The 2022-23 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season is well and truly underway and, since the first games in October, we’ve already started to see things shape up and heat up in each of the league’s 4 divisions. After 2 seasons of coronavirus-related disruptions and restrictions, NHL regular season tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to buy cheap NHL tickets!
Goalie Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a glove save on a shot by Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes
During the regular season, the 32 teams are separated into 2 conferences each with 2 divisions. The Western Conference is divided into the Central Division and the Pacific Division. The Eastern Conference is divided into the Metropolitan Division and the Atlantic Division. Here’s a look at 8 of this season’s teams to watch with 2 from each division.
Central Division (Western Conference)
As well as producing Stanley Cup playoffs contenders and even Stanley Cup champions, the Central Division sometimes takes both Western Conference Wild Card playoff spots meaning the division often sees high league points.
Colorado Avalanche
Where else would we start than with the 2021-22 champions, the Colorado Avalanche? The Denver-based franchise hold a record of winning every Stanley Cup Finals they have been part of by lifting the coveted trophy just a few months ago. Although they lost a few of their champion players, Mile High Sticking report that “the Avalanche are still well-prepared to make it back-to-back championships” and they have “a young core that can get the job done”. It’s looking like their dominant reign is set to continue.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild seemed to spend much of last season battling the St. Louis Blues having hosted and lost to them at Target Field, Minneapolis in the 2022 NHL Winter Classic and being knocked out of the first round playoffs by them. They will surely have a score to settle with the Blues this season! Look out for the young and talented Kirill Kaprizov who scored an incredible 108 points and 47 goals last season.
Pacific Division (Western Conference)
The NHL’s Pacific Division is home to some of the most exciting and commercial teams from the spectacle of the Vegas Golden Knights to the stardom of the mighty Anaheim Ducks. The division also includes the newest franchise in the league, the Seattle Kraken.
Vegas Golden Knights
It’s Viva Las Vegas and the Golden Knights sure know how to put on a show! They missed out on the playoffs last season for the first time in their history thanks to some bad luck with injuries. The Knights will be pushing to reach their previous form this season and get another taste of the playoffs. If that’s not enough for you, their home venue, the T-Mobile Arena, is the place for celeb-spotting and you can always have some fun in Sin City!
Edmonton Oilers
Canada’s Edmonton Oilers is well-known for being the first NHL home of Wayne Gretzky, one of the most famous and successful ice hockey players to have ever taken to the ice. However, it is now the era of Connor McDavid who is widely considered the best current hockey player in the world. There must be something in the (icy) water at Edmonton!
Atlantic Division (Eastern Conference)
Perhaps the most exciting and competitive division of recent years, the Atlantic Division includes some of the oldest and most successful teams, as well as some of the NHL’s fiercest rivalries.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning have had a huge amount of success in the past few years having lifted the Stanley Cup in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, and it looked like that would turn into a third consecutive win last season had it not been for the Colorado Avalanche. But the Bolts won’t have enjoyed that loss and they are sure to come back stronger than ever. The Lightning’s local rivals, the Florida Panthers, are also one to watch having had the best offense of any team in the 2021-22 season, but sadly faltering at the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are ice hockey through-and-through. They are one of the oldest teams in the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame is just around the corner from their home rink, Scotiabank Arena. Their historic significance has always attracted some of the world’s top ice hockey players, but it’s the drama they bring that really keeps people hooked: they have lost a winner-take-all (game 7) game in 5 consecutive playoff series. As well as their rivalry with fellow historic institution and the most successful team in the league’s history the Montreal Canadiens, the Maple Leafs have fiery relationships with the Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators!
Metropolitan Division (Eastern Conference)
Home to some of the NHL’s most intense rivalries, the Metropolitan Division always consists of a season of entertaining matchups. The division includes teams from some of the biggest cities on the East coast of the States like Washington and Philadelphia, but a lot of attention is focused on the bad blood between the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils.
Kevin Labanc (62) attempts to tip a shot past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) as defenseman K’Andre Miller provides support – Photo by Jack Lima
New York Rangers
One of the NHL’s most recognizable franchises with their striking blue, red, and white sweaters, the New York Rangers not only has some famous fans, but also passionate ones. After some shaky campaigns in the last few years where they rarely qualified for the playoffs, the Rangers had a very successful 2021-22 season. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals where they were knocked out 2-4 by the daunting Tampa Bay Lightning – there’s no shame in that! Igor Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender and Adam Fox won the Norris Trophy for best defensive player, so this team really is bringing Rangers back to form.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have consistently performed well over several seasons now having finished top of the division last season but getting knocked out in the second round of the playoffs. Despite previously relying on older players, it may be time for the newbies. Canes Country highlight some of the exciting young prospects like Jesper Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis who are looking to step up their form this season. The Canes are known for one of the most entertaining post-win celebrations, the atmospheric Storm Surge! The team also take on the Washington Capitals in the ever-popular NHL Stadium Series regular season outdoor game on 18 February 2023 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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