Top 10 Best NHL Teams 2024 Rankings

Ranking the Top 10 best NHL teams right now of the 2023-2024 NHL season as the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup

By admin | August 19, 2024

Top 10 Best NHL Teams Right Now

The 2024 NHL season has been one for the books, with teams across the league delivering thrilling performances, showcasing incredible skill, and raising the standards for next year. Below, we will highlight the Top 10 Best NHL Teams of the season based on their overall performance, player contributions, and impact on the league.

Honorable Mention

Winnipeg Jets

Previous Ranking: 10

The Winnipeg Jets had an impressive season, narrowly missing the top 10. Led by the stellar play of Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, the Jets were a force to be reckoned with, finishing second in the Central Division.

Connor posted 34 goals and 27 assists, while Scheifele added 25 goals and 47 assists. The defensive pairing of Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk provided stability at the back, and Connor Hellebuyck’s goaltending was crucial, maintaining a .921 save percentage.

The Jets’ balanced attack and solid defense made them a formidable opponent throughout the season, but they ended on a low note as the Colorado Avalanche eliminated them in five games.

Top 10 Best NHL Teams 2024 Rankings

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Rankings: Unranked

The Tampa Bay Lightning continued to be a powerhouse in the NHL, showcasing their depth and experience. Nikita Kucherov led the team with 44 goals and a league-best 100 assists, while center Brayden Point added a team-high 46 goals and 44 assists.

Victor Hedman anchored the squad on the defensive side, while Andrei Vasilevskiy’s elite goaltending played a crucial role in their regular season success.

With a strong core and a wealth of playoff experience, the Lightning remained a formidable team but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in the first round.

9. Colorado Avalanche

Previous Ranking: 9

The Colorado Avalanche had another stellar season, driven by the dynamic duo of center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar.

MacKinnon tallied 51 goals and 89 assists, while Makar contributed 21 goals and 69 assists from the blue line. The depth of the Avalanche was evident, with Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin providing an additional 70 combined goals.

The team’s balanced attack and strong defense made them one of the toughest teams to beat, but the Dallas Stars found a way in the second round of the playoffs.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous Ranking: 7

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to impress this season with their high-powered offense. Auston Matthews led the league in goals with 69, adding 38 assists to his tally.

Right winger William Nylander provided additional support with 40 goals and 58 assists. The defense, led by Morgan Rielly, was much improved, and Ilya Samsonov’s goaltending was solid, posting a 23-7-8 record.

The Leafs’ ability to dominate offensively made them a top contender throughout the season, but they fell to the Boston Bruins in a disheartening Game 7 loss.

7. Vancouver Canucks

Previous Ranking: 7

The Vancouver Canucks had a breakthrough season, with J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes leading the charge.

Miller scored 37 goals and added 66 assists, while Hughes contributed 17 goals and a team-high 75 assists from the blue line. Thatcher Demko’s goaltending was exceptional, maintaining a .918 save percentage.

The Canucks’ young, dynamic roster and improved defensive play made them a formidable team in 2024, making them a threatening contender for the foreseeable future.

6. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous Ranking: 5

The Carolina Hurricanes continued to dominate the NHL, with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis leading the way. Aho’s 36 goals and 53 assists and Jarvis’s 33 goals and 34 assists were instrumental in their success.

The team’s defensive core, including Brady Skjei and Brent Burns, was one of the best in the league.

With Pyotr Kochetkov providing reliable goaltending, the Hurricanes were a well-oiled machine on both ends of the ice but fell to the New York Rangers in six games in the second round.

5. Dallas Stars

Previous Ranking: 2

The Dallas Stars had a remarkable season, with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz leading the offense. Robertson tallied 29 goals and 51 assists, while Hintz added 30 goals and 35 assists.

Miro Heiskanen’s defensive play and Jake Oettinger’s stellar goaltending, with a .905 save percentage, were crucial to their success. The Stars’ combination of emerging talent and seasoned veterans made them a formidable competitor throughout the season, but the Oilers were too much for the Stars to handle in the Western Conference Finals.

4. Boston Bruins

Previous Ranking: 2

The Boston Bruins maintained their status as one of the top teams in the league, driven by the efforts of David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

Pastrnak’s 47 goals and 63 assists and Marchand’s 29 goals and 38 assists highlighted the Bruins’ offensive capabilities. Charlie McAvoy’s leadership on defense and Jeremy Swayman’s stellar goaltending, posting a .916 save percentage, were vital to their success.

The Bruins’ depth and experience made them perennial contenders, but their season was spoiled by the next team on this list.

3. New York Rangers

Previous Ranking: 3

The New York Rangers had a strong season, building on their previous successes. Artemi Panarin led the charge with 49 goals and 71 assists, supported by the stellar goaltending of Igor Shesterkin, who maintained a .913 save percentage.

The Rangers’ blend of veteran leadership and young talent, including left winger Alexis Lafrenière and right winger Kaapo Kakko, created a balanced team capable of deep playoff runs.

Their performance this season solidified their status as top contenders, yet the Florida Panthers were too much for New York to handle in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2. Edmonton Oilers

Previous Ranking: 8

The Edmonton Oilers had a phenomenal season, primarily due to the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid finished with 32 goals and 100 assists, while Draisaitl added 41 goals and 65 assists.

The addition of strong defensemen like Darnell Nurse and the solid goaltending of Stuart Skinner helped balance their attack. The Oilers’ explosive offense and improving defense made them a formidable force, taking them to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006.

Resilience defined Edmonton’s season, as although they trailed 3-0 in the finals, they clawed back to force a game 7. Although they did not get the result they were hoping for, this season was a success nonetheless and foreshadowed the bright future to come.

1. Florida Panthers

Previous Ranking: 1

Throughout this season, the Florida Panthers showcased incredible depth and talent. Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart led the team, with Barkov’s 23 goals and 57 assists and Reinhart’s team-high 57 goals and 37 assists crucial in their success.

Gustav Forsling anchored the defense, and Sergei Bobrovsky’s resurgence in goal, with a .915 save percentage, was essential to their success. The Panthers’ combination of offensive firepower, defensive solidity, and stellar goaltending made them the top team in the league, culminating in a successful playoff run and the Stanley Cup victory.

How would you rank the best NHL Teams going into the 2023-2024 season? Rank below to be added in the NHL Power Rankings.