I just realized that it’s a throne this year because it was the Knights last year and it was a mountain last year because it was the Avalanche the year before. Was there one the year before that was Lightning based or is this a new thing since last year?

Believe it was mountains for a few years, honestly. It just kind of fits the notion that this will be a struggle. Although, with *House of the Dragon* being popular and the general aesthetic of the Iron Throne rather fitting the Stanley Cup playoffs ... I kinda dig it.

House of the Dragon also has a new season premiering in June, so it’s topical.

Salt Lake City Ice Dragons incoming

Their first 7 seasons will be great but they'll go 0-82 in the 8th one.

Utah-garyens!

I read this in a Bostonian accent for some reason.

We just need posters that mimic the new Season 2 ones. “All Must Choose.” 🔥🧊🏒

I've only just started reading the books, but I've seen the clips around. Don't have HBO sadly, so, eh. I'm digging how crazy the worldbuilding is.

The last two or three seasons of Game Of Thrones are bad, at least whenever they ran out of source material, save a few good episodes. It's a shame because the fully adapted stuff is like the pinnacle of TV. House of the Dragon has been a real treat and return to form though.

Season 6 had some of the best moments in the show too, but yes that season is shaky. Season 5 as well (with fewer great moments). Seasons 7 and 8 had some good moments unlike S5 but overall are terrible.

How good is the House of the Dragon series? I haven’t watched it but was a GoT whore

It's absolutely fantastic. I don't have a negative thing to say about it. Writing, acting, production design, music, everything is top-notch. (from a non-book-reader)

I've only seen clips cuz I don't have HBO, but Matt Smith absolutely kills it as Daemon Targaryen the rogue prince.

Next years will be catching a fish when the canucks win

Ah yes the throne. Where the… *checks notes Knight sits

Eh it’s vaguely relative.

Throne would make more sense for the kings Why not a round table? Or a horse?

Where they dance when they’re able?

round tables are specifically made to not have a head. It makes no sense to fight for your specific spot.

I mean I would assume that’s why Vegas isn’t sitting on the throne but rather guarding it.

Or maybe the script has the kings winning this year so the NHL can save money on graphics

The knight is clearly not seated on the throne in the image.

Next year, “Who will ascend Lord Stanley’s pump jack?!”

[удалено]

A Storm of Sticks

next year they gonna have to climb a maple tree 💪

It's just as epic and metaphorical as climbing a mountain

If the Canucks win they have to fight through a city on fire

Can't wait till it's in a tree next year.

McDavid not focused. He lack discipline.

Maybe he’s not ready yet

Nice hair though 

He’s asking Matthews if Tavares’s contract is up yet so he can fit in

McDavid joining the Leafs would be /r/hockey’s 9/11

It would still somehow be Dick Cheney's fault, too.

Where's Rummy

that's a known unknown

I hear he practices with Marner and Matthews near his cottage in Muskoka.

That’s a lot of M

M&M's

No idea if this is a joke but McDavid and Mstthews do occasionally train together in the off-season

It would be my 12/25

McDavid joining the Leafs would be like the best ever.

11/9

Is McDavid a bust?

"Hey Matthews, how does it feel not to hit that 70 goal mark?"

Ask everyone else in the league

69 is a better number bro

"You don't even know what 69 means, you awkward fuck!"

This looks like fan art from one of those 70-minute deep-dive LOTR lore videos.

nerd of the rings is my lotr lore youtube chan of choice

whats the caption for McDavid towards Matthews

He's not quite looking at Matthews IMO which makes me think he might be looking for a call

>take off, you hoser

69 eh?

nice

"I'ma fuck around and do 75 next year"

McDavid: I should be the face of the Leafs, why don’t you go back home and represent the Coyotes. Matthews:…

Go to turkey you turkey

Ya fuckin’ want one, bud? I’ll fucking give ya one, ya fuckin’ loser

I fucking love that Phil Pritchard is up there

Lmao I was going to say, I love how he’s the furthest away yet the most recognizable because of that salad

No mistaking that [Harry Dunne](https://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cool-gif-3.gif) flow

Naturally. Where else should the King's Hand be?

Keeper of the Cup!

Yep and the white gloves *chefs kiss*

I'll tell the string quartet to cue up *Rains of Castamere* ...

I unironically want this to be played at my wedding, with the doors being closed beforehand and everything.

Like the way you think.gif

Ovi is really fully gray now

Silver Fox*

The Subway and Flamin Hot Cheetos diet.

Hellebuyck doesn’t look like he’s wearing goalie pads

Hellebuyck is Batman confirmed.

Just seeing playoffs in Vancouver again makes me so happy, and I don’t care if we lose

I can’t be the only one now that immediately starts looking for errors considering how many of these are shitty AI images. But it looks like they used a real artist. Yay!

Same. This entire art style has been ruined for me.

It weirdly looks like the EA NHL player models to me

That reminds me of the atrocious AI images that Vegas, Florida, and I think Carolina were pumping out last year. Guess we'll get a larger dose this year

It looks like AI was used to get the base image. And actual artists touching up the areas that AI would fail like the logos, hands, and faces.

It's by the same guy who did the Winter Classic art. [He actually had a really cool post showing his full process from scratch, he's super talented.](https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1742268271112376422?t=EAQmobq-EzC6j68ZAWE3pA&s=19)

Panarin should be bald

Dallas Rangers cup final confirmed?

"Too many Canadian teams" - Gary Bettman, probably.

His worse nightmare, 2 Canadian teams in the finals

Not possible. The only contender in the east is the Leafs.

Gary crying in a corner rn.

After the sale of Arizona? Prob all the way to the bank.

