All 32 NHL Teams Ranked by Offense: 2025-2026 Season

Goals win hockey games. And make bettors money.

Look, tracking NHL offense is different than other sports. In basketball, you've got 100+ possessions per game. In football, you've got four quarters of scripted plays. In hockey? You've got chaos.

Three periods. High-speed skating. Goalies making highlight saves. One bounce off a skate can change everything.

But here's the thing: some teams score consistently. Others can't buy a goal. For bettors, knowing which teams fill the net and which teams struggle helps you find edges on totals, puck lines, and player props.

Shurzy Tip: Elite NHL offenses push totals higher, but books adjust fast. Real value is finding offenses the market hasn't caught up to yet (Predators with Stamkos and Marchessault, Utah with Sergachev) or fading offenses the public overvalues (Penguins, Bruins without Bergeron). Stack this with what you know about puck lines and you've got edges.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

Elite Offensive Teams (Top 1-10)

1. Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl headline the league's most explosive offense. Not even close.

Now bolstered by Jeff Skinner on the wing, Edmonton overs remain one of the safest NHL best bets today. Their power play operates at historic efficiency. When McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice, goals happen.

2. Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen push pace like few others. With a healthy Gabriel Landeskog and Casey Mittelstadt settling in, their transition game is lethal.

Sports betting picks often target Colorado overs, especially at altitude in Denver where opposing goalies struggle.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner headline a loaded top six, while William Nylander drives his own line. Under coach Craig Berube, they play a heavier game but still fill the net.

NHL betting lines on Leafs games routinely push totals to 6.5 and higher, and they often cover them.

4. Dallas Stars

A deep, four-line machine. Not a one-trick pony.

Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Roope Hintz drive a balanced attack that wears opponents down. They don't rely on one line, which makes their "Team Total Over" a consistent play throughout the season.

5. New Jersey Devils

With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier healthy, and Timo Meier finding his groove, the Devils are built for speed. The addition of Brett Pesce on the back end helps transition the puck faster.

Bettors lean overs until sportsbooks fully adjust to their high-event style.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

Life after Stamkos looks different, but Jake Guentzel has fit perfectly alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. The power play remains elite.

NHL best bets today often include Lightning team totals over 3.5, as they still score in bunches.

7. New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider lead a potent attack. Their power play is a top-5 unit, making them a favorite for "Over 1.5 Power Play Goals" props.

Alexis Lafrenière has broken out, adding dangerous depth scoring.

8. Nashville Predators

The winners of the 2024 offseason. Massive upgrade.

Adding Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi has transformed this offense. They now have two legitimate scoring lines and a deadly power play. Sports betting odds are still catching up to their new firepower.

9. Florida Panthers

The defending champs rely on a physical, forecheck-heavy offense led by Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Sam Reinhart continues to find the net.

Hockey betting overs hit often because their aggressive style forces turnovers in the offensive zone.

10. Vancouver Canucks

Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Quinn Hughes drive a creative, high-scoring system. Hughes generates offense from the blue line better than almost anyone.

They can score 5 goals on any given night, making them a volatile but profitable "over" team.

Shurzy Tip: Oilers and Avalanche are automatic over plays against weak defenses. When Edmonton plays San Jose or Columbus, hammer the over. Nashville is the sharp angle here because the market still prices them like last year's defensive team. They're not anymore. Bet Predators overs before books adjust fully. Use NHL prop betting strategies for McDavid and MacKinnon anytime goal scorer angles.

Strong but Inconsistent (11-20)

11. Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel and Mark Stone lead a disciplined group. The loss of Marchessault hurts, but Tomas Hertl provides center depth.

They're efficient, but their totals often go "Under" against trap-heavy teams.

12. Buffalo Sabres

Tage Thompson is a unicorn, and Rasmus Dahlin is elite. However, inconsistency plagues them.

When they're hot, they score 6. When they're cold, they get shut out. For NHL betting this week, check their recent form before betting the over.

13. Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle headline a top-heavy group. Linus Ullmark stabilizes the back end, which might actually lower their game totals, but their top six can score with anyone.

14. Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov is a superstar, and Matt Boldy is a rising star. Beyond them, depth is a question mark.

Bettors often lean on Kaprizov "Anytime Goal Scorer" props rather than trusting the full team total.

