It was a long summer, hockey fans, but the wait is finally over.
Yes, it’s finally time for another NHL season to begin! It was only a handful of months ago that the Vegas Golden Knights lifted the Stanley Cup for their first-ever championship in franchise history. Since then, the NHL Draft came and went, marking an event that changed the fortunes of multiple franchises thanks to a deep draft class. The NHL’s free agency period started with a bang then grew quiet quickly as the summer lull took over.
But now, it’s time to shake the rust off, because the 2023-24 NHL season is finally here! Things will kick off officially on October 10 when the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators collide for our first regular season action of the year.
MORE: Why these 5 NHL teams (Maple Leafs) will win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
While many of us rejoice at the start of a new hockey season, there are many who are overwhelmed with the idea of a full 82-game slate spanning October to April. There will be a lot of hockey played these next six months, and not all of it good! So, to get you ready for the upcoming season, let’s dissect which teams deserve your limited attention and which ones you can safely ignore.
Here are all 32 NHL teams ranked from least to most watchable for the 2023-24 season.