Hurricanes
Martin Necas | The elite scoring the Hurricanes had been on the lookout for all these years was on their roster your complete time. Martin Necas has leveled up his recreation this season, and the Canes now have a very elite ahead on the prime of their lineup. Necas is tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in factors (35). He is additionally tenth in targets (12) and third in assists (23). Fairly good firm. — 16-5-1
2

Jets
Connor Hellebuyck | The Jets have a human erasure between the pipes, and he offers them an opportunity to win each single time he begins. Working example: Hellebuyck simply saved 3.71 targets above common in Winnipeg’s 4-1 win over the Wild on Monday. That introduced him to 13.6 targets saved above common, the very best mark within the NHL. — 18-5-0
3

Wild
Younger weapons | While you’re paying two gamers simply shy of $15 million to not play to your group, you want younger gamers on team-friendly offers to step up. That is precisely what Minnesota has gotten this season. Marco Rossi and Brock Faber are each nonetheless on their entry-level contracts, and so they have turn into key elements of this Wild lineup. Matt Boldy is now making $7 million per season, however even that appears like a cut price proper now. — 14-4-4
4

Devils
Particular groups | The Devils are a robust group at five-on-five, however what actually makes them harmful is their skill to dominate on particular groups as nicely. New Jersey ranks second with a 31.5% conversion fee on the ability play, and the penalty kill is sixth at 83.6%. Irrespective of the scenario, the Devils can merely overwhelm their opponents. 5 15-8-2
5

Capitals
Spencer Carbery | In the summertime of 2023, Spencer Carbery was maybe the most well liked identify on the teaching market, and for good motive. Carbery has rapidly reworked the Capitals from a mediocre squad right into a attainable Stanley Cup contender. It is no fluke both. Washington has a 51.8% five-on-five anticipated targets share, and it has a plus-24 objective differential in these conditions. 1 15-6-1
6

Golden Knights
Objectives | Scoring is a fairly vital facet of profitable hockey video games, and the Golden Knights are excellent at it. Their 85 targets are tied for second within the NHL, and so they’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup. 5 gamers have a minimum of eight targets and two extra have six. It is robust to defend a group that may do injury with all 4 strains. — 14-6-3
7

Maple Leafs
House ice | The environment at Scotiabank Area has been the butt of jokes on “Hockey Twitter” in recent times, however nobody is laughing proper now. The Maple Leafs appear completely snug in their very own barn, going 10-3-0 of their first 13 video games. That makes up for a middling 3-3-2 file on the highway. 3 13-7-2
8

Stars
Depth scoring | The Dallas ahead group has a ridiculous quantity of expertise, and I am undecided any group can match it. The Stars’ third line, consisting of Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment, has mixed for 26 targets. That is good as a result of some gamers, like Wyatt Johnston, have but to essentially warmth up. Simply think about what the Stars will appear like when that does inevitably occur. — 13-8-0
9

Rangers
Goaltending | There are groups which have gone years and years with out steady goaltending. Ask Ottawa, or Philadelphia, or Detroit. The Rangers have not had that challenge with Henrik Lundqvist turning over the crease to Igor Shesterkin. That is not dangerous, however to make it much more unfair for the opposite 31 groups, Jonathan Fast has been distinctive in a backup function, saving 7.24 targets above common. 4 12-8-1
10

Panthers
ROI | With a tough wage cap, groups have to ensure they’re getting probably the most out of each greenback they put into the lineup. Signing a participant to an eight-year, $69 million contract after a profession 12 months, just like the Panthers did with Sam Reinhart, generally is a little dangerous. All Reinhart has completed to date is make the case he is underpaid with 16 targets and 31 factors in 22 video games. 3 13-9-1
11

Canucks
Lodge beds | Generally it may be refreshing to get away and sleep in a comfortable resort mattress. Primarily based on their highway efficiency, it looks as if the Canucks agree with me. They’re 8-1-0 away from house, and so they have a plus-14 objective differential in these video games. It is a good factor Vancouver enjoys time away as a result of it has gained simply three of its eight house video games. 1 11-7-3
12

Lightning
Conviction | Letting a franchise legend stroll out the door in an try and preserve your Stanley Cup window open? That takes some actual conviction, and it is what Julien BriseBois did final summer time. He allowed Steven Stamkos to depart in free company to signal Jake Guentzel to a long-term deal. Stamkos has been OK on a nasty Nashville group, however Guentzel has been large for the Bolts. 1 11-8-2
13

Avalanche
Star energy | Depth is nice, however groups want true stars to win huge within the NHL. The Avalanche have loads of star energy, led by reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon. He already has seven targets and 28 assists in 22 video games, however he is not alone. Mikko Rantanen has 14 targets, tied for fourth within the NHL, and Cale Makar’s 30 factors are 10 greater than the following closest defenseman. 2 13-10-0
14

Oilers
Leon & Connor | Having two of the 5 finest gamers within the NHL in your roster is a fairly good luxurious. The dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have mixed for 27 targets, and nobody else on the group has greater than six targets. The depth, which appeared to have improved within the offseason, hasn’t been getting the job completed. The excellent news? It would not must. 1 11-9-2
15

Flames
Spunk | I did not essentially anticipate the Flames to be all that competent this season, and I actually did not anticipate them to be three factors again of the Pacific Division lead at this level. It is not at all times fairly, however the Flames are punching unsuspecting opponents within the mouth and stacking wins. Can they preserve this up? I am undecided, however this can be a mighty feisty group. 1 12-7-4
16

