The nature of hockey, with bouncing pucks and injuries lurking around every corner, usually means teams suddenly drop from being playoff contenders. Let's look at the top picks to make or miss the playoffs in 2022-23.
Injuries might be the biggest factor when assessing which teams could miss the playoffs. The Vegas Golden Knights looked like a sure thing to reach the 2021-22 postseason, and they had never missed. But then a series of injuries to key players made the hill too steep to climb.
As for teams trying to make the jump into the playoffs, it helps to be younger with a core ready to take the next step. Decent underlying numbers help too, providing a sign the team is playing competitively.
Also, a hot goaltender could propel a squad into the postseason, just as a subpar one could cause a team to miss.