TRAIKOS: Which teams have the best chance of making the playoffs?

There are six teams that were in the Stanley Cup playoffs last year. Florida, Washington, New York Rangers, Calgary, Minnesota and Nashville in East and Calgary and West Nashville are not in.

The Panthers are two points back of the final wild card spot. The Rangers are one point out of it. Winnipeg, Seattle and St. Louis are vulnerable in the East and West. Tampa Bay Lightning have won the Stanley Cup three times in a row.  TRAIKOS asks which teams have the best chance of making the playoffs.

The New Jersey Devils are the hottest team in the NHL. They have won 18 of their past 20 games. The New York Islanders are a physical team that play a lot of physical games and have a good offence. They went to the conference final in 2020 and 2021 but missed the playoffs last year. Their goalie Ilya Sorokin is an early candidate for the Vezina Trophy.

Alexis Lafreniere has struggled to find a regular place in the New York Rangers team. Ottawa Senators got Tim Stutzle with the No. 3 pick and Jake Sanderson two spots later. Stuttle ranks first among his draft class in goals, assists and points. Kaapo Kakko, the Rangers' No 2 pick in 2019, is also struggling.

Jakob Chychrun missed the first seven weeks of the season after undergoing wrist surgery. He returned to the lineup last week and has one goal and three points in four games. Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa are interested in Chiherrun's services. However, the Buffalo Sabres are the favourite to sign him.

Jason Robertson leads the NHL with 18 goals and 35 points in 22 games. Jason Robertson was acquired by the Dallas Stars in the same draft as Miro Heiskanen and goalie Jake Oettinger. Edmonton Oilers did well in 2017, and Seattle Kraken are holding down a playoff spot. Rachel Doerrie was fired by Vancouver Canucks days after being promoted to the coaching staff. She filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal alleging that assistant GM Emilie Castonguay discriminated against her.

TRAIKOS asks which teams have the best chance of making the playoffs.