The 10 best possible 2023 Stanley Cup Finals matchups, ranked by watchability

HOCKEY PLAYOFFS ARE HERE YAYYYYY NHL POSTSEASON!

You don’t share my enthusiasm? Please. The NHL playoffs make up the most fun postseason in sports, when one hit turns a series into a drama-filled back-and-forth, where storied rivalries get another chapter and where you can see a team get really hot out of nowhere and make a run.

With the puck dropping on Monday night — make sure to read Mary Clarke’s power rankings of all 16 teams — it’s a good time to figure out the Stanley Cup Finals matchups you want to see if you’re not rooting for one of these squads.

We’ll rank them by watchability:

10

Seattle Kraken vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

(Photo by Zac BonDurant/Getty Images)

The Kraken making a run in just its second season would be quite a storyline. Then you’d get the upstart franchise against the storied Canadian one that hasn’t won one in 1967. JUICY.

 

9

Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Rangers

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

This one’s a gift for the league offices with the two big-market franchises going head to head. For fans? It’s the 2014 Finals all over again, with the Blueshirts looking for revenge.

8

Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s Finals were entertaining! Let’s run it back.

7

Edmonton Oilers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

The first Connor McDavid appearance on this list, and not the last. And the Hurricanes are a fun team to watch.

6

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes

(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

The matchup of two really fun teams, pure and simple.

5

Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Rangers

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

This is my “I think every game would be 6-4” pick. More offense is good!

4

Colorado Avalanche vs. Boston Bruins

(Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

We’ve reached the “can the Bruins complete one of the greatest seasons in NHL history?” portion of the rankings.

3

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Boston Bruins

. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Two teams built for a tough postseason going head to head. Love it.

2

Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

THE BATTLE FOR CANADA! WHO WILL BE KING OF THE NORTH?

1

Edmonton Oilers vs. Boston Bruins

 Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

This is it right here. The game’s best player who put together one of the best seasons ever with 153 points against the team that compiled the best regular-season ever. I’m tuning in for every minute.