NHL Power Rankings: Colorado Avalanche Regain Top Spot

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

We are under three weeks away from the trade deadline and two teams have emerged in the Western Conference. One we already know is the Colorado Avalanche as they are back on top of this week’s power rankings. The second is the red-hot Calgary Flames who continue to take the NHL by storm in the second half of the season. Outside the top team changing in the power rankings, there has also been some shakeup inside the top 10, with the Los Angeles Kings making their first appearance of the season.

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

NHL Power Rankings

1. Colorado Avalance (Last Week 2) 

The Avalanche are back in the top spot in the NHL Power Rankings as they continue to show their dominance on the ice each and every night. The key for Colorado will be how their goaltending holds up down the stretch and will they decide to make an upgrade at the deadline.

2. Calgary Flames (Last Week 3) 

Outside of their loss to Vancouver, the Flames have won 12 of their last 13 games scoring 46 goals in their last nine games.

3. Tampa Bay Lighting (Last Week 4) 

The Lightning have won five straight and sit atop the  Atlantic Division with no signs of slowing down as they remain favourites to win the Stanley Cup for the third time in a row.

4. Carolina Hurricanes(Last Week 6)

Carolina continues to be the top team in the Metro Division as they were on a five-game winning streak. They are doing this without Tony DeAngelo in the lineup. Keep an eye on Carolina as the deadline draws near, they will want to add on the back end.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week 7) 

Even though the Maple Leafs have won three in a row, defensively they need help with Jake Muzzin out of the lineup. Thankfully for the Leafs, Petr Mrazek has been able to right the ship with Jack Campbell struggling.

6. Florida Panthers (Last Week 1)

The Panthers have hit the skids losing three straight games in a row. Sergei Bobrovsky has looked human and there is cause for concern for the Panthers. They need him to play up to his potential or else, this losing streak will continue.

7. St.Louis Blues (Last Week 10) 

The Blues are on a four-game winning streak and are benefitting from the play of Jordan Binnington. He has regained the form he had back in 2019 when the Blues won the Stanley Cup. If Binnington can continue this high level of play, the Blues are a serious threat to win again.

8. Boston Bruins (Last Week 12) 

The Bruins are making a case to be a top-three team in the Atlantic Division after winning five straight games. Jake DeBrusk is a big reason why. Bruce Cassidy has put him on the top line and it is paying dividends.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week 9)

After a tough week, the Penguins rebounded nicely winning two straight games. There are still question marks surrounding their backup goalie. This is a position they will look to upgrade at the deadline.

10. Los Angeles Kings (Last Week 15) 

Despite their five-game winning streak coming to an end, the Kings have emerged as a true playoff team in the West. It will be interesting to see how the Kings approach the trade deadline in regards to upgrading their defence.

11. New York Rangers (Last Week 5) 

It was a tough weekend for the Rangers, losing back-to-back games. The Rangers continue to outperform their analytic numbers. Offensively, the Rangers are struggling and will look to add a scoring winger at the deadline.

12. Dallas Stars (Last Week 13) 

The Stars are 4-0-1 over the last five games. They currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the West as their top players continue to play at a high level.

13. Minnesota Wild (Last Week 7) 

It was a tough month for the Wild with a record of 4-6. Minnesota sits five points behind the Blues in the Central Division and just one point up on the Predators for the third spot in the Central.

14. Las Vegas Golden Knights (Last Week 11)

Everyone keeps waiting for the Golden Knights to start rolling, however, injuries continue to play a role in how this team performs night in and night out. The salary cap will play a factor in what Vegas does at the deadline.

15. Nashville Predators (Last Week 17) 

Nashville had a decent week getting two much-needed wins. They are still in playoff contention but there is a big question mark surrounding Filip Forsberg and his new contact.

16. Washington Capitals (Last Week 14) 

The Capitals need to find answers in between the pipes because their tandem is not cutting it right now. Unless this improves, the Capitals could find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week 18) 

Columbus finds themselves eight points out of the second wild-card spot in the East. A big reason for this is the play of Patrik Laine who has recorded 14 goals over his last 13 games.

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18. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week 19) 

The Canucks are a fascinating team as the trade deadline approaches. They remain in the thick of things in the Western Conference with several players potentially on the move.

19. Edmonton Oilers (Last Week 16) 

The jubilation of having a new head coach has worn off and every game for the Oilers moving forward is a must-win if this team has playoff aspirations

20. Winnipeg Jets(Last Week 20) 

The clock is starting to run out for the Winnipeg Jets and their chances of making the playoffs. This team is too good not to be in the playoffs, but losing three of their last five games does them no favours.

21. Anaheim Ducks (Last Week 21) 

Even though Anaheim is still in playoff contention, it doesn’t feel like it after going 2-5 in the month of February. Changes are coming in Anaheim with Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Rickard Rakell potentially on the move.

22. Detroit Red Wings (Last Week 22) 

The Cinderella run of the Detroit Red Wings appears to be coming to an end. It was a valiant effort for Steve Yzerman’s group. It will be interesting to see what moves the Red Wings make at the deadline.

23. New York Islanders (Last Week 23) 

The Islanders have some difficult choices to make as the trade deadline looms. Their general manager believes in the current group but this team needs to get younger faster.

24. Montreal Canadiens (Last Week 30)

Who would have thought Montreal would have gotten this high in the power rankings? The team just won five games in a row as they continue to play well under the new head coach, Martin St. Louis.

25. Ottawa Senators (Last Week 25) 

The Senators have a bright future as their young players are coming together at the right time. It’s good to see Colin White and Thomas Chabot back in the lineup.

26. Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week 26) 

The Chicago Blackhawks will be an interesting team at the Trade Deadline as they have so many available players. One of the players that teams are looking at is Brandon Hagel. He currently has 17 goals and 30 assists, making him a valuable trade asset.

27. San Jose Sharks(Last Week 24) 

The Sharks have an interesting dilemma with the deadline approaching. All signs point to Tomas Hertl signing a new contract. However, if that does not happen, he can be dealt at the deadline.  

28. New Jersey Devils (Last Week 28) 

The Devils have scored 21 goals in the past 3 games. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt continue to be a great duo for the Devils. Bratt is currently leading the team in points and is due for a pay raise this offseason.

29. Arizona Coyotes (Last Week 29)

Arizona has to get the arena situation solved or else players from around the league who are free agents are not going to sign there. What NHL player would want to play in a 5,000 seat arena?

30. Buffalo Sabres (Last Week 27) 

Buffalo has dropped six straight games and has allowed four or more goals in five of those games. Even though the Sabres group has improved upfront, they still have work to do to be a contender again in the Eastern Conference.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week 31) 

The Flyers are having a terrible season but despite all this, Carter Hart‘s play has improved from a year ago. There is still hope for this young goaltender going forward.

32. Seattle Kraken (Last Week 32) 

The Kraken’s losing streak is up to seven games now. Unfortunately for them, they are not the Golden Knights of a few years ago. This is what happens when you mess up your expansion draft.

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