1
Bruins
(4) | I believed the Bruins would wrestle out of the gate due to some accidents. But alternatively, I nonetheless thought they may compete atop the Atlantic Division. What I didn’t see coming was the most effective common season in NHL historical past.
—
64-12-5
2
Oilers
(11) | Coming into the 2022-23 season, the Oilers hadn’t addressed lots of the points that plagued them the 12 months earlier than. However, Edmonton used the commerce deadline to bolster its protection and Stuart Skinner has performed like a No. 1 goalie. Now, the Oilers are a severe Cup contender.
—
49-23-9
3
Avalanche
(8) | As has been the case for many of the season, accidents plagued the Avs proper out of the beginning block. Colorado obtained off to a slower begin than anticipated, however the Avalanche have gained seven straight video games, and a second straight Stanley Cup may be very a lot on the desk for this group.
—
49-24-7
4
Devils
(15) | In our preseason daring predictions, I picked the Devils to make the playoffs, however I suspected they might be battling for a wild card spot within the last week of the common season. New Jersey is battling within the final week of the common season, however it’s for the Metro Division title. The growth of Jack Hughes and the remainder of the younger core has allowed the Devils to take a giant step ahead.
5
51-22-8
5
Stars
(6) | For the primary time in years, the Stars have gotten dependable scoring exterior its first line. Add in an amazing offensive season from defenseman Miro Heiskanen and continued brilliance from Jake Oettinger, and Dallas has remained among the many high groups within the league all season.
5
45-21-14
6
Hurricanes
(2) | The Hurricanes had been a top-two workforce in these rankings for many of the season, they usually even held the No. 1 spot for a short while. The problem is that accidents to Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty have put a dent within the offense down the stretch, and different gamers should step up within the postseason.
1
51-21-9
7
Rangers
(10) | Coming into the season, the Rangers seemed like a workforce that would go on a deep postseason run. The additions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane on the commerce deadline have solely made the blueshirts much more harmful. With Igor Shesterkin rounding into type on the proper time, New York can beat any of the East’s high groups.
1
47-21-13
8
Golden Knights
(4) | Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, accidents have performed a significant component. Mark Stone has been out since Jan. 31, however he could possibly be again in time for the playoffs. Despite his absence, Vegas has nonetheless managed to place itself in place to win the Pacific Division. After a disappointing 2021-22 marketing campaign, the Golden Knights have met expectations this season.
2
50-22-9
9
Maple Leafs
(12) | Poor taking pictures luck contributed to a little bit of a gradual begin for the Leafs, however they ultimately obtained going and seemed like among the finest groups within the NHL. Toronto hasn’t essentially been dominant during the last month, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be like a whole workforce able to successful all of it. First, the Maple Leafs should recover from that first-round hump.
3
49-21-11
10
Wild
(21) | I wasn’t excessive on the Wild coming into the season, and Marc-Andre Fleury obtained off to a brutal begin in objective. Luckily for Minnesota, Filip Gustavsson has stepped up between the pipes, and he has carried his workforce to various wins within the final month. The query now’s whether or not the Wild can provide him sufficient run assist within the playoffs.
3
46-25-10
11
Kraken
(25) | After getting burned by the Kraken in 2021-22, I used to be very skeptical of them this season. However, Jared McCann and Vince Dunn took massive strides, and gamers like Matty Beniers and Andre Burakovsky have added quite a bit to the roster. Most importantly, Seattle’s goaltending hasn’t been the worst within the league by a rustic mile this season.
—
46-27-8
12
Kings
(18) | Outside of the crease, the Kings had been one of many NHL’s finest groups this season. Midway by the season, Los Angeles fully remade its goaltending duo by buying and selling Jonathan Quick and including Pheonix Copley and Joonas Korpisalo.
8
46-25-10
13
Panthers
(9) | I liked the Panthers’ addition of Matthew Tkachuk within the offseason, and he has been nothing wanting spectacular to this point, nevertheless it took some time for the remainder of the workforce to come back round. Aleksander Barkov has gotten scorching down the stretch, and that has allowed Florida to climb again into playoff place after being on the surface for many of the 12 months.
1
42-31-8
14
Jets
(19) | The Jets defied expectations for roughly half of the 2022-23 season. They had been battling the Stars for first place within the Central Division and sat in or across the high 10 of the facility rankings. However, the workforce began to disintegrate someday in January, they usually have drifted again towards their authentic rating.
2
46-32-3
15
Lightning
(14) | The Bolts’ 2022-23 season has been bookended by a pair of slumps. Tampa struggled to stand up to hurry firstly of the season, and that’s comprehensible on condition that the workforce has been to 3 straight Stanley Cup Finals. However, the Bolts have seemed mortal down the stretch, and we’ll see if they will flip it on within the playoffs.
2
45-30-6
16
Sabres
(16) | Buffalo deserves numerous credit score for hanging round within the Eastern Conference from begin to end. The Sabres nonetheless have hope within the playoff race, however they’ve zero room for error. Regardless of what occurs, this season has been a hit for a Buffalo franchise that has been in want of hope for a very long time now.
2
40-33-7
17
Islanders
(28) | I used to be manner too low on the Islanders this 12 months, if solely as a result of I ought to’ve identified Ilya Sorokin would maintain them within the playoff image for 82 video games. Sorokin has been a robust Vezina Trophy contender, and the Isles have already confirmed me fallacious, whether or not they’re capable of squeak into the postseason or not.
