NHL Power Rankings: Calgary Flames Remain Scorching Hot Back Inside Top 10

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey.

After a week off from the Power Rankings as it was a short week because of the All-Star break, there is some shakeup inside the Top 10. Last time we talked about the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators making moves. This week the Calgary Flames are making noise again and jumping back inside the Top 10. They are showing to be a true contender after the COVID scare that went through the team. And with the addition of Tyler Toffoli, the Flames could be the favourite to win the Pacific Division. Dare I say a contender to win the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and others.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out where these teams stand.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week 1) 

The Avalanche continue to be the best team in the NHL. It does not matter if they lose a top player in Nathan MacKinnon, they always seem to be able to right the ship. What other pieces do they add to put them over the top? Claude Giroux maybe?

2. Florida Panthers (Last Week 2) 

The Panthers are playing their first game since the beginning of February prior to the All-Star break. Florida has won four of their last five games. Even with the time off, the Panthers are still number one in the Atlantic. They have some big games coming up.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week 10)

The Penguins are hot once again winning three in a row and they hold the top spot in the Metro Division. Just when you thought they take a step back the Penguins are finding ways to prove the doubters wrong once again.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week 4)

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning are keeping pace in a good Atlantic Division. Even with injuries to some of their top players, the Lightning are hanging on. The Lightning are flying under the radar and that is ok by them.

5. New York Rangers (Last Week 8) 

Though the Rangers have been off since February 1st, New York is moving up in the latest NHL Power Rankings as they are into the Top 5 as other teams have slowly faltered along the way. Let’s see if the Rangers mojo at the Garden can continue when they return and all eyes will be on Chris Kreider as his position in the race of the Rocket Richard Trophy.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week 5) 

The Maple Leafs ended their road trip with a win. Toronto is glad to have Jake Muzzin back in the lineup. He gives so much structure to this team on defence. That has led to better performance by Jack Campbell. However, the Maple Leafs still have question marks on defence.

7. Minnesota Wild (Last Week 6) 

Winners of two straight and eight of their last 10 games, the Wild drop a spot in the rankings. Not because of poor play, but other teams just playing a little better. Speaking of playing better Kevin Fiala is helping his team win now with 10 goals in his last 14 games.

8. Calgary Flames (Last Week 13) 

The Flames are back in form winners of six straight games. You thought Andrew Mangiapane could only score on the road. He has goals in three straight home games. It will be interesting to see where Tyler Toffoli fits into this lineup.

9. Vegas Golden Knights (Last Week 9) 

We have yet to see the real Vegas Golden Knights team this season. Injuries to Mark Stone and Alec Martinez have hurt this team. Yes, Jack Eichel is returning to the lineup, but now Robin Lehner is hurt. Where do the Golden Knights go from here?

10. Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week 3)

The Carolina Hurricanes had their worst stretch of the season losing three of four games. It’s just not a great week for the Canes, who need to find the form that has kept them at the top of the Metro Divsion for most of the year.

11. St. Louis Blues (Last Week 11) 

The Blues goaltending situation has become an interesting pickle. Jordan Binnington lost a lot of his mojo. There was a thought Ville Husso might get traded, but that has gone out the window. Husso is the man moving forward for Craig Berube.

12. Nashville Predators (Last Week 7) 

The Predators slip out of the top 10 in the latest NHL Power Rankings after two straight losses inside the Central Division, where they had chances to put some separation between them and the wild card teams. Also, what is going with Filip Forsberg not having an extension done?

13. Boston Bruins (Last Week 12) 

Tuukka Rask has retired. The duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman will carry the load for the Bruins going forward. Boston remains without Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Is it possible the Bruins get caught and miss the playoffs?

14. Dallas Stars (Last Week 14) 

The Dallas Stars still find themselves in playoff contention. Even when you think the Stars have missed opportunities, Dallas finds a way to hang around. Huge wins over Nashville and Winnipeg have the Stars three points out of the playoffs.

15. Los Angeles Kings (Last Week 17) 

The Los Angeles Kings have won two straight games. Yes, the Flames have passed them in the standings, but Los Angeles will be a team to watch and see if they can hold onto a top-three seed in the Pacific Division.

