NFL
By: Jesse Rosales
Earlier this week, we took a look at the 5 coldest teams in the NHL to start the new 2023-2024 season. Now we can look at the top 5 NHL hottest teams, and there are definitely plenty to choose from. The teams listed below have really come out swinging and some have already built a sizable lead in their respective divisions. My guess is that in order to be a playoff team this year, teams will need at least 95 points, if not 100+ to secure a playoff position. While this is only the start of the season, these teams already have a huge advantage in stacking these wins early and often.
Top 5 NHL Hottest Teams
5. Toronto Maple Leafs 
It seems like in all the talk about Connor McDavid’s spectacular year last year (which is was), everyone forgot that Auston Matthews was a 60-goal scorer just a few seasons ago. He came out and reminded everyone of his capability by scoring two back-to-back hat tricks to start the season. Then you have the new additions of Tyler Bertuzzi and the continued development of rookie Matthew Knies. All this team needed was a goaltender.
Enter Joseph Woll. Woll has been a star prospect for the Leafs for the past few years but this year he is getting his moment to shine… and he has. He has 4 games under his belt and has gone 3-1 with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage. Add the playoff experience he got at the end of last year with the Leafs were in separation mode and he could be the missing link. This team is off to a hot start at 5-2-1 and doesn’t look to be cooling down any time soon.
4. Detroit Red Wings 
The Detroit Red Wings are definitely one of those teams that are supposed to be taking a step forward this year based a solid foundation that has been being built by GM and franchise hero Steve Yzerman for the past several seasons. The Wings signed their captain Dylan Larkin to a long-term deal and are ready to take advantage of this window.
They have their core, they have their goalie, and they have brought in complementary pieces that should make Detroit a favorite to land a playoff spot. It would be their first since 2016. A long drought for this proud franchise that had previously made the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons. The Red Wings are second in goals per game and also have the second-best power-play percentage to start the season. They are 5-3-1 with 11 points to start the season.
3. Boston Bruins 
Another year where the Boston Bruins were supposed to be no good…. and another season where we are ALL wrong! The Bruins have yet again surprised everyone with another incredible start. And why should that be a surprise? Yes, they lost some key franchise legends like Patrice Bergeron to retirement, but the core is very much the same, including last’s Vezina-winning goaltender in Linus Ullmark.
David Pastrnak continues to lead this team offensively with 8 goals and 5 assists in 8 games. He is looking to take a run at the Rocket Richard trophy with the most goals scored this season. They have the lowest goals-against average in the league and doing all the normal Bruin things, very well. The team is 7-0-1 and looking to potentially outdo their historic start to last season in which they started with 22 straight home games without a loss in regulation.
2. Colorado Avalanche 
If you’re going to tell me the Avalanche aren’t playing with a chip on their shoulder after getting embarrassed by the Seattle Kraken in the playoffs last year, I would say you aren’t paying attention. The Avs flew out of the gate with 6 straight wins to start the 2023-24 campaign, including a 4-1 domination over the Seattle Kraken. You think they weren’t thinking of revenge in that game? Yeah…. The Avs are 6-1-0 and 3 points ahead in the division.
Everyone know Colorado is one of the most talented teams in the league. They were last year as well but got caught by the injury bug, some back luck, and honestly some Stanley Cup Champion exhaustion. This year is different and they are coming out to prove that. They have found their rock in the net with Alexander Georgiev and there are even some whispers that captain Gabriel Landeskog COULD return for a playoff run. There is a lot to play for this year and it will be fun to watch.
1. Las Vegas Golden Knights 
Speaking of NOT having a slow start coming off a championship-winning season, the Vegas Golden Knights are here to remind everyone that Cup lives in Vegas until it doesn’t anymore. This team has had the best start of any Stanley Cup winning team in history and is currently the only team other than the Bruins that remain perfect on the season.
Vegas is a super well-rounded team and is playing with “house money” at this point. The one thing I will say is that the schedule has been very kind to the Golden Knights. They have played against 5 teams that have a below .500 average. That being said the next stretch of games will tell us a lot as they go up against the Jets, Avalanche, and the up-and-coming Montreal Canadians.
For more NHL news and updates, be sure to follow me on Twitter @5280Jesse and Team NBS Media
