As the calendar turns from 2024 into 2025, the NHL is in full swing and nearing the halfway mark. There have been many surprises and many of the preseason predictions have completely missed their marks. With the second half of the season on hand it’s time to look at how the NHL teams rank this point
- Nashville Predators: What makes this team stand out compared to the other bottom teams on this list is the fact that they were the “winners of the offseason” with the signings of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as well as having a roster that drove them to the playoffs last year. They even have, Jack Adams Award finalist, Andrew Brunette still at the helm. General Manager Barry Trotz is determined to stay the course and make improvements, but the season appears all but lost this year.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Still rebuilding around last year’s first overall pick Connor Bedard the Blackhawks haven’t taken a step forward as GM Kyle Davidson had hoped. The team is expected to be busy at the trade deadline with former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall rumored to be on the block. They have a lot of the right pieces for the rebuild but are still years away from being a contender. Expect them to be in the hunt for the 1st overall pick again.
- San Jose Sharks: Never has a team this bad been so much fun to watch. The first half of the season was highlighted by former Devils Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who found a resurgence in his game after being traded to the Sharks. Peppered with shots most nights he kept them in the game and earned himself a trade and extension with the Colorado Avalanche. Macklin Celebrini is making the race for the Rookie of the year interesting. This is a young team with a lot of talent and great veteran leadership in players like Tyler Toffoli and Barclay Goodrow. It is only a matter of time before the Sharks begin their ascension in the West.
- Buffalo Sabres: This was the year it was going to be different. With young talent and veterans scattered through the line up and former Devils’ coach Lindy Ruff at the helm this was the year they were going to break the longest NHL Playoff drought. Instead, the team battled a 13-game losing streak. The team has major needs throughout the lineup. The positive of the team is they are ending the year on a 3-game winning streak and starting to right the ship. If it is enough to save the season remains to be seen.
- Anaheim Ducks: Another rebuilding team the Ducks are content to see what the “kids” can do. Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier continue to develop their game, but the highlight seems to be goaltending where goalie Leon Dostal is the clear number one goal with a respectful save percentage of .913%. The team also took on Ranger Captain Jacob Trouba in a trade that added some grit and veteran leadership. It will be a few more years before the Ducks are a competitive team again but it’s fun to see them fly. Expect them to be active at the deadline with goalie John Gibson being a highly sought out piece.
- Detroit Red Wings: GM Steve Yzerman, who at one time built the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning, had hoped for a better season and the next step in the rebuild. They sit just above the Sabres in the Atlantic Division and have shown an inability in putting the puck in the net. At the time of writing, they are tied with Chicago for the third fewest goals this season. Yzerman needs to add scoring to this team for them to take the next step.
- New York Rangers: It was a debate between the Islanders and Rangers for this spot. The fact that many had predicted the Rangers to win the cup or at least the East gave them the edge for 26. The Rangers were the “Regular Season Champions” in 23-24 as they bragged at the start of the season. After starting the season 12-4-1 the Rangers went into a tailspin and seemed to have little signs of changing. GM Chris Drury continues to GM through the media and already sent Captain Jacob Trouba and 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko packing. It is only a matter of time before more moves are made including coaching and possibly Drury himself. The positive is goalie Igor Shesterkin is now signed as the highest paid goaltender in the NHL. Bad news: he has been pulled multiple times this season.
- New York Islanders: The aging Islanders continue to have issues with scoring. GM Lou Lamoriello did little to address the scoring needs this summer and the defense hasn’t seen much of an improvement either. Head Coach Patrick Roy has played with the line up to find chemistry but a mix of injuries as well as age is bringing this team closer to a rebuild rather than playoffs. Expect veterans at the deadline to be moved but will Lou bring in the youth or continue to make one last Playoff run.
- Montreal Canadiens: They have an amazing offense but a god awful defense. The Habs boast a powerful offense with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky and as well as others. They are fast and know how to put the puck in the net but also have a difficult time stopping the puck from going in on their own. They sit at -15 goal differential to end the year. They have had solid goaltending this year from Sam Montembeault but it won’t be enough unless the team does something with the defense in front of him.
- Seattle Kraken: The Kraken is a team that seems to hang around the middle of the pack. They show flashes of being a tough team to play and have challenged other teams in the West just to fall apart the next game. They highlight some good young players and should be a team active at the deadline.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: This is a hard ranking to do. At the start of the summer the team seemed on the cusp of being able to take it to the next level but the heartbreaking and tragic death of cornerstone player Johnny Gaudreau made it an emotional and difficult season for the team. The team has rallied and is still in the hunt for the wild card spot in the east with 36 points. Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan have put up strong numbers this season and defenseman Zach Werenski is having an all-star season.
- St Louis Blues: It’s hard to put a finger on the Blues season. It seems they are just there going through the motions. Jordan Binnington is having a solid year but doesn’t look unstoppable. The team is hanging around NHL .500 for most of the season but are still in the playoff race.
