Contender or Pretender? | 32 Team NHL Tier List Post-Deadline

The NHL standings have been getting a little more interesting of late. We have new division leaders and even new teams entering the playoff picture as we inch closer to the end of the regular season. Everyone knows the playoffs are a different beast, and regular-season success isn't always indicative of how a team will perform when the games mean something. Let's separate the contenders from the pretenders in this tier list of all 32 NHL teams.

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Tier 1: True Cup Contenders

• Colorado Avalanche

• Dallas Stars

• Minnesota Wild

• Tampa Bay Lightning

• Buffalo Sabres

There isn't much debate for the first four teams on this list, as they've been major cup contenders for most of the season. However, the play of the Buffalo Sabres has become far too difficult to ignore. They've shown they belong in this tier.

The Sabres were on a tear before the Olympic break, but given their history, no one really believed they were a true contender. Well, all of that doubt should be gone now, as the Buffalo Sabres have now won 8 games straight since the NHL's return to action.

The Sabres are big, skilled, fast, and on a mission to lift the playoff drought that has been eating away at them for the last 14 years. The Sabres are legit and should be heavily feared in the postseason.

Tier 2: Dangerous but Flawed

• Carolina Hurricanes

• Edmonton Oilers

• Vegas Golden Knights

Look, all three of these teams are proven playoff performers and could easily contend for the cup, given the star power and experience on their respective rosters. However, by the looks of it, these teams all have more flaws than the five ahead of them.

Carolina is the textbook definition of "can't get over the hump". Since 2018, they've lost in the conference finals and in the second round three times apiece. They have shown for years that they are good enough to contend, but not good enough to win it all. Once again, they are near the top of the league standings, but do they have what it takes to get over that hump?

The Oilers' issues are the same nearly every season; McDavid and Draisaitl are stars, but can the others around them get it done? Will the goatending hold up? Is the defence strong enough? and the list goes on. At the end of the day, this team just came off back-to-back Stanley Cup appearances, so you can never count them out when 97 and 29 are on the ice.

Vegas has had plenty of success in their team's short history, including many deep runs and a Stanley Cup in 2022. However, this season, they're struggling heavily against other playoff teams, relying on "the loser point" to stay relevant, with their 14 overtime losses. Nevertheless, they always find a new gear in the postseason, so it's difficult to count them out of contention.

Tier 3: Cinderella

• Detroit Red Wings

• Montreal Canadiens

• Pittsburgh Penguins

• Ottawa Senators

• Boston Bruins

These five teams would need a lot to go their way to have a shot at the Stanley Cup. All of them can win a round, but they unfortunately have holes that the teams ahead of them do not. Would need a "Cinderella story" to win it all.

The Wings have taken quite a step under head coach Todd McLellan, dating back to his arrival last season. They play a much more structured game under him, and the success shows. Unfortunately, every team tightens up its structure come playoff time, so their talent will have to outshine that of the teams above them to go on a run.

Montreal relies on high-flying offence and speed to make up for their weaker defending and goaltending, which may cause them to struggle as games get tighter. However, their "never give up" mentality has made them extremely dangerous, leading the league in comeback wins. As the second youngest team in the NHL, we'll see if they can hang with these experienced squads.

The Penguins' roster isn't strong, but they are in this tier due to Sidney Crosby and their ability to always find a way to surprise. They've been overcoming expectations all year, so it's difficult to doubt them. The Bruins are in a similar boat with a weaker roster, but recent history shows they find ways to win. With a superstar like David Pastrnak and likely the best goalie in this tier, Jeremy Swayman, you just never know.

Now, the Ottawa Senators are out of the playoffs by quite a bit currently, but the structure of their team is very strong with four strong forward lines and three strong defensive pairings. Many advanced analytics say Ottawa should be one of the better teams in the league, but their goaltending has held them back severely. If the Sens can find a way to get in, and their $8M AAV goalie starts playing up to his price tag, they can be a dangerous team.

Tier 4: Pretender

• New York Islanders

• Columbus Blue Jackets

• Anaheim Ducks

• Utah Mammoth

All four of these teams are young, inexperienced, and haven't had much recent playoff success, but their strong play this season has put the league on notice for what's to come. As players like Matthew Schaefer, Adam Fantilli, Logan Cooley, and Beckett Sennecke continue to grow, these teams will be dangerous in the future.

These four players aren't even the end all be all, as these teams have a plethora of young talent both on the roster and in the pipeline. That being said, all of them aren't there yet, and will need a few more years till they can truly contend.

Do they have the ability to surprise and win a round? Of course. However, it would take a miracle for any of these squads to have a shot at Lord Stanley this season. Patience, they'll get there soon.

Tier 5: First Round Exit Lock

• Seattle Kraken

• Los Angeles Kings

• San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are also a very young and fun team, but they're slightly less deep in comparison to the teams in the tier above. They will also get there eventually with the growth of superstar Macklin Celebrini, among other young talents, but they need a little more seasoning.

The Kings and Kraken, however, are in absolute no man's land. They continue to spend assets on win-now players, but they always find themselves in the middle of the standings. Not good enough to contend, not bad enough to get high draft picks, the absolute worst place to be.

These teams do have a solid bunch of young assets, highlighted by Brandt Clarke and Matthew Beniers. However, if they are unable to surround them with more young star power, they will continue to remain in the middle ground.

These teams are all pretty even on points, and all have a shot at the playoffs, but they are almost guaranteed first-round exits.

Tier 6: Time to Give Up

• Washington Capitals

• Philadelphia Flyers

• New Jersey Devils

• Florida Panthers

• Nashville Predators

It's been a year to forget for the Capitals, Panthers, and Devils, as all three were supposed to be strong playoff contenders. Injuries and overall poor performance have hurt these teams immensely. Healthier, the Panthers and Capitals should come back stronger next year, but the Devils may need a hard look in the mirror this offseason, because something has to change for them.

The Flyers are another team that's just not there yet. Young talent is on the way, just need to be patient. The Nashville Predators, similar to New Jersey, need to step back and re-evaluate. They have locked up far too much money into their aging core, and it just hasn't worked out at all. Time to blow it up.

All of these teams technically still have a shot at the playoffs, but those odds are so slim that it just isn't worth continuing to push. Time to look to next season.

Tier 7: Bottom of The Barrel

• Toronto Maple Leafs

• St. Louis Blues

• Winnipeg Jets

• Chicago Blackhawks

• New York Rangers

• Calgary Flames

Is there really much to say here? All of these teams should have the same goal, and that is to blow it up this offseason.

The Leafs, Rangers, and Jets have been atop the league standings for a few years now, but everyone knows their cores are incapable of getting it done. Hopefully, this year gives them the wake-up call they need to head into a rebuild.

The Blues and Flames are two teams also in that middle ground who've been unable to get over the hump. They've already begun selling veterans, and they must continue to do so to embrace the rebuild.

The Blackhawks were surprisingly solid to start the year, but fell off pretty hard after the Connor Bedard injury. They are going to need to surround him with some talent sometime soon. They were one of the winners of the deadline. They just need to stay the course and continue adding young talent.

Tier 8: Vancouver Canucks

Ya... The Canucks are on pace to be one of the worst teams in NHL history. No one needs that first overall pick more than them. Gavin McKenna is exactly what this team needs.