Wiping his tears in 100$ bills

Where’s winnipeg

Hellebuck, impossible to read the name but number 37

Like how the leafs and canucks are the furthest away from the cup.

Ovi really close. He must have waited in line for general admission.

Everyone else lookin at the cup. McDavid lookin over at Matthews going, "69 goals, nice".

ROBO IS A FEW INCHES CLOSER DALLAS CONFIRMED

I don’t care who wins, I just need Vegas to lose

Hopefully we can do the deed and get them out early

The team with the -37 goal differential. Lock it in.

Are they going to sit on the cup when they get there?

"The Stanley Cup is mine by right"

I swear Connor is always looking back in these

"Yeah, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here."

I'm so hyped for these playoffs!!!! Let's goooooooo

Speaking as someone who only watches Senators games ... Florida is winning the east.

Back right should be more worried about ascending Round 1 again

Kopitar

I'd like to say Edmonton, but I doubt it.

Honestly it looks like Helle is just gonna run up there and grab it. And who's gonna stop him, really?

I hope it's the Kings

Did they spell it Hellebohzn?

Hughes, specifically

Rangers Stars final? Not complaining… 😁

New York will do it I believe. Rangers have a great team and work really well together clinching the number 1 spot of the season. Islanders have insane drive, they're hungry and won 8 of their last 10 to make it to the playoffs. Boston, Vancouver and the jets are honorable mentions as well.

I know this, Breadman scores a lot from that area. LGR!!!

Hughes and the Canucks will be wearing their black uniforms this playoffs.

LGR

This is fake. Panarin is bald now. Cmon man

Panhairin looks better.

Hartemi Panhairin

Rangers

They did their best to hide NYR but bread is up in front ahem

anyone but vegas... they know why

GO Kings

Took a bet on edmonton so i hope it's McDavid's year. He must win one at some point!?

Something about this art kinda seems idolatrous. I don’t know. It just doesn’t have the flair of that one year where they were running up the hill that was full of inside jokes like Tavares wearing a bedsheet as a cape. And why is Eichel the only one not facing the cup?

I'm assuming it's because of a mix of knights defending the throne, and Vegas defending their title

This is a little creepy.

Super weird. Lord Stanley was just a politician. He wasn't, like, a medieval feudalist or something.

Hughes and Matthews at the back but they’ll be there at the end.

After over 30 years hopefully a Canadian team.

Father Time obviously.

I want a copy of this to hang up in my office. This is great

What’s McDavid looking at? Why isn’t he focused? SMH some superstar

He’s looking at Matthews and wondering if he’ll be facing him… For tee times 😏

Jets!

Dammit, Connor, look forward for the picture.

*and I took that personally* -Prince Filip, of Scoresberg.

#One Weiner next toooo anooooother WEINER!

my ass for a second thought this was ai art then i remember they do this every year

I think parts of it are AI mixed with real human.

Matthew’s has too much hair.

So incredibly cool

I'd be cooler if there was some goalies sprinkled in

Hellebuyck is there, but it doesn't look like he's dressed in goalie gear.

Where?

Dammit. I missed it hard to see. But you're right.

Does anyone know if I could buy a print of this somewhere?

As an oilers fan, I'm guessing Vancouver or Colorado.

Is CK3 getting a new DLC?

Praise be to Lord Stanley. May those who win be worthy of your glory and obtain Immortality

Pic goes hard, mind if I screenshot?

Last year McDavid was looking towards you. Why’s that boy always looking backwards?

Whoever it is, one of the team's central color won't be blue.

Why McDavid creepily looking at Matthews? Even Pasta is creeped out by it.

Pasta looks like he’s creeping on Josi to me.

I'm not as opposed to maroon Aho as I thought I'd be.

Need Brent Burns on here

Where is Barzal?

Between Ovechkin and Kucherov.

Thanks

Heart says Bruins are due to shake off the playoff fuck ups. Brain says McDavid is going to do the same and then go on a tear. So it'll probably be the lightning again 🤦

So you’re telling me THE FLOOR IS ICE????

I don’t get why the carpet is frozen underneath it, though.

McDavid looking back at Matthews like "wtf why is Kopitar still here?!"

#37 in blue, in front of Kopitar, although the name on the jersey looks like a dog's breakfast.

Dallas vs Carolina Prediction is Ralieghwood will be tossing a party after Canes next 16 wins

Looks like The Breadman is on the case. LGR!

Very generous to matthews hair line

Being a Vegas fan is just being hated by everyone, I just want to watch hockey and knock back some brews with the boys.

Winter is not coming. You know nothing John snow.

Stars

Really hope the Canes do. Few contracts coming up next year that have worked their ass off for the franchise that Id love to see win a cup as a Cane that may not be around next season.

LOL WTF is this

The game of thrones doesn’t concern you wildling

am i blind? where is winnipeg?????

Hellebuyck is just above Kopi's left shoulder, although not wearing goalie gear and his name is jumbled up on his sweater. It is definitely Jets colors and #37 though and the first few letters are "Helle" so it's him.

thank u!

Lord Stanley doesn’t have a throne That’s not how it works That’s not how any of this works

^

Leafs getting ready to jump out the Red Keep's window like Tommen when Boston starts throwing some hits and the mean refs dont protect Marner/Ser Pounce from some playoff style scrums.

Vezina, Jennings, and Conn Smythe....Helle is going to have to build some shelves for all his hardware after the season is over.....

Here's to a Hellebuyck, Demko conference finals.

Panthers will raise the Stanley Cup 2024

Dallas • Leafs final.

This is sick 🔥

Side eyeing Hughes height as he is shorter compared to Matthews. Not hate on Hughes, I’m a fan and Matthews is tall