The Stanley Cup Playoffs are fast approaching.

There is at least one Western Conference wild-card spot up for grabs, possibly even two. The Pacific Division has yet to be fully decided, and the Vegas Golden Knights are on the outside looking in for the first time in franchise history.

Things are significantly less exciting in the Eastern Conference, where we’ve known the playoff group for a few months already. The Tampa Bay Lightning look dominant again, though less so than its counterpart on the east coast of Florida, the Panthers. However, the Atlantic Division as a whole is a tough field, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins also in the mix.

The Washington Capitals are the weak link in the Metropolitan Division with inconsistent goaltending, but that may not matter during the postseason when a player like Alexander Ovechkin can be a difference-maker. The Carolina Hurricanes look like a true contender, but the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers appear strong as well.

The postseason begins in three weeks. Let’s explore some of the early developing storylines as the regular season starts to wind down.

Legacies on the Line 

Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are two of the best players in the world, yet they have relatively little playoff success.

Whether or not the Maple Leafs make it out of the first round will likely be the biggest playoff storyline for a few reasons. There will naturally be a lot of pressure on a historic Original Six team playing in the hockey capital of the world. The media spotlight burns brightest in Toronto, and there is a level of prestige that comes with wearing the Maple Leaf.

It can be tough to play for the Leafs, and it’s even tougher when the expectation is that the team is built for championships, but the narrative is that the team can’t win when it matters.

The franchise hasn’t made it out of the first round since 2004, and its epic collapse in last year’s seven-game series against the Montreal Canadiens has not been forgotten.

In Edmonton, McDavid’s legacy has been tarnished by mismanagement. The club has yet to truly build a contender around McDavid and Leon Draistaitl. Interim head coach Jay Woodcroft has had much better results behind the bench than Dave Tippett did, and his team is a near-lock to make the postseason.

But how far are they capable of going? All of those first-round picks have led to little more than first- and second-round exits.

Matthews, McDavid and Draisaitl will all be in the Hall of Fame someday, but anything less than a Cup Final would be considered a disappointment.