Don Cherry Names His Unexpected Underdog for the Stanley Cup Playoffs

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Chris Gerics
October 20, 2024 (10:19 PM)

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Never one to shy away from bold statements, Don Cherry predicted his surprise team of the 2024-25 NHL Season, and it so happens to be the new kid on the block: Utah.

This season has seen a bunch of surprises already; from Edmonton and Colorado's tepid start to the season to Winnipeg starting off the season 5-0-0, it's only been two weeks into the 2024-25 NHL Season and already things have been wild. We've seen milestones broken, equipment malfunctions, and already a highlight reel's worth of saves and goals; this year is shaping up to be something incredible.

Don Cherry feels the same way, and speaking recently on his show ''The Don Cherry Podcast'', the controversial and outspoken pundit offered his his opinion on the surprising start to this year, particularly when it comes to a certain team. Cherry was blunt in his thought that the Utah Hockey Club would surprise everyone this year, and find a lot of success even with all the pressure of a first-year team.

"Utah," said Cherry without any hesitation on his most recent podcast. "I think they will be the biggest surprise. They are in a new town and the whole... and I think they'll be the surprise of the year."

It's not the first time an expansion team has come in and shocked everyone their first year, as the Vegas Golden Knights clinched a playoff berth in their first year back in 2018 and made an astounding run to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Washington Capitals. Cherry was asked as well if Utah was going to do the same, and though he is excited to see what Utah can do, it won't be a miracle run like Vegas' was.

"Oh I don't think they'll make a run for it but... make the playoffs, that's about it," added Cherry.

Led by the likes of Lawson Crouse, Nick Bjugstad, and captain Clayton Keller, Utah has come out of the gate swinging and shows no signs of slowing down. Currently at 4-1-1, Utah has set itself up nicely early in the year and hopes to ride that wave of momentum into a very comfortable position come the All-Star break. It's baby steps for this team, and given they look rejuvenated since moving to Utah, who knows the potential this team can reach.

Though he currently doesn't have a job with the mainstream hockey media, Cherry is still very active with his podcast which has been running since 2019 and while the 90-year-old is still controversial, he endears himself to millions of Canadians for reasons just like his predictions. When 'Grapes' talks; people listen.