8. Minnesota Wild
I'm probably underrating them, but their best defenseman (Faber) and goalie (Gustavsson) but they are definitely a contender on the way up. Brodin on the LTIR could give them a ton of cap space to add too.
7. Vegas Knights
I refuse to call them the Golden Knights, but they are a great team with a great roster and they are currently in first place in their division. I think their top pairing may not be as good as people think, and any team with Samsonov on it isn't as good as it thinks it is, but also any team where Hanifin is the third best defenseman and which also has Jack Eichal and Mark Stone......they're stacked dawg!
6. Dallas Stars
They are just off the pace while getting next to nothing from their best player, and once you add his soon-to-be-back-to-being-a-perennial-Hart-Trophy-Candidate play to their roster, they will be a top team. Robertson-Heiskanen-Oettinger is just ridiculous.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Two words: Connor Hellebuyck. Next....