cook as they put together the building blocks to a long window of contention.”
This season, the only players who were close or met each criteria were McTavish (top-line center), Gudas (No. 1 defenseman), and Vatrano (top-six forward). Hopefully, the youngsters fill more and more of these roles each year.
by BigTimeTimJim13
