NHL Power Rankings: Week 17
This is the slow part of the season. This weekend is All-Star Weekend. Some teams are on their bye now, some take their full byes starting Thursday. The NHL will finally slow down for a while, giving some teams time to rest and others wishing it never slowed down. The first half of this season has been very wild, with little down time between storylines. But we made it to the halfway point and all eyes are on the trade deadline now, as we gear up for the final push to the playoffs. I give some grades for the halfway point for each team.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (25-19-6; 56 Pts)
Previously #13
The Flyers are hanging on for dear life for a spot. The Metro division is the weakest division in hockey, which is wild to say. The division will only send 3 teams to the playoffs this year and the battle for the 3rd spot will be tight, among very mid teams. My grade for the Flyers is an A. Look, the Flyers aren’t supposed to be here but John Tortorella has that team working their asses off and winning some games. Sure their last 5 have been losses and the run for the playoffs is probably coming to an end, but they put so much heart into and with how crappy the division is, why can’t the Flyers be a playoff team?
#15 Los Angeles Kings (22-15-10; 54 Pts)
Previously #12
This is getting very concerning. The Kings are winners in just 2 of 12 games. They lost all games this week and sit well below real .500 with just 22 wins. If you take away their loser points, or at least cut them by 5-7 they are below the Calgary Flames…This my problem with the loser points. They are lousy at home, and that’s not good. They looked so good early, but the scoring has dried up and PLD is a piece of skating shit. I give this team a grade of D. They started out so strong, but this collapse is so extremely concerning. They cannot hold leads at all, and they are letting in far too many goals. Talbot will probably be the cause of McClellan losing his job yet again. Their depth is not there right now.
#14 St. Louis Blues (26-20-2; 54 Pts)
Previously Unranked
The St. Louis Blues have come back hard baby. They look very good. They have a negative goal differential, large reason was their early bad start. But they are winners of their 5th straight, to bring them into a friken playoff spot. They beat the Kings to come within 1 game of the top wildcard spot. They are top line heavy but that group has a strong mentality and have been through a lot this year. My grade for this team is a C+. I am impressed by their stretch here but don’t think it lasts. They aren’t built to compete in the playoffs, then again, I don’t know how convinced I am that anyone in the wildcard and below are built for the long haul.
#13 Detroit Red Wings (25-14-8; 58 Pts)
Previously #14
The Wings are finding their groove, and they could very well be a playoff team this season. They do look more promising than the Leafs, but the standings and point percentage gives the Leafs the slight edge. The Wings are clicking, the goaltending is there to an extent, and they can score boy. I grade this team an A-. I recognize they are in a very hard division and very hard conference and are the one team from that up-and-coming group that is ready to make the step. They look hungry and determined. I like their performances.
#12 Toronto Maple Leafs (25-14-8; 58 Pts)
Previously #11
Here we go again, Leafs on a 3 game heater. Let’s see how long that lasts. Ryan Reaves scoring in his first game back after the week he had was awesome to see. Auston Matthews has been remarkable at scoring goals, like truly. For this team, I give a grade of C-. I know many of you will think this is a hate grade. No. This team has major goaltending issues and defensive issues. I don’t think they should be adding at the deadline. I still don’t think they will make playoffs. I should give them a lower grade.
#11 Tampa Bay Lightning (27-18-5; 59 Pts)
Previously #15
They’re baaaack!!! The Bolts have come back with a fiery vengeance. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 and have won 3 straight to take the 3rd spot in the Atlantic. I am not convinced they can reach the top spot, but they are not settling for a wildcard spot. If things go the way we all hope, itll be a Sunshine State Battle in Round 1. My grade for the Bolts is a C. They have been okay, but clearly are flawed. They are dogged and tired, but they aren’t giving up. This is, again, a team I could see missing playoffs or winning the whole thing. If they were to sign Stamkos tomorrow, I’d bring them a B…but idk that Julien Brisebois cares about my rankings and grades.
#10 New York Rangers (30-16-3; 63 Pts)
Previously #7
The Rangers look bad. I am just going to say that. Shesterkin is getting outperformed by the old man Jonny Quick. I have always thought this team’s true strength is its goaltending, and when they go on skids, it’s always related to Igor’s performance. My grade for this team is B-. I think their strong start and their ability to score at will was a threat. Seems like things are drying up a bit and that’s causing issues for this team. They will be fine but the 1st spot in the Metro is very much at risk.
#9 Vegas Golden Knights (29-15-6; 64 Pts)
Previously #10
The Knights are starting to win again. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and look much better than their other rival that is still in free fall. You know who you are. They are really banged up and this does put a lot of pressure on this lineup. That being said, the Knights will find ways to win and Eichel will hopefully be back for post season. I give this team a grade of B-. I think they started very strong and had a major skid for a while, but given the injury bug going around, they are finding ways to stay in the mix, and they will look to end the Oilers streak next week. This is a team that just wants to get the post season.
