Buying or Selling the NHL's Top Teams as 2015 Stanley Cup Contenders

With only a month remaining in the NHL regular season, there's growing interest among fans and pundits over which of this season's top 10 teams are serious contenders for the Stanley Cup.

Their strong points factor into buying any of them as legitimate Cup contenders. Their weaknesses, however, have the potential to derail their respective championship hopes.

The following slideshow examines the strengths and weaknesses of this season's top 10 NHL teams. Those factors determined the rankings as to which clubs are worth buying or selling as Cup contenders. 

10. Montreal Canadiens

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Strengths: The Montreal Canadiens possess one of the league's best goalies in Carey Price and one of the top defensemen in P.K. Subban. Meanwhile, Max Pacioretty is among the leading goal scorers. They've given up the fewest goals and are among the best in faceoff and penalty-killing percentage. 

Weaknesses: The Canadiens are among this season's lowest-scoring teams. They give up too many shots. Their power play is anemic, and they're among the worst puck-possession teams.

Buying or selling: Don't buy into what the Canadiens are selling. They rely too much on Price to bail them out, and their offensive numbers are the worst among the top 10 teams. That's not a recipe for Stanley Cup success.

9. Anaheim Ducks

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Strengths: The Anaheim Ducks have one of the best offensive one-two punches in Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Center Ryan Kesler brings stability and leadership to their second line. The Ducks do as well on the road as they do at home. They are among the top 10 teams in hits. 

Weaknesses: They have an inexperienced goaltending tandem in Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. The Ducks are among the worst in goals against and power-play percentage. There's not much offensive production beyond their first line. 

Buying or selling: Sell. The limited playoff experience of their goalies and the lack of scoring depth hurt the Ducks' chances for a Stanley Cup run.

8. Nashville Predators

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Strengths: The Nashville Predators are among the best defensive teams. Pekka Rinne is an elite goaltender. The blue line is anchored by Shea Weber and the underrated Roman Josi. Their offense has improved, thanks to their top line of Mike Ribeiro, James Neal and rookie Filip Forsberg.

Weaknesses: The Predators' special teams (especially their power play) need significant improvement. They have one of the worst road records among the top 10 teams. Their roster lacks significant playoff experience and reliable offensive depth beyond the first line.

Buying or selling: Don't buy them as Cup contenders. While the Predators significantly improved this season, they're not ready yet for a long march to championship glory.

7. New York Islanders

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Strengths: Led by superstar captain John Tavares, the New York Islanders are among this season's highest-scoring teams. They're among the best in puck possession and shots against. 

Weaknesses: Killing penalties is apparently a foreign concept for the Islanders, who rank among this season's worst teams in that department. Starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak has a spotty playoff record. Most of the roster lacks significant playoff experience.

Buying or selling: Sell. In time, the Islanders could become serious Cup contenders. Their weaknesses, especially the horrid penalty kill, will prevent them from going all the way this season.

6. Detroit Red Wings

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Strengths: The Detroit Red Wings are still led by Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg but also have good young talent like Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar. The Wings are among the top 10 in scoring and puck possession and own this season's best power play. 

Weaknesses: Starting goalie Jimmy Howard has yet to prove capable of backstopping the Wings to a deep playoff run. Many of their young players lack significant postseason experience. Their penalty kill is in the bottom third. They're among the league's least-physical teams.

Buying or selling: Sell. The Red Wings are improving, but questions linger over Howard's goaltending and the limited postseason experience of their young talent.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

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Strengths: The Tampa Bay Lightning possess the NHL's top offense, led by forwards Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov. The Bolts are also among the top 10 in defense, penalty killing and puck possession.

Weaknesses: The Lightning aren't a physical club. Though strong on home ice, their road record is among the worst of the top 10 teams. Many of the Bolts have limited playoff experience, and starting goalie Ben Bishop has none. Their power play is close to the bottom third.

Buying or selling: Sell. The Lightning are a steadily improving team and in a year or two could be serious Cup contenders. Their current weaknesses, however, could hamper their championship hopes this season.

4. St. Louis Blues

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Strengths: Led by budding superstars Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz, the St. Louis Blues are in the top five in goals and power-play percentage. They have one of the deepest defense corps in the league.

Weaknesses: Starting goalie Brian Elliott has a losing playoff record, while backup Jake Allen has limited postseason experience. The Blues are garnering a reputation as a strong regular-season team that comes up short in playoff competition. They are among the bottom third in hits.

Buying or selling: Sell. While the Blues are a talented club, they've yet to prove they can go all the way. Goaltending could once again be their Achilles' heel, as it doesn't match up well against most of the top contenders.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

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Strengths: The Pittsburgh Penguins are led by superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Marc-Andre Fleury is among this season's best goalies, while Kris Letang is one of the NHL's top puck-moving defensemen. Their offensive and special team numbers rank in the top 10. Most of their core players have considerable playoff experience.

Weaknesses: In recent years, the Penguins have a reputation for coming up short in the playoffs. Scoring wingers David Perron and Patric Hornqvist haven't seen much playoff action. Head coach Mike Johnston is an NHL playoff rookie. Pittsburgh's faceoff percentage is in the bottom third. 

Buying or selling: Sell. Opponents will focus on hampering Crosby and Malkin, so the lack of experienced wingers could doom the Penguins' championship hopes. Fleury has yet to fully shed the specter of his previous postseason meltdowns.

2. New York Rangers

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Strengths: The New York Rangers possess Stanley Cup Final experience. They have a solid goalie tandem in Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Talbot. Led by Rick Nash, the Rangers are among the highest-scoring teams. Adding puck-moving defenseman Keith Yandle bolstered an already-deep blue line.

Weaknesses: The Rangers are among this season's worst teams in faceoff percentage. They're also near the bottom third in power-play percentage and hits. Lundqvist could be rusty after he returns from injury, and Talbot has limited playoff experience.

Buying or selling: Buy. Following a slow start to this season, the Rangers have overcome their weaknesses to challenge for first in the Eastern Conference and the league overall standings. Given their experience and depth, the Blueshirts look very much like a Cup contender.

1. Chicago Blackhawks

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Strengths: The Chicago Blackhawks possess considerable depth in talent, led by captain Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa. They've won two of the last five Stanley Cup championships. Corey Crawford is among this season's top goaltenders. They're among this season's best penalty killers.

Weaknesses: Superstar winger Patrick Kane (broken clavicle) is sidelined until mid-May. They're struggling to replace his offense, especially on the power play. They're among this season's lowest-hitting teams.

Buying or selling: Buy. Despite the absence of Kane, the Blackhawks still have the experience and skilled depth to be serious Cup contenders this season. The knowledge that salary-cap constraints will lead to roster changes this summer could provide additional motivation to win a championship this season.  

Stats courtesy of NHL.com.