NHL Power Rankings: Week 22
Welcome to week 22, the week of the NHL Trade Deadline. Yes, that’s right, Friday the regular season will have rounded 3rd base, heading home to the post season. 32 will become 16 within a matter of weeks. Teams are starting to entrench in their spots while others are vying for a better seed. I am excited to see how teams bring in their deadline adds. I hope you can get stuff in your normal life done with all of this noise this week. If not, don’t worry your boss will be fine with it. NHL deadline is important guys lets be real.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (32-23-8; 72 Pts)
Previously #15
5 more wins the Islanders who have the best chance at bringing this Flyers team to tears come the end of the season. The Flyers will move players out this week but will do everything in their power to win enough to make it to some extra hockey. They won’t win anything but a Cinderella story is always fun to root for, unless your James and your team name starts with “Philadelphia”.
#15 Nashville Predators (35-25-3; 73 Pts)
Previously #16
The Predators are scary and won’t be sellers, but potential buyers?! Holding the team out on the U2 concert could have derailed this team, but it’s been the magic sauce to this last bit. They look good and will make the playoffs. You don’t want to play a team hot at this time of the year.
#14 Tampa Bay Lightning (33-24-6; 72 Pts)
Unchanged
Steady as she goes for Tampa. I wonder what their deadline will look like as they have spent a lot over the last years. They will look for some help, but I am not sure it will be enough this time around. How about we look to extending Stamkos?
#13 Vegas Golden Knights (33-22-7; 73 Pts)
Previously #12
3 losses straight and only 2 wins in their last 10. I am not overly worried about them missing the playoffs but if their cavalry doesn’t get healthy, this is a beatable team. They will add at the deadline due to the cap space available from Mark Stones LTIR move.
#12 Detroit Red Wings (33-22-6; 72 Pts)
Previously #13
This is a team that on paper should be losing, a lot. They are bad 5 on 5 and it’s getting worse, but they find ways to win games. Just shows how advanced stats don’t show the whole picture. That said, they need to figure out defense now or they will have a tough stretch to stay in the hunt here.
#11 Los Angeles Kings (31-19-11; 73 Pts)
Unranked
Kings found a way to lose to the Canucks last night. They are still setting in with the new bench boss. Although, what changes have they made? They go up a goal, sit back and trap. Basically, what they do all the time, its just working now. I still don’t want to play this team in the playoffs.
#10 Toronto Maple Leafs (35-18-8; 78 Pts)
Previously #7
Joseph Woll coming back to the lineup will give their goaltending a needed boost. Lyubushkin was re-added, for some reason. They just love trying to make washed defenders work on this lineup that needs much much more back there. Hopefully they aren’t done, well hopefully they are because if so I can say they are still a joke of a franchise.
#9 Carolina Hurricanes (36-20-6; 78 Pts)
Previously #8
The Hurricanes look just solid enough at this point. They are a stout defenseive team and always will be, but perhaps its time they dipped their toes into the rental market and find scoring. I think they have a legit shot at making an even longer run than last year, and probably dismantle the Panthers if they have some scoring beyond Svech and Aho.
#8 Colorado Avalanche (38-20-5; 81 Pts)
Previously #9
The Avalanche have looked quite solid and they could deserve a higher ranking. But even sitting 8th among the teams ahead is a sign that you’re a very good team. Guys, Sid is not going to Colorado to play with Nate Dawg. I am sorry its just not gonna happen.
#7 Boston Bruins (36-13-15; 87 Pts)
Previously #6
This team finds a way to lose quite too often as of late. I really don’t like their forward lineup and they are lucky to have a very stout defense core and the best goaltending tandem in the league. But their ability to find consistent scoring all the way down the lineup could prove to be a problem but we will have to see. I am not as bullish on this team as my colleagues I know that for a fact.
#6 Dallas Stars (38-17-9; 85 Pts)
Previously #2
This team has what it takes to win but will it come together? They sit tops of their division in terms of actual points but only by a little, relative to their Jets rival. The Dallas Stars have lost 6 games in their last 10 which is a little concerning but they have turned it around nicely rattling off 3 wins straight. Jason Roberston needs to come into the chat and soon.
#5 Winnipeg Jets (39-17-5; 83 Pts)
Unchanged
The Winnipeg Jets are just finding ways to remain consistent and cool. They sit tops of their division in Pt% and sport the best goal differential in their division. Gabe Valardi needs to come back ASAP. This team has depth, they have chemistry, and goaltending, what’s not to love here?
#4 Vancouver Canucks (40-17-7; 87 Pts)
Unchanged
Vancouver took on that boring and insufferable LA Kings play and found a way to tie it up and win. The Canucks have stabilized a little bit but don’t look quite as impressive as they have throughout the season earlier. They have won 2 in a row, so I do wonder if their impressive play was enough to keep their spot. Many believe that but games are getting harder and more desperate.
#3 Edmonton Oilers (38-20-2; 78 Pts)
Previously #10
Okay, yes, this is the largest jump in a power ranking this season, if I’m not mistaken. But this Oilers team has something special. I know worry was sinking in, but since then, goaltending has very much stabilized, the team isn’t giving up the bad odd man rushes, and they are finding ways to win games. They just added Adam Henrique on this lineup and all of a sudden, the Oilers center depth is more than legit all the way through the top 9. They sit 9 points out from the top of the division with 4 games at hand on Vancouver. Within that, the Oilers and Canucks play each other, meaning the Oilers can control their destiny to the tops of the division. Sorry for the homerism, but the Oilers deserve your attention.
#2 New York Rangers (40-18-4; 84 Pts)
Previously #3
Expect the Rangers to load up a bit here, maybe not like they did last year but something within reason. Filip Chytil suffering his injury has left a hole at 3C and you have to think with many teams looking to offload UFAs, if there’s a fit somewhere. I think this is your best team in the Metro by a bit, however, I think Carolina will be a problem and fully expect these teams to face each other.
#1 Florida Panthers (43-16-4; 90 Pts)
Unchanged
6 in a row and a perfect set of games since their last ranking. It’s wild my colleagues on this podcast aren’t seeing what I am seeing with this team. This is the class of the friken NHL, let alone the Eastern Conference. They are legit, deep, nasty, and a team that no one should want to face. Remember when they were winning without their best D, without Matt Tkachuk not playing his normal game…yeah Pepperidge Farm remembers.
In-Season Cup
Seattle carries the Cup for Tyler as he closes in on James for tops. I am only days away from mathematical elimination.