Hey! Your favorite cup, The Stanley Cup, is here again. Playoffs are just about here, and there are many teams that you will be highly enthusiastic about.
Only one of the 16 teams that get to the playoffs will win the Stanley Cup. Also, several teams are well-positioned to win the title, but trophies are not made for sharing. Only one hockey club gets to take home the cup. Hence, this article was curated for one purpose – to highlight the three teams that are most likely to take home the cup.
However, and I know you know this, it has to be said, as long as a team makes the playoffs, they are in the mix to win the cup. Yes! A team or just the goalie finding form at a crucial (and right) stage in the season can increase the odds and move a team into a playoff spot.
The last time we had a true 82-game season was in 2018-19, when all four wild card clubs won their series in the first round of the playoffs, proving that anything can happen in the postseason.
Before we go into the discussion properly, here are some facts to hold on to before the season begins.
Noteworthy Facts
The 2022/23 NHL season will be the 106th NHL season. The San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators will clash in Prague on October 7-8, 2022, to kickstart the season. This is happening in the Czech Republic as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series. L
The second match in this series sees defending champions Colorado Avalanche taking on Columbus Blue Jackets in Finland on November 4-5. However, Avalanche’s first match will be with the Chicago Blackhawks on October 11 back in the States and it will affect some selected hockey bets.
So, let’s see the three teams most likely to win the Stanley Cup next season!
- Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are well-positioned to pick up a consecutive trophy after a thrilling win in the 2022 finals against the Lightning. Winning back-to-back trophies has become a recurring theme in the last five years, so this could be the sixth year. On paper, they might be the best team in the league, but their transfer business does not give much to fantasize about. We all saw that last season; we know they can play good games.
With experienced players like Nichushkin and Kadri showing what they are capable of in the playoffs last season and greenhorns who will surely want to prove a point or two, we might be in for a superb season with the Avs.
The Avs have acquired depth to become a deeper squad for the postseason, leading the league in terms of player odds. Get your slips ready!
The Avalanche have a superb goalie, Darcy Kuemper, who needs a new contract. If they can get beyond the second round, as it is something they have struggled with in recent years, we are in for an all-actions season.
- The Calgary Flames
Practically everyone out there is rooting for the Flames. Familiar faces abound, but the loss of Johnny Gaudreau is probably why they are second favorites. The Flames still possess a star-studded squad having the best six-man blue line in the league.
The Flames will most probably retain the Pacific Division. Colorado might seem stronger, but the Flames may have an easier first two rounds of the playoffs and maybe well-rested by the time they reach the final.
Jacob Markstrom is probably one top goalie, and Tkachuk, alongside Lindholm, will probably maintain their stance, if not improve them.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning
Until another team demonstrates otherwise, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be favorites for years to come. If not for the brilliance of the Avs in last season’s final, they would probably have a historic three-peat by now.
The Lightning play in a tough conference with the Panthers and the Maple Leafs, and while Tampa may not have brought in as many players as these two, they do have something that neither club has – past playoff experience.
Neither Florida nor Toronto have won a playoff series in quite a while. Tampa Bay might prove quite a tricky postseason if they plan to cover themselves in glory. Lightning possesses past success and solid leadership that the other clubs do not have now.
While most of their key players are contracted, the cap might cause them to lose one quality player. However, their NHL has consistently supplied quality and potential over the years. To prove this, just four players on their roster are over thirty.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the 3 best teams to win the Stanley Cup this season. Two things, if you have Arizona Coyotes anywhere in your mind, bin it, and Minnesota Wild might be the wild team this year.