The best NHL 24 teams ranked look a bit different from how the NHL 24 player ratings stack up. The likes of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon might lead the charts there, but taking a whole team into account paints a different picture. The Avalanche, for example, come in at number six. Despite having several of the sports game’s top-rated players on the team, their defensive game just doesn’t stack up compared to the likes of the Jets and Golden Knights.
We’ve laid out the top 10 NHL 24 teams ranked from best to worst, followed by a condensed list of the remaining 22 teams.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are NHL 24’s best team, with a stellar core of defenseman and a strong offense led by Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning have the highest defensive rating of any team this year, with their goalie rating just slightly behind. The team’s players drop of significantly outside the top five, but the lineup is still robust enough to see you through most matches.
The Hurricanes have a lot going for them. Their top five players encompass a solid spread of offense and defense, and while their Goalie rating is just a bit lower than the Lightning, it’s still a fair bit higher than most of the other teams in the league this year. There’s just one thing missing: a selection of high-rated players. The Hurricanes have Sebastian Aho as their sole player with a rating over 89.
There’s a not-insubstantial gap between the Lightning and the Golden Knights, but the Vegas team just about matches Tampa’s offense and goalie rating. The rating decline is less steep after the top five as well, so you’ve got a slightly more well-rounded team spread across a stronger variety of positions on the ice.
The Jetts are one of those weird numbers cases where they’re technically better in each major category, but still clock in as slightly lower than the Golden Knights. They have a few points on the Knights in Goalie and Offense, but their defense is slightly weaker. The Jetts’ top players don’t quite match the Knights’ either. Their highest-rated players settle into the mid- and lower 80s just outside the top five.
The Blackhawks have a similar issue. Chicago’s roster looks less impressive at first glance, and the numbers are definitely low compared to most of the other top teams. From an averages stance, though, it’s not a bad thing. The Blackhawks might not soar like the Lightning, but there’s less of a spread between their highest and lowest-rated players.
The Maple Leafs’ overall score belies a big problem: weak goalies. It’s the main reason they don’t sit higher and challenge the Lightning for the top spot this year. On the bright side, their top 10 players sit comfortably in the mid- to upper-80s. Just make sure to make the most of your defense to keep the puck away from your goal.
The Avalanche might have three of the top-rated players in the game, including 2024’s cover star Cale Makar, but once you get past Rantanen, the player ratings fall off pretty quickly. You’re dropping pretty close to 80 by the time you get to Evan Rodrigues, hence the lower overall score and struggles in defense and goalie ratings.
The Panthers are just a half step below the Avalanche thanks to their slightly weaker offense. They’ve got a slight advantage in their defensive game, thanks to Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour.
Speaking of defense, the Devils have a lot going for them with a respectable 91 defense rating. A slightly weaker offense and goal game drag their overall rating down. Their top 10 players are stronger than most and encompass a better spread of positions as well. Don’t let the numbers fool you. The Devils are an excellent team.
Elias Pettersson is one of the game’s top players, and he has an excellent roster behind him with Quinn Hughes and Thatcher Demko. While their scores in offense and defense are as good as most on the list, their individual player ratings outside the top five don’t quite match up. The Canucks drop to 80 by the time you reach their 15th best player, and most of their best players are skewed toward offense.
The numbers start to blur a little with the next set of teams. There’s not an exceptional amount of variation between all the 88s and 87s, though some do bring a better balance of offence and defense to the ice than others.
- Washington Capitals – 88
- New York Islanders – 88
- Boston Brewers – 88
- Seattle Kraken – 88
- Anaheim Ducks – 88
- Calgary Flames – 87
- Philadelphia Flyers – 87
- New York Rangers – 87
- Edmonton Oilers – 87
These teams will still serve you well on the ice, though you might struggle a bit more.
- Dallas Stars – 87
- Montreal Canadiens – 87
- Los Angeles Kings – 86
- Minnesota Wild – 86
- Nashville Predators – 86
- Columbus Blue Jackets – 86
- Pittsburgh Penguins – 86
- St. Louis Blues – 86
- Detroit Redwings – 85
- San Jose Sharks – 84
There’s a pretty big gap between the last few teams in NHL 24 and everyone else.
- Ottawa Senators – 84
- Buffalo Sabres – 83
- Arizona Coyotes – 80
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
