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NHL Tiers for Next Year

Created by: pensfan21
Team: 2023-24 Custom Team
Initial Creation Date: Aug. 11, 2023
Published: Aug. 11, 2023
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Cup favorites: Teams that I think for sure make playoffs and are top contenders to win the cup.

Cup contenders: Likely make playoffs. Could win the cup if they get hot at the right time but not favorites. Includes teams I think could have breakout seasons (similar to Kraken last year).

Wild cards: Don't mean literal wild cards, but teams that I am not sold on as contenders, but could be if a few things pan out. I would say majority of the teams here make playoffs but not 100%.

On the rise: Not necessarily good teams and probably not playoff teams, but teams that I think will be improved this season or exceed expectations.

Not sold: Wouldn't say these are going to be the worst teams, but teams that I think will fall short of expectations. Potentially could make playoffs but wouldn't say it's likely.

Rebuilding: Not much to say here, likely will be top lottery teams.

Threw some hot takes in here. If anyone has questions about a teams placement comment below and I can give an explanation.
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
38$83,500,000$59,256,778$0$905,000$24,243,222
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Cup, Favorites
$775,000$775,000
Cup, Contenders
$775,000$775,000
Wild, Cards
$775,000$775,000
Logo of the Carolina Hurricanes
$8,460,250$8,460,250
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$950,000$950,000
C, RW
RFA - 2
Logo of the Florida Panthers
$896,667$896,667
LD
RFA - 4
Logo of the Vegas Golden Knights
$897,500$897,500
LD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$2,000,000$2,000,000
C, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Minnesota Wild
$867,500$867,500 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
C
RFA - 3
Logo of the New Jersey Devils
$1,050,000$1,050,000
LD
RFA - 2
Logo of the Buffalo Sabres
$950,000$950,000 (Performance Bonus$650,000$650K)
LW
RFA - 3
Logo of the Ottawa Senators
$4,975,000$4,975,000
RW, LW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Dallas Stars
$825,000$825,000
C
RFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$775,000$775,000
LW, C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Seattle Kraken
$775,000$775,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Los Angeles Kings
$4,125,000$4,125,000
LD
UFA - 8
Logo of the Tampa Bay Lightning
$800,000$800,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Colorado Avalanche
$775,000$775,000
LD
RFA - 1
Logo of the New York Rangers
$775,000$775,000
C, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the New York Islanders
$825,000$825,000
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$825,000$825,000
LD/RD
RFA - 2
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
On the, Rise
$775,000$775,000
Not, Sold
$775,000$775,000
Logo of the Arizona Coyotes
$775,000$775,000
LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Boston Bruins
$925,000$925,000
C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Columbus Blue Jackets
$850,833$850,833 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
C
RFA - 1
Logo of the St. Louis Blues
$809,444$809,444
C
RFA - 1
Logo of the Vancouver Canucks
$883,750$883,750
C
RFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$4,550,000$4,550,000
RD
UFA - 3
Logo of the Winnipeg Jets
$2,166,667$2,166,667
RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Detroit Red Wings
$925,000$925,000
RW, LW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Nashville Predators
$789,167$789,167 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
C, LW
RFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Rebuilding, Still
$775,000$775,000
Logo of the San Jose Sharks
$2,500,000$2,500,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Philadelphia Flyers
$785,000$785,000
RW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Anaheim Ducks
$775,000$775,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$825,000$825,000 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
LD
RFA - 3
Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
$5,500,000$5,500,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 4

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Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:43 p.m.
#1
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The Sabres in that second column:

474kzy.png?a469848
McSorley liked this.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:43 p.m.
#2
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How is Buffalo a contender?
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:43 p.m.
#3
Luguber
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Fun list and I like the placements of most of these!
Capitals though is the one team I'd definitely move down to "Not sold". Maybe Wild and aswell.
Maybe Sabres/Penguins are a stretch to have in the "Contenders" tier also.
pensfan21 liked this.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:45 p.m.
#4
Joe
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Nah this gotta be bait.
Detroit not on the rise, but Arizona is?

C'mon bro.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:46 p.m.
#5
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Quoting: Stadel
The Sabres in that second column:

474kzy.png?a469848


I think they are a playoff team after adding to their defense. Will be better than last year and they only missed by 1 pt. See them going on a similar run to the Kraken last year.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:47 p.m.
#6
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Quoting: JoeROFLCOPTER
Nah this gotta be bait.
Detroit not on the rise, but Arizona is?

C'mon bro.


