1 Thing Every NHL Team Should Be Thankful For
The holiday season has officially arrived, and what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving in the NHL than by going through one thing every team in the league has to be thankful for this season.
It could be a player, multiple players, their loyal fans, their luck or anything in between all of that.
Let's go through division-by-division and break it all down.
Atlantic Division
1 of 4
Boston Bruins: Their Goalies
The Bruins lost a ton of talent from last year's 65-win team, including their top-two centers (Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci) and several depth pieces. It has not slowed them down this season as they remain one of the best teams in hockey. One of the biggest reasons? Their goalie duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. The two have combined for the highest team save percentage in the NHL through Wednesday and have formed a completely dominant, interchangeable pair that give the Bruins a bona fide No. 1 every night.
Buffalo Sabres: A Fiercely Loyal Fanbase
The Sabres' playoff drought sits at 12 consecutive seasons and has seen multiple failed rebuilds. There was actual hope that the drought would end this season (and it still could), but the team has gotten off to a disappointing 8-9-1 start that will make that a challenge. Through it all, the Sabres still have one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in all of hockey. They deserve better for all of the support they have given one of the league's worst organizations for over a decade.
Detroit Red Wings: The Alex DeBrincat Trade
If the Red Wings can snap their seven-year playoff drought this season, the addition of DeBrincat is going to be a big reason. The Red Wings were able to get him on a steal of a deal from Ottawa over the summer and then signed him to a relatively team-friendly long-term pact that pays him $7.8 million per season. He is averaging a point per game through the first two months of the season and looks to be back on track for a 40-goal campaign.
Florida Panthers: The Matthew Tkachuk Trade
Not only did the Panthers get one of the league's best players in Tkachuk, who went on to help them make an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final a year ago, it also got them out of having to pay Jonathan Huberdeau, whose eight-year, $84 million extension in Calgary looks like it might become one of the worst in the league.
Montreal Canadiens: Martin St. Louis
The Canadiens are still in the early stages of their rebuild and have a long way to go before they become serious playoff contenders, but they might have the right head coach to help get them there. Martin St. Louis was an out-of-the-box hire when Montreal brought him in February 2022, but he seems to have the right mindset for his players and has done a strong job developing a lot of their young talent. He just needs some patience. And more talent on his roster.
Ottawa Senators: Tim Stutzle's Superstar Evolution
Trading Erik Karlsson a few years ago was a bitter pill for Senators fans, but it ended up netting the team a couple of standout pieces for its rebuild, including forward Josh Norris. The most significant piece of that trade, however, was the first-rounder that ended up being a No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. They used that pick to select Stutzle, who has rapidly emerged as one of the best young players in the league and a top-tier star. It is not often that a rebuilding trade hits that sort of home run when dealing a superstar, but the Senators made it work.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Nikita Kucherov's Consistent Brilliance
The Lightning are getting older and might not be as dominant as they were at their peak a few years ago, but they still have the talent to be a strong contender. The biggest piece of that is Kucherov, who remains one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league even as he gets into his 30s. He is on pace for more than 125 points this season and is not showing any signs of slowing down.
Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander's Career Year
The Maple Leafs front office might not be thankful for this as they try to get him signed to a new contract, but Nylander's career year is only going to help the team's chances on the ice. He has always been one of the more underrated players in the league and has consistently been the best value among Toronto's core when it comes to production versus price. After scoring 40 goals and 87 points a year ago, he looks even better this season.
Metropolitan Division
2 of 4
Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho's Consistency
The Hurricanes do not have a megastar, but they do have an incredibly deep lineup full of excellent players with few weaknesses. Aho is at the top of that list. He is a perfect fit for Carolina's style of play, always drives possession and is going to be a near lock for 30 goals, 60 points and all around outstanding performance. The 26-year-old is a great player to have as one of your franchise cornerstones.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli's Arrival
The Blue Jackets did not win the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, but they still managed to land a potential franchise cornerstone with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft when Fantilli fell into their laps. He has had a strong showing so far in the NHL and looks the part of a potential cornerstone player. There are not many positives in Columbus this season, but Fantilli is a big one for the short and long term.
New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes' Electricity
These are not the Lou Lamoriello and Jacques Lemaire New Jersey Devils. During their peak years in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Devils were one of the most successful teams in the NHL, but also one of the dullest to watch. They bored you as they beat you, and it was never the most exciting product (unless you were a fan of the team and soaked up the wins). But the arrival of Hughes, as well as a collection of other great young offensive talents, has transformed the team into not only a legitimate contender, but also one of the most exciting teams in the league. Hughes has more than lived up to his No. 1 overall billing and is a must-see player every night. The only problem is injuries keep limiting him.
