The Calder Cup Playoffs have been anything but predictable this spring. After another round of cuts, we're down to just eight teams—and the upsets keep coming. Three of the top five regular-season finishers—the Providence Bruins (first), Ontario Reign (fourth), and Charlotte Checkers (fifth)—have already been sent packing. Meanwhile, the Springfield Thunderbirds, who finished 22nd in the regular season, have knocked out two of those top-five teams and now have their sights set on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who finished third.
It's been a wild ride, and the stock report is heating up. Let's break down who's rising, who's holding steady, and who's falling in this unpredictable postseason.
Stock Rising: Colorado Eagles
Trent Miner has been a wall between the pipes, recording three shutouts in just six games. The Eagles are playing suffocating defense, clogging every inch of ice and neutralizing the Henderson Silver Knights—the AHL's highest-scoring team during the regular season. For a franchise that has often been a playoff disappointment in years past, this group of returnees seems to have learned from those setbacks. They're playing with poise and purpose.
Stock Rising: Springfield Thunderbirds
It's simple: the Thunderbirds just pulled off the biggest upset in Calder Cup Playoff history. In 89 previous postseasons, no team had ever overcome a regular-season points gap like this. Springfield knocked out the Providence Bruins, who finished a staggering 38 points ahead of them. That's the largest margin ever overcome in league history. Goaltender Georgi Romanov has been the hero, taking over in Game 2 of the opening round against Charlotte, winning that series, and then dispatching Providence in four games. Now they face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton—another tough challenge. But after taking down Charlotte and Providence, the Thunderbirds have proven they can beat anyone.
Stock Holding: Toronto Marlies
The parent Toronto Maple Leafs have taken heat for their prospect depth, but the Marlies are giving the organization a chance to audition young talent in high-pressure playoff games. Forward Easton Cowan (2-4-6 in eight games) is gaining valuable postseason experience as the Marlies prepare to face the Cleveland Monsters. After a solid rookie season that included NHL time, this playoff run is another line on his resume—and a sign that Toronto's pipeline may be deeper than critics think.