- Philadelphia Flyers: Head Coach John Tortorella is still the most interesting figure in the NHL. If only all executives, Head Coaches, players and GMs spoke to the media this way. Besides his entertainment value, the Flyers continue with their rebuild and are starting to make big steps with the play of Matvei Michkov who has been everything the team has hoped for and more. In addition, Travis Konecny has been dominating this year. The Flyers are continuing with Torts team first mantra and will be in the hunt way past the trade deadline. They still have a way to go to be a contender but taking all the right steps.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Reports of Sidney Crosby’s demise are grossly exaggerated. After a rough start the Penguins have seemingly found their game and have been able to string together wins with the leadership of Crosby and solid goaltending from Tristan Jarry. The window is closing on the Penguins before ownership needs to make a decision on the direction of the team but with at least three Hall of Famers on the team, they are still exciting hockey to watch.
- The Utah Hockey Club: People say a change of scenery is good for the soul but it turns out it is also good for a hockey team. After years of wasting away in a state that didn’t seem to want them, the UHC has found a home in Salt Lake City and an expanding and dedicated fan base. Playing at the small Mullet Arena last year, NHL Commissioner’s obsession with Arizona hockey came to an end as did the losing ways. The new ownership put a team on the ice with veterans and eye on the future with a stellar draft this offseason. They still maybe a year away from the playoffs but they will be in the hunt all season which makes them a fun team to follow. Dylan Guenther and Mikhail Sergachev are putting on a show and John Marino should return soon.
- Ottawa Senators: The season was supposed to be a step forward for this team with solid coaching, goaltending and continued development of their younger stars. That is exactly what is happening in Ottawa. After starting the season to find their footing, goaltender Linus Ullmark has returned to form before being injured but Leevi Merilainen hasn’t missed a beat filling his spot. Head Coach Ryan Huska has the team playing as a tight unit and Matthew Tkachuk is leading the team to that final wild card spot in the East. The team has done enough to quell all the trade and sell off rumors.
- Vancouver Canucks: With, Captain and Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, Elias Petterson, JT Miller and Jake DeBrusk on your team good things will happen. The Canucks have been a strong team throughout the season before playing .500 hockey in December due to injuries. The team should right the ship quickly enough and be in a battle with Calgary and Dallas for the two wild card spots.
- Calgary Flames: Coming into the season the Flames traded away their number one goaltender in Jacob Markstrom and saw players like AJ Greer and Ben Jones leave for other teams. They also brought in Kevin Bahl through trade and didn’t sign anyone to longer than a two-year deal. No one would have been shocked to see the team take a step back. Instead, the team is playing some of their best hockey against the top teams in the NHL. Jonathan Huberdeau has found his game after a disappointing 2023-2024 season and goaltender Dustin Wolf has put up an impressive 12-5-2 record with a .914 SV%. Their PK is still getting them into some trouble but there are few teams going into the New Year on a better footing.
- Boston Bruins: After a rough start to the season, only two years removed from record setting regular season, the Bruins decided to move on from Head Coach Jim Montgomery and gave Joe Sacco the keys to the team. The results have been exactly what management needed. They had a solid December and captain Brad Marchand has found his game again. Charlie Coyle and David Pastrnak have given defenses fits and they hold on to the third spot in the tough Atlantic Division. The top four teams in that division should battle it out all season long for positioning.
- Colorado Avalanche: Another team that started the season very average compared to expectations but with Cale Makar and Nathan McKinnon finding their game the Avalanche went on a tear during the month of December. Trading away both their starting goaltenders from the start of the season, the team has righted the ship with lots of Wood. MacKenzie Blackwood joined the team via trade from the San Jose Sharks after re-establishing his for as well as another former Devils goaltender in Scott Wedgewood (plus former Devil Miles Wood on offense). Mikko Rantanen has already passed the 20-goal mark, and the team looks dangerous down the center.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Another team who was supposed to take a step back after losing the Stanley Cup legend Stamkos, the Lightning have continued to stay in the hunt for the Cup. Backed by Hall of Fame destined goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and a solid defense lead by Victor Headman the Lightning have found their footing and will challenge for one of the top spots in the Atlantic. Replacing Stamkos with Jake Guentzel has made the Lightning much more dangerous in 5-on-5 play and Brayden Point continues his own quest for the Hall of Fame after exceeding 20 goals already this season.
- Dallas Stars: The Stars are one of the most balanced teams in the league again this year. Every line can beat you and the defense is a well-built machine. They sometimes slip under the radar without the glamour of some of the other names in the Central Division. They lost some of their scoring touch on their bottom lines but seems to be more of an adjustment rather than a long-standing issue. The team is deep in the center position with Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Another team whose downfall was greatly exaggerated. After losing star players and key pieces of their defense over the summer, the Canes were expected to drop off from their string of playoff appearances. Instead, the team didn’t miss a beat with Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour proving the most valuable asset in the organization. The defense hasn’t missed a beat and the team’s shoot from anywhere mentality still gives teams trouble. The swarm offense and defensive system remains a difficult regular season challenge for many teams. The question is now do they repeat the can get to the dance but always go home alone in the playoff scenario of the past seasons. No team is happier for the Rangers’ fall off than the Canes.
