When Steve Bégin talks hockey, we listen. With his trademark honesty, no-nonsense attitude, and deep love for the game, Steve Bégin shares his predictions and reflections on the 2025 NHL Playoffs.
Ready or not, here we go!
Just before puck drop on the playoffs, Bégin breaks down every first-round matchup—East and West. True to form, he doesn’t just pick his favorites—he explains why. From injuries and inconsistent performances to key players and roster depth, he misses nothing. Tampa Bay, he says, could still surprise, powered by a lethal offense led by Kucherov and Point. As for Colorado? A complete lineup featuring McKinnon and Makar—two players he calls "the best in the league" and his pick to go all the way.
But beyond predictions, Bégin also shares his vision of what playoff hockey is really about. For him, the key is in the details: special teams, locker room chemistry, and especially those role players who make the difference when everything comes down to a faceoff or a backcheck. He even draws a clever parallel to the restaurant world:
"It’s like at La Cage. If the guy washing dishes does a bad job, you run out of plates, everyone’s in the weeds, and you end up giving away free meals!"
Still closely connected to the Montreal Canadiens, Bégin doesn’t hesitate to say the Habs have what it takes to pull off an upset and eliminate Washington—regardless of what the skeptics think. A bold bet? Maybe. But as he reminds us, the playoffs are unpredictable, and it's often the underestimated teams that create the magic.
With this interview, we step into the world of a former player who lived the playoffs from the inside—and whose fire still burns bright.
