NHL teams with the highest winning percentages over the past decade

In a league designed for parity, a small group of franchises has spent the past decade fighting gravity. The salary cap squeezes cores, windows close fast, and the playoff format chews up even great regular seasons, yet some teams keep finding their way back to the top of the standings. Year after year, they show up on graphics like this one, their logos stapled to the best winning percentages of the era while everyone else rides the roller coaster. It’s not just about star power or one hot run; it’s about front offices that draft well, coaches who install clear identities, and locker rooms that know what it takes from October to April.

Tampa Bay turned a skill‑heavy core into a modern dynasty, Boston reinvented itself on the fly around its leadership group, and Vegas somehow landed in this tier before it was out of its expansion skates. Carolina quietly built one of the deepest analytics darlings in the sport, while Colorado rode patience and star development into a juggernaut built for both highlight reels and deep springs. Over ten years, their win‑loss records tell a bigger story than any single Cup banner. They represent the NHL’s true model of sustained excellence in an era when the system is supposed to drag everyone back to the pack.

Tampa Bay Lightning – .610

Feb 5, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA;Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the third period against the Florida Panthers at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Lightning sit at the top of the decade board with a .610 winning percentage, the product of regular 100‑point seasons and a roster that rarely takes a night off. A core built around elite skill up front and Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal has delivered multiple Stanley Cups and frequent deep playoff runs. Even in cap‑crunch years, Tampa Bay finds ways to replenish the edges of the lineup and keep the window propped open.

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Boston Bruins – .580

Jan 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (28) (not pictured) scores a goal past Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Boston’s .580 clip over the past decade reflects a team that rarely dips below contender status, even as stars age and linemates change. Anchored by a strong leadership group and two‑way structure, the Bruins churn out 95‑ to 100‑point seasons like clockwork. They may not have stacked Cups in this span, but they’re a near‑permanent fixture near the top of the Eastern Conference.

Vegas Golden Knights – .577

Oct 18, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) congratulates goaltender Adin Hill (33) after the Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 6-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Vegas hasn’t even been around for the full decade, but their .577 mark shows how quickly they’ve crashed the league’s elite tier. From a storybook expansion run to the Final to a Stanley Cup title, the Golden Knights have treated contention as the default setting. Aggressive trades, bold cap gymnastics, and a deep blue line have kept them near the top of the standings most years they’ve existed.

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Carolina Hurricanes – .569

Dec 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) is congratulated after he scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Carolina’s .569 winning percentage comes from a methodical build into one of the NHL’s most consistently dominant five‑on‑five teams. Under a strong coaching staff and analytically driven front office, the Hurricanes roll four lines, attack in waves, and suffocate opponents with pace. They’ve become a regular division winner and playoff threat, even if the ultimate breakthrough has remained elusive at times.

Colorado Avalanche – .568

May 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his go ahead goal in the third period against the Dallas Stars in game six of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado’s .568 mark reflects a tale of two halves: early growing pains followed by full‑blown powerhouse status. Once their young core matured, the Avalanche became a possession monster that overwhelmed teams with speed and high‑end skill. A Stanley Cup, multiple 100‑point seasons, and regular Presidents’ Trophy flirtations make them one of the defining teams of the era.

A decade where contenders separate from the pack

Stretch the view to ten years, and these five franchises stand out as the ones that have solved the NHL’s parity puzzle most often. The Lightning and Avalanche turned elite cores into championships, Boston and Carolina kept resetting around their identity, and Vegas rewrote the expansion script entirely. Together, their percentages show that even in a league built on balance, true heavyweights still manage to rise and stay above the pack.

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NHL teams with the highest winning percentages over the past decade

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