The 2024-25 NHL Season is underway and we’re seeing groups that play a sure type of hockey sitting close to the highest of the standings. These groups know that it issues to start out taking part in playoff hockey now by being affected person and to not cheat the sport.
There must be no shock who will likely be on the high of the record, as NHLRumors.com on this newest put up offers you the groups that play their type to perfection as they sit close to the highest of the standings.
Let’s dive into the record.
4 NHL Groups That Don’t Cheat the Recreation
Florida Panthers
It’s straightforward to pinpoint and look on the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. However let’s be trustworthy, there’s a motive they’re the usual on how you can play hockey within the NHL. Head coach Paul Maurice has his group shopping for right into a system. It doesn’t matter what the rating is, whether or not the group is up or trailing, they’re taking part in that system.
Florida Panthers Know They Are the Hunted This Season
The Panthers aren’t trying to cheat the sport and deviate from the sport plan. Even when they’re dropping by a number of objectives, which is uncommon, however it occurs, the Panthers are a tricky group to play in opposition to. Florida will likely be bodily till the top and make the opposite group know they need to pay the worth till the ultimate buzzer sounds.
There’s a motive why the Florida Panthers went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, profitable the Cup in 2024. The gamers not solely purchase into what the pinnacle coach is preaching, however they execute that plan to perfection. Regardless of the teaching employees tells the gamers to do, they do it, as Paul Maurice stated through the 2024 Stanley Cup Last.
There’s a motive why the Florida Panthers are ready to win one other Stanley Cup this yr.
Winnipeg Jets
Proper behind the Florida Panthers in NHL groups that don’t cheat the sport, are the shocking Winnipeg Jets. The Jets are discovering a brand new type to their recreation this yr. After back-to-back first-round exits, the Winnipeg Jets perceive they should purchase into playoff hockey at the beginning of the common season, and never because the common season winds down within the first spherical of the playoffs.
The Winnipeg Jets Are Legit and Put NHL Groups on Discover
The Jets are a harder group to play in opposition to as head coach Scott Arniel is rolling 4 traces to perfection. They’re getting balanced scoring from all their traces and they’re getting again to taking part in defense-first hockey. Bear in mind this group recorded 110 factors final yr. That they had the perfect objectives in opposition to common final season. There’s a familiarity with the gamers and coach.
The Winnipeg Jets gamers are shopping for into the system that they need to play afterward within the yr when it issues. Sure, it helps to have Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes, however he can get uncovered when the Jets don’t play protection and cheat the sport.
Winnipeg is attending to the purpose the place if issues don’t go their means, they’re completely satisfied taking part in a affected person recreation the place they don’t cheat for offense anymore. They know it’ll come. However it’ll come on their phrases as they turn into a hardened group for the gamers.
Carolina Hurricanes
The demise of the Carolina Hurricanes was tremendously underestimated. Coming into the season, NHLRumors.com had the Canes ending third within the Metro Division. Why is that? Due to the type of recreation they play and who’s behind the bench.
NHL Rumors: The Carolina Hurricanes Might Get A Late Season Enhance From Their Prime Prospect
The Carolina Hurricanes, no matter participant personnel, play the very same means as their head coach Rod Brind’Amour performed within the NHL. They restrict the group’s time and house. Carolina has an aggressive forecheck and a sound defensive construction. The one challenge was goal-scoring. Might they’ve sufficient depth scoring to associate with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechknikov?
The reply is sure they’ll. Jack Roslovic has been a pleasing shock and Martin Necas has stepped up his recreation after signing a two-year bridge deal. There are some acquainted faces on the backend and they’re getting the goaltending as effectively. Carolina has gained eight straight video games.
Just like Winnipeg, the Hurricanes will likely be judged on playoff outcomes. That’s when the offense runs dry. However to suppose Carolina was going away, folks have been sadly mistaken contemplating the type of recreation they play.
Dallas Stars
Assume what you’ll about Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and his failures to win the Stanley Cup, however he will get his groups to play a sure means and they don’t deviate from it.
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You have a look at the Stars and also you see why they went to back-to-back Western Convention Finals. Sure, they’ve the goalie in Jake Oettinger, however the construction they play is so easy. Dallas is a tricky group to play in opposition to as soon as the playoffs come.
That’s as a result of they perceive to win the playoffs, you need to begin constructing the construction within the common season. Whereas the Stars could have off nights like most groups do, their construction is there. They don’t cheat the sport or the type they play.
DeBoer has been utilizing that type since his days with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. Even with the offensive expertise on the group, it’s in regards to the defensive construction. Keep affected person and allow them to come to you. Gamers shouldn’t go chase the sport.
Dallas sticks inside their construction and if it fails on a specific play, so be it, they continue to be true to it as a result of the Stars are by no means out of any recreation.
The Vegas Golden Knights Offseason Is A Little Deceptive
Honorable Mentions
When you look across the NHL there are a few groups that didn’t make the minimize that could possibly be in there. The Vegas Golden Knights underneath Bruce Cassidy are one in all them. They play a imply and bodily defensive type. However they’ve an offensive punch with the expertise they’ve.
As well as throw within the Los Angeles Kings underneath Jim Hiller and the Tampa Bay Lightning underneath Jon Cooper. The Lightning discovered the laborious means they wanted to play higher defensively and never cheat the sport within the four-game collection loss to Columbus in 2019.
These are the NHL groups we right here at NHLRumors.com really feel don’t cheat the sport. Are you able to consider others? Tell us.
