Avalanche
Charlie Coyle has sneakily been a wonderful addition for the Avs. He is slotted into the third-line heart position completely, and whereas the numbers (eight factors in 16 video games) have not been eye-popping, his five-on-five impacts have been distinctive. Colorado appears to be like very scary down the center. — 48-27-4
2

Golden Knights
Adin Hill was a query mark for Vegas within the first half, however he is been notably higher during the last couple of months. For the reason that begin of February, Hill has posted a .917 save proportion with 7.83 targets saved above common. That is a part of the explanation why the Golden Knights have held off the surging Kings within the Pacific. 2 47-22-9
3

Stars
Mikko Rantanen has already been a a lot better slot in Dallas than he was in Carolina. He has 5 targets and 10 assists in 16 video games, and the Stars have outscored opponents 21-10 with Rantanen on the ice at five-on-five. The Stars including peak Rantanen into the combination earlier than the playoffs is borderline unfair. 3 50-22-6
4

Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have relied closely on the Core 4 in recent times. That would be the case once more this postseason, however this time they may have some further assist. Matthew Knies is as much as 26 targets, which is nicely up from the 15 he scored final yr as a rookie. If Knies can hold that up within the playoffs, Toronto can be more durable to include offensively. 6 47-26-4
5

Jets
Only a few gamers flip in profession seasons at age 32, however that is what Mark Scheifele has completed for the Jets. His 84 factors are tied for a profession greatest, and another in the previous few video games will set a brand new high-water mark for him. Scheifele’s longevity is strictly what the Jets had been banking on after they signed him to a seven-year deal in 2023. — 53-21-4
6

Lightning
It looks like there’s a number of momentum for Leon Draisaitl to win the Hart Trophy, however I might have a tough time not voting for Nikita Kucherov. Along with his 115 factors, he additionally has unbelievable five-on-five impacts. His plus-19 purpose differential is without doubt one of the greatest in your complete league. Give this man some MVP votes. 5 45-26-6
7

Kings
Darcy Kuemper could wind up as a Vezina Trophy finalist in his first season with Los Angeles. The veteran has a .922 save proportion to go together with 21.4 targets saved above common. That Pierre-Luc Dubois for Darcy Kuemper commerce appears to be like nice for either side now. — 44-24-9
8

Capitals
What else must be mentioned? Alex Ovechkin is the brand new all-time targets chief, and there are nonetheless 5 video games left within the common season. He closed the chase with a flurry, scoring six targets in his final 5 video games. Now, followers ought to be capable to take pleasure in watching Ovechkin as he embarks on one other deep playoff run. 6 49-19-9
9

Blues
St. Louis simply had its 12-game successful streak snapped, however that was greater than sufficient for the workforce to take a stranglehold on a wild card spot. I can not think about the Winnipeg Jets or the Vegas Golden Knights could be fired up about seeing the Blues within the first spherical. This workforce is beginning to create some 2019 Stanley Cup vibes. 3 43-29-7
10

Hurricanes
I handled Taylor Corridor as an afterthought within the Rantanen commerce, and I am prepared to confess a mistake. Corridor has been large with Carolina, notching eight targets and 15 factors in 26 video games. He is added one other layer of depth scoring to an already deep roster. 7 46-27-4
11

Senators
The Senators have ended a playoff drought that dates again to 2018, and so they owe a good chunk of their success to a strong goaltending from Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. These two have offered stability within the crease, combining for 14.9 targets saved above common. Ottawa has been trying to find a solution at that place, and the workforce lastly discovered it. 2 42-30-6
12

Devils
New Jersey will probably end the season with one 30-goal scorer and 4 20-goal scorers. A type of gamers, Jack Hughes, is out for the season. That begs the query of the place the offense comes from within the playoffs. Can Dawson Mercer step up? Will Timo Meier discover one other stage? The Devils might want to discover some solutions towards the Hurricanes. 3 41-30-7
13

Panthers
Sam Bennett is out for the remainder of the common season, and whereas the workforce expects him again in time for the playoffs, it is one other query mark. How wholesome will Bennett be? Will Matthew Tkachuk be capable to play within the first spherical? Can Aaron Ekblad shake off the rust after a prolonged suspension? That is not supreme with Florida taking a look at a first-round conflict towards the Lightning. 5 45-29-4
14

Oilers
Predictably, the Oilers have had a tougher time scoring targets with out Connor McDavid within the lineup. It does not assist that Zach Hyman hasn’t discovered the scoresheet in his final 5 video games, although. Now it appears to be like like Edmonton can be with out home-ice benefit within the first spherical, though I am positive the Oilers aren’t intimidated by the Kings. 5 44-28-5
15

Canadiens
The Canadiens are probably the most enjoyable younger workforce within the NHL, and so they’ve received six video games in a row. Now, 2024 first-round choose Ivan Demidov will make his debut after coming over from the KHL. I do not understand how lengthy the Habs’ playoff look can be, however I will be locked in for each second. 2 39-30-9
16

Flames
The Flames nonetheless have a shot at making the playoffs, and so they can take issues into their very own fingers with a head-to-head matchup towards the Wild on Friday. Minnesota has been slipping for some time now, however Calgary hasn’t been in a position to take benefit. We’ll see if that adjustments within the subsequent two weeks. — 37-27-13
17

