NHL Power Rankings: X-Factor

I sent a tweet put earlier this week being a little tongue and cheek, talking about how dependent the Minnesota Wild were on Kirill Kaprizov to produce offense. That got me thinking, who is THE guy for every team? Who is the player that each team looks to in a big moment to come through for them? 

Is there a playoff team that relies more on one player’s production more than Minnesota and Kaprizov?

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) March 27, 2022

That’s the topic of today’s Power Rankings.

1. Colorado Avalanche (47-14-6 100 pts)

Last Week – 2

A team loaded with bonafide superstars, it’s hard to narrow down who is *the guy* in Colorado, who is it that makes this team tick. An easy argument can be made for Nathan MacKinnon, a top two or three Center in the league (depending on who you ask), Gabe Landeskog is one of the best captains in the NHL, Mikko Rantanen may be the best right winger in the game right now, but for me… it’s Cale Makar. Makar is truly dynamic and gives them an element on the back end that pretty much no other team has. Without Makar, the Avs are a different team.

2. Florida Panthers (45-15-6 96 pts)

Last Week – 1

Yet another team that you could make the argument for several different guys. Johnathan Huberdeau has had an unbelievable season, and the resurgence of Sergei Bobrovsky has been huge in getting them to the top of the Eastern Conference. Maybe one of the least talked about superstars in this league though, is Aleksander Barkov. He’s the guy that, when the chips are down, you want on the ice if you’re the Panthers. He has a two-way element to his game that is almost impossible to find in this league. 

3. Carolina Hurricanes (44-15-8 96 pts)

Last Week – 5

This is a team that embodies “success by committee”. Part of what has made them so difficult to handle the last couple years is that they just come at you in waves, waves of guys who will out work you. I’m gonna look in net though, their goaltending has held them back from being truly elite in recent years, and Freddie Andersen looks like he might be the guy who can get them where they want to go. You’re nothing without goaltending, and the Hurricanes have it. 

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (42-19-5 89 pts)

Last Week – 4

A lot, and I mean A LOT, of super high-end talent on this team, especially on the offensive side of the puck. It’d be easy to say John Tavares, he’s the captain, the veteran, and still very good… but I really do think it’s Auston Matthews. If there’s anyone that’s going to give Alexander Ovechkin a run for his money in terms of “greatest goal scorer in history”, it could be Matthews. He stands out among his ultra-talented peers.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (40-18-10 90 pts)

Last Week – 6

It’s Sidney Crosby. It always has been Crosby, it always will be Crosby. He probably has my vote as the greatest all-around player to ever play the game.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (42-18-6 90 pts)

Last Week – 3

This team is in a similar position as the Avs, relative to what we’re talking about here. Just LOADED with elite-tier talent all over their lineup. This one is hard for me, I think it really comes down to Andre Vasilevsky and Victor Hedman. Both are top-two players at their position, in my opinion, but I think I give the slight edge to Hedman. I mean, the guy had a game earlier this year where he played well over 30 minutes because the Bolts only had four defensemen, and he was so excited about it. It’s Hedman and Makar in a tier of their own… then there are the rest of the defensemen in the league.

7. New York Rangers (43-19-5 91 pts)

Last Week – 9

Without Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers are likely a bubble playoff team. For my money, he’s the Vezina and Hart winner this year.

8. Boston Bruins (41-20-5 87 pts)

Last Week – 8

David Pasternak is an elite goal scorer, and Charlie McAvoy is a severely underappreciated defender, but this is one of those ones where I really do think you have to consider some of those “intangibles” those of us in the hockey and sports community love to talk about. Patrice Bergeron is the heartbeat of the Bruins and is maybe still the best two-way player in the NHL. To me, it’s no surprise that the team struggled early in the year when he was dealing with injuries.

9. Calgary Flames (40-18-8 88 pts)

Last Week – 7

I think goaltending has done this team in in the past, not the case this year. Jacob Markstrom leads the league with nine shutouts this season and could be one of the reasons the Flames have a deep run in them this postseason. Similar to Carolina, the Flames are a “by committee” team, though their top line has been absolutely dynamite this season.

10. Minnesota Wild (41-20-4 86 pts)

Last Week – 10

I think the start of this piece made it pretty obvious what I think here, right? Minnesota has never had a player like Kaprizov. He’s truly dynamic, and without him this team is right back to the dreaded middle of mediocrity.

11. Washington Capitals (37-21-10 84 pts)

Last Week – 11

Similar to Pittsburgh, it’s Alex Ovechkin. And until he retires, it will continue to be Alex Ovechkin.

12. St Louis Blues (36-20-9 81 pts)

Last Week – 13

Turn away Avs fans… this one may hurt. Ryan O’Reilly makes this team go. They were always just a bunch of guys before he showed up. Similar to Bergeron, he does it in every zone, and is an ultra-competitive guy. In addition to Binnington using an entire career’s worth of luck, they don’t win their first Stanley Cup in 2019 without O’Reilly.  

13. Los Angeles Kings (36-23-9 81 pts)

Last Week – 12

I talked about this one with my good buddy and fellow DNVRite AJ Haefele, and we both kind of shrugged and said… Anze Kopitar? By default? I guess?

14. Nashville Predators (39-24-4 82 pts)

Last Week – 14

It so easily could be Roman Josi, there’s a fantastic argument to be made for him, but I just don’t think this team is where it’s at in the standings without Jusse Saros. They’re just not. He’s been a top-tier elite goaltender for the last few seasons now, and I think they would be fighting to get into the playoffs without him.

15. Dallas Stars (37-25-3 77 pts)

Last Week – 16

Their core is aging, and the workload is starting to be turned over to the next wave of Dallas Stars, so it’s hard to pick one here. I think this answer is different a year from now, but right now I’ve gotta give it to Joe Pavelski. He has kind of taken over as the veteran leader there, he’s got the playoff experience, and he’s putting up the points. Make no mistake though, this will be Jason Robertson’s team soon enough. 

