Livescore
Welcome back to The Hockey News’ NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.
Happy American Thanksgiving.
We’ve reached the unofficial cutoff line for the playoffs. In past seasons, the vast majority of teams who were in playoff position by today made the post-season. There are exceptions, of course, but in about a month, teams on the outside looking in will really have to consider if they will be buyers or sellers.
This week’s NHL power rankings will assign a status to each team, be it contender, pretender, lottery-bound or otherwise.
1. Carolina Hurricanes (16-5-1, +30). Last week: 1)
Contender. Playoff disappointments aside, the Hurricanes have figured out the formula to finish at the top of the standings every season. The imminent return of Pyotr Kochetkov is good news, but no matter who’s in net, the Canes’ style – heavy on puck possession, limiting opposition shots – ensures they’ll be successful no matter what.
2. Winnipeg Jets (18-5-0, +34. Last week: 2)
Contender. Consecutive first-round exits aside, the Jets have the best record and best points percentage since last season. We thought maybe after two straight losses by a combined 9-1 score the Jets would slow down, but instead, they won three of their next four.
3. New Jersey Devils (15-8-2, +19. Last week: 7)
Contender. This is the first season the Devils should be considered true contenders after shoring up their goaltending and defense. Since their four-game winless streak, they’re 10-4-0.
4. Washington Capitals (15-6-1, +30. Last week: 5)
A dark horse? They’re hovering around low-end contender to playoff lock status, but with so many players outperforming expectations, it’s been difficult to really get a good read on them. They’ll definitely make the playoffs, but they’re 2-2-0 without Alex Ovechkin.
5. Minnesota Wild (14-4-4, +17. Last week: 3)
Contender. The Wild lineup feels a little thin, and they’re being carried by an MVP-caliber season from Kirill Kaprizov. Filip Gustavsson is also having an under-the-radar Vezina-caliber season.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (13-7-2, +8. Last week: 4)
Contender. Like the Jets, we can joke about the early playoff exits, but the fact remains they’re one of the NHL’s best teams. An excellent home record helps, but keep in mind they’re also doing this without Auston Matthews.
Related: If The Maple Leafs Want Another Center, Islanders’ Brock Nelson Is The Ideal Fit
7. Colorado Avalanche (13-10-0, -7. Last week: 11)
Contender. The Avs only needed to stay afloat before their key players returned from injury, and they’ve done just that. Their goaltending is especially concerning, but in their Cup-winning season, Darcy Kuemper only had a .902 SP and lost the starting job for a short stretch. It’s something that they can overcome, even if it looks impossible on some nights.
8. Florida Panthers (13-9-1, +3. Last week: 8)
Contender. Ups and downs aside, you have to take the defending champions seriously. Matthew Tkachuk is a notoriously slow starter, so look for him to pick it up.
9. Vegas Golden Knights (14-6-3, +17. Last week: 10)
Contender. Even if they’re not in the elite tier of teams right now, the Knights are not afraid to make big moves to push them over the edge. They’re not perfect and not nearly as deep as they once were, but this is largely the same group that won the Cup.
10. Dallas Stars (13-8-0, +16. Last week: 9)
Contender. They’ve looked pretty shaky lately, and some of their key players are underperforming, but at full strength, they’re one of the deepest teams in the NHL.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-8-2, +14. Last week: 12)
Maybe contender. Sometimes it feels like the Lightning are held together by just a handful of players, and while it’s admirable they’ve been so consistent at winning games, it certainly feels like they’re falling out of the top tier if they haven’t already.
12. Calgary Flames (12-7-4, -1. Last week: 15)
Playoff contender. The Flames are punching well above their weight, but the only way they can go on a miracle run and ignite the ‘C of Red’ again is if Dustin Wolf is the best goalie in the NHL. They’re too light on scoring despite an underrated defense, and I’m not sure they’re in a good position to be buyers at the deadline.
Related: Flames Goalie Dustin Wolf Truly Opening Eyes As An NHL Rookie
13. Edmonton Oilers (11-9-2, -5. Last week: 13)
Contender. A pre-season favorite after making the final last season, the Oilers look far from where they were last season, but of course, the presence of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl means they have to be taken seriously.
14. New York Rangers (12-8-1, +11. Last week: 6)
Contender, but quickly fading. They’ve lost four straight with 18 goals (!) allowed, and their schedule is only going to get harder from here. They’ve banked a lot of points with a soft early schedule, but they look nothing like last season’s Presidents’ Trophy champions.
Related: Are Big Changes Coming For The New York Rangers?
15. Vancouver Canucks (11-7-3, even. Last week: 14)
Playoff contender. The lineup still has too many holes, and while Kevin Lankinen’s play has been superb, their best chance of winning is with Thatcher Demko in net.
16. Los Angeles Kings (12-8-3, +4. Last week: 16)
Playoff contender. It’s been difficult to make sense of the Kings, who can beat the Wild, 5-1, and then lose to the Sharks, 7-2. The most recent loss was particularly alarming, forcing Jim Hiller to perform major surgery to his lines, but they responded very well with a win over the Jets.
