What Is The Best Team In The NHL Right Now?
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The NHL regular season is in full swing and there are a lot of great teams vying for the Stanley Cup. But which team is the best in the league right now? We take a look at the contenders and make our case for who we think is the best.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently the best team in the NHL. They have the best record in the league and are coming off of a Stanley Cup win. The Lightning have a great mix of veteran leaders and young talent. They are a well-balanced team that can score goals and play defense.
Record
The Tampa Bay Lightning currently have the best record in the NHL. They have a record of 33-8-2, which is good for first place in the league. The Lightning are also first in the league in goals scored, with 165 goals so far this season.
Forwards
The Tampa Bay Lighting have one of the best offenses in the NHL, and it starts with their forwards. The Lightning have two of the best scorers in the league in Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, and they also have a great supporting cast. Tyler Johnson, Brayden Point, and Yanni Gourde are all excellent complementary players. Ondrej Palat is a great two-way player, and Alex Killorn is a physical presence who can also put up some points. The Lightning also have some young players who could break out this season, like Anthony Cirelli and Mathieu Joseph.
Defense
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the best teams in the NHL for the past few years. They have a great offense, led by captain Steven Stamkos, and a very good defense. The Lightning have been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in the past three years, winning it all in 2020.
One of the reasons the Lightning have been so successful is their defense. They have a very deep defense corps, led by Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman. Hedman is one of the best defensemen in the NHL and he anchors a unit that also includes Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak, and Kevin Shattenkirk. That group is extremely talented and they are able to shut down opposing offenses.
The Lightning also have a very good goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy is one of the best goalies in the NHL and he has won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie in two of the past three seasons. He is a big reason why the Lightning have been so successful over the past few years.
If you are looking for a team to bet on to win the Stanley Cup, the Tampa Bay Lightning are definitely one of the teams you should consider. They have all of the ingredients necessary to win it all again, and they will be a tough team to beat in 2021.
Goalie
The Tampa Bay Lightning currently have the best goalie in the NHL. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been a brick wall for them this season, posting a league-best .932 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA. He’s also tied for the league lead in shutouts with four. The Lightning have relied on Vasilevskiy to be their go-to guy in net, and he has more than delivered.
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are the best team in the NHL right now. They have an incredible offense, led by Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson, and a defense that is anchored by Roman Josi. Goaltender Pekka Rinne has been outstanding this season, and the Predators have a deep and talented roster that is capable of making a run at the Stanley Cup.
Record
The Nashville Predators are currently the best team in the NHL with a record of 51-18-11. They have clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for having the most points in the league and are currently leading the Central Division by 7 points. The Predators are looking like a strong Stanley Cup contender and will be a team to watch in the playoffs.
Forwards
The forwards on the Nashville Predators are some of the best in the NHL. They are led by captain Filip Forsberg, who is one of the top goal-scorers in the league. The other forwards on the team include Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mikael Granlund. These four players form one of the most dynamic and dangerous scoring lines in the NHL.
Defense
Defense wins championships. It is a phrase that is clichéd, but it is true. A great defense can take a team a long way, especially in the playoffs. The Nashville Predators have one of the best defenses in the NHL and it is a big reason why they are one of the top teams in the league right now.
The Predators have a deep and talented defensive unit that features some of the best young players in the game. Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis are two of the best young defenseman in the NHL and they are still getting better. Mattias Ekholm is another player who is not as well-known as Josi and Ellis, but he is just as good. Ekholm is one of the best shot blockers in the NHL and he can also chip in offensively.
Pekka Rinne is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and he has been a Vezina Trophy finalist multiple times. Rinne had another stellar season this year, posting a .927 save percentage and leading the Predators to the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Nashville Predators have all of the pieces to be a great team for years to come. If they can continue to play well defensively, they will be hoisting the Stanley Cup sooner rather than later
Goalie
Pekka Rinne is the starting goalie for the Nashville Predators and is one of the best in the NHL. He has been with the team since 2008 and has helped them to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. In 2017, he won the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the best goalie in the league.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are currently leading the NHL with a record of 32-13-2. They have an impressive +28 goal differential and are currently on a six-game winning streak. They have one of the best offenses in the league, averaging 3.33 goals per game. Their defense is also one of the best, allowing only 2.67 goals per game.
Record
The Winnipeg Jets are currently the best team in the NHL with a record of 43-19-4. They have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and have one of the best players in the league in Patrik Laine.
Forwards
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, and plays its home games at Bell MTS Place.
The Jets began play as the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999–2000 NHL season. True North Sports & Entertainment then bought the team in May 2011 and relocated the franchise from Atlanta, Georgia to Winnipeg prior to the 2011–12 season. The team was renamed the Jets after Winnipeg’s original WHA/NHL team that relocated to Arizona in 1996.
On December 27, 2019, it was announced that forward Patrik Laine had been selected to represent the Jets at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. Laine leads the Jets with 30 goals so far this season.
