Top Contenders

Colorado Avalanche: As expected and predicted by many before the season started, the Colorado Avalanche are absolutely dominating the Western Conference. What’s most surprising about the Avalanche is how they are dominating teams.

Many people predicted the Avalanche would be offensively led by generational superstar, Nathan Mackinnon, but injuries have slowed him down this season. In his place, Nazem Kadri has filled in admirably for Mackinnon and provided the Avalanche a level of offense nobody would have ever expected (60 points in 41 games). The Avalanche also boast an embarrassment of riches on the blueline. A top-4 blueline that includes Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Erik Johnson is a legit, Stanley Cup contending defensive core.

All-around, the Avalanche are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Florida Panthers: The Rise of the Florida Panthers should surprise no one. They have the offensive talent in Barkov, Huberdeau, and Bennett, but they have supplemented their roster with significant offensive upgrades over the offseason. Adding in Sam Reinhart and Anthony Duclair, and getting immense and surprising production from youngsters Anton Lundell, Mason Marchment, Carter Verhaeghe, and Owen Tippett has made the Panthers an offensive juggernaut.

They trail only the Avalanche in goals scored per game, and like the Avs, the Panthers are well-rounded defensively, led by top-pairing blueliners Aaron Ekblad and Mackenzie Weegar. This top-pairing is complemented very well by supporting blueliners in Radko Gudas and Brandon Montour. The Panthers will have to contend with the Lightning in the East, but it should be a heavyweight matchup all hockey fans are waiting to see.

Biggest Surprises

Nashville Predators @PredsNHL

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February 10th 2022

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Nashville Predators: The Predators have, by far, been the biggest surprise of this NHL season. Led by Juuse Saros, who’s having a Vezina-calibre season, the Predators are one of the top teams in the West, and the league itself.

It’s hard to categorize the Predators as overachievers as they have the pieces to be a really good team. They are benefitting from the fact that all facets of their game are clicking. The defense, led by Roman Josi and Matthias Ekholm, has been stellar, but the Preds have really taken off thanks to the surprise contributions from three outstanding rookies.

Tanner Jeannot, Luke Kunin, and Alexandre Carrier are all first-year players that have completely bought into the Predators system. On top of these rookies performing well, their offensive stars are producing at an elite rate. Filip Forsberg has 24 goals in 33 games and Matt Duchene is once again a high-end, playmaking center. Look for the Predators to continue their dominance in the West and become a real contender during the playoffs. 

New York Rangers: Only two years removed from selecting Alexis Lafreniere first overall, the New York Rangers should technically still be in a “rebuilding” phase, but that could not be further from the truth. New head coach, Gerard Gallant, has the Rangers playing excellent hockey top-down. Goalie Igor Shesterkin is having a Vezina-calibre season and the Rangers defensive core has been led by Norris-trophy front-runner, Adam Fox.

On the offensive side, Artemi Panarin continues to do his thing (52 points in 42 games), while Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome have also been terrific offensively. But, the biggest surprise of the season has to be the resurgence of Chris Kreider. Kreider has been a goal-scoring machine this season, and his 33 goals currently ranks him in the top-3 in the NHL. Nobody could have predicted that kind of production from Kreider. Look for the Rangers to continue their strong play for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.

Links from the Rink

• After an appearance in the Cup Finals last season, check out how poor the Canadiens’ offseason acquisitions have been performing.

• Has Florida all of a sudden become a booming hockey market? This article explores that notion.

• Take a look at this deep dive into the construction of China’s men’s Olympic hockey squad.

• With no NHL players playing in the Olympics, here’s the primer you need to get yourself up to speed with what to expect at the Olympics.

• Tuukka Rask announces retirement.