NHL: Top 5 underdogs for the 2018-19 season
Who are the NHL’s biggest underdogs as the 2018-19 season draws near?
Everyone loves a good underdog story. Luckily, the NHL is full of them. At least one team that didn’t make the playoffs the previous year seems to find a way to make the postseason. Last year, fans saw the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and yes, the Vegas Golden Knights as huge underdogs. Each managed to make the postseason and the Knights made a run for the Stanley Cup.
As the opening season is approaching, there are many teams that are looking to make a big impact. Here are the top five underdogs for the 2018-2019 season.
5. Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers are a team that has struggled to find a lot of success over the past years, despite having excellent draft picks. However, this team possesses arguably one of the best players currently in the NHL. Connor McDavid has been on fire since day one he stepped foot in the NHL. He not only can lead a struggling team but he also has some of the best hands and speed in the league.
The Oilers have been able to make the playoffs in recent times, but they have struggled to advance to a final since 2006. This team looks ready to show why they deserve recognition as a powerhouse team in the upcoming season. With players such as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, this team looks ready to go the distance.
In addition, the Oilers have a dependable goalie in net. Cam Talbot had a substantial amount of wins last season and shows improvement on being successful again this season. These are why this team deserves a number five spot for underdogs among the rest of the NHL.
4. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have been a dominant team in the NHL for quite some time recently. They play hard on offense, defense, and in net. Vladimir Tarasenko has been one of the biggest impact players in the NHL and has been consistently high in points throughout his time in the league. This leadership and ability from him have certainly shaped the success of the franchise.
They have been a team that has had a roller coaster ride of seasons, meaning they will make the playoffs one year and then fail to do so the next season. However, the good news is that this team can consistently challenge teams and have gained comfort during the playoffs.
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This team has a mix of young talent and experienced veterans who all have had success in their NHL careers. One aspect that the Blues have struggled with is in net. Although goaltender Jake Allen played a lot of games for the Blues last season, he did not contribute to a lot of their wins. This is an area in which they will have to improve on. Nevertheless, they have a lot of young goaltender talent and still exhibit why they deserve a number four spot on this list.
3. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are in a period of rebuilding right now. With a group of young, talented prospects, this team looks ready to show the NHL what they are made of. However, the team as a whole has struggled from not making the playoffs and having big changes to the team.
This team has a lot of major firepower with players such as Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Drouin, and the newly acquired Max Domi. These individuals add such an offensive threat to the league and combining this presence with other talented prospects, adds a synergistic effect to the lineups. In addition, the Canadiens have also acquired a promising young rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi who will most definitely be a positive impact to the team.
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The offense isn’t the only thing in Montreal that has talent; the defensive side of them is also something for other teams to watch out for. Players like Shea Weber and Karl Alzner showcase leadership ability and talent for Montreal’s defense. These players consistently lead and help put up numbers for teams they have played for.
In addition to offense and defense, the Canadiens have a dependable goalie. Carey Price is arguably one of the best goalies in the league right now. He always puts up exceptional numbers in the wins, save percentage, and goals against average department. There is no doubt that with a well organized and developed team, Price will be the goaltender to count on.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a team that has been struggling to make the playoffs for the past 10 years. They have been through many good draft selections, coaching changes, and player trades. However, things seem to be looking in the right direction for the Hurricanes for the upcoming season.
One of the high hopes for the Hurricanes is their draft selection of Andrei Svechnikov. He was selected at number two overall and has some of the highest potentials of all rookies drafted. Svechnikov looks to impress fans and the rest of the league when the season starts.
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The Hurricanes are a team that consists of talented young prospects and veterans that have impacted the league for quite some time. However, players such as Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen have put the Hurricanes in a good place.
Aho and Teravainen both put up many points last season and should certainly continue to do so for the upcoming season. These players along with Svechnikov will certainly be able to work together and lead the Hurricanes to an eager playoff spot.
One area that the Hurricanes will struggle with is their goaltending situation. Scott Darling had a struggle last season in net for the Hurricanes. However, the acquirement of Petr Mrazek may help with this area of struggle.
The Hurricanes have also welcomed a new coach: Rob Brind’Amour. Brind’Amour helped the Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup when he played in the NHL. This kind of experience and leadership can certainly help the Hurricanes be pointed in the right direction when the season starts.
1. Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a team that has struggled since 2006. However, things are start to look up for this organization.
One way in which they are starting to look up is their draft selection of Rasmus Dahlin. With a #1 pick in the NHL, this not only shows that you now possess possibly the best rookie in the draft class but this is a team that has to put up wins in order to showcase this new talent. Dahlin has wonderful vision and such an offensive and defensive presence. This will certainly help put the Sabres exactly where they need to be.
In addition, the Sabres have acquired Jeff Skinner who is a very talented player that will help this team be successful. Other players such as Jack Eichel and Kyle Okposo will also impact this team in a positive way and move them forward.
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The Sabres will struggle a little in net, however, Carter Hutton did not have a really bad season last year and also maintained an excellent save percentage. The Sabres may need some readjustments here and there when the season starts but they will certainly give the rest of the league a run for their money. This team has a good dynamic of a talented offense, defense, and goaltending. They deserve recognition as a vital team and certainly as a #1 underdog.