New York Islanders: Ilya Sorokin's Presence
There is not much about the Islanders that stands out in a positive way. Offensively, they are consistently a bottom-level team. Despite their reputation as a defensive-minded squad, they always sit among the league's worst in terms of limiting shots and scoring chances. The one consistent thing they have going for them is their goalie, Sorokin, is typically one of the best in the league and the type of player who can put a mediocre team on his back and carry it to the playoffs. Just as he did a year ago. Without him, this is a lottery team. And probably a bad lottery team.
New York Rangers: Their Power Play
The Rangers are sort of similar to the Islanders in that they do not particularly do much during five-on-five play and tend to rely heavily on a great goalie (Igor Shesterkin) to consistently bail them out. But the Rangers have one thing the Islanders do not have that can help elevate them: an incredible power play that is extremely opportunistic and always makes teams pay. The Rangers will not beat you at even strength, and they will not really shut you down defensively. But a great goalie and a dominant power play (No. 2 overall) can still cause a lot of issues for opponents.
Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier's Successful Comeback
This has been a huge blessing for the Flyers, because it not only gives them a top-line center but also can help salvage the remainder of his massive contract ($7.75 million AAV through 2029-30. His long-term future was very much in doubt after injuries robbed him of almost two full seasons, but he has come back and looked like the Couturier of old. The defense is strong, the offense is coming back (four goals, 13 points), and he is a big reason the 10-7-1 Flyers have exceeded expectations so far.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby's Ageless Performance
Even with a flawed roster with some real question marks (scoring depth, goaltending), the Penguins still have a real chance to compete this season (and in future seasons) because of Crosby's continued brilliance and ageless performance. He is 36 years old and still scoring at a 100-point pace (12 goals, 10 assists, 22 points) while consistently being the best player on the ice every night. He is defying everything we know about aging curves in the NHL.
Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin's Chase of History
Speaking of all-time greats defying aging curves: Even though Ovechkin's goal-scoring pace of five in 15 games this season is not what we have come to expect from him, the 38-year-old is still closing in on Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record of 894 (he needs 67 to tie).
When Crosby and Ovechkin entered the NHL in '05-'06, they arrived with massive expectations. They have not only met those expectations, they have wildly exceeded them. In Ovechkin's case, it is going to result in his being the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history. You can—and should—make an argument for that title whether he actually passes Gretzky's all-time number or not (and he probably will).
Central Division
3 of 4
Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley's Star Potential
The Coyotes have had some terrible draft lottery luck over the years, but they might have finally landed a potential star in Cooley. There was some debate as to when he would actually sign with the Coyotes or if he would return to the NCAA, but he surprised everybody by inking a deal for the 2023-24 season and is already making an impact. The overall point numbers are not yet there (two goals, 12 points in 18 games), but he passes the eye test and the vibe check for a potential star.
Chicago Blackhawks: Draft Lottery Luck...and Connor Bedard
The Blackhawks' tank effort of 2022-23 did not result in the worst record in the league (thanks to a late-season win in Pittsburgh), but they still had lottery luck on their side to get the most anticipated draft prospect since Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. Even though it takes some top picks a few years to really start making a big impact, Bedard has been an immediate star. The Blackhawks still stink this season, but Bedard's upside is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Colorado Avalanche: Cale Makar's Greatness
The Avalanche have a lot of stars, but Makar has become the brightest of them all and is on track to have a special career in the NHL. He is not only the best all-around defenseman in hockey and a constant Norris Trophy threat, he is also one of the top five (and arguably top three) players in the entire sport. It is not out of the question to think he could score 30 goals or post 100 points as a defenseman.
Dallas Stars: The Jason Robertson Line
The Stars have one of the most complete rosters in the league, which has made them a top Stanley Cup contender. Leading that push is the top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, consistently one of the league's best over the past few years. Robertson is one of the NHL's most exciting—and productive—players, Hintz is one of its most overlooked stars and Pavelski might be the most underappreciated player of his era.
Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi's Development
This has been a brutal start to the season for 5-8-4 Minnesota, but one of the brightest spots has been the development of Rossi, as he looks like he still has a chance to be a star. The early portion of his career was sidetracked by complications from COVID, and it has taken him a couple of years to get a real shot in the NHL. He seems to be on track to becoming the player the Wild hoped he could be.
Nashville Predators: Juuse Saros' Franchise Status
The Predators do not have a great roster, and their overall plan seems to be a little unsettled as they try to balance rebuilding and winning, but the one constant remains their franchise goalie. No matter what the front office is doing or how the team in front of him looks, he is always going to give the Predators a chance every night.
