Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Current Season NHL Favourites and Power Rankings

11/17/2022 at 2:16am EST

Which team in the National Hockey League do you consider to be the best at the moment? After the first week of the 2022-2023 NHL season, it is time to reassess the strength of each team in light of the changes they made over the offseason and the action that has taken place thus far.

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This summer, critical injuries, free agent signings, and draft picks all impacted rosters, which resulted in some exciting and maybe game-changing news. At this early stage of the season, we see specific teams live up to the expectations set for them throughout the summer while other teams are having difficulty getting off the ground.

Each club made adjustments throughout the offseason. We’re here to bring you up-to-date information on top teams, including the major players, the best and worst-case scenarios, suggestions, and daring predictions you can use for NHL betting. So, let’s hit the pitch!


New Jersey Devils

As a result of their big nine-game victory streak, the vibrant Devils have hit the top spot in the NHL power rankings, catapulting them up the NHL power rankings for the second time. They have a staggering win % of .800 and a goal difference of +17 during the first few games of the season, which has propelled them to the top spot in the Metropolitan division.


The Bruins

The Bruins have a record of 9-1-0 and have won their past four games in a row. However, they have dropped out of first place in the NHL power rankings because of the phenomenal performance of the Devils.

The team is still in second place despite having the worst goal difference in the league at -30, but they have a perfect record at home, so that helps them out. In addition, during the first couple of games, the Bruins have shown both a powerful penalty kill and a productive power play.


Vegas Golden Knights

The Knights have won nine of their past ten games and are off to another good start to the 2022-23 season, which has kept them in the top three of the NHL’s power rankings for the third week. The power play is now functioning at a respectable 23.9%, albeit the penalty kill still has room for improvement.

Yet, this is hardly causing alarm in such a poor division. Fans of the Golden Knights have reason to be optimistic that they can win the Pacific Division if the team continues at its current rate.


New York Islanders

In their previous ten games, the Islanders are 8-2-0, with both defeats coming by shutouts against division rivals the Coyotes and the Red Wings. Despite this, they have been playing well, and the NHL rankings for their division show it. In a division where the races are among the closest so far, the Metropolitan, the club’s penalty kill percentage of 84.5% is impressive.

Still, the power play percentage of 17.0% could need some improvement. Nevertheless, this group is showing signs of returning to the form of the Isles teams that reached the conference finals the last two seasons in a row.


Colorado Avalanche

They are the odds-on favorites to become Stanley Cup winners again this season. The club has won four consecutive games despite having a long list of injured players. Since then, the dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen has been unstoppable, scoring 23 points between them.

Rantanen also had a four-point night in their win against the Nashville Predators. Indeed, Cale Makar is as electrifying as everyone has promised. This means they remain in fifth place in the NHL; however, they will undoubtedly climb back up the standings.


Remarkable Five

  1. Winnipeg Jets

  2. Los Angeles Kings

  3. Carolina Hurricanes

  4. Dallas Stars

  5. Tampa Bay Lightning


Conclusion

NHL 2022/2023 got off to a staggered start because the “Global Series” was held in Europe to start the weekend. Two teams, the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks demonstrated their abilities with wins of 4-1 and 3-2, respectively, which went in the Predators’ favor.

The dropping of the puck marked the conclusion of a multi-week training camp during which some teams competed in as many as eight games. During these contests, teams have been able to evaluate new players and fine-tune rosters in preparation for challenging the Colorado Avalanche, which currently holds the Stanley Cup championship.

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Get insights into the 2022 NHL season with rankings, tips, and predictions.



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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

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