The 2024-25 NHL season is underway and we are seeing teams playing a certain style of hockey sitting near the top of the standings. These teams know that it is important to start now to play playoff hockey with patience and not to cheat the game.
There should be no surprise as to who will be at the top of the list, as NHLRumors.com in this latest post will provide you with the teams that play their style to perfection as they sit near the top of the standings.
Let’s get into the list.
Four NHL Teams That Don’t Cheat The Game
The Florida Panthers
It’s easy to identify and look for the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. But let’s be honest, there’s a reason they’re the standard for how hockey is played in the NHL. Head coach Paul Maurice has his team buying into the program. No matter what the score is, whether the team is on top or behind, they play that game.
The Florida Panthers Know They’re Being Hunted This Season
The Panthers are not looking to cheat the game and deviate from the game plan. Even if they lose by several goals, which is rare, but it happens, the Panthers are a tough team to play against. Florida will be physical until the end and make the other team know they have to pay the price until the final buzzer sounds.
There’s a reason why the Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Finals, winning the cup in 2024. The players not only buy into what the head coach preaches, but execute that plan to perfection. Whatever the coaching staff tells the players to do, they do, as Paul Maurice said during the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.
There is a reason why the Florida Panthers are in position to win another Stanley Cup this year.
Winnipeg Jets
Just behind the Florida Panthers in NHL teams that don’t cheat the game, are the amazing Winnipeg Jets. The Jets are getting a new style in their game this year. After consecutive first-round exits, the Winnipeg Jets understand that they need to buy playoff hockey early in the regular season, not as the regular season winds down in the first round of the playoffs.
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The Jets are a tough team to play against as head coach Scott Arniel runs four lines going into the game. They get equal points in all their lines and go back to playing the first hockey. Remember that this team recorded 110 points last year. They had the best goals against average last season. There is familiarity with the players and the coach.
Winnipeg Jets players are buying into a plan to play late if it matters. Yes, it helps to have Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes, but he can be exposed if the Jets don’t play defense and cheat the game.
Winnipeg is getting to the point where when things don’t go their way, they are happy to play the game of patience when they don’t cheat on offense. They know it’s coming. But it will come on their terms as they are a strong team for the players.
Carolina Hurricanes
The demise of the Carolina Hurricanes was greatly underestimated. Coming into the season, NHLRumors.com had the Canes finishing third in the Metro Division. Why is that? Because of the style of the game they play and who is behind the bench.
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The Carolina Hurricanes, regardless of their players, play the same way their head coach Rod Brind’Amour plays in the NHL. They limit the time and space of the group. The Carolina has an aggressive forecheck and soundproofing structure. There was only scoring. Can they have enough scoring depth to keep up with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechknikov?
The answer is yes they can. Jack Roslovic has been a pleasant surprise and Martin Necas has raised his profile after signing a two-year bridge contract. There are familiar faces in the backend and they get goals too. Carolina has won eight games in a row.
Like Winnipeg, the Hurricanes will be judged by playoff results. That’s where the case ends. But to think Carolina would go away, people would be sadly mistaken considering the style of the game they play.
Dallas Stars
Think what you will of Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and his failure to win the Stanley Cup, but he makes his teams play a certain way and they don’t deviate from it.
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If you look at the Stars, you can see why they are back in the Western Conference finals. Yes, they have a goalie in Jake Oettinger, but the structure they play is smooth. Dallas is a tough team to play against when it comes to the playoffs.
That’s because they understand to win the playoffs, you have to start building the structure in the regular season. Although the Stars will have a night off like most teams, the structure is there. They don’t fake the game or the style they play.
DeBoer has been using that style since his days with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. Even if the team has offensive skills, it is about the defensive structure. Be patient and let them come to you. Players should not rush the game.
Dallas sticks within their structure and if they fail in a game, so be it, they stay true to it because the Stars don’t quit in any game.
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Honorable Mentions
If you look around the NHL there are a few teams that didn’t make the cut that could have been there. The Vegas Golden Knights under Bruce Cassidy are one of them. They play a direct and physical defensive style. But they have an offensive punch with the talent they have.
Plus throw in the Los Angeles Kings under Jim Hiller and the Tampa Bay Lightning under Jon Cooper. The Lightning learned the hard way they needed to play better defensively and not cheat in a four-game losing streak against Columbus in 2019.
These are the NHL teams that we here at NHLRumors.com feel are not cheating the game. Can you think of others? Let us know.
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