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Welcome back to The Hockey News’ NHL power rankings. Every Wednesday, we’ll rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.
Sorry, Jets fans, I was not familiar with your game.
Ever since Winnipeg returned to the NHL, it’s been the punching line of numerous jokes. It’s too cold, and it’s not fun. But you know what cures everything? Winning, and it’s given the fans plenty of swagger as well with a vicious chant of “Where is Rutger?” in a 6-3 win over the Penguins.
The Jets move into the top spot in this week’s NHL power rankings with an unblemished record, knocking off the Stars, which suffered two losses over the past week. Only four teams remain without a loss in regulation, and all of them rank in the top 10.
Among the biggest risers are the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals, while the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Utah Hockey Club slide down.
1. Winnipeg Jets (6-0-0, +17. Last week: 2)
Winnipeg is that bullied kid who sits there silently, just taking it, until one day they go Hulk mode, and we never mess with them again. Well, they’re throwing haymakers now after years of taking jabs about how no one wants to play there.
Related: Winnipeg Jets’ Attendance Improving, But There’s A Long Way To Go
2. New York Rangers (5-0-1, +19. Last week: 3)
There are times when the Rangers embody their captain and run through the NHL like a truck. They’re now a perfect 4-0-0 on the road this season, giving them a nice cushion as they play seven of their next nine games at home, where they were 30-11-0 last season.
3. Dallas Stars (5-2-0, +7. Last week: 1)
After a fantastic start, they’ve now lost two of their last three. It only took 25 years, but Lindy Ruff’s Sabres finally beat the Stars.
4. Minnesota Wild (4-0-2, +8. Last week: 13)
A little too high? Maybe, but the Wild have been mighty impressive and have yet to lose in regulation, limiting their opponents to just five (!) goals in their four wins. I mentioned on the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast that they’re a lot better than most people think. They’re getting excellent goaltending, and they have enough depth to withstand the losses of Ryan Hartman and captain Jared Spurgeon.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (3-2-0, +2). Last week: 5)
A 4-1 loss to start the season was not a good look. But they’re 3-1-0 since, including two comeback wins and one near comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Blues. Their record may not show it, but ‘Rod the Bod’ is once again willing this team to win even though they lost some major pieces during the off-season.
6. Florida Panthers (4-3-1, -5. Last week: 4)
We’ll give the Panthers a pass despite going 1-1-1 over the past week with no regulation wins because they were missing key players. More importantly, though, I look forward to many more seasons of Paul Maurice quotes, many of which I cannot write here but will never stop making me giggle. However, none may be more fitting for the NHL power rankings this week than this gem last summer: “If I could have one thing more, it would be for the Winnipeg Jets to win the next Stanley Cup.” (Never mind he coaches the Panthers now).
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3-0, +3. Last week: 6)
The Leafs showed a lot of resilience to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to the Rangers and beat the Lightning 5-2, but they then laid an egg in the second half of their back-to-back and lost 6-2. Last season, there were times when the Leafs couldn’t seem to get out of a rut with three separate four-game losing streaks. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube has done a good job so far, but nothing short of a convincing win against his old team when they visit the Blues on Thursday will dispel notions that this team isn’t mentally tough enough.
Related: Have The Toronto Maple Leafs Found A Save-ior In Anthony Stolarz?
8. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2-0, +6. Last week: 7)
The Lightning used to blast through their opponents and dominate the regular season with relative ease. Now, they’re an unpredictable storm. They scored the winner with 55 seconds left in a comeback win against the Knights, lost to the Sens and Leafs by a combined 10-6 score, and then piled on the goals in an 8-5 win against the Devils, including five in the second period. We know they’re good… but how good?
9. Vegas Golden Knights (4-2-1, +8. Last week: 8)
I’m not quite sure I understand Bruce Cassidy’s decision to start Adin Hill against St. Louis and Tampa so Team Canada brass can get a good look at him. If anything, it’s done the opposite as intended and muddled their rotation. Regardless, the Knights still look very good with a healthy Tomas Hertl despite the lack of winger depth.
10. Calgary Flames (5-0-1, +9. Last week: 12)
How can you not be romantic about hockey? Justin Kirkland’s shootout winner in the sixth round is the type of stuff that makes you believe in hockey gods, and Dustin Wolf continues to prove all his critics wrong with his third straight win. Last season, the Flames didn’t earn their fifth win until mid-November, though I’d like to see them play some tougher teams (Carolina, Winnipeg and Vegas await) before I move them higher.
