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Welcome back to another edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey for this season.
The NHL season is winding down as the playoff races are heating up in the Eastern and Western Conferences. Things are becoming clearer in the East as it is a three-team race for the final two spots. While the West is still open. It is a three-team race for the final spot in the West.
After last week’s NHL Power Rankings, there was some shakeup in the Top 10 with the top three remaining the same. The Boston Bruins continue to be the class of the NHL. However, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are two of the hottest teams in the league. We are inching closer to the final rankings of the year with the 16 teams making the playoffs. The bottom of the rankings has not changed much either. Some movement, but there is a clear distinction between the good and the bad teams.
Time to dive into this week’s NHL Power Rankings.
NHL Power Rankings
1. Boston Bruins (Previous Ranking 1)
The Boston Bruins are the best team in the NHL. Right now the only thing stopping the Bruins is the Bruins themselves. They have such a complete team and know how to put losses behind them. Is there a team that can beat them in a best-of-seven series?
2. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous Ranking 3)
The Carolina Hurricanes continue to show they are the class of the Metro Division with the Devils and Rangers on their heels. Carolina is figuring out how to win games even with injuries to top players.
3. New Jersey Devils (Previous Ranking 2)
The Devils are sticking around despite their recent struggles. New Jersey is showing their ability to bounce back in games. There is no sophomore slump for Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier is exactly what this team needed. Imagine when Jack Hughes starts scoring again.
4. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous Ranking 4)
The Golden Knights are becoming a tough team again in the Western Conference. Jonathan Quick has fortified the goaltending position for Vegas. Quick is motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
5. Los Angeles Kings (Previous Ranking 5)
The Los Angeles Kings are a sleeper team in the West and the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is right on the heels of Vegas. This Kings team is reminding people of years gone by when they won Stanley Cups. But this time playing a different style.
6. Minnesota Wild (Previous Ranking 6)
The Wild are right there in the Central Division. Even with the loss of Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild are performing well. Their additions of John Klingberg and Marcus Johansson have really stepped up. In addition, Matt Boldy has seen a bigger role as the tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury are playing well.
7. Dallas Stars (Previous Ranking 7)
The Stars continue to hold on to the top spot in the Central as they are starting to play much better. Max Domi has brought a spark to this lineup. Let’s see if the Pete DeBoer magic happens in another new place where in the first year his team makes a deep run. Dallas has the talent to do so.
8. Edmonton Oilers (Previous Ranking 9)
The Oilers defence got better with the addition of Mattias Ekholm. Goaltending is still an issue for them. But when you have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl the issue is not scoring especially when their power play is clicking like it is.
9. Colorado Avalanche (Previous Ranking 8)
And just like that the Colorado Avalanche are back in playoff contention. Losing Artturi Lehkonen will be a major loss, but he will be back in time for the playoffs. As Nathan MacKinnon said if the Avalance get in, nobody wants to play them and he is right.
10. New York Rangers ( Previous Ranking 11)
The Rangers find themselves in a good spot in the Metro Division and the playoff picture. They are starting to click now that all the changes have been made. Gerard Gallant has got his top six in order and this team is rolling having recorded points in seven straight games.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous Ranking 10)
The Maple Leafs are struggling a bit down the stretch. Offensively they are still good, but head coach Sheldon Keefe is trying too much line matching with only 10 games left in the season. The loss of Ryan O’Reilly has affected what they have done offensively.
12. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previous Ranking 12)
We know what this Lightning team is all about. Survive the regular season before the playoffs come in April. They have played a lot of hockey over the past three seasons it can take its toll on the body. This team is not the same, especially on defence. You know this team will get it together once the playoffs come around.
13. New York Islanders (Previous Ranking 16)
The New York Islanders are showing they can be a tough out. General manager Lou Lamoriello has this team right there. The Islanders got through their California road trip and have won three in a row and are playing well without Matthew Barzal. When you have Ilya Sorokin anything is possible.
14. Seattle Kraken (Previous Ranking 4)
The Seattle Kraken are still hanging in there in the Pacific, but now their focus has to be on making the playoffs as they are sinking into Wild Card 1 in the West. No pun intended there. The Kraken will have to dig deep but for now, they are safe as the Jets and Flames are not helping themselves.