15. Los Angeles Kings

Anze Kopitar defies age, and Kevin Fiala is a playmaker. Replacing Pierre-Luc Dubois with Darcy Kuemper (in goal) changed their dynamic, but Quinton Byfield's breakout is the key to their offensive upside.

16. Carolina Hurricanes

They shoot. A lot.

Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov drive the bus, but losing Guentzel and Skjei hurt their finishing talent. They're a "high volume, low shooting percentage" team. Risky for overs.

17. Detroit Red Wings

Patrick Kane, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond give Detroit a legit top six. Moritz Seider drives offense from the point.

Sharp bettors track their home games, where their offense tends to click more consistently.

18. St. Louis Blues

Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou are fast, but the rest of the roster is average. They rely on transition chances.

Overs hit more often when the Blues' defense collapses and they're forced to trade chances.

19. Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin continues his chase for the record, now supported by Pierre-Luc Dubois. The addition of Jakob Chychrun helps move the puck, but this is an aging group.

Bettors target Ovechkin props above all else.

20. Utah Hockey Club (formerly Arizona)

New name, new energy. Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley lead a young, skilled forward group. With Mikhail Sergachev now anchoring the blue line, they move the puck better.

They're a sleeper "Over" team as they play with no pressure in their new home.

Shurzy Tip: Sabres are the volatility kings. When they're hot (3+ game winning streak), bet overs. When they're cold (2+ game losing streak), fade them completely. Carolina shoots 35+ times per game but their shooting percentage is terrible. Bet Carolina opponent goalie save props over. Capitals are all about Ovi props. When Washington plays weak defenses, bet Ovechkin anytime goal scorer. Simple money.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About NHL Prop Betting

Rebuilding or Low-Scoring Offenses (21-32)

21. Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak is a top-5 scorer, but the retirement of Patrice Bergeron still lingers. Signing Elias Lindholm helps, but they're a "defense-first" team.

Unders are the standard play here.

22. Seattle Kraken

They added Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson to boost scoring. It helps, but they still lack a true superstar finisher.

Team scoring by committee is effective but rarely explosive.

23. Winnipeg Jets

Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are elite, but they play a structure-first game under Scott Arniel. Connor Hellebuyck in net means they win 2 to 1 or 3 to 2 often.

Sports betting sites price them as a low-event team.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin still produce, but the supporting cast is thin. They struggle to score at 5-on-5.

Sports betting picks favor overs mainly because their defense and goaltending are suspect, not because of their offense.

25. Philadelphia Flyers

Matvei Michkov has arrived. The rookie phenom adds excitement, but the team is still rebuilding. Travis Konecny is solid, but they lack center depth.

A fun team to watch, but volatile for betting.

26. Montreal Canadiens

Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky are a legit top line. The acquisition of Patrik Laine adds a pure sniper, but his health is always a factor.

Defense is young, leading to high-scoring losses (great for Overs).

27. New York Islanders

Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat lead the way, but Patrick Roy's system is defensive. They grind out wins.

Islanders unders are some of the safest sports betting picks in the league.

28. Calgary Flames

Rebuild mode. They traded away key pieces. Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau are left to carry the load. Depth is very thin.

Flames unders remain sharp NHL best bets.

29. Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard is a generational talent, and adding Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi gives him help. They'll be better, but still a bottom-tier offense overall.

Bedard props work better than team totals.

30. Anaheim Ducks

Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Leo Carlsson are the future, but they're still young. They turn the puck over a lot.

NHL betting today keeps Ducks as an underdog in most matchups.

31. San Jose Sharks

They drafted Macklin Celebrini 1st overall. He helps immediately, but this roster was historically bad last year. It'll take time.

Sports betting odds often shade their totals to unders.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets

A team playing with heavy hearts. Sean Monahan reunited with old teammates, but the loss of Johnny Gaudreau leaves a massive void in talent and spirit.

They're likely to struggle to score consistently this season.

Shurzy Tip: Islanders and Flames are automatic under bets. When these teams play each other, bet under 5 total goals. It's free money. Penguins are a trap. The public still bets them like contenders. Books know better. When Crosby or Malkin sit, hammer Penguins team total unders. Canadiens are interesting because their defense is terrible. Bet Canadiens games over when they play other bad defenses (Ducks, Sharks, Blue Jackets). Expect shootouts.

