NHL Power Rankings: Week 23
Trade deadline has come and passed, 20 games will never last…wake me up, when the season ends. Playoffs are coming quick, Auston Matthews shoots too sick, wake me up, when the season ends. Who will win the MVP, McDavid, Kuch or Nate Daddyyy, wake me up, when the season ends. Can the Oilers win this year, or will I be drowning in beer, wake me up…when the season ennndddss.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (33-24-8; 74 Pts)
Unchanged
2 game sussy for Torts. This team needs to do whatever it takes to keep composed and win some hockey games here. They have floundered a bit and everyone, except James, should be worried because the chickens may be coming to roost. It sucks, I want to see this team make the playoffs, it would make the Red Wings look so friken bad lol.
#16 Tampa Bay Lightning (34-25-6; 74 Pts)
Previously #14
They will get in but what will they do with it. Adding Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba may give them the spark they need.
#14 New York Islanders (29-20-14; 72 Pts)
Previously Unranked
James dream might come true, assuming the Red Wings turn things around. The Islanders are in a playoff spot and aiming for that 3rd spot in the Metro, pushing the Flyers to the brink. Winners of 6 straight. I did call that this team could go somewhere after Coach Roy came into the scene. Yikes what a turnaround.
#13 Vegas Golden Knights (34-23-7; 75 Pts)
Unchanged
All of the hockey world outside of the Knights faithful is hoping for the Knights to miss the playoffs. They took full advantage of the LTIR opening from the Mark Stone injury. Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha. Managed to fleece the Sharks big time too. This is a incredibly smart and ruthless management team. If Stone comes back game 1 of the playoffs, I think it will be time for an investigation.
#12 Los Angeles Kings (32-20-11; 75 Pts)
Previously #11
Rob Blake didn’t do anything at the deadline. His big move was the PLD move which has looked awful, so awful he almost managed to trade his way out of it. This team just may not have the goaltending to get it done.
#11 Nashville Predators (37-25-4; 78 Pts)
Previously #15
No big adds at the deadline but no selling! The Nashville Predators have entered current wagon status with no looking back and giving the wildcard teams something to think about. They shouldn’t do incredible in the playoffs, but these are the teams that find ways to win and could very well catch more fire and keep this going.
#10 Toronto Maple Leafs (37-19-8; 82 Pts)
Unchanged
I just don’t know about the defense for this Leafs team. They are so friken mid its unreal. The added D were modestly outplayed by an awful “bootycheek” Montreal team. They had an awful deadline and it will serve them right if they bow out early, yet again.
#9 Edmonton Oilers (39-21-3; 81 Pts)
Previously #3
Just kidding. (See last week’s Power Rankings).
#8 Colorado Avalanche (40-20-5; 85 Pts)
Previously #9
I love actual hockey trades and the Byram for Midelstad trade was right what the doctor ordered for this team. Colorado will be fighting all the way through to the end to try and get themselves into that top spot in the Central. They need to find depth scoring if they plan to go anywhere deep.
#7 Carolina Hurricanes (39-19-6; 84 Pts)
Previously #9
The Carolina Hurricanes have finally did something bold at the deadline. The team is actually going for it by brining in Jake Guentzel to score goals. That’s the finish they need to convince me they can take the east, call me crazy all you want. When Jake is back, I am very interested to see how they look. This team is going to be a problem.
#6 Boston Bruins (38-13-15; 91 Pts)
Previously #7
Rumor has it that Boston was looking to move Linus Ulmark for PLD? Damn, what a move for the Kings that woulda been huh? I know they say it’s a 2 goaltender league, but their tandem is almost an unnecessary luxury when you don’t have the forward depth to compete fully in your division. Let’s see, maybe I am wrong but I just don’t know if this forward group is enough to compete against a deep Florida, Carolina, and Rangers team.
#5 Winnipeg Jets (40-18-5; 85 Pts)
Unchanged
Winnipeg nabs Tyler Toffoli and improves their scoring depth notably. The Jets have the goaltending and has the depth to go the distance. The biggest and most important part is making sure they win the division because to play Colorado or Dallas in round 1 will be a death sentence I think. Central is straight up wild.
#4 Dallas Stars (40-17-9; 89 Pts)
Previously #6
Dallas is set to compete for a very long time. Managing to wrangle Chris Tanev from the Flames boslters this back end and Logan Stankhoven is looking great since he was called up. This is a group that is probably the class of the West if not the league from a sheer build perspective. They are deep, fierce, and a team that is not going to go out easy.
#3 New York Rangers (41-18-4; 86 Pts)
Previously #2
Not quite the robust deadline we though but the depth was bolstered with Wennberg and Roslovic will bring some depth to this lineup. They are looking like they are relying on Shesterkin too much again but at least Shesty is looking much better now. Can this team pull it together and go deep?
#2 Vancouver Canucks (42-17-7; 91 Pts)
Previously #4
Top team in the West and the team closest to that 100-point mark. They have 4 games won in a row and are looking much better as of late. To their unfortunate luck, Demko has gone down just after trade deadline. He might be out for a month and it’s a wonder if they can hang on to their spot without their Vezina tendy.
#1 Florida Panthers (44-17-4; 92 Pts)
Unchanged
8-2-0 in their last 10 games. 8 points away from the century point and the Panthers are just rolling. Their consistency knows no bounds, their heavy play knows no end, and this is a team this slated to dominate the playoffs. Can they actually do it though? Vlad Tarasenko is an interesting, no prickish pickup for this band of pricks.
In-Season Cup
And the Canucks wrangle the Cup back for James. I am officially eliminated from getting the most days and just hope I can end up with it after the season ends.