As the NHL playoff picture becomes clearer, teams are demonstrating varying levels of performance.

While some teams are struggling, they are searching for reasons to remain hopeful about their playoff chances.

Conversely, others have significantly improved their standings after a rocky start to the season.

Certain teams have secured enough points from strong starts to be considered almost guaranteed playoff contenders.

On December 17, 2023, the Edmonton Oilers found themselves just two points away from a playoff position, ultimately finishing second in the Pacific Division and nearly clinching the Stanley Cup.

The current playoff projections are subject to dramatic changes, as evidenced by the Oilers' unexpected success last season.

In light of these developments, ESPN has introduced a new monthly feature called The NHL Bubble Watch, which will analyze playoff probabilities and point projections for all 32 teams, offering insights into their postseason prospects and concerns.