The NHL turned off the lights on the season for the time being, with the Olympics starting up soon. So, there’s no action for a few weeks, and it’s another reflection point on the season. With this in mind, let’s look at the bright side of things and at least one positive for all the teams in the league.
Carolina Hurricanes
They finally have a goaltender who can lead them on a deep playoff run. The Carolina Hurricanes have been great for years but goaltending always cost them. Brandon Bussi looks like the real deal, with a .906 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average on 630 shots with 6.6 goals saved above average.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The future is bright in Pittsburgh, and as a plus, so is the present. It’s about as good a season as they could have asked for, as they are in playoff position and the prospects are developing into key contributors, notably Ben Kindel, who looks like an elite scorer at the NHL level.
New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer. Enough said.
Columbus Blue Jackets
With the new coach bump, all the pieces are falling into place for the Columbus Blue Jackets. With Adam Fantilli, Zach Werenski, and an elite core, they just needed that push, and Rick Bowness provided it. So, maybe they’ll make it to the playoffs after all.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are getting elite goaltending from Logan Thompson. With the roster possessing minimal weaknesses, they can go on a run in the second half, especially if Tom Wilson builds off a strong showing at the Olympics.
Philadelphia Flyers
Speaking of goaltending, the Philadelphia Flyers might have found their goalie for the future. Dan Vladar has been exceptional this season and kept the team in the mix in a tight Eastern Conference. After years of goalie woes, it looks like they solved the issue, for now.
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New Jersey Devils
The good news with the latest skid is that they now have the excuse to hit the reset button. And with the New Jersey Devils being a mess, they might do just that. The Devils have a flawed roster and must move on from some veterans who have weighed them down.
New York Rangers
With the Artemi Panarin trade out of the way, the New York Rangers can really tear things down. If they move Vincent Trocheck or Mika Zibanejad, then they’ll have enough prospects to build around. The better news for the Rangers is that they can end up with a top-five pick in a year where it’s ideal to have one.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have played great across the board, even with Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, and multiple players missing time with injuries. They look like the best team in the Eastern Conference, and this looks like the season where they’ll get over the hump and return to the Stanley Cup Final.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings fixed their issues in the net with the John Gibson addition. Plus, the stars are playing like stars, with Moritz Seider entering the Norris Trophy conversation. It’s why they are in a playoff position at the break.
Buffalo Sabres
For the first time in a while, there’s optimism for the Buffalo Sabres and the longtime suffering fans. All the pieces are falling into place, and with Alex Lyon in the net, they have the team that can snap the longest playoff drought in the NHL. That said, nobody will believe it until it’s official so Buffalo watches and waits while also praying for an Alex Tuch extension.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have the core for the future, and it’s only getting better. Nick Suzuki’s play made him worthy of a selection to the Canadian Olympic team, while Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson are out to prove that the USA made a mistake by passing on them. They also have the assets to make a splash, so watch out for them at the trade deadline.
Boston Bruins
Aside from Jeremy Swayman playing at a high level to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot, the big, bad Boston Bruins are back. They wanted to get tougher in the summer, and that’s what they’ve been this season, thanks to Mark Kastelic, Tanner Jeannot, and Nikita Zadorov.
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Ottawa Senators
If the Ottawa Senators had baseline goaltending, they’d be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. It says a lot about how good they’ve been otherwise. The big thing is the core, which has proven this season that it’s an elite one to build around for years to come.
Florida Panthers
There’s not much optimism surrounding the Florida Panthers right now, as a slide in the standings has them sitting at the bottom of the conference. That said, one thing they can hang their hat on is that the star power on the roster has shown it’s capable of going on a run. So, if they are healthy down the stretch, they can flip that switch.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Another team that’s had a rough season with minimal optimism. The Toronto Maple Leafs have played poorly but the good news is that the offense is good enough, averaging 3.28 goals per game. Maybe they lean on it to go on a run?
Colorado Avalanche
The way the season has gone, it’s hard to find any negatives. The Colorado Avalanche are putting together a historically great season and have looked great across the board. The only thing left is getting over the finish line and becoming the first team since the 2008-09 Detroit Red Wings to win a Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup title in a full season.
Minnesota Wild
The Quinn Hughes acquisition changed the Minnesota Wild a lot. Now, they look like a complete team and one that can go on a run. Now, only if they can address their center depth, I’m sure GM Bill Guerin will have time to think about who he wants to target.
Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson isn’t on the Olympic team and will be a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the season. The best thing to have for a playoff run is a player with a chip on their shoulder and an urge to cash in as well. Robertson checks off both boxes for a Dallas Stars team eager to make it past the Western Conference Final.
Utah Mammoth
By now, the Utah Mammoth rebuild turned a corner, and they are on the cusp of a playoff berth. Now, it’s all about finding out what comes next, and with the Mammoth, a big splash is expected.
Nashville Predators
With Barry Trotz stepping down as the GM, the Nashville Predators won’t worry about his moves backfiring, as they did in the 2024 offseason. That’s someone else’s job now. They’ll have a new GM and maybe one willing to go through a rebuild.
Winnipeg Jets
Despite a terrible stretch, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Winnipeg Jets. They have Connor Hellebuyck back and are only nine points out of a wild card spot. So, maybe they can go on a run and sneak in?
Chicago Blackhawks
It’s a rough season for the Chicago Blackhawks but Connor Bedard showed how electric he can be. Plus, the young core around him is taking shape. So, the future looks bright for a Blackhawks team that took a step back last season.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have the most valuable trade assets on the board. Robert Thomas, a top-line center in his prime, is the big name, but Jordan Kyrou and Justin Faulk are both talented players who aren’t rentals either. The Blues have the most to gain at the trade deadline.
Vegas Golden Knights
All the pieces are falling into place for the Vegas Golden Knights, or at least most of them, as they boast the best record in the Pacific Division. The forward unit was already one of the league’s best thanks to Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, while the defense has looked better since the Rasmus Andersson move.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings won the Artemi Panarin sweepstakes, so maybe all their issues are fixed. The Kings still have work to do but with an elite defense and goaltending already there, maybe they add more scoring to beat a team that they keep running into in the First Round.
Edmonton Oilers
Right, about that team the Kings keep running into. Things look bleak for the Edmonton Oilers, as they head into the break with three losses in a row. But, this script isn’t new for this team. They know the regular season doesn’t matter as long as they get into the playoffs and the core can still cover up enough issues to go on a run.
Anaheim Ducks
The future is now, with the skill standing out this season and the young players hitting their strides. They have the firepower to be great offensively, and one of the elite goaltenders, Lukas Dostal, who can take over a playoff series. With Joel Quenneville behind the bench, watch out for the Anaheim Ducks in a playoff series.
San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini. Need we say more?
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are a forgettable team that’s played above its weight. It’s hard to find one thing that stands out, so it’s a credit to the job Lane Lambert has done behind the bench. He looks like a long-term answer as their head coach.
Calgary Flames
Whether the Calgary Flames retool or rebuild, the big plus is that they are starting to sell. They are in a better spot because of it.
Vancouver Canucks
At least the Vancouver Canucks are getting great returns in the trades they’ve made. They traded Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood but landed good future pieces, unlike other teams that traded elite talents.
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