The NHL is filled with exciting and talented teams, but not all of them are on the same level. Some teams continue to fall short of the playoffs year after year, while others are constantly contending for Stanley Cups championships. Here are the top NHL teams that have a chance at winning it all in 2022:
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are an exciting team to watch this season. They have a good core of young players, and their coach is among the best in the league. John Madden is well-known for his innovative tactics and ability to get the most out of his players.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The club is a member of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a part of the Central Division within the Eastern Conference. Founded and established in 1992 as an expansion team, the Senators play their home games at Scotiabank Arena.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference. The franchise relocated from Atlanta after the last season of operations for their previous club. They are also known as the Atlanta Thrashers, established in 1999 as an expansion team.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are one of the most successful NHL teams in history. They’ve won two Stanley Cup championships and appeared in 11 consecutive playoffs from 1968 to 1977, a then-record streak that five teams have since surpassed.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have been a force in the Western Conference since its inception in 1995. With a talented young core, including Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, this team is primed to make some noise next season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they’re looking to repeat in 2022. The Lightning won the league’s regular season with a record of 92-30-2 before beating the New York Islanders in five games on their way to hoisting their second straight title.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are an American professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team is part of the Metropolitan Division of the National Hockey League Eastern Conference (NHL). Founded as an expansion franchise in 1967, they have won six Stanley Cup championships.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The 2019-20 season saw the Leafs acquire Sergei Bobrovsky from the Columbus Blue Jackets and then trade for Anthony Duclair and Justin Williams from Los Angeles in 2020. But those moves have given them more than just solid playmaking ability on offense—they’ve also helped them improve their defensive game.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights were one of the most surprising teams in NHL history, making it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year, and the team was founded on an expansion draft that allowed them to build a competitive squad immediately.
With the current state of the league being what it is, there’s no doubt that these teams will be among the best in 2022. Whether they can maintain their place among the elite or fall back into mediocrity is another story. To catch up on the game and get regular updates, check out the NHL schedule to never miss a game. Most satellite TV operators will give you details of the game schedules so that you can set reminders or plan your days in advance. Direct TV is one of the most popular and reliable satellite services. Research well before you plan to install any satellite service at home.