Which NHL teams are currently at the top of their division, and will they stay at the top?

We are about two months into the 2022-23 regular season, and there is still a long road ahead until the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s take a closer look at which teams are currently at the top of their division and have the best chance at making it into the playoffs. 

The top three teams in each division will constitute the first twelve teams in the playoffs, and the final four spots will be filled by the two highest ranked teams from the Western and Eastern conferences. 

Starting with the Eastern Conference, we have the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division.

The top three teams of the Atlantic Division are currently: The Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. 

The Boston Bruins currently have 36 points in 21 games and have had an incredible start to their season. Last season the Bruins were ranked fourth in their division with 107 points in 82 games, which qualified them for a wildcard spot in the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Should the Bruins maintain their momentum throughout this season, they will likely make an appearance in the 2022-23 Playoffs. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently have 31 points in 23 games. The Leafs are notorious for making it into the playoffs but losing in the first round. Toronto will likely make another playoff appearance, but only time will tell if they will make it to the second round.

The Detroit Red Wings are a surprise contender, they currently have 26 points in 20 games, which puts them one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings last qualified for the playoffs in 2016 and lost in the first round. It would be an incredible comeback for Detroit should they qualify for this year's playoffs, however, I predict that as the season continues they will be outranked by Tampa Bay and the Florida Panthers, who are currently three points behind Detroit. 

The top three teams of the Metropolitan Division are currently: The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

The New Jersey Devils have far exceeded the league’s expectations for them. It seems that coach Lindy Ruff and star player Jack Hughes have settled into their roles for the team. The Devils last made the playoffs in 2018, but should they maintain their momentum, New Jersey has a solid chance at not just making the playoffs but making a serious cup run. 

The New York Islanders currently have 30 points in 23 games. The Islanders performed well this past week with a four game winning streak and 7-3-0 record, but, as the season continues, we will likely see the Islanders fall in the division rankings. However, I predict they have a solid chance at clinching a wildcard position in the playoffs. 

The Carolina Hurricanes currently have 27 points in 22 games. Carolina is a solid team and has qualified for the playoffs consistently since 2018, and so it would be no surprise to see them in this years’ playoffs. 

Currently ranked at four and five in the division, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers are two teams most would expect to see in the 2022-23 playoffs. Both teams are currently on a losing streak, however, they are not far behind the top teams in points. As the season continues, one or both of these teams will likely move up to the top of the division. 

Moving over to the Western Conference, we have the Central Division and the Pacific Division. 

The top three teams in the Central Division are currently: the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, and Colorado Avalanche. 

The Dallas Stars currently have 28 points in 22 games. 23 year-old left winger, Jason Robertson was named one of the 3 stars of week by the NHL and is currently in first place in the race for the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy. This young star has been a key part of Dallas’ recent success and will likely lead the team to the playoffs this year.

The Winnipeg Jets are following closely behind the Stars with 27 points in 20 games. The Jets have been performing remarkably well considering the long-term absences of key players Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton, and Morgan Barron. Barron made his return earlier this week, and Ehlers and Appleton are expected to return in January. With this in mind, I predict the Jets will be one of the three Central Division teams headed to the playoffs this year. 

The Colorado Avalanche currently have 25 points in 19 games. As last year's Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado is very likely to make another playoff appearance. However, the biggest question facing this team is whether they will be able to repeat last year's success and bring home the cup. 

The top three teams in the Pacific Division are currently: the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and LA Kings. 

The Vegas Golden Knights currently have 33 points in 23 games. The Golden Knights have greatly exceeded their preseason expectations, mostly thanks to their stellar defense. The Golden Knights are used to exceeding expectations, having made it to the Stanley Cup Finals during their inaugural season in 2018. Vegas will likely be in the playoffs again this year, however, I think it is unlikely they will make it to the finals this year. 

The Seattle Krakens currently have 29 points in 21 games. The Krakens are only a year old and are far exceeding preseason predictions. Currently on a 5 game winning streak, the future is looking bright for Seattle. However, since they are in the same division as the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames, as the season continues it will become more and more difficult for the Kraken to clinch a spot in the playoffs. 

The LA Kings currently have 27 points in 24 games. The Kings had a slow start to their season, but things have picked up a bit for them. However, the Kings’ success is inconsistent, and for that reason I predict that if they do make it to the playoffs this year it will be as a wildcard team.