Tag: 2023-24 NHL season

NHL preseason power rankings: Can the Golden Knights go back-to-back after picture-perfect season?

Which NHL teams have the best shot at knocking the Golden Knights off their throne?

The Vegas Golden Knights enter the 2023-24 season as Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history.

Sure, the Golden Knights have only been around for seven seasons now, but Vegas made it look easy last year with their dominant postseason performance, losing just six times across their entire playoff stretch. And now, the Golden Knights come into the 2023-24 season looking to defend their title for the first time.

That’s right, hockey season is officially back! The long summer is finally over and hockey games that matter are set to begin on Tuesday, October 10. And for the next eight months, hockey fans will be treated to a full slate of 82 games for each team and a heart-pounding Stanley Cup Playoff schedule as spring hits. What more could you ask for as a hockey fan?

MORE: Why these 5 NHL teams (Maple Leafs) will win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

It’s only right then that we kick off the new hockey season with our long-awaited preseason power rankings! Here’s how we here at For The Win rank all 32 teams headed into the 2023-24 NHL season.

2023-24 NHL season predictions: Standings, awards, bold predictions, and more

How do we see the 2023-24 NHL season playing out? Let’s dive in!

Hockey season is officially back!

That’s right, after a long summer away, the NHL has returned as all 32 teams gear up for the 2023-24 season. When we last took a look inside the hockey world, the Vegas Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history after just six seasons in the NHL. Now, the Golden Knights are set to defend their championship, with some stiff competition looking to knock them off their throne.

MORE: Ranking all 32 NHL teams for the 2023-24 season from least to most watchable.

A lot of things have changed in the NHL since last season, so if you’re looking to catch up, we here at For The Win have you covered. Do you want to know which teams are the most likely to win the Stanley Cup? Or do you want a silly and fun look ahead at all 32 NHL teams in GIF form? Plus, of course, there’s the most fun aspect of the preseason to talk about: predictions!

To help me in this divining endeavor, I asked For The Win‘s own Charles Curtis to join me in making our annual NHL season predictions. From which teams will make the Stanley Cup to who will be the recipients of the major awards, here’s how we predict the 2023-24 NHL season will play out.

Ranking all 32 NHL teams for the 2023-24 season from least to most watchable

Keep an eye on these NHL teams during the 2023-24 season.

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.

1 perfect GIF to describe each NHL team entering the 2023-24 season

Get ready for the 2023-24 NHL season with memes!

The 2023-24 NHL season is almost here, but let’s have a little bit of fun, shall we?

Over the next few days, a lot will be written about the upcoming NHL season. And a lot of that will be coming from us here at For The Win! And yet, hockey is anything but a serious sport 100 percent of the time. Of course, winning the Stanley Cup is serious business, but at its heart, hockey is an incredibly goofy sport.

Much like we’ve done with the NFL as The Office clips or the top 25 college football teams as I Think You Should Leave sketches, the NHL deserves an equally goofy season lookahead don’t you think? So, to celebrate the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, here is one perfect GIF that describes all 32 teams entering this new year.

Why these 5 NHL teams (Maple Leafs) will win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final

These five NHL teams very well could win it all in the 2023-24 season.

The Stanley Cup may be the hardest trophy to win in sports.

After a long 82-game season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a brutal gauntlet of punishing hockey, where only the strongest — and least battered — team makes it out alive to become the next NHL champion. And with the 2023-24 NHL season in sight for these five teams, their chances at victory are certainly higher than most.

MORE: Why these 5 NHL teams (Canadiens) won’t win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

After all, there are the haves and have nots in every sports league. The NHL has its own set of teams destined for the bottom of the league — looking at you, San Jose — while others rise to the top as the best of the best each season. Last season, it was the Vegas Golden Knights. This year? A handful of teams already stand out from the outset.

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, these are five NHL teams that you can count on winning the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Why these 5 NHL teams (Canadiens) won’t win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final

These five NHL teams definitely won’t be competing for the Stanley Cup in 2024.

Only one team can win the Stanley Cup each season. And for these five teams, their chances at winning the Stanley Cup at the end of the 2023-24 NHL season are practically zero.

Of course, anything can happen in hockey. We’ve seen many examples of teams making incredible turnarounds over the course of a season to make a deep playoff run all the way to the end. However, those stories are few and far between and there are a handful of teams this season you shouldn’t get your hopes up about.

MORE: Why these 5 NHL teams (Maple Leafs) will win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Whether it be that these teams are committing to a full rebuild or that they have finished their window of competing opportunity, these are five NHL teams that you can count on not winning the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

EA Sports announces the top 50 EA NHL 24 player ratings

EA Sports announced the top 50 NHL 24 player ratings, with some big shake-ups compared to the previous sports game’s ratings

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EA Sports announced the top 50 NHL 24 player ratings, with some big shake-ups compared to the previous sports game’s ratings. Leading the pack this year is Connor McDavid, which likely comes as no surprise if you’ve followed NHL in the past 12 months or more. Cover star Cale Makar is right behind him, followed by a change in the roster, with several prominent players getting a well-deserved ratings boost.

We’ve listed the top 50 NHL 24 player ratings, starting with the top 10 and some context around their recent career performances.