Kings
Protection | In the event you love high-flying offensive hockey, do not tune right into a Kings recreation. They’ve made a behavior of stifling opponents, permitting simply 2.01 xGA/60 at five-on-five, the very best mark within the league. What Los Angeles lacks in offensive ability gamers it greater than makes up for with distinctive group protection. 2 12-8-3
17

Sabres
Hope | American Thanksgiving is lower than 24 hours away, and the Sabres are sitting in a playoff spot. Hope generally is a harmful factor, however followers in Buffalo have not even had a lot of that in recent times. The Sabres are getting huge contributions from key gamers and high quality goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukonen. Please ignore the troubling underlying metrics. 2 11-10-1
18

Kraken
Stability in web | For the primary few years of their existence, the Kraken struggled to search out any stage of consistency between the pipes, however that downside might lastly be solved. Joey Daccord confirmed a variety of promise final season, and he has stored that going. Daccord is fifth within the NHL with 8.76 targets saved above common, and he is conserving Seattle within the playoff race. 1 11-11-1
19

Bruins
Boston Celtics | How about these Celtics? No championship hangover. Off to a 15-3 begin. They appear poised to go back-to-back! Don’t fret about the rest taking place in TD Backyard today. The champs are rolling. 3 11-10-3
20

Flyers
Matvei Michkov | There is a good probability Matvei Michikov winds up making a couple of groups look foolish for passing on him on the prime of the 2023 NHL Draft. He fell to No. 7 total, and the Flyers had been blissful to take him. It is easy to see why. The 19-year-old rookie has eight targets and 9 assists in his first 20 NHL video games. — 10-10-3
21

Islanders
Time beyond regulation | The Islanders now have a multi-year love affair with additional time video games. Final season, loser factors stored the Isles within the playoff race for your complete season, and the identical factor is going on once more. New York has already gotten factors out 5 losses, tied with the Sharks for many within the league. — 8-10-5
22

Blues
Boston Bruins | One group’s emotional and irrational determination is one other group’s treasure. Jim Montgomery was unemployed for all of two seconds earlier than the Blues got here calling. Now, St. Louis has a coach with a profession .661 profitable share behind the bench, and the group needs to be loads higher for it. 3 11-12-1
23

Senators
Brady Tkachuk | Brady would not get the identical stage of consideration as Matthew, however the youthful Tkachuk brother remains to be a variety of enjoyable to observe. Tkachuk leads the Sens with 11 targets, and he is on tempo for 89 factors. Ottawa followers want to understand what they’ve as a result of if issues preserve trending within the present course, will Tkachuk do what his brother did in Calgary and work his method out of city? 5 10-11-1
24

Purple Wings
Mediocrity | The Purple Wings are one of many worst five-on-five groups within the NHL, and so they have two gamers on tempo to eclipse the 20-goal mark. Regardless of that, they’re simply three factors out of a playoff spot. For that, they will thank the mediocrity that’s the Jap Convention wild card race. 2 10-10-2
25

Blue Jackets
Effort | Nobody would have blamed the Blue Jackets for beginning gradual this season. As a substitute, they’ve battled each night time, and their five-on-five numbers are shockingly good. Columbus goes to wrestle to achieve the postseason, however one factor that is sure is it can take a piece out of each opponent it faces. 5 9-9-3
26

Geese
Leo Carlsson | Too lots of the Geese’ younger prospects have did not take the following step on the NHL stage by now, however Leo Carlsson has already proven marked progress in his second season. Carlsson has 11 factors in 20 video games, and whereas his five-on-five recreation does want work, he has proven flashes of being a franchise cornerstone for Anaheim. 2 9-9-3
27

Hockey Membership
Youth | Utah has gotten off to a risky begin, however that may be the case when making an attempt to deliver alongside a younger core. Consistency could be a difficulty, however that does not change the truth that the franchise’s future could be very shiny. Gamers like Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton have proven the power to play nicely on the NHL stage. They only must do it extra usually now. 4 9-10-3
28

Penguins
Milestones | The precise outcomes have been fairly disastrous for the Penguins this season, however a minimum of followers have seen some legends hit main milestones. Sidney Crosby has scored his 700th objective and notched his 1,600th level. Evgeni Malkin has picked up his five hundredth objective and 800th help. That is a minimum of one thing to cheer about. 1 8-12-4
29

Blackhawks
Draft capital | The Predators’ huge offseason has landed them in thirty first place, and a pair extra weeks of dropping will sink them for good. In the event you’re on the lookout for positives, you will discover them within the stockpile of draft picks. Nashville, headed straight for the draft lottery, has 5 picks within the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft. Rebuilding now could be a full 180 from the summer time, however a minimum of the Preds have the picks to do it. 3 8-12-2
30

Canadiens
Draft lottery | The draft lottery has been variety to the Blackhawks within the final 20 years with Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard being the most important prizes. The best way issues are trending in Chicago now, the group is likely to be heading for yet one more No. 1 total choice. 1 8-11-3
31

Predators
Prospects | The Canadiens do have a comparatively deep prospect pool, led by a pair of defensemen in Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher. If these two hit, Montreal will likely be set on the blue line for a very long time. Now, how lengthy will it take earlier than these prospects lastly remodel the Canadiens again into an NHL powerhouse? 3 7-12-4
32

Sharks
Basis | The Sharks nonetheless have a protracted highway forward of them, however the basis seems to be in place. They’ve a pair potential stars up entrance in Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. In web, Yaroslav Askarov is without doubt one of the finest goalie prospects throughout the league. San Jose already has some key items in place. Now, it has to construct round them. 3 7-13-5