- Edmonton Oilers: It is hard to put the Oilers in the ninth position. This is the team of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl already has 27 goals on the season and McDavid is the best player in the NHL. The team averages 3.27 goals for this season for 9th in the NHL and even with a slow start with special teams they have been a dangerous team every night. The Oilers have a tendency to play down to lower ranking teams this year and save their best games for the tougher opponents. This is clearly a playoff team and once in the dance anything can happen.
- Florida Panthers: The Stanley Cup champions have not seen good goaltending this year but still find ways to win. The team still plays a heavy style of hockey that wears down most challengers as the games go on. Still led by Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart the team is not going lightly into the season. They hold the 6th best power play and have the sixth ranked goals-for-per-games-played (GF/GP) at 3.39. This is a team built for the long run, although positioning helps, they have never been bothered by where they place in the playoffs or who they have to face. Great coaching and an attitude go a long way in today’s NHL.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Flagship team of the NHL is determined to write a different story this year. Too many years of first round exits, solid offense but weak goaltending and defense has been the storyline for too many years. With new coach Craig Berube working with a retooled Leafs, there is new excitement around the franchise. Seemingly solving their goaltending issues with Anthony Stolarz who had a stellar .927 SV% before going down with an injury. Joseph Woll has stepped in and continues behind the mask with a .913 SV% to keep the Leafs atop the Atlantic. Nylander is having an epic season and the core of John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Austin Matthews are one of the most dangerous cores in the league. With solid defense behind them there is reason to have optimism at the center of the hockey universe.
- LA Kings: The Kings have made an already deep Pacific Division interesting. With a strong defense and solid goaltending, the Kings have passed the Oilers and continue to keep pace with the Golden Knights. The team plays a heavy style like the Panthers and can wear teams down in their own end. Once they score, they play a shut down defense that makes it challenging for any team to catch up. Frustrating opponents seems to be an enjoyable pastime for this team. Andrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar continue to put up highlight reel goals and young Quinton Byfield is making sure the rest of the league takes notice.
- New Jersey Devils: After a crushing 2023-2024 season, GM Tom Fitzgerald was determined to right the ship. What was a flashy transition team was reimagined into a balanced team mixed with grit, skill and solid goaltending. In previous seasons the Devils were a team that was more run and gun than actual defense. With new head coach Sheldon Keefe at the helm and new players like Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon and Johnathan Kovacevic, the Devils are a team built on solid defense first. Even players like Jack Hughes can be found playing on the Penalty Kill. Even with a defense first mentality the Devils boast one of the more dangerous young forwards in the league. Led by the showman Hughes, the under the radar Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, the Devils have the 2nd best Power Play in the league. Captain Nico Hischier is more often than not, the best player on the ice for the Devils and should find himself in the top three for Selke consideration this year.
- Minnesota Wild: Considering the Wild have one of the largest dead cap space hell in the league it would have been understandable to see the team drift around the middle of the pack this season. Instead, Head Coach John Hynes has made the team one of the league’s elite clubs. Kirill Kaprizov continues to be mentioned in both Rocket and Hart trophy circles and Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy are dangerous to ignore. Filip Gustavsson has been stellar in goal with a .924 SV% and when you have HOF Marc Andre-Fleury as a backup, things are solid on the backend. The Wild have a balanced team that can play a tight game or wide-open run and gun.
- Washington Capitals: Going into the season the story was will Alexander Ovechkin beat Wayne Gretzky’s all time goal record. Even with time missed he may still do it. The bigger story is the shock the Capitals have sent through the rest of the Eastern Conference with their dominant play and win pace. The Capitals barely fell into a playoff last season and was quickly disposed of in the first round. It was easy to say that as Ovechkin’s career is in its sunset years it could be time for the Capitals to rebuild. Instead, they retooled their roster this summer and stormed to the top of the standings. Logan Thompson ended the year with a 15-2-2 record with back up Charlie Lindgren at 10-8-0 with both over .900 SV%. The team is 2nd in GF/GP and 5th in GA/GP.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Since entering the league the Golden Knights have been the showman that their home city symbolizes. A team that has marching bands, cheerleaders, dancers that cares as much of the experience as they do the product they put on the ice. Superstars? They will trade them or let them walk without a second glance. A talented prospect every other team has given up on? They will take them. Instead of hope this team will give you a full fireworks display with tigers and glitter. The Knights embody all of that on the ice. One year it is a killer defense and the next a fun combination of offense. This year it is solid goaltending led by Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov. The duo keep the Knights in every game. Brett Howden, Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev quietly rack up goals and Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl relish in the spotlight of Sin City. Vegas is always in the Cup conversation and the 2025 season should prove no different.
- Winnipeg Jets: A year and a half ago the talk of trading goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was all the rage. The Jets were asking for a king’s ransom that no team took a chance on. Instead, the Jets signed him long term and it is paying dividends. He should be a name mentioned in Hart Trophy consideration as he led the team to a 13-game winning streak to start the season. He leads the league in GAA and SV% of .930. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are both over 20 goals to end the year and Gabriel Vilardi is right behind with 18. The debate to begin the season over who the best team in Canada quickly moved away from the Oilers and the Leafs and clearly to the providence of Manitoba.
