The 2023-24 season has been underway for a little over two months now. With the regular season ending on April 18, it’s time to start looking forward and speculating which teams might make the playoffs this season.
The NHL is broken into the Eastern and Western Conferences, with eight teams from each making it to the playoffs each season. Within each conference are two divisions: the Atlantic and Metropolitan within the Eastern Conference and the Central and Pacific within the Western. The top three teams in each division will make it, as well as the best two teams in each Conference that aren’t included in those initial six, making 16 teams in total.
It should be noted that considering the fast-paced nature of the hockey season, the records and stats I’m recording in this piece are as of Jan. 18.
Looking at the Atlantic division, the Boston Bruins are currently in first place, with a 26-8 record, which is currently the least amount of losses in the NHL. Unless they take a nosedive in the back half of the season, they seem like a shoo-in to make it. Behind them are the 27-13 Florida Panthers, who are tied for the most road wins in the Eastern Conference and are on a hot streak, having only lost one of their last 10 games. In third are the Detroit Red Wings, with a 23-16 record. The 21-13 Toronto Maple Leaves and the 22-17 Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting in 4th and 5th place and definitely still have a chance. The teams I’d be shocked to see make it this season are the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators.
Leading the Metropolitan division are the 28-13 New York Rangers, but they might be losing their footing a bit, with a 4-5-1 record over their last 10 games. I’d still be stunned if they manage to miss the playoffs, but their grip on first place in the Metropolitan might be slipping. The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes are right behind them, both sitting at a comfortable 24-14, but with the Flyers just barely edging them out with 54 points, as opposed to the Hurricanes 53. The Hurricanes look dangerous at the moment, having a 7-2-1 record over their last 10. In 4th and 5th place are the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, who are tied at 21-15 and each have 48 points on the season so far. Both could easily secure a spot if they can catch some momentum. In dead last are the 14-21 Columbus Blue Jackets, who I’d say are the only team in the Metropolitan who don’t have any hope of the playoffs this season.
Moving into the Central division in the Western Conference, the 29-10 Winnipeg Jets are doing everything in their power to cling to their number one spot, having an impressive 9-1 record over their last 10. The Colorado Avalanche have no intention of making it easy for them, right on their tail at 29-13, and are also on a roll with their 8-2 record over their last 10. In third, the Dallas Stars comfortably hold their position at 26-12. Fighting for a wild card spot, the Nashville Predators are slightly ahead at the moment at 24-19. At this point, I think it’s safe to say the 18-20 Minnesota Wild and the 13-29 Chicago Blackhawks aren’t contending for playoff spots this season.
Finally, in the Pacific Division, the Vancouver Canucks are firmly holding onto their spot in first place with a strong 29-11 record. In second, the Vegas Golden Knights are at 25-14, with nothing too noteworthy to discuss. However, in third, the 21-12 Los Angeles Kings are quickly fading into oblivion, having an abysmal 1-5-4 record over their last 10 games. On the other hand, the red-hot Edmonton Oilers have a 24-15 record, being the only team in the NHL to go 10-0 over their last 10. In fifth place, the 21-18 Calgary Flames seem like they might have a chance at snagging a wild card spot. The teams within the Pacific that I don’t expect to make it are the 15-28 Anaheim Ducks and the team with the worst record in the league, the 10-31 San Jose Sharks.
NHL mid-season update
The 2023-24 season has been underway for a little over two months now. With the regular season ending on April 18, it’s time to start looking forward and speculating which teams might make the playoffs this season.
The NHL is broken into the Eastern and Western Conferences, with eight teams from each making it to the playoffs each season. Within each conference are two divisions: the Atlantic and Metropolitan within the Eastern Conference and the Central and Pacific within the Western. The top three teams in each division will make it, as well as the best two teams in each Conference that aren’t included in those initial six, making 16 teams in total.
It should be noted that considering the fast-paced nature of the hockey season, the records and stats I’m recording in this piece are as of Jan. 18.
Looking at the Atlantic division, the Boston Bruins are currently in first place, with a 26-8 record, which is currently the least amount of losses in the NHL. Unless they take a nosedive in the back half of the season, they seem like a shoo-in to make it. Behind them are the 27-13 Florida Panthers, who are tied for the most road wins in the Eastern Conference and are on a hot streak, having only lost one of their last 10 games. In third are the Detroit Red Wings, with a 23-16 record. The 21-13 Toronto Maple Leaves and the 22-17 Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting in 4th and 5th place and definitely still have a chance. The teams I’d be shocked to see make it this season are the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators.
Leading the Metropolitan division are the 28-13 New York Rangers, but they might be losing their footing a bit, with a 4-5-1 record over their last 10 games. I’d still be stunned if they manage to miss the playoffs, but their grip on first place in the Metropolitan might be slipping. The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes are right behind them, both sitting at a comfortable 24-14, but with the Flyers just barely edging them out with 54 points, as opposed to the Hurricanes 53. The Hurricanes look dangerous at the moment, having a 7-2-1 record over their last 10. In 4th and 5th place are the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, who are tied at 21-15 and each have 48 points on the season so far. Both could easily secure a spot if they can catch some momentum. In dead last are the 14-21 Columbus Blue Jackets, who I’d say are the only team in the Metropolitan who don’t have any hope of the playoffs this season.
Moving into the Central division in the Western Conference, the 29-10 Winnipeg Jets are doing everything in their power to cling to their number one spot, having an impressive 9-1 record over their last 10. The Colorado Avalanche have no intention of making it easy for them, right on their tail at 29-13, and are also on a roll with their 8-2 record over their last 10. In third, the Dallas Stars comfortably hold their position at 26-12. Fighting for a wild card spot, the Nashville Predators are slightly ahead at the moment at 24-19. At this point, I think it’s safe to say the 18-20 Minnesota Wild and the 13-29 Chicago Blackhawks aren’t contending for playoff spots this season.
Finally, in the Pacific Division, the Vancouver Canucks are firmly holding onto their spot in first place with a strong 29-11 record. In second, the Vegas Golden Knights are at 25-14, with nothing too noteworthy to discuss. However, in third, the 21-12 Los Angeles Kings are quickly fading into oblivion, having an abysmal 1-5-4 record over their last 10 games. On the other hand, the red-hot Edmonton Oilers have a 24-15 record, being the only team in the NHL to go 10-0 over their last 10. In fifth place, the 21-18 Calgary Flames seem like they might have a chance at snagging a wild card spot. The teams within the Pacific that I don’t expect to make it are the 15-28 Anaheim Ducks and the team with the worst record in the league, the 10-31 San Jose Sharks.