16. Winnipeg Jets (32-25-10 74 pts)

Last Week – 19

It’s been a down year for him, but I still think Connor Hellebuyck elevates this team more so than anyone else. They’re kind of like Dallas, in that we could be seeing the team start to turn to a new core, so it’s hard to pick a skater that truly has as much impact on how far this team goes as Hellebuyck does.

17. Edmonton Oilers (37-25-5 79 pts)

Last Week – 15

Do I even need to type it out? Leon Draisaitl is elite, but he’s not Connor McDavid. Without him, this team would be battling the Buffalo Sabres for longest playoff drought. 

18. Vancouver Canucks (32-27-9 73 pts)

Last Week – 17

Over the last few seasons, it’s looked like their X-factor was Elias Petterson, then Quinn Hughes, or maybe JT Miller, but if we’re being honest with ourselves… who even are the Canucks without Thatcher Demko? He gives them a chance on most nights, and without him, this team just can’t keep the puck out of their net.

19. Vegas Golden Knights (36-28-4 76 pts)

Last Week – 27

If this season has taught us ANYTHING, it’s that, despite all their big-name players, Mark Stone absolutely drives the bus in Vegas. Without him in the lineup this year, it has been a disaster in Sin City. He’s the heart and soul of that team, no ifs ands or buts. 

20. Buffalo Sabres (24-33-10 58 pts)

Last Week – 26

He’s not the best or most skilled player on their roster, but Alex Tuch is the type of player the Buffalo Sabres have been dying to have for so many years now. Someone who *wants* to be there, someone who takes great pride in pulling on the jersey. I actually think the Tuch era may finally see the Sabres get back to the playoffs. 

21. Anaheim Ducks (27-30-11 65 pts)

Last Week – 18

It’s been Ryan Getzlaf for so many years, and he’s still a much better player than people give him credit for. Highlands Ranch, Colorado native Troy Terry has burst onto the scene this year, along with fellow youngster Trevor Zegras, but maybe one of the most under-appreciated players in the entire league is John Gibson. Everyone knows how good he is, but he’s played behind such a bad Anaheim team for so long, it’s easy to forget that this dude could be up for the Vezina every year if he had more help in front of him. 

22. San Jose Sharks (29-28-8 66 pts)

Last Week – 21

Another team with a core that is starting to age out. To me, their commitment to Tomas Hertl is a great indicator of what/who they see as the future of the organization. 

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-30-5 69 pts)

Last Week – 20

So. Much. Turnover. It’s hard to know what to make of this team with how much it’s changed over the last couple of years, but I think the guy whose voice and actions probably carry the most weight is Zach Werenski. He signed the long-term deal to stay in Columbus, he’s been a staple of the top pair for years now, and he contributes offensively. 

24. Seattle Kraken (21-39-6 48 pts)

Last Week – 29

Ok, this may be a weird one, but I honestly think it’s Philip Grubauer. The proof is, when he’s on, they win, and when he’s not… they lose. Badly. This is a team that is obviously in the early, early stages of trying to build a winner and they’re going to need to rely on goaltending to help get them where they want to be. I think Grubauer is better than what he’s shown this year, and I think he’ll go on to be a huge part of any success they eventually have. 

25. Chicago Blackhawks (24-33-10 58 pts)

Last Week – 24

I think right now it’s Patrick Kane, in the future it’ll be Alex DeBrincat… assuming they don’t burn it down and trade everyone.

26. New York Islanders (29-27-9 67 pts)

Last Week – 22

I consulted with AJ again on this one, he follows the Isles much closer than I do. In his eyes, it’s Ilya Sorokin, and it’s hard to argue. Semyon Varlamov is a very, very good goalie in this league, and that should tell you something about Sorokin being able to come in and steal that starting job. He’s 26, and will likely be a huge part of this team for years to come.

27. Philadelphia Flyers (21-35-11 53 pts)

Last Week – 23

Total cop-out here… but they just traded away the guy who was the heartbeat of the team for decades. It’ll take a minute before someone else steps up to take that role. 

28. Ottawa Senators (23-37-6 52 pts)

Last Week – 28

With teams who are in the situation Ottawa has been in for the last number of years now, you look for guys who embrace that and want to be part of the solution, and I think Brady Tkachuk has stepped up to the plate big time for these guys. He’s an emotional player who has a great competitive drive. If they get it turned around any time soon, Tkachuk will have had a big hand in that. 

29. Montreal Canadiens (18-38-11 47 pts)

Last Week – 25

Similarly to Ottawa, you want players who want to be part of the solution, and to me that guy is Nick Suzuki. Coming from Vegas, he’s had something to prove for several years now, and he’s starting to put it all together. He should be a really big part of that next wave of Canadiens who play a role in getting them back to relevancy.  

30. New Jersey Devils (24-37-5 53 pts)

Last Week – 30

Given the contract they gave him, they better hope it’s Jack Hughes. To his credit, his breakout this year inspires plenty of hope he lives up the big number that starts next season.

31. Arizona Coyotes (20-41-5 45 pts)

Last Week – 32

This is a hard one, because of how different the team will look in just a few months, but as of right now, it’s hard to not say it’s Clayton Keller. He’s been through lots of ups and downs, and you haven’t once heard him hint at wanting out. 

32. Detroit Red Wings (26-32-8 60 pts)

Last Week – 31

They’ve given up double-digit goals THREE TIMES this season, so it’s weird to say that their can’t-be-without player is a defenseman, but Mo Seider is just too good. He’ll be an elite defender in this league for a long time, and probably a future captain for Detroit.