The Vegas Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, joining the distinguished list of the NHL's best. And now, their title defense begins.
As we await the 2023 NHL draft, along with free agency and trade season, it's time for the Way-Too-Early edition of the 2023-24 NHL Power Rankings, voted on by the extended ESPN hockey family.
Along with the ranking, we present the big things we're watching this summer for each club, courtesy of Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski. How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another, and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the final regular-season edition, published April 7. Previous ranking: 52022-23 finish: Stanley Cup champion Everything Adin Hill did in the Stanley Cup playoffs reinforces why the Golden Knights — or any team in need of a goaltender — would want his services for 2023-24 and beyond.