NFL
By: Jesse Rosales
It never fails but every year there are NHL teams that end up at the top of the standings that no one expected to be there. That is what makes the NHL such a great league. Also, the talent in the league right now is unworldly. These players are so good and are playing at such a high level, there really isn’t much that separates the top teams from the mid-tier teams or even some of the lower-tier teams. This creates an environment where certain teams can get hot and shoot up the rankings. Does that mean they will be there by the end of the season? Absolutely not. In this article, we will decide which surprise NHL teams we buy or sell as legit contenders through the first 15 games of the season.
New Jersey Devils: 
The Devils currently are 3rd in the overall standings with 20 points. Currently good enough for second in the East. This team is loaded with young talent. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes already had high expectations going into the season but Jasper Bratt has really taken a step forward with this team early on in this season. He was already averaging almost 1 point per game last season, but this season he is averaging 1.38 points per game and leads the team in assists. They also have gotten great production from their defensive players like Dougie Hamilton who already has 10 points through 13 games. Their goaltending situation remains a bit cloudy as they are basically rotating goalies each game. At some point, they need one of them to step up and take the main job. Right now I would give it to Vitek Vanecek. Do I think this team is a top 5 team at the end of the season? No, but are they a playoff team? I’m definitely going to buy that.
Seattle Kraken: 
As an Avalanche fan, I am very familiar with Andre Burakovsky. He was one of my favorite players on the team during last year’s Stanley Cup Championship run. I was very sad that the Avalanche couldn’t keep him during the offseason. He is continuing to prove his value with this Kraken team as he leads the team with 13 points through 14 games. That being said there are some warning flags here. This team lacks a superstar. Burakovsky is a great #2 or #3 guy on a team, but what he is not, is a #1 superstar. When things get tight, who on this team is getting the puck and the most ice time? It’s not former #1 draft prospect Shane Wright yet, and if it is Burakovsky, I don’t think they will maintain the level of success they have experienced lately. Their goaltending unit is suspect with none of the 3 netminders averaging a save percentage over .907. They are also in the bottom half of the league in total shots and penalty kill success percentage. There are simply too many flags to be concerned with. I think this team is fools gold and will miss the playoffs. I’m selling the Kracken.
Detroit Red Wings:
The Red Wings made a bunch of big off-season moves. The biggest was getting David Perron who actually has underperformed in my opinion to this point. The Red Wings have two players averaging over 1 point per game, including one of my favorite young players in the league in Dylan Larkin. They are getting great, and I mean GREAT goaltending from Ville Husso. He has the second-best goals-against average and 3rd best save percentage. Like I always say, when you have a clear lockdown goalie, you have a chance to win in every game you play and that is where the Red Wings are today. Many didn’t expect this team to compete for a playoff spot this year, but at this pace, the Red Wings are going to be competing for more than just a playoff spot. Oh yeah, and they are still missing one of their top 3 players in Tyler Bertuzzi who is expected to return later this month. Strong buy.
Philadelphia Flyers:
This was supposed to be the worst team in the league this year. The ONLY reason they are not is the play of goaltender Carter Hart. He is absolutely standing on his head and is giving his team a chance to win in every game. He is top 3 in every major goaltending category and at this point is in the conversation for the Vezina. The Flyers are currently 8th in the East with 16 points but are at the bottom of the league both in shots, shots on goal, and goals scored per game. Basically statically they should be near the bottom of the league, but Carter Hart is playing that well to keep them up in the standings. While I think his play continues at a high level, eventually the numbers will catch up with this team. New coach John Tortorella has done a very impressive job to start the season, but this team will not be contending for a playoff spot when it’s all said and done. I’m selling the Flyers.
Montreal Canadiens:
This team has 2 of my favorite players in the league. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are a fantastic young duo to build around. They are currently averaging over 1 point per game. The problem is after them, there is a pretty significant drop-off. Suzuki and Caufield have combined for 32 points through 14 games. The next FIVE players combined are at 35 total points. Goaltending has been average at best with neither netminder stepping up to put their claim over the #1 spot. With all that in mind, it’s not a huge surprise that this team has a negative goal differential to this point of the season. I really do like this team moving forward, but they need a few more pieces before they can truly compete for a playoff spot. This is a sad sell for me, but a necessary one.
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