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We take a look at which NHL teams have the best record in the league and whether they’re likely to stay atop the standings.
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The NHL’s best teams
There is no one answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, such as the era in which the team played, the level of competition they faced, etc. However, we can take a look at some of the NHL’s most successful teams to see who has the best overall record.
The Montreal Canadiens have the best overall record in the NHL, with 26 Stanley Cup titles. They have also made it to the Stanley Cup Finals a total of 34 times, more than any other team in the league.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are second on the list, with 13 Stanley Cup titles. They have also been to the Stanley Cup Finals a total of 27 times.
The Detroit Red Wings are third on the list, with 11 Stanley Cup titles. They have also been to the Stanley Cup Finals a total of 23 times.
The NHL’s worst teams
There is no question that the NHL’s worst teams struggle to find their footing. From the expansion era onwards, several teams have found themselves at the bottom of the standings year after year. Here is a look at some of the NHL’s worst teams, based on their all-time record.
The NHL’s most improved teams
In the NHL, there are a few teams that show vast improvement from year to year. These teams work hard to make the playoffs, and sometimes, they even go on to win the Stanley Cup. Here are a few of the NHL’s most improved teams.
The Florida Panthers are one of the most improved teams in the NHL. They have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and have won the Atlantic Division in both seasons. They have also been to the Stanley Cup Final in both seasons.
The Nashville Predators are another team that has shown vast improvement over the last few years. They have made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and have won their division in each of those seasons. They also made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are another team that has shown great improvement over the last few years. They have made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and have won their division in each of those seasons.
The NHL’s biggest surprises
This season has been full of surprises in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche, who were last in the league last season, are currently in first place in the Central Division. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who were Stanley Cup runners-up last season, are currently near the bottom of the standings.
Some other teams that have been surprising this season include the Dallas Stars, who have the best record in the Western Conference; the Arizona Coyotes, who are near the top of the Pacific Division; and the Montreal Canadiens, who are near the top ofthe Atlantic Division.
The NHL’s biggest disappointments
The NHL’s biggest disappointments this season include the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Los Angeles Kings. All three teams were expected to contend for the Stanley Cup, but have failed to live up to expectations. The Flyers are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference, while the Blackhawks and Kings are both outside of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
The NHL’s most exciting players
There are a lot of great players in the NHL, but some are more exciting than others. Here are some of the most exciting players in the NHL today:
Alexander Ovechkin: Ovechkin is one of the most electrifying players in the NHL. He’s known for his goals, but he’s also a great passer and playmaker. He’s always a threat to score whenever he’s on the ice.
Patrick Kane: Kane is one of the most skilled and creative players in the NHL. He’s an excellent skater and has a great shot. He’s also a great playmaker, and he always seems to make something happen when he has the puck.
Evgeni Malkin: Malkin is another incredibly skilled player. He’s an excellent skater and has a great shot. He’s also a very physical player, and he’s not afraid to mix it up with opponents.
The NHL’s most disappointing players
There is no simple answer to this question, as it depends on a number of factors. However, we can take a look at a few of the teams who have underperformed in recent years, and see if there is any pattern.
The Vancouver Canucks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL over the past few seasons. They have failed to make the playoffs in each of the last two years, and their star player, Roberto Luongo, has been plagued by injuries.
The Chicago Blackhawks are another team that has struggled in recent years. They have not made the playoffs since their Stanley Cup winning season in 2010, and their star player, Patrick Kane, has been beset by legal troubles.
The Los Angeles Kings are another team that has underperformed in recent years. They have missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, and their star player, Anze Kopitar, has been hampered by injuries.
The NHL’s best free agents
While there is no sure-fire way to predict which free agent will have the best NHL career, there are a few factors that can give us an idea of who the best prospects are. Below is a list of the NHL’s best free agents, based on their statistics and accomplishments.
1. Connor McDavid
The first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Connor McDavid is one of the most highly touted young players in recent memory. He’s already tallied 269 points in just 218 games, and at just 22 years old, he’s only going to get better. He’s already won the Hart Trophy (given to the league MVP) and two Ted Lindsay Awards (given to the league’s most outstanding player, as voted by his peers). He’s a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to hang up his skates.
2. Sidney Crosby
Like McDavid, Sidney Crosby was also drafted first overall (in 2005). He’s widely considered to be one of the greatest players of his generation, and he has the hardware to back it up. He’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and he’s won nearly every individual award imaginable, including the Hart Trophy (twice), the Art Ross Trophy (given to the league’s leading scorer), and the Rocket Richard Trophy (given to the league’s leading goal-scorer). Like McDavid, Crosby is also a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame when he eventually retires.
3. Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin is one of the most prolific goal-scorers in NHL history, and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. He’s currently eighth on the all-time goals list with 658 goals, and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. He’s also a three-time Hart Trophy winner and a seven-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner. Ovechkin is still in his prime at 32 years old, so he could very well retire as hockey’s all-time leading goal-scorer.
The NHL’s worst free agents
There’s no shortage of bad contracts in the NHL. Every season, there are a handful of players who sign deals that far exceed their production or value to their team.
Sometimes, these contracts are the result of a player having a breakout season and cashing in on their new-found success. Other times, they’re the result of teams desperate to improve their roster and overpaying for a player’s services.
Regardless of how they come about, bad contracts can have a serious impact on a team’s ability to compete. They tie up valuable salary cap space that could be used to sign other players and they often prevent teams from being able to make necessary changes to their roster.
Here are some of the worst contracts currently in the NHL:
The NHL’s most overrated players
There are a lot of talented players in the National Hockey League (NHL), but there are also a lot of players who are overrated. Here is a list of some of the most overrated players in the NHL today.
1. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, but he is also one of the most overrated. Crosby is often lauded for his leadership and two-way play, but he has never been much of a leader on the ice and his defensive game has always been somewhat overrated. Offensively, Crosby has been great throughout his career, but he has benefited from playing with some elite wingers (e.g. Pascal Dupuis, Jakob Silfverberg, Phil Kessel).
2. Alex Ovechkin, RW, Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin is one of the most prolific goal-scorers in NHL history, but he is also one of the most overrated players in the league. Ovechkin has always been a poor defensive player and he has benefited from playing on a team with elite offensive talent (e.g. Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov). Ovechkin is also a bit one-dimensional and he has not shown much ability to adapt his game as he has gotten older.
3. Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price is widely considered to be the best goalie in the world, but he is also one of the most overrated players in the NHL. Price’s numbers have always been good, but they have never been otherworldly. In addition, Price benefits from playing behind a very good team defense (the Montreal Canadiens have had one of the best defenses in the league for years).
