Through the first few months, the 2023-24 National Hockey League season has been a season to remember. Further, it has been one of the more competitive seasons to date. However, some teams have separated themselves from the pack and made a mark on the league. We will evaluate some of these standout teams, including a few blue bloods and surprises.

Vegas Golden Knights | 20-5-5

Fresh off the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, the Golden Knights have picked up right where they left off. Vegas has been around since 2017, but they already have two Stanley Cup appearances and one championship. This season, they have continued to look like one of the top teams, with a league-leading 45 points, continuing to show why they were among the preseason hockey odds favorites.

Their 20 wins are tops in the league, while their five losses are the lowest. They also come in 2nd in goal differential. In many ways, they have taken a step forward. After finishing 14th in the league in goals last season, they currently rank 3rd with 105. Center Jack Eichel and right wing Jonathan Marchessault have their high-flying offense, but it is a balanced attack. While Vegas is 3rd in goals, they do not have a single player in the top ten in points.

The Golden Knights have also had a tremendous play in goal from Adin Hill. The 27-year-old has a career year, leading the league in goals against per game and saving percentages in his 16 starts.

Boston Bruins | 18-5-3

Boston enters the season bearing the weight of massive disappointment last season. After a record-breaking regular season, the Bruins went 65-12-5 for a record 135 points. However, the magical season would end heartbreakingly, as the eight-seeded Florida Panthers upset the Bruins in an epic seven-game series. The win propelled the Panthers to a dramatic run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

To their credit, the Bruins have responded as well as they could be expected to. Boston started the season rock solid, once again on pace to be the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, thanks to great defense. The Bruins rank second in the league in goals against.

New York Rangers | 19-7-1

Now, we have reached the teams that aren’t supposed to be here, starting with the New York Rangers. The Rangers got bounced in the first round of last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and entered the year with the 11th-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. However, they have started the year on fire and are second in the league in wins while also being 3rd in points.

New York fans should brace for some regression, though. The Rangers are 9-0-1 in one-goal games, which explains how their goal differential is just +11. For reference, Pittsburgh is 12-12-3 through 27 games and has a goal differential of +8. New York is 14th in goals for and 11th in goals against, suggesting that they should come back down to earth.

Vancouver Canucks | 19-9-1

If New York was a surprise, Vancouver is an even bigger surprise. The Canucks finished 38-37-7 last season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. They have reached the playoffs just twice during the previous ten seasons. During that span, they have only eclipsed 90 points twice.

They entered this season with the 21st-best odds to win the Stanley Cup but opened it with ten wins in their first 13 games. Their 39 points are thanks to a high-powered offense. No team has scored more than the Canucks 111 goals. In fact, the next closest team is at 106. Center J.T. Miller, defenseman Quinn Hughes, and right-wing Brock Boeser power their attack. Each player is in the top 15 in points scored, with Miller and Hughes proving to be masters of the assist. Hughes leads the league with 30 assists, while Miller comes in at 5th with 27. Four of the top eight leaders in assists play for Vancouver.

Los Angeles Kings | 16-5-4

After winning two Stanley Cups in three seasons between 2011-2014, the championship window quickly closed for Los Angeles. In the nine seasons since their 2013-14 title, the Kings have made the playoffs just four times and have yet to make it out of the first round in any of those trips. However, The last two seasons represented upticks in performance, logging 99 points in 2021-22 and 104 in 2022-23. The former champs had a decent season despite opening with two consecutive losses. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, they play in the same division as the Knights and Canucks, meaning their hard work has been rewarded with third place in the Pacific Division

What Can We Expect For The Rest Of The Season?

The Pacific Division is stacked thus far, with the three top teams in goal differential (Vancouver, Vegas, and Los Angeles) coming from that division. However, Detroit, Winnipeg, and Colorado are teams to watch. This season is looking as competitive as ever, and as the postseason approaches, expect exciting hockey night in and night out.