15. Florida Panthers (Previous Ranking 20)
Consistency matters for the Panthers right now. Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk have been the team’s best players. Florida is right there, but time is slipping away quickly. However, they had a missed opportunity against the Flyers to put ground between them and Pittsburgh.
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16. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous Ranking 14)
After a four-game losing streak, the Penguins still find themselves in Wild Card 2 in the East. Goaltending is going to be an issue for them in the playoffs. So is their defence especially with two-thirds of it missing due to injury.
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17. Winnipeg Jets (Previous Ranking 17)
The Jets find themselves in the wild-card mix and holding on to Wild Card two in the West. Consistency is the name of the game for the Jets. It seems like they play better on the road than they do on home ice. When they need points they get them except when other teams are idle.
18. Calgary Flames (Previous Ranking 19)
Like with the Jets, the Flames are one of those teams that just can’t get to click at the right time. Calgary rises up when they need to but fades against teams they should not. If this team does not make the playoffs changes are probably coming. The Flames are right and if they get in look out. Again big if here.
19. Nashville Predators (Previous Ranking 17)
The Nashville Predators showed they were in selling mode, but are on the cusp of being in a wild-card position after three straight wins. It is weird to see, but the Predators are just playing an overall good team game with Juuse Saros carrying the load between the pipes.
20. Ottawa Senators (Previous Ranking 18)
The Senators are struggling and falling out of the playoff race quickly. A record of 3-6-1 over their last 10 games is not going to cut it if they wanted to make the playoffs. Still in it, but soon going to be out of it. But it has been a good season in Ottawa for players like Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle.
21. Vancouver Canucks (Previous Ranking 21)
How about those Canucks right now. Over their last 10 games, the Canucks are 7-3 and are playing really well under Rick Tocchet. Elias Pettersson, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Thatcher Demko have all stepped up. It will be interesting to see what changes are coming in the summer.
22. Washington Capitals (Previous Ranking 22)
The Capitals are still battling in the East, but time is starting to slip away. Alex Ovechkin continues to rewrite the record books in terms of scoring. Ovechkin has passed Wayne Gretzky for most 40-goal seasons. What an impressive feat.
23. Buffalo Sabres (Previous Ranking 23)
It has been a great season in Buffalo. Maybe not the way they wanted it to go down the stretch, but this team needs a good goalie. The future is bright with Devon Levi between the pipes. Hopefully, he is the answer. But with the offensive power they need someone to step the puck.
24. St. Louis Blues (Previous Ranking 24)
It is all about the future for the Blues. Joel Hofer is showing he is the guy for St. Louis going forward between the pipes even with Jordan Binnington signed long-term.
25. Detroit Red Wings (Previous Ranking 25)
GM Steve Yzerman knew his team was not ready to make a deep run in the playoffs. He wants them to be competitive when they do get there. But that does not mean they will not be playing hard down the stretch. Their time is coming soon.
26. Arizona Coyotes (Previous Ranking 29)
Despite the arena situation surrounding the Arizona Coyotes, they are playing hard down the stretch. Over their last 10 games, they are 6-1-3 as Clayton Keller showing he is a franchise player for this team.
27. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous Ranking 26)
The Flyers are going to be a tough out as they always have been throughout the season. It is all about the draft lottery for the Flyers and the draft moving forward. The key to the future for the Flyers is developing their young players.
29. Montreal Canadiens (Previous Ranking 27)
A change of scenery was the best thing for Denis Gurianov as he continues to light the lamp for Montreal. The season is winding down as there will be a lot of new faces in Montreal next season. Another injury for this team just sums up their season.
30. Anaheim Ducks (Previous Ranking 28)
The young core in Anaheim is playing well led by Trevor Zegras. It will be decision time for GM Pat Verbeek in the summer. Several key RFAs need new contracts. It will be interesting to see what he does.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous Ranking 30)
Finally, Johnny Gaudreau is showing what he can do for the Blue Jackets. It took some time, but they still need a lot of help if they want to compete in the Metro next season.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous Ranking 31)
It is truly an end of an era in Chicago. First Patrick Kane is traded now reports that Jonathan Toews will retire at the end of the season. What a run it was for this group.
32. San Jose Sharks (Previous Ranking 28)
It is great what Erik Karlsson is doing. Karlsson is closing in on a 100-point season for a defenceman. You have to wonder how much that will factor into Norris Trophy voting this season.
That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned more another edition of NHL Power Rankings next week.
