NHL Playoff Pool Watch: The Home Stretch for Tucker McSwain

This is it.

The playoff pool has officially reached its endgame. Only a few teams remain in striking distance with a legitimate shot at taking it all. At this stage, it’s no longer about draft strategy or early-round luck.

It’s about one thing:

Who still has players skating.

And as the standings show, Tucker McSwain (113 pts) has the edge. After taking a deeper dive, the real scenarios have been discovered. I'll explain who's really contenders, pretenders, and who is safe to look ahead to next year.

Exited Canadiens fan show appreciation with custom car

🏆 The Final Real Contenders

1st place Tucker McSwain (113 pts) — The Team to Beat

McSwain sits alone at the top, and it’s no accident. Leaning heavily on the production of Minnesota studs Kaprizov and Q. Hughes, without them may be his demise. Colorado is consistent through most teams remaining, so it will be paramount for McSwains' success that the Avs take down the Golden Knights. There is a decent cushion, but the outcomes of the conference finals can really change things.

5th place Jesse Bremner (101 pts) — The Wild Card

Tied with V. Price and 12 points back of 1st (as of May 21st), Bremner leads a trio of teams that could very well move up in the standings. Montreal vs Colorado finals would suit him perfectly. To make a true run at it he would need stars: Juraj Slafkovski & Lane Hutson to continue to have stellar postseasons. The other two in that trio are:

6th place Braeden Price (93 pts) -

With such a similar roster to Bremner, leap-frogging him is impossible without the help of Cole Caufield.

Owen Woolhouse (91 pts) -

Although 22 points seems like a monumental hill to climb, Woolhouse is the only team with 9 (or more) players remaining and the only team with Jakub Dobes in net and Mike Matheson on the blue line. There is a chance if Montreal makes the Stanley Cup Finals he could make a real push to the top.

Pretenders:

2nd place Luke Smith (107 pts) — The Sitting Duck

Just six points back, this team is lurking.

There’s not much life here. Smith is also reliant on core Colorado players still producing. Martin Necas on McSwains' team being the only difference proves that 2nd will be as high as Smith goes.

The tactics of 3rd place Shawn Thomas (102 pts) and 4th Vince Price (101 pts) of leaning heavily into Minnesota and Buffalo had shown life and promise, but fizzled after both their 2nd round exits. They both have no one remaining, and saw their chances at victory dashed within a weekend. V. Price was primed to run away with it if the outcomes of those series were reversed. He went from all 11 players to zero remaining in just a few short days time.

🔍 What Decided This Pool

1. Smart Teams over Big Players

Every real contender left has players from:

• Vegas

• Colorado

• Montreal

The teams with multiple players from these squads are still gaining ground.

2. Unique Players = League Winners

At this stage, shared players cancel each other out.

But if someone owns a player that no one else has and that player is still producing?

That’s how you win.

Keep an eye on:

• Lone Vegas skaters (Jamie Lepage's Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore)

• Depth Montreal players (Woolhouse's Dobes and Matheson)

• The two teams that make the finals.

  
  

3. Dead Rosters Are Eliminated; Period

There’s no coming back now.

If your roster has mostly eliminated players, you’re done. Even if you’re technically still close in points.

The battered teams are here because they did not avoid that trap.

🧊 Final Word

The teams with chances to won are next to none.

This is likely a two- or three-team race. and Tucker McSwain is in control.

If your name isn't here somewhere, it's time to pack it in for the playoffs and enjoy the ride as a spectator.

Still, with every game, every goal, and every elimination…

Everything can change for who's still in it.

Because in a playoff pool like this:

You don’t win with stars.

You win with survivors and a stroke of luck.