from Stan Fischler at The Hockey News,

Take a gander at the seven most-likely Stanley Cup winners and tell me who's gonna be the Champ.

A couple of months ago, I picked Toronto to finally – finally – do the trick. Since then too many negatives have grown in Hogtown.

Or, as my buddy, Sean Mccaffrey, has told me since September, "The Leafs will be one and done again. I can't see them knocking off either Florida team."

Then again, that youthful walking wizard, Kyle Dubas, just might make some Trade Deadline magic and the Leafs will again look like a contender.

But I'm inclined to swear by the words of the indomitable Gus Vic, who's more insider than that roving pack of "Insiders."

"You can throw a tarp over the teams currently in playoff position," says Vic, "and would not be off base by picking any of them to get through the first round."

Then, a pause: "Although, Washington does concern me. The Caps don't have championship goaltending. And that core has been together for an awfully long time. They're on the backside of the Cup arc."

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