With the NHL almost a month old to the 2022-2023 season, it is worth taking a dive at the Top 10 teams at the start of the season. Some teams have started slower than others. There are also some flukes and some legit clubs as well.
There are so many talented teams in the league. Who are the Top 10 NHL teams to start the season?
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a 4-4-1 start with 9 points in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh will be fine. They have one of the most dangerous offenses in hockey with Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Evgeni Malkin. The defense will be a major question mark led by Kris Letang and goalie Tristan Jarry needs to stay healthy. Head coach Mike Sullivan is one of the best in this business.
9. Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are off to a really slow start at 4-4-1 with 9 points in the Central Division. Colorado is the defending Stanley Cup Champions and has some hangover at the current moment. The Avalanche's biggest issue this season is the dropoff in net from Darcy Kuemper to Alexander Georgiev. Pavel Francouz is the backup. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen is the core. Head coach Jared Bednar needs to keep his guys focused.
8. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are off to a 6-3 start with 12 points in the Pacific Division. Edmonton has a lethal offense with Connor McDavid, Evander Kane, and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers are much better off in the net with Jack Campbell. Head coach Jay Woodcroft has picked up right where he left off a season ago with them. The defense led by Tyson Barrie will be a huge key on the blue line.
7. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are off to a 5-3-2 start with 12 points in the Metropolitan Division. New York has shown some red flags to start the season. On 5 on 5, the Rangers are just ordinary. They need Igor Shesterkin to be magical in the net and score power-play goals. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox are their key players on the ice. Head coach Gerard Gallant has high expectations for this hockey team.
6. Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are off to a 5-3-1 start with 11 points in the Atlantic Division. Florida has a different makeup with this hockey team this season. The Panthers have Matthew Tkachuk alongside Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Aaron Ekblad is a key piece as well. Jonathan Huberdeau is no longer with the team and was traded away to the Calgary Flames. Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight will be splitting the duties between the pipes. Head coach Paul Maurice is an interesting figure for this hockey team.
5. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are off to a 6-3 start with 12 points in the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey has so much young talent on this roster that it is finally starting to pay off for them. The Devils have Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and John Marino. If Vitek Vanecek is going to be dominant between the pipes, the Devils will be hard to beat. Dougie Hamilton is also a very solid defenseman for them and the jury is still out on head coach Lindy Ruff, but associate coach Andrew Brunette deserves a ton of credit for their early season success as well.
4. Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are off to a 5-3-1 start with 11 points in the Central Division. Dallas is such an interesting hockey team year in and year out. The Stars have so much young talent on this roster. It starts with Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, and Jason Roberson. Having veterans like Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn help. Goalie Jake Oettinger might be the best goalie in the league and head coach Pete DeBeor has turned this team into gold as well.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are off to a 6-2-1 record with 13 points in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina has been a legit threat in the Eastern Conference over the past few seasons and are not going anywhere anytime soon because they will be legit Stanley Cup Contenders. The Hurricanes just keep filling in players and keep succeeding under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. Carolina has key players like Marty Necas, Sebastion Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jaccob Salvin. Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen are solid goaltending duos for the Hurricanes.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are at the top of the Western Conference and the Pacific Division with an 8-2 record with 16 points. Vegas is coached by Bruce Cassidy. The Golden Knights are finally getting their money's worth with Jack Eichel. They don't have a lot of talent or great goaltending from Logan Thompson, but this is a coaching clinic. Will see if this keeps up with Vegas.
1. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are at the top of the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division with an 8-1 record with 16 points. Boston is coached by Jim Montgomery. The Bruins keep getting older but they won't go away. Boston has their core with Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Patrice Bergeron, and Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins goaltending is solid with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Boston may have one last shot at a Stanley Cup Title.