Detroit is obviously better than Arizona, but I'm basing this on expectations. I think many see Detroit as a playoff team or close, but I'm not sold based on their defense mostly. Think the forward core is solid but wouldn't say it's one of the best in the NHL.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:49 p.m.
#7
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Buffalo -1
Boston +1
Colorado +1
Detroit -1
St Louis -1
Tampa Bay +1
Washington -1

I think these are always tough to put into buckets because that wild card tier are both teams on the way in and on the way out. Typically franchises go through their lifecycle:

1. Contending
2. Aging
3. Shedding
4. Rebuilding
5. Competing
6. (repeat)

But there are certainly some teams unwilling to move to “shedding” that probably could.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:51 p.m.
#8
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laugh Buffalo a cup contender, Yeah perhaps if they add Hellebuyck to their Goaltending. Because Devon Levi isn't a cup winning Goalie just yet and neither is UPL.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:55 p.m.
#9
I want Gourde back
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I don't hate the Buffalo shout but above Tampa is ridiculous. Tampa still have 5 top 30/40 players in the league
Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:56 p.m.
#10
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Im not sold on LA and Boston and im kinda not sold on the Aves either. Dont get me wrong i think they will make playoffs, but im not high on them.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
#11
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Quoting: imawesome
I don't hate the Buffalo shout but above Tampa is ridiculous. Tampa still have 5 top 30/40 players in the league


I think Tampa will still be a very good team next year, just feel they need something to shake the team up a little during season or at TDL. Happened to the Penguins after the back to back cups, felt like they got stale and needed a major move for a while and finally they did it with Karlsson. I don't think you guys have gotten far past that point yet or at the point where you need a massive massive move like the Penguins did, but idk I feel like after winning a cup or two in our cases it's important to keep the team fresh. Feel Colorado is kind of in the same boat next season too where they'll be good, but just feels like they'll need something at TDL to push them to a cup favorite.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:02 p.m.
#12
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Quoting: TyeZerker
Im not sold on LA and Boston and im kinda not sold on the Aves either. Dont get me wrong i think they will make playoffs, but im not high on them.


Definitely I am not sold on Boston. I have some reservations about LA as well. I know the PLD trade helps for sure, but I just don't know if it was the right move for the team. Iafallo I get they wanted to use as trade bait but I still felt he was a really good playoff performer. Vilardi I think had tons of potential. So idk have some slight reservations there but still think they'll be good. Avs I agree as well. I think after teams win a cup they need to make a move that shakes up the team if they show signs of slipping. Happened after Pens won and I think Lightning and Avs are in that boat where they're still really really good teams but feel a little stale and like something is missing for them to truly be a cup team.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:11 p.m.
#13
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Quoting: pensfan21
I think they are a playoff team after adding to their defense. Will be better than last year and they only missed by 1 pt. See them going on a similar run to the Kraken last year.


the fact that they added two players doesnt mean they improved it. The problem last year was they didnt have a top 4 d-man and pretended Jokiharju was one. They got burned, and they still have that problem after adding two 3rd pair guys. Nothing has changed there.

Same with their goaltending. I know there's more than one way to build a contender, but Im 99% sure all successful GMs will tell you that pinning your playoff hopes on a 21 year old goalie with 7 games to his name is at minimum less than ideal.

Can't in good conscious call them a contender after a thoroughly unserious off season where they leave their top prospect in a vulnerable position to hinder his development.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:13 p.m.
#14
Joe
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Quoting: pensfan21
Detroit is obviously better than Arizona, but I'm basing this on expectations. I think many see Detroit as a playoff team or close, but I'm not sold based on their defense mostly. Think the forward core is solid but wouldn't say it's one of the best in the NHL.


Ah, I think I just took these names at face value hence some confusion.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:22 p.m.
#15
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Quoting: JoeROFLCOPTER
Ah, I think I just took these names at face value hence some confusion.


I could have been clearer on the names. I think Detroit will be really good once Kasper, Carlsson, ASP, or even 1-2/3 are ready. I think a lot of people are expecting them to be a playoff team next year but I think it'll just take some patience and they'll be a true contender in 2-3 years. On the rise teams I meant will exceed expectations while not sold will not meet them. Guess I caused some confusion with putting them below because most of those teams even though I think they'll disappoint will be better than Arizona and Columbus. I think Detroit improved in terms of free agent signings but I think them really taking the jump will come with their prospect pool developing to NHL talent. Detroit is still in better shape than most teams on the not sold tier though. I'm convinced many of them need a rebuild now while Detroit is exiting one soon.
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Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:26 p.m.
#16
Why Green
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Cool tier list, maybe I should try this soon! I do think having Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the contenders list is bold though. I think Flordia would be a bit better than those teams this next year, mostly just because of the fact that they went to the cup finals this past year.
pensfan21 liked this.
Aug. 11, 2023 at 3:39 p.m.
#17
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Quoting: SadSensFan14
Cool tier list, maybe I should try this soon! I do think having Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the contenders list is bold though. I think Flordia would be a bit better than those teams this next year, mostly just because of the fact that they went to the cup finals this past year.


Thank you! Was trying to be bold with some of these. Feel like there's always tons of surprises and the best teams on paper don't always win. I agree Buffalo is bold and for Pens we have a lot to prove. Florida my concern is their D to start the season. I think if they make the playoffs they are for sure a cup threat, but I worry that they don't fall too far out of it before Ekblad and Montour are back.
 
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