The 2024-25 NHL Season is underway and we’re seeing groups that play a sure fashion 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 ought to be no shock who will probably be on the prime of the record, as NHLRumors.com on this newest publish will provide you with the groups that play their fashion 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 purpose they’re the usual on tips on how to play hockey within the NHL. Head coach Paul Maurice has his workforce shopping for right into a system. It doesn’t matter what the rating is, whether or not the workforce is up or trailing, they’re taking part in that system.
Florida Panthers Know They Are the Hunted This Season
The Panthers usually are not trying to cheat the sport and deviate from the sport plan. Even when they’re shedding by a number of targets, which is uncommon, but it surely occurs, the Panthers are a troublesome workforce to play towards. Florida will probably be bodily till the tip and make the opposite workforce know they need to pay the worth till the ultimate buzzer sounds.
There’s a purpose 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 top coach is preaching, however they execute that plan to perfection. Regardless of the teaching workers tells the gamers to do, they do it, as Paul Maurice stated in the course of the 2024 Stanley Cup Remaining.
There’s a purpose why the Florida Panthers are able 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 fashion to their sport this yr. After back-to-back first-round exits, the Winnipeg Jets perceive they should purchase into playoff hockey firstly 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 workforce to play towards 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. Keep in mind this workforce recorded 110 factors final yr. That they had the most effective targets towards common final season. There’s a familiarity with the gamers and coach.
The Winnipeg Jets gamers are shopping for into the system that they have to play in a while 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 manner, they’re completely satisfied taking part in a affected person sport the place they don’t cheat for offense anymore. They know it would come. However it would come on their phrases as they turn into a hardened group for the gamers.
Carolina Hurricanes
The demise of the Carolina Hurricanes was significantly underestimated. Coming into the season, NHLRumors.com had the Canes ending third within the Metro Division. Why is that? Due to the fashion of sport they play and who’s behind the bench.
NHL Rumors: The Carolina Hurricanes May Get A Late Season Increase From Their Prime Prospect
The Carolina Hurricanes, no matter participant personnel, play the very same manner as their head coach Rod Brind’Amour performed within the NHL. They restrict the workforce’s time and house. Carolina has an aggressive forecheck and a sound defensive construction. The one problem was goal-scoring. May they’ve sufficient depth scoring to associate with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechknikov?
The reply is sure they’ll. Jack Roslovic has been a nice shock and Martin Necas has stepped up his sport 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.
Much like Winnipeg, the Hurricanes will probably be judged on playoff outcomes. That’s when the offense runs dry. However to assume Carolina was going away, individuals had been sadly mistaken contemplating the fashion of sport 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 manner and they don’t deviate from it.
NHL Information: Dallas Stars Signal Jake Oettinger To An Eight-12 months Extension
You take 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 clean. Dallas is a troublesome workforce to play towards 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 can have off nights like most groups do, their construction is there. They don’t cheat the sport or the fashion they play.
DeBoer has been utilizing that fashion since his days with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. Even with the offensive expertise on the workforce, it’s concerning the defensive construction. Keep affected person and allow them to come to you. Gamers mustn’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 sport.
The Vegas Golden Knights Offseason Is A Little Deceptive
Honorable Mentions
Should you look across the NHL there are a few groups that didn’t make the lower that might be in there. The Vegas Golden Knights beneath Bruce Cassidy are considered one of them. They play a imply and bodily defensive fashion. However they’ve an offensive punch with the expertise they’ve.
As well as throw within the Los Angeles Kings beneath Jim Hiller and the Tampa Bay Lightning beneath Jon Cooper. The Lightning discovered the onerous manner 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.
