An early summer power ranking of the 32 NHL teams

23. Utah Hockey Club - 2023-24 Result: Missed Playoffs (Arizona Coyotes)

It is hard to tell how good the Utah Hockey Club is going to be. It would have been the same level of difficulty if it were the Arizona Coyotes. Only this time, the owner allows the team to make solid moves that help them win.

Take last year's Arizona team, and give them a more developed version of everyone, John Marino, and Mikhail Sergachev. It is certainly far from a bad team.

24. Buffalo Sabres - 2023-24 Result: Missed Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres are in a weird spot. They came insanely close to making the playoffs in 2022-23 but fell just short. With high expectations as a result in 2023-24, they fell flat on their faces.

They currently have the longest playoff drought in the league and it doesn't look to be ending any time soon. After doing nothing in free agency so far (besides letting Jeff Skinner go), 24 might be too nice to them.