Three 2013 Non-Playoff Teams That Should (or Could) Make It In 2014

Every year there is a shuffling of teams that qualify for the big dance and one of the 16 spots that give you a chance at the Stanley Cup.  Every year there are 14 teams on the outside looking in, clamoring for their chance to get back into a spot that sees them playing in the post-season.

Some will make it, some will not.  Here are my top 3 contenders to make the jump from non-playoff to playoff teams:

1.  Philadelphia Flyers

Apr 25, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17), center Claude Giroux (28), center Matt Read (24), defenseman Brandon Manning (32) and defenseman Matt Konan (34) acknowledge the crowd after final game of the season against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Islanders, 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

This team is just too talented offensively not to at least make the playoffs.  With questions in goal and an aging but still offensively talented blue line, there is still the chance that they might suffer another defensive implosion.  But my bet is that Ray Emery can do just enough to drag the Flyers into the playoffs, after which anything can happen.