(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The lessons learned from an extended playoff run have helped many teams reach their Stanley Cup dreams. Last year’s champions, the Florida Panthers, lost in the 2023 Final but responded with a winning push this past spring.
History tends to repeat, and the time has come for the Edmonton Oilers and their dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to take their place among the great players who became Stanley Cup champions.
Here is our look at how we rank the NHL teams heading into the season:
1. Edmonton Oilers
It is “Cup or bust” time in Edmonton. The Oilers kept in place almost all of the key parts and improved by signing forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.
2. Florida Panthers
The defending champs are still the favorites, but their defense took a hit with Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson leaving via free agency.
3. Dallas Stars
The Stars will integrate a pair of freshmen in Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven into a Stanley Cup-caliber team.
4. New York Rangers
The Rangers have come close to Stanley Cup success for a few seasons, but time is definitely running out on this core.
5. Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are not the dominating force of a few seasons ago, however they can take a step back toward that if captain Gabriel Landeskog returns after missing two seasons.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
Has Carolina’s championship window closed? Not fully, but the margin for error is shrinking for the “Bunch of Jerks.”
7. New Jersey Devils
The Devils shored up their biggest weakness by acquiring goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Having unproven goalie Joseph Woll pegged to be the main starter raises flags.
9. Nashville Predators
By adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei, the Predators are headed for a couple of exciting seasons.
10. Boston Bruins
Elias Lindholm shores up the group at center and locking up goaltender Jeremy Swayman for eight years just prior to the season are positives for the Bruins.
11. Vegas Golden Knights
Goals will be harder to come by, even with a full season of Tomas Hertl. Vegas needs bounce-back seasons from many players.
12. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets will go as far as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck can carry them.
13. New York Islanders
No. 1 goaltender Ilya Sorokin not practicing for almost all of training camp due to back surgery is a less-than-ideal start to the campaign.
14. Vancouver Canucks
Expect a step back for last season’s Pacific Division champs. The injury to No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko is a huge concern.
15. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings became weaker at forward and are in a bind with defenseman Drew Doughty out month-to-month due to an ankle injury.
16. Tampa Bay Lightning
Replacing Stamkos’ offense with Jake Guentzel and Cam Atkinson has the Lightning no better than last season.
17. Utah Hockey Club
The relocation uncertainty is gone, a plethora of young players are more experienced and adding defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino solidifies their lineup.
18. Detroit Red Wings
Adding Vladimir Tarasenko will help the offense, but key will be goaltending and the development of youngsters Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
19. Minnesota Wild
Being a bottom-third team offensively cost the Wild a playoff berth last season. The lack of offensive punch was not addressed by way of offseason moves.
20. Seattle Kraken
Goal scoring was a major issue last season, which Seattle hopes to have addressed by adding forward Chandler Stephenson as well as Montour.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Years of plugging holes around superstar captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin has completely caught up to the Penguins.
22. Buffalo Sabres
Goal scoring should not be a problem for the Sabres. The inability to keep pucks out of their own net has been a major issue.
23. Ottawa Senators
A much-improved defensive structure under new coach Travis Green and new goaltender Linus Ullmark offer hope.
24. St. Louis Blues
The offseason splash of signing and acquiring Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg via offer sheets made for great summertime stories, but the Blues remain a long shot.
25. Montreal Canadiens
A full season with Kirby Dach will help, but losing new addition Patrik Laine for up to three months will hinder the Canadiens’ rebuild.
26. Philadelphia Flyers
The arrival of 2023 first-round draft choice Matvei Michkov should provide plenty of highlight-reel excitement.
27. Washington Capitals
The Capitals were the surprise playoff club, but do not bank on it happening again for a team whose biggest focus is helping superstar captain Alex Ovechkin pursue Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record.
28. Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard has more veteran help around him in his second NHL season, but Chicago is not ready to climb too far from the league basement.
29. Calgary Flames
After a deep tear down last season and into the summer, the Flames have holes everywhere. The rebuild is still due to hurt more.
30. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are going to be among the league’s bottom feeders for at least another couple of seasons.
31. Columbus Blue Jackets
The hockey world will pull for Columbus after the tragic death of star Johnny Gaudreau. The team will be hard-pressed to stay out of the basement, however.
32. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks will have more flash with 2024 first overall draft choice Macklin Celebrini and 2023 first-round pick Will Smith, but the present is bleak.
–Field Level Media