MADISON, Wis. – Nine former Badgers across seven different teams are set to begin their quest for the Stanley Cup in the 2024 NHL playoffs.
Among NCAA schools, UW’s nine skaters are tied for the third most to start the playoffs.
All time, 14 Badgers have their names etched on the Stanley Cup as winning players a total of an NCAA-best 22 times.
The Badgers boast players on the top-seeded team from each conference with one player on the Eastern Conference’s New York Rangers and three on the West’s Dallas Stars.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller and the New York Rangers head into the playoffs as the top overall seed, finishing the season with 114 points and earning the President’s Trophy, given out annually to the NHL team with the best record in the regular season. Miller earned eight goals and 30 points in 80 games played during the regular season and he currently owns eight points in 27 playoff games played from 2021 to 2023.
Let’s do it, No. 82. pic.twitter.com/RHoIHzmAB4
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 15, 2024
The Metropolitan Division top-seeded Rangers will take on the Washington Capitals, who clinched the Eastern Conference’s second wildcard spot, in their first-round series which begins on Sunday, April 21, at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Trent Frederic and the Atlantic Division two-seed Boston Bruins begin their playoff run with a series against fellow former Badger Jake McCabe and the Atlantic Division three-seed Toronto Maple Leafs with game one being played on Saturday, April 20, at 7 p.m. CT on TBS.
Frederic, a forward, played in all 82 regular season games, notching career highs with 18 goals and 40 points.
TRENT TO TIE IT. pic.twitter.com/uiyOHCGI1W
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 27, 2024
Defenseman McCabe also earned career highs with eight goals and 28 points in 73 games played.
CABER IN THE CLUTCH!!! pic.twitter.com/nj4NrZUYrr
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 9, 2024
In the Western Conference, Dallas Stars forwards Joe Pavelski and Craig Smith and defenseman Ryan Suter head into the playoffs as the top seed in both the conference and the Central Division. The Stars are set to face the west’s second wildcard, the Vegas Golden Knights, in the first round of the playoffs. Game one will be on Monday, April 22, at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Golden Knights are the…
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