Are you an ice hockey enthusiast? Well, every player dreams of playing for the best teams. The NHL, National Hockey League, brings together all the best teams in the North American area. Being able to play in the league is a great thing, but it would even be more prestigious to play in the best performing teams of all time. We understand that the performance of teams can change over time, but these have been the best-performing teams in the NHL hockey league.
The Best Teams in the NHL
Despit the fact that the NHL is the best hockey league in the world, there are still teams that are better organizations than others. Here are some of them:
Montreal Canadiens
This is the greatest team in hockey history. This may be surprising, considering they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1993. In the Eastern Conference held in 2011-2012, they finished 15th and last, respectively. However, the most impressive thing is that they have won the most titles than any other team in the league. Their success and greatness attract the same popularity as the baseball players, New York Yankees.
Some of the players who have played for the great team include Jean Beliveau, Jacques Plante, Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, and Steve Shutt. The team is known for speed, skill, and overall excellence. According to most studies, the team’s success stems from the fact that they are the oldest in the league, and they are the only NHL team that represents Quebec and the French-Canadians.
Boston Bruins
Boston is renowned for its passion when it comes to sports. Boston Bruins is the city’s hockey team, and it ranks top-five in the list of the most powerful teams. They won the President’s Trophy in 2019 and stood out as the league’s biggest threats. They have the best top line and goaltending tandem in the National Hockey League and are expected to even do better after Craig Smith joined the team.
Toronto Maple Leafs
This team has the league’s best record, which stands at 15-4-2. They also have the lead goal scorer, Auston Matthews, with eighteen goals. In the last season, the team has made huge strides, especially after adding their defensive players. The team recently acquired Zach Bogosian and TJ Brodie, and with these players, it is expected to soar even higher. It shows promising potential with the new talent that it just ushered in.
New York Rangers
New York Rangers are among the oldest teams in the NHL. They are actually one of the original six teams and have won several Stanley Cups. With three wins in their previous four games and a beautiful 6-2 route, the team has a promising future in the NHL. It also ranks top among the fastest and rebuilding teams with the new additions of talents such as Alex Lafreniere. Ranger fans are excited about these additions and hope that the defence will even get better. While they are not the best team yet, they can easily compete for a playoff spot at the NHL.
Philadelphia Flyers
Most fans feel like the Philadelphia Flyers overperformed in the last two seasons. The team is expected to get better, especially with the addition of new players like Joel Farabee and Travis Sanheim. Today, it has a rich and deep line up and stands out as the most complete team in the NHL. The Philadelphia Flyers started playing in the NHL in the first expansion that took place between 1967 and 1968. During this time, the NHL incorporated more teams and increased them from six to twelve. Philadelphia’s fans have embraced the team since its birth.
Tampa Bay Lighting
Based in Toronto, Tampa Bay Lightning were the defending champions in 2019. They are nearly a perfect team with great players such as Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. It has a great offence and defence with star power, and this helps them stand out from the other NHL players. They have Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is the league’s best goaltenders. While they are still dealing with issues such as salary caps, they still stand out as the great team in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks is among the three NHL teams that are based in Canada. Canadians love hockey, and this can be seen from their passion as they support their favourite teams in the NHL. The team has become among the most famous in the NHL league. While the previous years have been tough for them, they have not stopped showing great promise. In 2019, they lost big names like Tyler Toffoli and Troy Stecher. Even after this, they didn’t struggle for long as they signed in new talented players and had their defence solidify. They have also held records for building a professional organisation with solid minor leagues and are growing into a great team in the NHL.
Conclusion
The NHL hockey league is a huge league and comprises over thirty teams. Other great teams in the league include:
- New Jersey Devils
- Edmonton Oilers
- Buffalo Sabres
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Islanders
- Florida Panthers
- Dallas Stars
- Pittsburgh Penguins
While each team has its fans, some have been able to gain worldwide fame and support. It could be due to the history of the teams, the expansion, the wins, and other league-oriented features. Some teams have won the title more than others, while others have the best defences and offences. Our list follows no particular order but comprises a fraction of the best teams in the National Hockey League.