NHL Power Rankings: Buyers and Sellers

There’s a new team at #1 this week after stringing together some very, very impressive play as of late, which is not something a lot of the top teams in the league can say they’ve done recently.

I’ve started to get the sense that we’re entering that weird lull right before the deadline where the top contending teams in the league are just wanting to get through the next two weeks so that they know what their team is actually going to look like as they make a push for the Cup, and it’s lead to some eye-catching results in games between bonafide Cup contenders, and NHL bottom-feeders.

This week, the theme of our Power Rankings is short and sweet… are the teams buyers, or are they sellers. The NHL deadline landscape looks mighty different than it has in past years in terms of what teams are wanting to do, and it *should* make for an exciting next two weeks.

1. Calgary Flames (34-15-7 75 pts)

Last week – 6

Caught some heat (get it?) for where I had this team ranked last week, despite them having been on a bit of a run, and truthfully I probably did have them a bit low given they way they are rolling right now. Calgary is definitely a buyer, though we’ll see what else they can make work, as they’ve already made a move to bring in Tyler Toffoli.

2. Colorado Avalanche (41-12-5 87 pts)

Last week – 1

They maybe wouldn’t be at #2 had most other top teams not also stumbled a bit this past week, but they did so the Avs stay near the top of my rankings. They’re buyers, and they’re in on just about everything. Joe Sakic is checking in on any and everything teams have to offer.

3. Florida Panthers (39-13-5 83 pts)

Last week – 5

The Panthers have tried since 1996 to get back to this point as a team, legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. They’ve had to look north and see in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Cups and pack their building on most nights, and this is their chance to put themselves in that same conversation. They’re buying, and they are one of the few teams near the top of the league that is asset rich and has cap space to spare.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (39-12-5 83 pts)

Last week – 2

The top of the Eastern Conference is such a blood bath, that every team is looking to do whatever they can to get an edge. Carolina is getting all-world goaltending out of Frederik Andersen, and don’t want to waste it. Look for them to be buying, and my guess is they’re going to take a pretty big swing.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-13-6 80 pts)

Last week – 3

Ok, ok… I know I just said that every team out east is looking to do whatever they can to get an edge, but Tampa may end up being the exception. They will for sure fall into the buyer category, but I expect it to be fringe moves to improve the team’s depth. I think Tampa believes the group they have in place is capable of a three-peat as currently constructed. 

6. Boston Bruins (34-18-5 73 pts)

Last week – 8

They got themselves a little behind the 8-ball early in the season, but have been on a tear recently. I didn’t think they had any chance at catching the top three teams in their division, but now suddenly, Toronto is hearing footsteps. With that, don’t expect Boston to be too aggressive. They are aware that they have a tough road to the Finals, and I just don’t know if they’re willing to give up assets for rentals. If the price is right though, they could be buyers.

7. Washington Capitals (31-18-9 71 pts)

Last week – 14

A really nice bounce-back week for them that saw the Caps win some huge games against top teams. I think they’d like to buy, including some insurance in net, but I’m just not sure they can pull it off given what their cap situation is. They’d have to move some money out, and at that point, how much are you actually improving your team, and how much are you just reshuffling.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-15-9 77 pts) 

Last week – 7

They had their names tied to Marc-Andre Fleury there for a minute, but that seems to have fizzled out. I put these guys in the same boat with the Bruins, just not sure how much they’re willing to invest knowing they’ll have to go through some combination of Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay Toronto, especially given that they’re up against the cap as tight as you can be. They definitely aren’t sellers, but I’m not quite sure they’re buying either.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (37-16-4 78 pts)

Last week – 4

They rolled the dice on a goaltender with promise this year, and it just hasn’t really worked out so far. They’re buying, and if you ask me… they need to address what has become a serious problem in net.

10. New York Rangers (36-16-5 77 pts)

Last week – 11

I know I have them lower than most expect every week, but I just can’t get myself past the fact that if not for Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers are likely a bubble playoff team. They need to be buyers if they want to give themselves a better chance in a seven-game series.

11. Los Angeles Kings (32-19-7 71 pts)

Last week – 10

This is one of those teams that I’m just not sure what to make of when it comes to the deadline. They’ve overachieved a bit this season, and are probably higher in the standings than even they expected at the start of the season. I see the Kings more or less standing pat. Maybe a small add as a reward for how hard the team has played, so I’ll put them down as a buyer, but definitely on the more conservative end.

12. St. Louis Blues (32-17-7 71 pts)

Last week – 9

Another team kind of like the Capitals. They’ve got holes that I’m sure they’d like to patch up, but I’m just not sure they have the room to do it. They’re in buyer mode, but it’s going to be interesting to see what they do, especially given that they really need an upgrade on defense, and that goaltending tandem looks shaky. Given that, kind of weird they’ve been tied into the Claude Giroux conversations, no?

13. Dallas Stars (32-21-3 67 pts)

Last week – 20

Color me surprised, this team has worked their way into the first Wild Card position out west. I thought for most of the season they were sellers for sure, but now I’m not so sure. Dallas is in a fascinating position, they have a high-profile D man they almost HAVE to move, otherwise they’ll assuredly lose him for nothing this summer, but at the same time are trying to be competitive. I think ultimately they move John Klingberg, and then just keep their other pending UFAs as their own rentals.

14. Nashville Predators (32-20-4 68 pts) 

Last week – 12

The Predators made it known that they were in seller mode last summer, but ultimately not much came of it. Fast forward to the start of the season and they are getting all the production that they had always hoped for out of their top guys. That has slowed down quite a bit and now they’re caught a bit on no-man’s lands once again. I’m not sure if I’m quite ready to list them as sellers, but I think they’d listen on pretty much anyone as they start looking at the long-term play.