Related: The Calgary Flames Are Using Dustin Wolf The Right Way – Thanks To Dan Vladar
11. Washington Capitals (4-1-0, +5. Last week: 20)
The Capitals have been surprisingly good and don’t even need Alex Ovechkin (one goal in five games) to carry them. They look nothing like the team that backdoored their way into the playoffs with an improved ‘D’ corps, more consistent goaltending from the start and better offense. The real test is coming up with the Lightning, Rangers and Hurricanes in their next six games.
12. New Jersey Devils (5-3-1, +4. Last week: 10)
Perhaps we gave the Devils their flowers too early, swayed by the fact that they swept a very dull Sabres team in Czechia. Over the last two games, they’ve allowed 14 goals, and through six games, Jacob Markstrom has posted a .910 SP or better in just two of them.
13. Vancouver Canucks (3-1-2, +2. Last week: 17)
Yes, it was a bit of a creampuff schedule with Philly playing its home-opener following a gruelling road trip and then Chicago, which looks like it’s headed to the lottery again. But at least it looks like the Canucks have got their goaltending sorted out with Kevin Lankinen, who’s never looked better with three straight wins.
Related: What Is The Deal With Canucks’ Elias Pettersson?
14. St. Louis Blues (4-3-0, -1. Last week: 21)
The Blues have been low-key impressive, even though the only player closest to being elite that they have is Robert Thomas. Losses to the undefeated Jets and Wild (in regulation) were understandable, and they kept it close in a one-goal loss to the Knights.
15. Ottawa Senators (4-2-0, +3. Last week: 24)
The Sens won games with Anton Forsberg in net?! *shocked Pikachu face* We were led to believe Linus Ullmark would turn this team around, and certainly, he’s done his part, but the real difference here is the Sens finally have a healthy lineup.
16. Colorado Avalanche (3-4-0, -7. Last week: 19)
The Avs can breathe a sigh of relief after winning three straight, even if it was against two lottery teams and a non-playoff team last season. The good news is the Avs only have to stay afloat for another month or two before Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin potentially come back. Otherwise, their lineup is just far too thin. We’ve yet to see the Avalanche at full strength, and only then do we really know what kind of team they are. On another note, Justus Annunen might be taking over the starting job in net.
Related: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Woes Prompt NHL Trade Rumors
17. Utah Hockey Club (4-2-1, -2. Last week: 11)
Didn’t I say last week that Utah’s fun to watch but probably not as good as we think? They allowed five goals against the Ducks, which is basically their total goals quota for an entire week. They then barely beat the Bruins in overtime and then got shut out by the Sens.
18. Boston Bruins (3-3-1, -3. Last week: 9)
We wax poetic about the Bruins’ championship-winning culture, but Jim Montgomery’s line juggling over the past two games and anger directed at captain Brad Marchand suggests some desperation. There’s still plenty of time to fix things, but the Bruins don’t look anything like a contender right now.
Related: The Wraparound: Should The Boston Bruins Still Be Considered Playoff Locks?
19. Los Angeles Kings (3-2-2, -3. Last week: 14)
Quite honestly, not impressed. David Rittich’s two wins came against the Canadiens and Ducks, and they’ve suffered two big defeats already against the Leafs and Knights by scores of 6-2 and 6-1, respectively. Maybe they should re-think moving away from the 1-3-1 because that had been so much of their identity, and swapping scoring chances against teams with more talented scorers may not be the best strategy.
20. Edmonton Oilers (2-4-1, -13. Last week: 15)
At no particular point this season have the Oilers looked like the team that led the NHL in points percentage after Kris Knoblauch took over. They’ve scored two goals or less in all five of their losses, two of which were blown leads, and they even trailed the Predators, which had not held a lead for a single minute up until that point. Zach Hyman, who scored 54 goals and 77 points last season, has zero points so far.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0, +4. Last week: 28)
The Jackets have alternated wins and losses, but they’ve been much better than expected overall, beating the Avalanche and Maple Leafs in pretty convincing fashion. It seems like a different player is stepping up every night, and honestly, they’re low-key fun to watch. Zach Werenski is not getting enough credit for the work he’s doing dating back to last season.