Defense
The Winnipeg Jets are one of the best teams in the NHL right now and their defense is a big reason why. Their top four of Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey, and Toby Enstrom is as good as any in the league. They’re all big, they can all skate, and they can all move the puck. They’re also all physical players who are willing to stand up for their teammates.
The Jets also have some depth on defense. Nathan Beaulieu and Ben Chiarot are solid bottom-pairing guys who can step up and play bigger minutes when needed. Dmitry Kulikov is an experienced veteran who can provide some leadership to the young guys.
Overall, the Jets have a deep and talented group of defensemen who are playing at a high level right now. They’re a big reason why the Jets are one of the best teams in the NHL.
Goalie
This year’s Winnipeg Jets team is looking unbeatable with their amazing goalie. Connor Hellebuyck, Vezina winner as the NHL’s best goalie last season, has been a brick wall in net this season. In fact, he’s currently leading the league in both save percentage and goals against average. The rest of the team has been playing great too, but Hellebuyck has been the star. If he can keep up this level of play, the Jets have a great chance at winning the Stanley Cup this year.
Vegas Golden Knights
Record
The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the most successful expansion teams in NHL history. In their inaugural season, they set multiple expansion team records, including most wins in a season (51) and most points in a season (109). They also became the first expansion team to win a division title and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Forwards
The Vegas Golden Knights have two of the best forwards in the NHL right now in Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone. Pacioretty is a former Montreal Canadiens captain who was traded to the Golden Knights last season. He is a five-time 30-goal scorer and has scored over 40 goals three times in his career. Stone is a two-time 60-point scorer who was acquired by the Golden Knights at the trade deadline last season. He is a complete player who can play both ends of the ice and is one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.
Defense
The Vegas Golden Knights have quickly become one of the best teams in the NHL and their success is largely due to their defense. The Golden Knights have one of the best defensive cores in the league and they are led by captain Shea Theodore. Theodore is one of the best young defenseman in the league and he is flanked by veterans like Marc-Andre Fleury and Alex Tuch. The Golden Knights also have a very good young defenseman in Colin Miller who is a rising star in the league.
Goalie
There are a lot of great teams in the NHL right now, but the Vegas Golden Knights are definitely one of the best. They have a great goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury and an offense that can score goals in bunches. They also have a solid defense that can shut down opposing teams. If you’re looking for a team to bet on to win the Stanley Cup, the Golden Knights are definitely one of the top contenders.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most popular teams in the NHL and they are currently in first place in the league. The Maple Leafs have a lot of young talent on their team and they are coached by Mike Babcock, who is one of the best coaches in the NHL. The Maple Leafs are a team that is on the rise and they should be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Record
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The club is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. and are represented by head coach Sheldon Keefe. The Maple Leafs’ broadcasting rights are split between several television and radio outlets.
Forwards
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best forward groups in the NHL. Led by captain John Tavares, the Maple Leafs have a deep and talented group of forwards that can score goals and produce offensively. The Maple Leafs also have a good mix of young and veteran forwards, giving them a well-rounded and dangerous offensive attack.
Defense
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best defenses in the NHL right now. Led by captain Morgan Rielly, the Maple Leafs have a deep and talented group of blue liners that can shut down the opposition.
Rielly is having a great season, leading the team in points and goals from the defenseman position. He is flanked by Jake Muzzin, who has been solid defensively and chipped in offensively as well.
Travis Dermott and Justin Holl round out the top-4 and they have been great as well. Dermott is a young player with a lot of potential and Holl is a steady veteran who has been a nice surprise for the Maple Leafs this season.
Frederik Andersen has been one of the best goalies in the NHL this season and he has been key to the Maple Leafs success. He has bailed them out on many occasions and has given them a chance to win every night.
The Maple Leafs also have a very good group of forwards led by Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. These four players are some of the best offensive weapons in the NHL and they have carried the team offensively this season.
Goalie
In today’s NHL, a good goalie is more important than ever before. With the speed of the game and the skill of the players, a team needs a goalie that can make the save when it matters most.
There are a lot of great goalies in the NHL right now, but who is the best? It’s hard to say for sure, but here are three goalies that are definitely in the conversation.
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators: Rinne is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and has been for several years now. He’s coming off another great season in which he posted a .927 save percentage and 2.31 GAA. He’s also been extremely durable, appearing in at least 60 games in five of the last six seasons.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning: Vasilevskiy is one of the up-and-coming goaltenders in the NHL and he’s already established himself as one of the best. He had a breakout season last year, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender after posting a .917 save percentage and 2.56 GAA.
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: Price is a former winner of the Vezina Trophy and he’s still one of the best goalies in the NHL. He had another solid season last year, posting a .916 save percentage and 2.64 GAA. He’s also been very durable, appearing in at least 60 games in eight of his nine seasons.