As if Mikko Rantanen playing his old team wasn't enough, the Stars and Avalanche series is starting to ooze with storylines.

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are here, and Round 1 is set and ready to go. The writers at The Hockey Writers took a poll on the first-round matchups and cast their votes on who they think will win each series, how many games, and the series MVP (most valuable player).

There are no style points once the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. Once a team punches a ticket to the postseason, it has a chance to win the Cup, whether as a top seed or a wild card. Every team has a chance;