Wild
Over the past month, solely three groups have had a harder time scoring than the Wild. That is smart with Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek out of the lineup, however Minnesota is crawling to the end line. The Wild do not face a playoff workforce the remainder of the best way, so they might have sufficient gasoline left within the tank to clinch a postseason berth. 3 42-29-7
18

Hockey Membership
Barrett Hayton is beginning to appear to be a top quality two-way heart. Not solely has the 24-year-old tallied 43 factors (tied for a profession excessive), however his five-on-five impacts are a number of the greatest on the workforce. Hayton is one in all many causes Utah followers can get excited for 2025-26, even when a playoff berth is now out of attain this yr. 1 36-30-12
19

Canucks
It might be all for naught, however the Canucks fought desperately for his or her playoff lives on Tuesday. Vancouver turned the primary workforce in NHL historical past to win a recreation after trailing by three targets with underneath a minute remaining. The Canucks went from down 5-2 to a 6-5 additional time win in a matter of a pair minutes. 1 36-29-13
20

Islanders
The Islanders are going to overlook the playoffs for simply the second time within the final seven seasons. Maybe that is for the perfect as a result of the workforce hasn’t received greater than two playoff video games since 2021. This core has plateaued, and adjustments must be on the horizon in New York. We’ll see if that really occurs. — 34-32-11
21

Rangers
There have been many disappointing performances in New York this yr, however probably the most discouraging in all probability belongs to Alexis Lafreniere. It felt like Lafreniere actually broke out final season, however he has taken a pair steps backward. His 16 targets are 12 fewer than final yr, and his five-on-five recreation has slipped considerably. — 36-34-7
22

Sabres
Right here come the Sabres simply in time to spoil the tank. Buffalo has received 5 straight video games, however it’s far too little and much too late. Now, all of the Sabres can do is watch as their draft lottery possibilities diminish with every passing victory. 3 35-36-6
23

Pink Wings
If it is advisable discover a silver lining in Detroit, it is that rookie Marco Kasper has greater than held his personal. The 21-year-old has 32 factors in 72 video games, and his 53.9% anticipated targets share at five-on-five is the perfect on your complete workforce. 3 36-34-7
24

Geese
Frank Vatrano, who signed a three-year extension price $18 million a couple of months in the past, hasn’t scored since March 11. His purpose drought is now as much as 13 video games, and he has simply two assists in that span. It has been a brutal stretch for Vatrano, who scored 37 targets in 2023-24. — 34-35-8
25

Blue Jackets
Mathieu Olivier has had some sort of yr for Columbus. By way of the primary 168 video games of his NHL profession, the bruising ahead had a complete of 13 targets. In 77 video games this season, he has 18 targets. I am unsure how sustainable that’s, but when he can hold some sort of scoring contact, he can be a really worthwhile fourth-liner for the Jackets. 3 35-33-9
26

Kraken
Shane Wright is approaching 20 targets in his rookie season, in order that’s one thing the Kraken ought to be capable to construct on after a protracted yr. Getting Wright and Beniers on an upward trajectory must be the principle focus for Seattle as a result of, in the event that they each hit their potential, that could possibly be an thrilling one-two punch down the center. 2 34-39-6
27

Penguins
Whereas Ovechkin was passing Gretzky for the targets file, Sidney Crosby was reminding everybody he is nonetheless acquired one thing left within the tank with a hat trick towards the Dallas Stars. I do know I’ve mentioned it quite a bit, however it’s superb how good Crosby has been at 37. If it weren’t for him, the Penguins could be wanting on the No. 1 total choose. 4 32-35-12
28

Flyers
The John Tortorella experiment lasted lower than two full years in Philly, and that is not terribly stunning. The pairing was good in principle. Tortorella would take over a rebuilding workforce and mould the younger core together with his hard-nosed teaching. The one drawback is he seemingly ran out of persistence with this group. 2 31-37-9
29

Bruins
Morgan Geekie is a 30-goal scorer. Contemplating his earlier profession excessive in targets was 17, I did not anticipate to kind that heading into the season. Only a few issues have labored for the Bruins, however Geekie is definitely one in all them. 2 32-38-9
30

Predators
After scoring 42 targets with the Golden Knights final season, Jonathan Marchessault has been caught on 19 for some time in his first yr as a Predator. Marchessault hasn’t scored since March 4 (13 video games), and his 9.5% taking pictures proportion is without doubt one of the worst marks of his profession. 1 28-42-8
31

Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have known as up a few younger defensive prospects, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel, to provide them a style of NHL hockey. These two nonetheless have a number of creating to do, however that could possibly be fairly the duo on Chicago’s blue line at some point. 1 22-46-10
32

Sharks
Macklin Celebrini is on a nine-game purpose drought, and the grip he had on the Calder Trophy for a lot of the season might be gone. Lane Huston has merely exploded onto the scene to steer the Canadiens to the playoffs, however this was nonetheless a really promising debut for Celebrini. He can be a franchise heart for a few years to return. 1 20-47-10