With the NHL season set to start this week, and set to return to a more traditional format after a pandemic inspired divisional breakdown, now is a perfect time to rank each team in the league as they pursue the Stanley Cup:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
After winning back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, this Tampa have proven that they are the team to beat in the NHL. Much can be said about this roster from top to bottom, but we want to highlight their most valuable player, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Andrei Vasilevskiy. He is the best goalie in all of hockey.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Again, the Avs underperformed last season. They have an elite playmaker in Nathan MacKinnon and a high-end goalie in Phil Grubauer, but the player we want to highlight here is Calvin Makar. Makar is hands down the best offensive defenseman in the league.
3. Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is one of the deepest rosters in the league and their depth took them right on the doorstep of yet another Stanley Cup Finals appearance in their extremely short existence. They could easily lift the Cup after this season.
4. New York Islanders
The Islanders are well coached and play a defensive brand in hockey that is easy to root for. They lost a Game 7 to the Bolts last season and are looking even better as they enter this one.
5. Florida Panthers
The Panthers were a shockingly good team last season, but they certainly won’t catch anyone by surprise as they enter this one. Expectations are high for this Florida team.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
7. Boston Bruins
8. Minnesota Wild
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Edmonton Oilers
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. Washington Capitals
13. Nashville Predators
14. Montreal Canadiens
15. Toronto Maple Leafs
16. St. Louis Blues
17. Dallas Stars
18. New York Rangers
19. Chicago Blackhawks
20. Philadelphia Flyers
21. Arizona Coyotes
22. Calgary Flames
23. San Jose Sharks
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Ottawa Senators
26. Vancouver Canucks
26. Seattle Kraken
28. Columbus Blue Jackets
29. New Jersey Devils
30. Detroit Red Wings
31. Anaheim Ducks
32. Buffalo Sabres
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