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Top 5 best and top 5 worst NHL teams following December

By Vincent Parise

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 19: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks warms up before a game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on November 19, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 6-1 and tied the NHL record for consecutive home wins to start a season with 11. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 19: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks warms up before a game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on November 19, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 6-1 and tied the NHL record for consecutive home wins to start a season with 11. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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NHL, David Pastrnak
(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

The five best teams in the NHL have some serious potential this season.

5. Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are fully back. After a down year (which was largely due to injuries) last year, they seem poised to be in the playoffs once again. Not only are they trying to make the playoffs, but they are also good enough to win the whole thing.

With guys like Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Stone, and Chandler Stephenson amongst other great players, they are very hard to bear. They haven’t all been fully healthy all season long but they are hoping to all be perfectly fine by the time the playoffs come. If that happens, they will be in great shape.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are tied for the third most points in the NHL. That is obviously very impressive. However, it still feels like they have another level that they can get to. They have only lost eight games in regulation but two of them have come to the Arizona Coyotes.

This team is loaded with talent but can’t get out of the first round. This is the year that they should do that otherwise they are going to start making some changes. The players won’t be without blame if they go another year without a series win.

3. Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are an elite team but not many people expected them to be this good. Sure, they have some great players so a lot of people thought they could be a postseason team but they have exceeded all expectations.

Jason Robertson leads the way obviously but they have other amazing players to provide depth. Even guys like Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are bouncing back nicely this year which gives them so much depth. As of now, they are to be seen as a power in the Western Conference.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the entire league for a few reasons. For one, their record speaks for itself. However, they play the game incredibly hard in all situations. They are incredibly stingy on defense and have lots of players that can score goals.

The depth there is unlike most teams in the league. They get great goaltending as well which always helps. They will only get better when Max Pacioretty joins the party. This would be a great year for them to make a run once the playoffs start.

1. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have been the best team in the NHL all season long. They started the year without Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand as they came back from off-season injuries but they have since come back and now the whole team is humming.

Other players like Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, and Hampus Lindholm amongst others have been absolutely incredible as well. All of them bring something so different which helps bring so much balance to the team. Expect big things in 2023.

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