15. Vancouver Canucks (28-23-6 62 pts)

Last week – 13

I think they want so bad to be buyers. Their team has done a phenomenal job of scraping together a completely respectable season after an abysmal start, but ultimately I just don’t think they will be able to talk themselves into it. I’m looking at them the same way I’m looking at Dallas, I think they’ll keep their guys as their own rentals. Granted, that could all change over the next 12 days depending on what happens standings-wise.

16. Minnesota Wild (33-19-3 69 pts)

Last week – 15

Another fascinating team to keep an eye on. They definitely aren’t sellers, but I’m not quite sure they’re big-time buyers either. They know that this season is going to be their best chance to be truly competitive for the next several years, so there’s a temptation to go for it, but at the same time… they are going to need all the top draft picks and high-end young players on cheap deals that they can get.

17. Anaheim Ducks (27-23-9 63 pts)

Last week – 16

Ugh. I’ve wanted to believe in this team so badly all season, what an exciting hockey team to watch. Unfortunately, reality caught up with them and they are officially sellers. Newly appointed GM Pat Verbeek has made it known the Ducks are open for business, and they have plenty of interesting players that could be on the move.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-26-3 59 pts)

Last week – 18

I tweeted back in January that the Eastern Conference playoff race was over, and that has held true. The one team that made it semi-interesting (for just a moment) recently was Columbus. They’re sellers and are looking to build back up their pipeline after pushing every chip to the middle just a few seasons ago.

19. Edmonton Oilers (30-23-4 64 pts)

Last week – 17

I was just telling someone, that if it weren’t for the fact that the Edmonton Oilers are a complete disaster of a franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights would be in serious trouble. But, thankfully for VGK fans, the Oilers have once again found a way to be at risk of completely wasting another year of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They’re buyers as they try to get into the playoffs, but they’re very, very tight on cap space, and have a ton of holes to fill.

20. Vegas Golden Knights (32-22-4 68 pts)

Last week – 19

Boy oh boy does this club have some decisions to make. They are dropping games left and right, and like I said above, if it weren’t for the tire fire that is the Edmonton Oilers, they could very easily be on the outside looking in right now. As currently constructed, they’ll be about $10M over the salary cap with their full roster. Something tells me though that they may just lean into the LTIR move (keeping the players they have on LTIR right now, gives them ~$3.5M in cap space) and try to make one more addition. I think, somehow, they’re still buyers.

21. San Jose Sharks (24-25-7 55 pts)

Last week – 23

They’re sellers, but maybe not to the extent we thought coming into the season. Huge decisions loom for them with regards to Tomas Hertl. Do they think they can re-sign him, knowing they’re in for a rebuild, or is it best to move on and use that return to jump-start that rebuild.

22. Winnipeg Jets (25-22-10 60 pts)

Last week – 24

Man, maybe the biggest surprise on this list for me. Many had the Jets near the top of the Central coming into this season, but it looks like the clock has run out on this core. Time to sell, Andrew Copp… come on down!

23. Chicago Blackhawks (21-29-8 50 pts)

Last week – 26

They have announced to the league that it’s a fire sale, make an offer on just about anything. Rumors started swirling that Joe Sakic even inquired about Patrick Kane. I’m not saying that’s anywhere close to happening, but the fact that GMs are asking about players like that should tell you where this franchise is at.

24. Philadelphia Flyers (18-28-10 46 pts)

Last week – 29

Sellers, big-time sellers. This is the second year in a row that Philly’s management has been expecting a big season, and it just hasn’t even come close to happening. It’s time for a shake-up, and they’re listening on pretty much everyone.

25. New York Islanders (21-24-8 50 pts)

Last week – 21

The Isles are in a funny spot. They’ve been to the Eastern Conference finals two years in a row, but things just haven’t clicked for them at all this year. Lots of young talent that there’s no way they’ll move on from, and very little in terms of older veterans that could net you some draft picks. I think they’re technically sellers, but I don’t really know what it is that they have to sell.

26. New Jersey Devils (21-31-5 47 pts)

Last week – 25

The few pieces that they are willing to sell, will be sold. But other than that, I think it’s a plan to stay the course right now for the Devils.

27. Ottawa Senators (20-31-5 45 pts)

Last week – 28

Another team that I think would like to be big-time sellers, but just really don’t have much to offer in terms of players that top contenders would be interested in. They’ll take any calls they get… I’m just not sure how often that phone will be ringing between now and March 21st.

28. Arizona Coyotes (17-35-4 38 pts)

Last week – 30

Have you ever been to an Estate Sale? You know, one of those things where you just walk into a home that someone is moving out of and everything inside has an incredibly reasonable price tag on it. Yeah, that’s basically what NHL GMs will be doing with the Arizona Coyotes over the next two weeks.

29. Buffalo Sabres (18-32-8 44 pts)

Last week – 31

The Sabres are looking to set a record for most consecutive seasons as sellers at the deadline. I say they do it.

30. Montreal Canadiens (15-34-7 37 pts)

Last week – 27

Fresh off a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Finals, this team ready to get rid of just about anyone not named Cole Caufield or Nick Suzuki. The Habs should be busy over the next two weeks.

31. Seattle Kraken (17-37-5 39 pts)

Last week – 32

They should be selling just about everyone and using that Cap space as a weapon anywhere they can. Don’t know how many times I can say it, this is their chance to redeem themselves after what has turned into a disastrous expansion draft.

32. Detroit Red Wings (24-27-6 54 pts)

Last week – 22

Look, when you give up 10 goals in a game, and then 9 goals just four games later, you earn the last spot in the Power Rankings. They’re sellers, but similarly to Ottawa, there’s not a ton there that teams will be interested in terms of players Detroit would be willing to part with.