TSN’s Bob McKenzie published his annual All-Star break coaches’ poll today.
We won’t copy and paste all the results, but we will share this one:
Projected Stanley Cup winner Washington 16; Chicago 9; Los Angeles 1, Tampa Bay 1
Four teams received consideration, but the Capitals (16) were the decisive choice over the Blackhawks, Kings and Lightning.
Fourteen coaches chose a Washington-Chicago Cup final, but those 14 were split right down the middle on the winner. Seven took Washington; seven took Chicago.
Three of the 30 head coaches did not participate in the poll, in case you’re wondering why the votes only add up to 27.
For the record, only one PHT staffer picked the Caps to win the Cup at the beginning of the season. Two voted for the Ducks, the other for the Lightning.
The Caps have not been past the second round of the playoffs since 1998, when they lost to Detroit in the finals. They’ve never won the Cup.