#8 Carolina Hurricanes (28-15-5; 61 Pts)
Unchanged
Perfect week for the Canes. They have quietly climbed back into the standings and have made us rethink how we should think about the Metro. With the Rangers in free fall, the Hurricanes are only 2 points out from the top and have a game at hand. The Canes had a horrid start, but things have really settled and they are looking like the team I expected to see. My grade for this half is a B. The start had me thinking my way-too early Stanley Cup matchup was so bad, but the Canes have saved their season as of late. I wonder about the goaltending, but this team has strong enough D that as long as you have solid enough goaltending, you’ll be okay. They need to improve the offense a little but they are better offensively than the Rangers…think about that for a second.
#7 Winnipeg Jets (30-12-5; 65 Pts)
Previously #3
The Jets falling to 7 from 3 shouldn’t just suggest they are struggling, because they are doing fine. They had a tough week which led to this, add that to the fact that the Oilers don’t lose anymore, and that their peers have just had better weeks. The difference between 3 and 7 might as well be as a close as 3 and 4. The teams in the top here are soo tight here. My halfway grade for the Jets is an A. They have more than outperformed what I had expected. Connor Hellebuyck has been great, but the defense has been greater. They are much like the Oilers (the now Oilers), they have great goaltending and are experts at suppressing chances. They just need more oomph on the offensive side.
#6 Dallas Stars (27-13-6; 60 Pts)
Previously #9
The Stars are buzzing now, quietly. Winners of their last 3 straight, and a nice 7-2-1 stretch over their last 10. This 3 headed monster of the Central Division is going to be wild to watch. I have said this before, Dallas has it all, a premium offensive unit, defensive unit, and a really good goaltender. Add in the veteran ageless wonder that is Joe Pavelski and this team is more than able to win a Cup. My grade for this group is a B+. I would like to have seen better performances from Jason Robertson, though the older men on this team are really finding ways to contribute more than enough. They are legit.
#5 Edmonton Oilers (29-15-1; 59 Pts)
Previously #6
The Oilers have won 16 straight games. They are 1 win away from tying the record at 17 but won’t have a chance for over a week. This break could be a streak breaker for the Oil but at the end of the day, this team has completely and utterly revived their season. It was on life support in mid-November and now, it’s nearly thriving. For that reason, I give this squad a rating of B-. The last bit since the Oilers fired their coach and hired Kris Knoblach, this teams gets an A+ (23-6-0). But that beginning of the season was incredibly lousy and it’s been a grind to fix their season. They do still have a chance to take the Pacific.
#4 Florida Panthers (31-14-4; 66 Pts)
Previously #5
4-straight for the Cats and they look good, yet again. Matty Tkachuk is back doing his thing, it was only a matter of time. Sam Reinhart is playing to get paid and this team is just clicking all the way through. They are just a great team through and through. I give this team a halfway point grade of A. I think they have been great, continuing their success from the postseason last year. They are finding scoring, goaltending, and are nasty to play against. I wouldn’t want to draw this team in round 1. I still have this team taking the Atlantic and East in the coming weeks.
#3 Colorado Avalanche (32-14-3; 67 Pts)
Previously #4
Colorado is on a 3-game heater and looking much better. They had a light week but they took care of the Caps and the Kings in convincing fashion, 11-3 was their week on the goal scoring ledger. I give this team a grade A-. I give them the minus because I am seriously concerned about their depth. That being said, Nate Dawg has been sensational and he will probably win the Art Ross and could very well win the Hart this year, finally. That depth does give me question marks.
#2 Vancouver Canucks (33-11-5; 71 Pts)
Unchanged
Vancouver just doesn’t lose often, and when they do they follow it up with a nice win. The team’s PDO is still very high and they are still slated for a fall back to earth, at least to an extent. They will have the hardest schedule in the Pacific for the rest of the way, so we will see if they can sustain this massive success. Nothing but an A+ for the Vancouver Canucks, especially when you look at their expectations for the season. Goaltending is great, scoring is there, and defense has been pretty sound.
#1 Boston Bruins (31-9-9; 71 Pts)
Unchanged
Two wins against relatively lower quality competition, but wins are wins guys. Shut down the Flyers and managed to take both points in OT against the Sens. My halfway grade on the Bs is an A+. To be right at the top of the standings, again, after their losses in the offseason is quite incredible. The tandem goaltending has been great and it seems like the team is going to be able to compete just like last year.
In-Season Cup
James has had a very good January and will continue to hold the Cup for a bit here. He gets some free days, courtesy of the Cane’s bye, but hockey still goes on. He will keep it for the next game regardless. All I say is, why couldn’t the Oilers have faced a Cup Holding team back in late December…