—
41-31-9
18
Penguins
(5) | For the primary couple weeks of the season, the veteran Penguins appeared decided to beat Father Time, and I used to be too excessive on them because of this. Pittsburgh struggled to take care of that stage for 82 video games, and it has actually pale in the previous few weeks. Now, the Pens are simply making an attempt to scrape into the playoffs.
2
40-31-10
19
Predators
(27) | Like the Islanders, however maybe to a fair better diploma, the Predators is perhaps nearer to their authentic rating if not for goaltending. Despite being sellers on the commerce deadline and shedding a handful of their finest gamers to damage within the final month, the Preds have remained alive within the playoff race. Most of that credit score goes to Juuse Saros, who has been borderline unbeatable.
2
41-31-8
20
Flames
(1) | Yikes shouldn’t be a robust sufficient phrase. The Flames had been my preseason choose to win the Stanley Cup, they usually had been eradicated from playoff rivalry on Monday night time. Calgary has the make-up of a gifted workforce, and its underlying numbers have been fairly robust all season. However, the goaltending and common vibes have been subpar all season. It would not be stunning to see the Flames make some vital adjustments.
5
37-27-17
21
Senators
(13) | Ottawa obtained off to a fast begin in 2022-23, and I could have overreacted to that just a bit bit. There is not any denying that the Senators are an improved workforce, however they need to not have been thought of a menace to make the playoffs at any level. If Ottawa can add some extra blue line assist and enhance goaltending within the offseason, they are going to be a extra harmful squad subsequent 12 months.
1
39-35-7
22
Canucks
(32) | Going greater than two weeks with out getting a win to begin the season will damage a workforce’s standing within the energy rankings. Vancouver ultimately made a training change and changed Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet. Since that swap, the Canucks have seemed higher, and it will be attention-grabbing to see what Tocchet can do in 2023-24.
3
37-37-7
23
Blues
(7) | I used to be very fallacious concerning the Blues final season, so I assumed they may maintain successful regardless of atrocious underlying numbers once more this 12 months. That was not the case. St. Louis could not maintain the puck out of its personal internet, and the workforce fully cratered earlier than turning into one of many greatest sellers on the commerce deadline.
—
37-36-7
24
Red Wings
(20) | After some key offseason additions, the Red Wings had been regarded as an improved workforce. That turned out to be true, however not by a lot. Detroit was extra aggressive, nevertheless it’s clear Steve Yzerman has extra work to do earlier than the Wings are a real Stanley Cup contender once more.
—
35-36-10
25
Capitals
(17) | I anticipated a step again for the Capitals, however I did not see a whole collapse coming. Washington had among the worst damage luck within the league this season, and that actually contributed to the workforce’s underwhelming efficiency, nevertheless it’s arduous to see this workforce contending once more within the subsequent couple of years. Will Alex Ovechkin get one other shot at a Cup earlier than he retires?
—
35-37-9
26
Canadiens
(24) | This was type of a great season for the Canadiens. Expectations weren’t excessive for this group, and among the workforce’s finest younger gamers obtained ample ice time, and the Canadiens remained aggressive most of the time. Yet, Montreal continues to be inside vary to get a top-two choose within the 2023 NHL Draft.
3
31-43-6
27
Sharks
(31) | The Sharks had been all the time going to be horrible this season, nevertheless it was good to see Erik Karlsson discover his groove once more. That was a pleasing shock as a result of Karlsson is among the most enjoyable gamers to look at when he is at his finest, and he might need performed his manner onto a greater workforce for the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
1
22-42-16
28
Blue Jackets
(26) | The Blue Jackets made an enormous splash final offseason after they signed Johnny Gaudreau to an enormous seven-year contract. This summer season, they are going to hope to make a splash by calling Connor Bedard’s title in Nashville.
—
24-47-9
29
Flyers
(22) | Generally talking, John Tortorella’s first season in Philly went about as anticipated. The workforce wasn’t excellent. Some gamers thrived. Other gamers very a lot didn’t. Torts obtained salty right here and there. This was all the time going to be a long-term challenge for Tortorella, however the course of would possibly get expedited relying on the place the Flyers are drafting.
2
30-38-13
30
Coyotes
(30) | Credit to me for having a deep sufficient information of hockey to foretell that the Coyotes wouldn’t be excellent this season. As everybody with a mind between their ears suspected, Arizona was not excellent, and the workforce may be very well-positioned within the draft lottery. That stated, there have been some positives, just like the play Clayton Keller and Matias Maccelli.
—
28-40-13
31
Blackhawks
(23) | Chicago was dedicated to the tank from the second Kyle Davidson was employed as GM. That dedication was solely reaffirmed forward of the commerce deadline when the Hawks traded any participant able to serving to the Blackhawks keep away from final place. The draft lottery was form to Chicago up to now. Will that be the case once more?
—
26-49-6
32
Ducks
(29) | If you are wanting on the negatives in Anaheim, the younger gamers did not precisely take a notable step ahead, and the blue line nonetheless has an extended strategy to go earlier than this workforce can compete for something. On the opposite hand, we’d get to see Connor Bedard play alongside Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish.
—
23-46-12
