The 2022-23 NHL season was one of high-flying potential and year-end disappointment for fans of the Colorado Avalanche, whose Stanley Cup title defense ended abruptly in a first-round loss to the Seattle Kraken in seven games.
Perhaps unsurprisingly to those following the team through Colorado sports betting, the Avs wrapped up last season as one of the league’s least aggressive teams, finishing in the bottom half of the league in hits (1,613) and fights (17).
With the amount of fights and hits dropping in the NHL year-by-year, people have discussed that a teams’ grit and aggressiveness doesn’t equate to being successful in the modern age of the NHL.
BetColorado utilized MoneyPuck.com to compile the amount of hits by each NHL team and HockeyFights.com to compile the amount of fights by each NHL team in the 2022-23 regular season to find the most aggressive teams.
NHL’s Least Aggressive Teams
Despite falling in the first round, Colorado sports betting apps list the Avs as favorites to win the 2024 Stanley Cup at +800 odds.
Where Avs Ranked Leaguewide In Aggression
The Avs finished the year ranked 27th in hits and 19th in fights, securing them a tie for seventh in the NHL’s least aggressive teams race, alongside the Maple Leafs.
Leaguewide, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres shared the title of being the league’s least aggressive team in 2022-23, while the Kings, Stars and Devils rounded out the top five in the NHL.
Of the 10 least aggressive teams by our metrics, only the Sabres (91 points), Blues (81 points) and Red Wings (80 points) missed the postseason last year.
Conversely, the Hurricanes (113 points), Devils (112 points), Maple Leafs (111 points), Avs and Oilers (109 points each), Stars (108 points), Kings (104 points) and Panthers (92 points) all made playoff runs of varying lengths this year, with the Panthers making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
BetMGM Sportsbook Colorado lists Edmonton and Toronto as the two Stanley Cup odds leaders behind the Avalanche, with the Oilers at +950 and the Maple Leafs at +1000.
