NHL Power Rankings: Here and now, but also in the future

It’ll be the tale of two themes this week. I want to take a look at the various playoff races unfolding around the league, things have gotten very interesting in the past seven days. Obviously though not every team is in a playoff race this time of year, so for those teams we’ll be looking at what they need to do in order to return to the playoff picture as soon as possible. 

A lot of teams are in cruise control with single-digit games to go, making it hard to put much separation between some clubs on these rankings, but as always we’ll do our best. 

1. Colorado Avalanche (55-16-6 116 pts)

Last Week – 1

Only a few teams have their playoff fate already decided, and the Avalanche are one of them. It’s been pretty clear that they would win the division for multiple months now, the only question that remains to be answered is one that is completely out of their control, and that is who ends up in the final wild card spot?

2. Florida Panthers (55-15-6 116 pts)

Last Week – 2

While they technically haven’t clinched the division yet, they are one win away from doing so. You can put the Cats into the same bucket as the Avs in terms of pretty much having their fate decided. They’re also just waiting on who their playoff opponent will be. Should also note, that Florida and Colorado are deadlocked at the top of the league for the President’s Trophy.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (52-20-6 108 pts)

Last Week – 4

There was too big of a gap to overcome, but Toronto has done their best to try and chase down the Panthers for tops in the Atlantic Division. They’ll come up short of that, but they have all but secured home ice in round one, and they’ll need it. The Leafs will have a first round opponent of either Tampa Bay or Boston. I am not envious of their situation. 

4. New York Rangers (50-21-6 106 pts)

Last Week – 9

Ok, I have disrespected them every week on rankings, but I just can’t this week. Three straight shutouts and they are now dead even with the Carolina Hurricanes at the top of the Metropolitan. Can the Rangers be the surprise division winners of the season?

5. St Louis Blues (46-20-11 103 pts)

Last Week – 11

What a run for the St Louis Blues. Currently riding a 14-game point streak (12-0-2), the Blues have surged to 103 points on the year and are playing well enough to have at least temporarily forgotten about their goaltending issues. 

It’s a dog fight between the Blues and the Wild for home-ice advantage in the first round, as both teams currently sit at 103 points. The Blues are a staggering 12-1-1 against the Wild in the two team’s last 14 meetings.

6. Washington Capitals (43-23-11 97 pts)

Last Week – 10

Way ahead early in the season, a bad slide sent them all the way to the last wild card spot out East, and now a nice little run has them right on Pittsburgh’s heels for third in the division. If, that this is a huge “if”, the seeding stays the same ahead of them, and the Caps can catch Pittsburgh, I like Washington’s chances against the Rangers much more than I do if they are having to start the playoffs against Florida. 

7. Calgary Flames (47-20-10 104 pts)

Last Week – 7

The Pacific is all but locked up, Edmonton is eight points back, and only have 10 more possible points to grab. An interesting team getting some career years out of a lot of top guys, really anxious to see them in the postseason. 

8. Minnesota Wild (48-21-7 103 pts)

Last Week – 12

This is a huge year for the Wild. Their upcoming salary cap problems are well documented, and seemingly everything has gone right for them this season. They have to hold the Blues off, they simply don’t have a choice. Minnesota has only two wins in their last 14 tries against St Louis, so they’ll need any advantage they can get in this first round series. 

9. Edmonton Oilers (45-26-6 96 pts)

Last Week – 13

Ok, with a seven-point lead over the closest non-playoff team, I think I’m ready to say the Oilers are probably safe. You never really know with these guys, but I just can’t imagine a scenario where they come unraveled to the point where they fall out of the playoffs, it would have to be an all-time collapse. Semi-competent hockey the rest of the way gives them home ice in the first round. 

10. Boston Bruins (47-24-5 99 pts)

Last Week – 6

Just one point back of the Lightning, and I think they would love to overtake them by season’s end. Look, one way or another, the Bruins are going to play a very good team in the first round, but you’re absolutely joking yourself if you don’t think they’re just licking their chops to pull the Maple Leafs in round one, given how much of a mental edge that would give them… at least to start.  

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (46-22-8 100 pts)

Last Week – 5

If you gave members of the Tampa Bay Lightning truth serum, I would be willing to bet they would almost unanimously say they straight up do not care who they play in the playoffs, or whether they have home-ice advantage or not. The Lightning know how to win, and they don’t care who they have to beat. My only question about the Lighting is if they have enough gas left in the tank. 

12. Carolina Hurricanes (49-22-8 106 pts)

Last Week – 3

A team that was in cruise control, and maybe cruised a little too hard. The Hurricanes were way out in front in the Metropolitan Division for months but suddenly find themselves in a dead heat with the New York Rangers. The Canes will have home-ice advantage in round one no matter what, but if they let New York overtake them down the stretch, they could be looking at a second round series that starts on the road.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (43-23-11 97 pts)

Last Week – 8

There’s never a good time to be playing poorly, but when you’re battling for positioning coming down the home stretch before the playoffs, it’s really not a good time for it. The Pens have struggled lately and are just trying their hardest to keep the Capitals at arm’s length. 

14. Los Angeles Kings (41-27-10 92 pts)

Last Week – 16

It was a little dicey, and they’re not out of the woods yet by any means, but it was a nice little bounce-back week for the Kings. They got some breathing room, and have by far the easiest schedule of any team battling for those final playoff spots out West. 

15. Vancouver Canucks (38-28-11 87 pts)

Last Week – 18

I’m ranking them here because it seems like they’re the only team currently involved in the Western Conference playoff log jam that actually wants to get in. The Canucks won six games in a row before dropping one in the shootout to Ottawa (d’oh) and suddenly threw their hat back in the ring for the playoffs. They’re still an ultra long-shot, but I applaud them for actually looking like they want to make the playoffs. 

