NHL Power Ranking: Our Picks for the Top 5 Teams Entering 2022-23

The NHL 2022-23 season will be underway on the 7th of October with many new hopeful teams looking to make their mark this year. Despite a busy offseason we see many of the same teams however at the top of our NHL Power Rankings. The top 5 teams in our expert opinions going into the regular season are:

Colorado Avalanche

The defending champions are still the team to beat coming into this year but they will be without a couple key players. Losing Naem Kadri in particular is a huge loss which will require multiple players stepping up to fill. Colorado did well in the offseason in locking up a number of role players in — Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen and Josh Manson. A repeat will be on the Avs mind coming into this year and anything short will likely be a disappointment.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes enter the 2022-23 season with a championship-calibre roster and one of the best magarial staffs in hockey. While Vincent Trochek’s departure does raise some questions about the centre position, however there should be more than enough fire power in the offense with the additions of Brent Burns and now healthy Max Pacioretty. With one of the most balanced rosters in the league, expect Carolina to be at the top of the standings come playoff time.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With Auston Matthews at the front and loads of different highly skilled and productive teammates to assist, the Leafs look like one of the top candidates to take home the Stanley Cup this year. The team’s only achilles heel seems to be in the goalie position with Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. Both have the potential to up their game and be a championship winning goalie but it will be left to be seen if either pulls it off.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning won two championships back-to-back and then reached the Finals last season, so you could say they’re the team in form. The team is chalked full of veteran players and young talent which is bolstered by their all-world goalie in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Given the team’s consistency over the past few years, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them competing for their fourth championship in as many years.

Calgary Flames

After losing Gaudreau, the Flames seemed destined to go into a rebuilding phase this coming season. GM Brad Treliving has other ideas with the addition of All-Star Nazem Kadri as a late free-agent pickup as well as Huberdeau and a sturdy defenseman in Weegar. Of the teams listed Clagary probably has the biggest question mark going into the season but also a whole lot of potential to be the last team standing. 

Betting on NHL this season

If you want to bet on NHL this season and place a bet on one of these teams, have a look at our list of the best NHL betting sites in Ontario.