The 2024-25 NHL Season is underway and we’re seeing groups that play a sure model of hockey sitting close to the highest of the standings. These groups know that it issues to begin taking part in playoff hockey now by being affected person and to not cheat the sport.
There needs to be no shock who will probably be on the prime of the record, as NHLRumors.com on this newest submit offers you the groups that play their model 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 Sport
Florida Panthers
It is easy to pinpoint and look on the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. However let’s be sincere, there’s a motive they’re the usual on tips on how to 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 seeking to cheat the sport and deviate from the sport plan. Even when they’re shedding by a number of objectives, which is uncommon, nevertheless it occurs, the Panthers are a troublesome group to play in opposition to. Florida will probably be bodily till the top and make the opposite group know they must pay the value 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 top 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 throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Closing.
There’s a motive why the Florida Panthers are ready to win one other Stanley Cup this 12 months.
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 model to their recreation this 12 months. After back-to-back first-round exits, the Winnipeg Jets perceive they should purchase into playoff hockey initially 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 Teams on Notice
The Jets are a more durable group to play in opposition to as head coach Scott Arniel is rolling 4 strains to perfection. They’re getting balanced scoring from all their strains and they’re getting again to taking part in defense-first hockey. Keep in mind this group recorded 110 factors final 12 months. They’d the very best 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 in a while within the 12 months 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 pleased 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 change into a hardened group for the gamers.
Carolina Hurricanes
The demise of the Carolina Hurricanes was enormously underestimated. Coming into the season, NHLRumors.com had the Canes finishing third in the Metro Division. Why is that? Due to the model of recreation they play and who’s behind the bench.
NHL Rumors: The Carolina Hurricanes Could Get A Late Season Boost From Their Top 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 problem was goal-scoring. May they’ve sufficient depth scoring to go together 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 properly. Carolina has received eight straight video games.
Just like Winnipeg, the Hurricanes will probably be judged on playoff outcomes. That’s when the offense runs dry. However to suppose Carolina was going away, individuals had been sadly mistaken contemplating the model 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.
NHL News: Dallas Stars Sign Jake Oettinger To An Eight-Year 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 easy. Dallas is a troublesome 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 model they play.
DeBoer has been utilizing that model since his days with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. Even with the offensive expertise on the group, 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 selected 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 Misleading
Honorable Mentions
If you happen to look across the NHL there are a few groups that didn’t make the reduce that might be in there. The Vegas Golden Knights beneath Bruce Cassidy are one in every of them. They play a imply and bodily defensive model. 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 exhausting means they wanted to play higher defensively and never cheat the sport within the four-game sequence 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.
