From The Silky Mitten State: Assessing the contrast of styles in roster construction on display in the Western Conference Final
Tonight, the NHL's Western Conference Final moves from Dallas to Edmonton with each team having taken one game at American Airlines Center before arriving in Western Canada.
May 25, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev (3) and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) battle for control of the puck during the third period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines CenterOn the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I discussed how what intrigues us most about the series between the Oilers and Stars' is the contrast in roster construction that has brought them each to the brink of the Stanley Cup Final.
Edmonton's biggest differentiating factor is of course its twin superstars: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Of course, they wouldn't have made it this far if those were their only good players or if they lacked a cohesive team-wide identity, but what makes this team standout is of course its top-end talent.
Meanwhile, the Stars are built—in contrast to what their name might suggest—to excel via depth. It's not that players at the top of the lineup like Roope Hintz or Miro Heiskanen aren't star-caliber players, but what drives their team is the overall quality of their top nine and defensive depth.
In the end, Connor suggests that McDavid and co will be too much for Dallas to handle, while I argue that the Stars will win out by virtue of their advantage in net, with Stuart Skinner looking suspect and Jake Oettinger imperious.
For a sample of the conversation, check out the video above. For the full episode, check out Apple Podcasts or Spotify: