Which teams do you consider to be a strong Stanley Cup Contender for 2025?

[bobholly39]

We're a little over 1 month into the season. Some hot starts, some slow starts....some teams unexpectedly doing good or bad vs where you maybe had them in the off-season.

As of today - vote for the teams you consider a "strong stanley cup contender". I'll leave it to each voter to decide what "strong" means. For me, I would say there's generally only about ~3-7 strong contenders at a time, but maybe you feel different.

Please explain your rationale.

I'll try to list all teams who are either off to a great start, or who had really big off-season expectations. If I missed anyone, just vote "other" and list the team and say why.

Click to read more...

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Panthers are the only good team in the NHL tbh

 

[bobholly39]

Looking at the list of teams - I'll start with my list. In no particular order:

1. Florida Panthers. Defending champions, back to back finalists, strong start...this seems obvious

2. Edmonton Oilers. Poor start - but, they did that last year too. Found their way and make a hell of a run to cup. I still think they're a top favorite

3. Vegas Golden Knights. Very deep team, their top stars are doing really good, and I suspect they might bounce back after a disappointing year last year.

4. NY Rangers. Very solid last year, solid so far this year, all their top players, and goalie, are doing well...it just seems like a team who can do well come playoffs.

5. Colorado. Bad start to season, and I think they definitely need better goaltending...but I could also see them make a run. A ton of star power and difference makers.

Those are the 5 I consider strong contenders.

I didn't have Jets making playoffs going into the year....and although I've changed my opinion on that, I still don't see them as a top contender quite yet. So they don't make my list. I'm also not as high on Dallas as many seem to be, so I leave them off.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Other: Seattle Kraken.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I went with

Florida
Carolina
Vegas
Toronto
NYR
Dallas
Edmonton

 

[Johnny Tomala]

From this option, I voted for Florida, NY Rangers, Vegas, Dallas, Edmonton, Colorado. Carolina, Winnipeg lacks superstar forwards, they always get found out in the playoffs. Toronto is Toronto.

 

[Three On Zero]

 

[HockeyVirus]

Too early.

 

[Three On Zero]

Too early.

Why? These things get discussed before the season even starts. How’s it too early now?

 

[Minnesota Knudsens]

Florida - The champs until they’re not. Great start. Great depth at forward. Decent top 4 D. Great goalie.

Edmonton - McDrai always find another level in the playoffs. Can’t ever count them out because of those two.

Vegas - Solid lineup that might just be over their cup hangover.

Teams I want to believe in but don’t - NYR, Toronto, Carolina, Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado

 

[HockeyVirus]

Why? These things get discussed before the season even starts. How’s it too early now?

I don't really care that Winnipeg is basically undefeated. Twice now they have folded in the playoffs and been rough down the stretch before it. I want to see them do it going into the playoffs before I rank them there.

And also, there are teams you could rank as contenders that can fall of a cliff. Last year LA was on fire like this year and then they had a horrific stretch that cost them the division.

I would argue most of the teams in the league with any sort of significant changes like coaching staff, core pieces, etc are only now starting to settle into things and gain some camaraderie with team mates. I don't believe we will know the true contender list until a few weeks after the 4 nations concludes.

 

[SimpleJack]

There are 2 clear cup top/elite contenders that are a tier above everyone else and that's the last 2 Cup champs FLA and VGK.

After that probably Canes/Jets/Rangers/Oilers

The one team that has the potential to eventually join the discussion is Colorado. Lots of "ifs" involved, but still not entirely impossible.

I don't trust Dallas or New Jersey. There's just something that's not quite right with each of those teams, i can't exactly pinpoint it but that's my opinion.

 

[JianYang]

There is not one overly convincing team on this list which should be good news for the field.... but there are 4 teams here which I feel very comfortable to put in the higher tier.

 

[Three On Zero]

I don't really care that Winnipeg is basically undefeated. Twice now they have folded in the playoffs and been rough down the stretch before it. I want to see them do it going into the playoffs before I rank them there.

And also, there are teams you could rank as contenders that can fall of a cliff. Last year LA was on fire like this year and then they had a horrific stretch that cost them the division.

I would argue most of the teams in the league with any sort of significant changes like coaching staff, core pieces, etc are only now starting to settle into things and gain some camaraderie with team mates. I don't believe we will know the true contender list until a few weeks after the 4 nations concludes.

Winning record =/= Cup contender

 

[HockeyVirus]

Winning record =/= Cup contender

That's what I am saying. The contenders are the teams clicking and playing the right way later in the season when games tighten up. Too many teams still playing pond hockey.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Can't see the cup outside of these teams without massive injuries:

Tier 1: Florida, Edmonton, Dallas
Tier 2: Vegas, Devils
Tier 3: Rangers

 

[wetcoast]

Looking at the list of teams - I'll start with my list. In no particular order:

1. Florida Panthers. Defending champions, back to back finalists, strong start...this seems obvious

2. Edmonton Oilers. Poor start - but, they did that last year too. Found their way and make a hell of a run to cup. I still think they're a top favorite

3. Vegas Golden Knights. Very deep team, their top stars are doing really good, and I suspect they might bounce back after a disappointing year last year.

4. NY Rangers. Very solid last year, solid so far this year, all their top players, and goalie, are doing well...it just seems like a team who can do well come playoffs.

5. Colorado. Bad start to season, and I think they definitely need better goaltending...but I could also see them make a run. A ton of star power and difference makers.

Those are the 5 I consider strong contenders.

I didn't have Jets making playoffs going into the year....and although I've changed my opinion on that, I still don't see them as a top contender quite yet. So they don't make my list. I'm also not as high on Dallas as many seem to be, so I leave them off.

Your top 3 and 5th make my top 6 but I'll add the Canes and Dallas in there as well and knock the NYR out as they have been too much of a regular season team for me and not sure if they are constructed for a deep run.

But when you have an elite goalie and really good team anything is possible.

The top 4 Big guns in the West are Edmonton, Dallas, Vegas and Colorado and I think Winnipeg are the NYR of the west.

After the canes, Panthers and NYR I'm not sure who the 4th and 5th best contenders would be honestly.

Maybe NJ and Washington but can the Capitals keep it up and can NJ put it all together for a deep run finally I dunno.

Other: Seattle Kraken.

Are they even going to make the playoffs this year?

 

[sensfan4lifee]

The Oilers are not a contender they had a good thing going then they fu cked that roster up in one summer

Can't see the cup outside of these teams without massive injuries:

Tier 1: Florida, Edmonton, Dallas
Tier 2: Vegas, Devils
Tier 3: Rangers

The Oilers do not belong in tier 1

 

[bobholly39]

That's what I am saying. The contenders are the teams clicking and playing the right way later in the season when games tighten up. Too many teams still playing pond hockey.

Right. But that's the point of the poll - as of today, who would you consider a strong contender? It's supposed to be hard, because it's early.

ie - are you sold on the Jets and their amazing record? Going into the season - teams like Colorado, Edmonton or even Nashville may have had high expectations - is their slow starts enough to change your mind?

It's interesting to see that less than half of voters see Jets as a strong contender, despite them being on pace for 153 points on the season (all time record is around ~130).

 

[NyQuil]

Panthers, Knights, Stars, Avs.

 

[Miro4Norris]

The Oilers are not a contender they had a good thing going then they fu cked that roster up in one summer


The Oilers do not belong in tier 1

That's what they said one year ago on this time. I disagreed.

 

[sensfan4lifee]

That's what they said one year ago on this time. I disagreed.

One year ago at this time they Had Ceci, Broberg, Mcleod and Holloway in there line up, they've replaced it with garbage and they've lost a lot of speed. The D is weak besides 1 pair, and unless Mcdavid goes God mode there not making the finals.

 

[bobholly39]

One year ago at this time they Had Ceci, Broberg, Mcleod and Holloway in there line up, they've replaced it with garbage and they've lost a lot of speed. The D is weak besides 1 pair, and unless Mcdavid goes God mode there not making the finals.

He kind of has for 3 straight playoffs though, hasn't he? Certainly in 2022 and 24 playoffs. And Draisaitl too usually - and now Bouchard 2 years in a row as well.

It's hard to discount a team with such x-factors.

 

[Jets 31]

Since this is as of right now i say Winnipeg. I don't care what has happened in the past, as of right now they are the best team in the NHL.

 

[Finnen]

Tier 1: Jets, Panthers
Tier 2: Capitals, Rangers
Tier 3: Avalanche