NHL playoffs 2023: Breaking down all 16 teams

The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us. While the Boston Bruins set all sorts of records during the regular season, their total in the win column is back to zero along with those of the 15 other clubs looking to win the sport's ultimate prize. But the Bruins' chase of the perfect capping of a record-breaking season is not the only storyline this spring:

Can the Colorado Avalanche repeat as champs?

Will the New York Rangers' strategy of loading up at the trade deadline pay off?

Is this the year the Toronto Maple Leafs finally get past the first round?

Do the Edmonton Oilers get good enough goaltending so the Connor & Leon Show can reach the Stanley Cup Final?

We've got all the angles covered to get you ready for the playoffs as ESPN hockey reporters Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton take a look at each of the 16 postseason teams, offering the reasons each team could win it all, along with the (potentially) biggest flaws, players to watch and a bold prediction for every contender.

Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Metropolitan playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Clark analyzed the Central and Pacific clubs. Also note that wild-card teams are listed according to the playoff bracket in which they're playing (so the Seattle Kraken are in the Central, for instance).

Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey.

Jump to a team:Atlantic: BOS | TORTB | FLAMetro: CAR | NJNYR | NYICentral: COL | DALMIN | SEAPacific: VGK | EDMLA | WPG

Record: 65-12-5, 135 points

Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston produced a record-setting, history-making regular season that kept it atop the NHL standings — by a good margin — from start to finish. The Bruins have enviable depth