16. Washington Capitals (Last Week 16)

The Capitals are way off the pace they were setting at the beginning of the season. They need to upgrade their goaltending, it is a reason why they are not higher up in the standings. Washington should make the playoffs, but it will not be a long stay if they do.

17. Anaheim Ducks (Last Week 15) 

The Ducks have lost two straight games and are hanging on to the final wild-card spot by only two points. This is a big stretch for the Ducks this will really determine what they do at the trade deadline.

Around FPC

NHL: Islanders Must Adjust Their Front Office and Reimagine Lou Lamoriello’s Role in It

NHL: NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators

NHL: Montreal Canadiens Trade Tyler Toffoli To Calgary

NFL: Odell Beckham Jr., Rams Agree To One-Year Deal

Wrestling: WWE Once Again Chooses To Go Back To Brock Lesnar 

PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 11: Are The Penguins Really For Sale? Senators Talk w/ Murray Pam

18. Edmonton Oilers (Last Week 18) 

The Oilers have won two in a row after Dave Tippett was relieved of his duties as head coach of the team. Edmonton still has needs to fill on defence and goaltending.

19. Winnipeg Jets (Last Week 21) 

Despite getting production from Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, the Jets are still seven points out of a wild card spot. The Jets need more from Connor Hellebuyck if they want any shot of making the playoffs.

20. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week 20) 

The Canucks still have life in the Pacific Division as well as at the second wild-card spot in the West. With the way J.T. Miller is tearing it up, it will be hard for the Canucks to move him. But that does not mean other players won’t be traded. 

21. New York Islanders (Last Week 19) 

Time is just running out for the Islanders to make a run to make the playoffs in the East. If the Bruins and Capitals continue to struggle the door is open, but they have to put together a run starting now.

22. Detroit Red Wings (Last Week 26) 

The Red Wings are still in striking distance of the second wild-card spot. After a bump in the road, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are back to their old selves. One of these two will win the Calder Trophy this year.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week 23) 

Patrik Laine remains red hot for the Blue Jackets. Laine has seven goals and 12 points in his last six games. There is a reason why Columbus is trying to sign him long-term. When Laine is on his game, he is one of the best.

24. San Jose Sharks (Last Week 24)

It feels like a broken record, but the Sharks are still alive somehow in the race for the second wild card spot. With six of their next seven games on home ice, this is a big stretch for the Sharks as it will make or break their season.

25. Ottawa Senators (Last Week 27) 

The Senators are playing much better as of late this can be attributed to the play of Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg. Let’s see if Murray can keep it up because the Sens have a team that can compete in a few years.

26. Seattle Kraken (Last Week 24) 

All eyes will be on the Kraken as the trade deadline approaches. The big name is Mark Giordano that will be on the move. But they have other players teams will be looking at.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week 25) 

The Chicago Blackhawks will be an interesting team at the Trade Deadline as they have so many available players. The most interesting of all will be Marc-Andre Fleury. Teams no doubt will be calling let us see where he goes and does he move his no-trade clause is the question.

28. Buffalo Sabres (Last Week 28) 

The Sabres have two nice pieces to build around going forward with Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch. Add to the fact they are effective with Jeff Skinner that is a pretty good topline. Now throw Tage Thompson into the mix, Sabres are playing well. 

29. New Jersey Devils (Last Week 29) 

The Devils are starting to play better like they do during this time of year over the last several seasons. The loss of Jesper Bratt hurts the offence, but Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes have picked up the slack. New Jersey has to figure out their goaltending.

30. Arizona Coyotes (Last Week 29)

The only good thing going for the Coyotes this season is the play of Clayton Keller. With everyone else on the trade block, Keller feels like a piece the team can build around.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week 32) 

All eyes will be on Claude Giroux as the trade deadline approaches. It appears he is willing to move to a couple of teams. The All-Star Game MVP best fit is in Colorado.

32. Montreal Canadiens (Last Week 31) 

The Canadiens continue to have a historically bad season. Losers of 10 straight games, they finally replaced Dominique Ducharme. Things are better under Martin St. Louis. But they made the first of many hockey moves trading Toffoli to Calgary. It feels like Ben Chiarot is next.

That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned for another edition next week.