16. Nashville Predators (44-28-5 93 pts)

Last Week – 14

So many of these teams that are battling for a wild card playoff berth could have locked up their position by now. In the most desperate time of year, the should-be hungriest teams are just finding ways to lose regularly. The Preds sat at the top of the division for multiple weeks at one point this season, and now are clinging to playoff life. A shootout win over Calgary helped, but they’re still at risk of missing if they don’t take care of business. 

17. Vegas Golden Knights (42-31-5 89 pts)

Last Week – 15

What can you say about the Vegas Golden Knights? Twice now it has looked like they are done, toast. It is still an uphill climb, no doubt, with the odds saying they won’t make it, but they have hung around JUST enough that they’re still in it. They’re two points back of Dallas for the final wild card spot, but the Stars have a game in hand. VGK absolutely has to take care of their own business, and they need some serious help if they’re to get in. 

18. Dallas Stars (43-29-5 91 pts)

Last Week – 17

This team, man. I swear, if I didn’t know better I would say that these players actually don’t want to make the playoffs. For real. The Dallas Stars, more than any other team in this playoff race, has had chance after chance after chance after chance to put the pack in their rearview mirror and cruise on into the postseason, but they just outright refuse to do so. Back to back blowout losses this week and a 4-4-2 stretch in their last 10.

19. New York Islanders (35-31-10 80 pts)

Last Week – 20

Ok, here we go, teams that officially have nothing left to play for this season. The Isles went to the Eastern Conference Finals each of the last two years, and then the wheels fell off at the start of this year. Good, young pieces already in place, and a fantastic young goaltender. Just stick to the process here and good things will return next season. 

20. Buffalo Sabres (29-38-11 69 pts)

Last Week – 22

In the standings, the back half of the year has meant less than nothing for the Buffalo Sabres, but for the fans and the organization as a whole, it’s been a massive breath of fresh air. For the first time in over a decade, it feels like the Sabres are on the right track. They need a goalie, above all else, they need some stability in net. Craig Anderson has been a great story this year, but if they want to end this ugly playoff drought, they need to get the crease properly sorted out. 

21. Seattle Kraken (26-44-6 58 pts)

Last Week – 28

It’s been a decent finish to the season for them. Still a ways off from playoff contention I think, but they did well to load up on assets at the trade deadline,  now it’s draft and develop time. Weaponize that cap space while you’re at it and bring in a fun, exciting player or two. 

22. Winnipeg Jets (35-31-11 81 pts)

Last Week – 19

It is look-in-the-mirror season for the Winnipeg Jets. I don’t know if they should be looking at a full-on rebuild, but I think this core is tapped out, and it’s time to re-tool. It could be a busy summer for the Jets. 

23. Ottawa Senators (29-41-7 65 pts)

Last Week – 26

Give the Sen’s fan base some credit here. Ottawa is taking the scenic route on this rebuild. They’re doing it, and they’re doing it properly, but it is a slow, deliberate rebuild. Similar to the Sabres, the Senators need to get their goaltending sorted out before they can truly take the next step. 

24. New Jersey Devils (27-42-7 61 pts)

Last Week – 29

Goaltending is #1, absolute top priority. They’ve got some good pieces, Jack Hughes took a nice, big step forward this year, but they need to improve their back end drastically, and gotta find a permanent, passable solution in net. 

25. Detroit Red Wings (30-37-10 70 pts)

Last Week – 31

Mo Seider and Lucas Raymond definitely have you feeling better if you’re in the Motor City, but this season was a good reminder that the Wings still have quite the climb ahead of them before they’re back to relevancy. 

26. Anaheim Ducks (30-34-14 74 pts)

Last Week – 23

It’ll be a new era in Anaheim next season. I think they’re going to take the Getzlaf retirement as their official sign to reset. No no, I don’t think they’re starting the rebuild over,  why would you with the young talent already in place (and more coming) but more of an official asking of the torch from one group to the next. I’m expecting the Ducks to look pretty different by October. 

27. Chicago Blackhawks (26-40-11 63 pts)

Last Week – 24

All signs point toward a full on rebuild coming in Chicago. While I think Toews will start having the retirement conversation (partially due to health), I think the talk tracks with all of the other top guys will be “is it time to move on?” The Hawks were the closest thing we got to a dynasty since the Islander won four straight Cups in the 80s, but it is officially time to tear it down. 

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (35-36-6 76 pts)

Last Week – 21

The Blue Jackets are stuck in the middle, but like… the lower-middle. This is another team that I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make big changes in terms of how they look, and how they play. There needs to be a shake up to get them back in contention. 

29. Philadelphia Flyers (23-43-11 57 pts)

Last Week – 25

I mean, it’s gotta be a rebuild right? Things just have gone so sideways two years in a row, and nobody seems to have any answers. I, personally, think it’d be a mistake to just run things back in Philly. 

30. Montreal Canadiens (20-46-11 51 pts)

Last Week – 30

Carey Price is back! But I think that means his time in Montreal. In my opinion, the end of the season here is audition time for Price, to prove to other NHL teams he still has it, and can be a top-tier #1 in this league. Look for that to be the first domino to fall in what should be a busy off season. 

31. Arizona Coyotes (22-49-6 50 pts)

Last Week – 32

They aren’t going back to the playoffs any time soon, and I think they’re ok with that. It’s a true rebuild in Arizona, and they are committed to the long-term outlook. 

32. San Jose Sharks (30-34-12 72 pts)

Last Week – 27

What to even make of the Sharks. A deeply flawed team, littered with horribly aging contracts, and a rotating cast of average goaltenders. The Sharks desperately need to tear things down and rebuild, but I don’t think ownership wants to do so.