22. Seattle Kraken (4-3-0, +4. Last week: 25)
The Kraken’s underlying numbers look good, and they’ve got a winning record, but I honestly don’t think they’ll be anything more than average until Matty Beniers and Shane Wright become legit top-six centers. Their scoring’s too sporadic, and I’m convinced they won’t win as many games as they should until they give Joey Daccord the net. Philipp Grubauer is 1-3-0.
23. New York Islanders (2-2-2, -1. Last week: 18)
Not even a fiery Patrick Roy can make the Islanders entertaining. They’ve been shut out three (!) times already this season, and their attendance is once again worrisome. It doesn’t matter if you have one of the best tandems in the NHL when you can’t score goals.
Related: Should Anthony Duclair Have Had to Cut His Hair Just to Play for the Islanders?
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (3-4-1, -8. Last week: 22)
Honestly, when the Flames sent out Justin Kirkland in the sixth round of the shootout after Nazem Kadri tied it in dramatic fashion with 43 seconds left in the third period, it was over for the Penguins. It was unfortunate because the Pens put forth a valiant effort, but what may be more worrisome is that Alex Nedeljkovic is not looking like their savior after two losses in two straight starts.
25. Detroit Red Wings (3-3-0, -2. Last week: 26)
There’s no real other way to put it, but the Wings might be the worst .500 hockey club I’ve ever seen. They managed just 11 (!) shots in a 1-0 shutout win against the Isles and, per naturalstattrick.com, generated just 0.83 expected goals at 5-on-5 in that game. What will happen when Alex Lyon inevitably runs out of steam?
26. Buffalo Sabres (3-4-1, -3. Last week: 30)
Had the Sabres kept losing, I was prepared to write them off completely. But they managed to beat the Hawks and the Stars, thanks to excellent performances from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, so they will at least survive calls to blow up the team… for another week.
27. Nashville Predators (1-5-0, -9. Last week: 27)
It’s good they got the monkey off their back, but their power play should be much better than 20th. One thing that really stood out is that they still don’t move the puck quite quickly enough, and oftentimes, it looks like Steven Stamkos’ one-timer is waiting for a pass that never comes or gets there too late. A shutout win to snap the losing skid is nice, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
28. Philadelphia Flyers (1-4-1, -11. Last week: 16)
The Flyers have yet to win in regulation and they’re averaging a paltry 2.17 goals per game despite an improved power play, and their goaltending’s not good enough to bail them out. It does not get any easier soon. The Capitals and Wild are coming up, and then they face the Bruins (twice), Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers in five of their next seven games after that.
29. Anaheim Ducks (3-2-1, -3. Last week: 31)
The good news is that two of the Ducks’ wins have come against the Sharks. The bad news is they only play the Sharks one more time this season, and not until April 1 (not a joke). Between now and then, they’ll have to figure out how to score goals and keep Lukas Dostal fresh. He ranks third with 35.5 shots against per 60 minutes among goalies with at least two starts.
30. Montreal Canadiens (2-4-1, -10. Last week: 23)
The last two seasons under Martin St-Louis started very similar, too, with an impressive showing in the season opener and a winning record in the first week before the losses piled up. The Habs have lost four in a row, including a 7-2 drubbing against the Rangers where Sam Montembeault, who shut out the Leafs in the opener and is potentially vying for a spot on Canada’s 4 Nations roster, was pulled. The injuries are piling up, too, with Juraj Slafkovsky out for another week, Kaiden Guhle having now missed two games, and Justin Barron getting knocked out by (another) controversial hit from Jacob Trouba.
Related: The Hockey News Big Show: Are The Montreal Canadiens Close To Making The Playoffs?
31. Chicago Blackhawks (2-4-1, -6. Last week: 29)
It’s funny to think the Hawks were so worried about who should play with Connor Bedard that they forgot to worry about who should play when Bedard’s not on the ice. Philipp Kurashev, who had been their No. 2 center, was a healthy scratch, and Andreas Athanasiou lasted about half a game before getting replaced by Lukas Reichel, who started on the fourth line and began the season as a healthy scratch.
32. San Jose Sharks (0-5-2, -16. Last week: 32)
The good and bad news is the Sharks didn’t win their first game until Nov. 7 last season. If you’re an optimist, if the Sharks earn their first win before Nov. 7, they can at least say they’ve improved. If you’re a pessimist, it means the Sharks are not getting any better.
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