17. Buffalo Sabres (11-10-1, +3. Last week: 21)
Playoff hopeful. The Sabres certainly have the talent to make the playoffs, but they’re far too streaky with either three-game winning or three-game losing streaks. They’re committing a huge workload to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, which is a good move, while Devon Levi gets reps in the minors. The Sabres are 8-5-1 with Luukkonen in net and 3-5-0 with everyone else.
18. Seattle Kraken (11-11-1, even. Last week: 19)
Playoff hopeful. Scoring is a huge problem, but adding Brandon Montour has been a great move, and they’ve finally come to their senses and given Joey Daccord the net.
19. Philadelphia Flyers (10-10-3, -13. Last week: 17)
Playoff hopeful. The Flyers nearly made it last season, and after a rough start this season, they’ve won seven of their last 11 games. They haven’t been easy at all, but considering you need to be barely above .500 to compete for a wild-card spot in the East, the Flyers definitely have a chance.
20. St. Louis Blues (11-12-1, -15. Last week: 23)
Contender! Just kidding. The Blues are already 2-0-0 under Jim Montgomery, but this roster is much less talented than the one that went all the way. They came into the season as playoff hopefuls, and they remain that way with the potential upside for more if they get hot under Montgomery.
21. Ottawa Senators (10-11-1, -1. Last week: 18)
Playoff hopeful. An optimist will see the merciful end of a five-game winless streak as a good sign, while the pessimist is already sensing deja vu. The Sens need to stop throwing fits when things don’t go their way, and Linus Ullmark needs to be way, way better.
Related: The NHL’s Four Most Confusing Teams
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (9-9-3, -3. Last week: 31)
Playoff hopeful. I have high hopes for the Jackets, who have been playing exciting hockey under Dean Evason. They’ve been really competitive against some really good teams but are strangely 0-1-1 with a minus-5 goal differential against the Habs.
23. Boston Bruins (11-10-3, -18. Last week: 25)
Playoff hopeful. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, though some have expected this drop-off for a few seasons now. With only David Pastrnak as a marquee forward up front and costly points lost at the beginning of the season, the Bruins face an uphill climb.
24. Utah Hockey Club (9-10-3, -9. Last week: 22)
Playoff hopeful. I find Utah far too inconsistent, and they’ve really struggled to win since their 3-0-0 start, going 6-10-3 since. I think they have the talent, and they’re a winning streak away from potentially sneaking in as a wild-card team.
25. Anaheim Ducks (9-9-3, -7. Last week: 26)
Playoff hopeful. A week ago, the Ducks looked lottery-bound yet again, but a three-game winning streak puts them back in the thick of things. It’s still highly doubtful they make the cut – they’re too young, too inconsistent and have too many holes in their lineup – but as of this week, they still have a chance.
26. Detroit Red Wings (10-10-2, -11. Last week: 28)
Playoff hopeful. For Steve Yzerman and their fan base’s sake, I do hope they make the playoffs. They’ve won three of their last four, but scoring is a huge concern. They re-signed Patrick Kane and added Vladimir Tarasenko, but this is 2024, not 2014.
27. New York Islanders (8-10-5, -11. Last week: 20)
Playoff hopeful. They might have the best goalie tandem in the NHL, and their scoring should improve once Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair return. But I get the feeling Lou Lamoriello might acquire some overachieving bottom-six player to play in their top six and then reward them with a long-term contract, crippling their chances of improving their roster. Have I triggered anybody yet?
28. Chicago Blackhawks (8-12-2, -9. Last week: 32)
Lottery-bound. The Hawks have looked absolutely listless on some nights, and Bedard needs a better roster around him, though it would help if they kept the same lines for more than a game. Year 2 of Connor Bedard is generating far less excitement, and certainly, their optimism has paled in comparison to Year 1 of Macklin Celebrini.
29. Montreal Canadiens (8-11-3, -21. Last week: 30)
Lottery-bound. That big improvement has yet to come for Martin St-Louis’ squad, though they did bounce back after a horrific effort against Utah with a 4-3 comeback win in overtime. The Habs don’t have a franchise player in the Bedard or Celebrini tier, and I’m not sure they need one to be successful, but their young core needs to take a big step forward at some point.
30. Nashville Predators (7-12-4, -19. Last week: 24)
Playoff hopeful. Out of respect more than anything, the Preds should be given a chance to right the ship, but it’s looking bleak. They have not won consecutive games since Oct. 22 to 26.
31. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-12-4, -33. Last week: 29)
Closer to lottery-bound than playoff hopeful, but I’m not quite sure the Pens accept that. Indeed, they’re a winning streak and a hot goalie run away from doing so, but both prospects seem so doubtful.
Related: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ongoing Slump Prompts More Trade Talk
32. San Jose Sharks (7-13-5, -23. Last week: 27)
Lottery-bound. The Sharks are much more exciting (and watchable) than they were last season, but the rebuild’s just getting started. Yaroslav Askarov made a brief appearance and teased what could be their next Evgenii Nabokov.
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