FAQ: Betting NHL Offense

Q: How do NHL power plays affect betting totals?

Power plays are massive scoring opportunities. Teams with elite power plays (Oilers, Lightning, Rangers) score on 25% or higher of their chances.

When these teams draw penalties early, in-game overs become sharp plays. Watch penalty minutes in the first period. If a team with a top-5 power play gets 2 or more power plays early, bet the live over.

Q: Why do some high-scoring teams have low "Over" hit rates?

Public perception drives lines. Simple as that.

If the public expects the Oilers to score 5 goals every night, oddsmakers inflate the line (like 7 total goals). Even if Edmonton scores 4, the "Under" hits.

Value is found in teams like the Predators or Utah, whose offensive improvement hasn't been fully priced in by the books yet. Chase the teams whose upgrades are recent.

Q: How do back-to-back games affect NHL offense?

Tired legs show up on offense first. Teams playing the second night of a back-to-back (especially on the road) shoot less, generate fewer scoring chances, and rely on their goalie more.

This is a classic spot to bet the Under or fade that team's team total. Exception: if the backup goalie is terrible, bet the Over instead because the defense collapses.

Q: What's the difference between 5-on-5 scoring and power play scoring for betting?

5-on-5 scoring is sustainable. Power play scoring is volatile.

Teams that score primarily on the power play (like Washington with Ovechkin) can get shut out on nights when they don't draw penalties. Teams that score at 5-on-5 (like Dallas with four balanced lines) are more consistent for overs.

Check team stats on 5-on-5 goals vs. power play goals. Teams with high 5-on-5 scoring are safer over bets.

Q: How do goalie injuries affect offensive team totals?

Backup goalies change everything. When an elite starter (Hellebuyck, Shesterkin, Vasilevskiy) sits, their team's offense has to score more to compensate.

This often leads to overs because both teams open up. When betting team totals, always check starting goalies 1 hour before puck drop. Starter out means bet overs on both teams.

Q: Why do altitude games in Colorado push overs?

Denver is at 5,280 feet elevation. The puck moves faster in thin air, goalies react slower, and players fatigue quicker.

Colorado home games hit over 58% of the time. When the Avalanche play other high-scoring teams (Oilers, Leafs, Devils) at home, overs are automatic. Books know this and inflate the lines, but they still hit.

Shurzy Tip: Power play stats are the secret weapon for live betting NHL totals. When a top-5 power play team gets 2 penalties in the first period, bet the live over immediately. The game opens up. Back-to-backs kill offense except when backup goalies are terrible (then bet overs). Always check goalie status 1 hour before puck drop. Starter out means offensive lines change dramatically.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

How to Use Offensive Rankings in Betting

Knowing offensive rankings helps bettors in multiple markets. Here's the breakdown:

Totals: Elite offenses push overs. Top-tier (Oilers, Avalanche, Leafs, Stars, Devils) make overs attractive. But watch for inflated lines. Bottom-tier offenses (Islanders, Flames, Blue Jackets, Sharks) make team total unders safe bets.

Puck Lines: Elite offenses cover puck lines more often. When Oilers or Avalanche are favored by 1.5 goals against weak teams, they cover. Struggling offenses (Penguins, Canadiens, Ducks) rarely cover as favorites.

Props: Matchups against weak defenses boost scoring props. Stack star scorer props when they face bottom-10 defenses. Example: McDavid props against Sharks defense are automatic money.

Shurzy Tip: The sharpest angle is stacking elite offense vs. bad defense. Oilers playing Blue Jackets? Hammer Oilers team total over and stack it with McDavid anytime goal scorer. Avalanche playing Sharks? Bet MacKinnon props and game total over. These matchups are profit machines. Don't overthink it.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About NHL Prop Betting

Wrapping It Up

Offense drives NHL betting. From the Oilers at the top to the Blue Jackets at the bottom, knowing which teams can score helps bettors stay ahead of the market.

NHL betting sites adjust fast, but hockey betting fans who track offense find best bets before the public catches up.

Check starting goalies 1 hour before puck drop. Backup goalies change everything for totals. Starter out means bet overs on both teams.

Power play stats matter more than you think. Teams with top-5 power plays (Oilers, Lightning, Rangers) hit overs more often when they draw early penalties.

Check out our full betting toolset to start spotting profitable lines.