St. Louis Blues: Jordan Binnington's Bounce-Back
Ever since he helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup as a rookie during the 2018-19 season, Binnington's career has been on a steady downward trajectory. He did not play well. He always seemed like he could melt down at any moment. And there were some truly dreadful playoff performances mixed in there.
All of that combined with a contract that's set to pay him $6 million annually through 2026-27 made him an obvious Achilles' heel in St. Louis. But so far this season, he has been one of the biggest reasons the Blues have a winning record. His .922 save percentage is a 180 from what he has done in recent years.
Winnipeg Jets: Kyle Connor's Goal-Scoring Prowess
The Jets have been one of the league's most mediocre, forgettable franchises over the past few years, always stuck in the middle of the league with no real idea of how to move in either direction. But that is more of an ownership and front office problem than anything else. Even with that, there are still some outstanding players here, and none of them are better right now than Connor. As of Wednesday, he was tied with Auston Matthews as the NHL's leading goal scorer (14 goals in his first 17 games) and on track for what could be the best goal-scoring season of his career.
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Pacific Division
4 of 4
Anaheim Ducks: Mason McTavish's Breakout
The Ducks are not quite ready to contend, but they do have a lot going for them this season. Some veterans are having strong years (Frank Vatrano, Troy Terry and a bounce-back from starting goalie John Gibson), and they have an outstanding young star in 2023 No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson. But they also have a breakout star in McTavish, who is taking a massive leap forward with 17 points in 18 games after a strong rookie performance a season ago. With Terry, Carlsson, Trevor Zegras and McTavish, the Ducks have a definite core to build around that can give their fans long-term hope.
Calgary Flames: New Beginnings
The Flames were a huge disappointment a season ago and are not really much better this season—especially as players like Jonathan Huberdeau and Jacob Markstrom struggle to bounce back from their down years. But they have a new front office, a new vision, a new head coach in Ryan Huska and a bunch of pending unrestricted free agents (Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin among them) whose departure could perhaps signal a much-needed reset for the organization.
Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid's Patience (For Now)
McDavid is the best player in hockey and the most dominant offensive force going. Every time he steps over the boards there is a chance you are going to see something magnificent. He is a game-changer and a franchise-changer. But the Oilers have not always put the best possible team around him, and it has resulted in a series of regular season and playoff disappointments. The Oilers should be thankful that he has been patient enough to put up with all of that dysfunction and not forced his way out. Because he easily could have by now.
Los Angeles Kings: Anze Kopitar's Continued Greatness
Kopitar has seen it all for the Kings. He was a young core player for a rebuild and the best player on a team that won two Stanley Cups in three years. He then went through another rebuild and is still there to help a new generation of Kings players become Stanley Cup contenders. And he is still just as good as he was in every other phase of his career. The offense, the defense, the way he makes everybody around him better. A truly great player and an all-time great in franchise history.
San Jose Sharks: The Odds of Landing a No. 1 Pick
This is going to be a long year for Sharks fans, as this might be one of the worst NHL teams we have seen in years. Maybe decades. The hope is that all of this losing might eventually turn into something special. Like perhaps the best draft lottery odds for the No. 1 overall pick. Sharks fans are not really used to losing the way the team has over the past few years, but sometimes that can all end up being worth it.
Seattle Kraken: Vince Dunn's Productivity
When Seattle first entered the NHL, it passed on the opportunity to take Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues in the expansion draft so it could take Dunn to help lead their defense. It has proved to be a smart move as Dunn has developed into one of the most productive defensemen in the league (18 points in 20 games). He is also one of the brightest spots on a 7-8-5 Kraken team that has been a bit of a disappointment this season.
Vancouver Canucks: Quinn Hughes' Contract
Hughes is one of the best playmakers in the NHL and has put himself at the top of the Norris Trophy discussion this season. He is a core player and starting to reach superstar levels. He also has a pretty team-friendly contract with a salary-cap hit of $7.8 million over the next three full seasons after this one. He is just now entering his prime years in the league, and if he continues on this same trajectory, he is going to give the Canucks at least $11 million or $12 million worth of production.
Vegas Golden Knights: Win-at-All-Costs Front Office
Sometimes it gets them in trouble. Sometimes it makes them look cold. But the Golden Knights' willingness to leave no stone unturned and be in the market for pretty much any star player who becomes available has made them one of the most successful teams in hockey and brought a Stanley Cup to Vegas. That mindset and roster might also bring them another one in the very near future.
Salary-cap info via CapFriendly unless otherwise noted.
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