NHL Power Rankings: Week 21
I guess I lied. Due to timing, THIS will be the last rankings before the deadline. You’ll be reading this on deadline day or after, but all rankings will be as of the Sunday night before. We are down the stretch ladies and gents, with the last 6-7 weeks of the season to go. 2 weeks left of regular season fantasy for those who play.
#16 Dallas Stars (34-24-3, 71 Points)
Previously #15
I have to give this spot to a non-playoff team. Based on point percentage and their last 10 game split, I like this team more than Vegas. They also have 3-games at hand on Vegas. The team is still the enigma team. Can they hang on to make it in? This is an aging group and is having to rely on the new guys to get it done still. Granted Pavelski is looking amazing, he, too, is getting up there. They can make the playoffs but they need to keep the winning going for longer than 2-weeks.
#15 Los Angeles Kings (34-22-8, 76 Points)
Previously #11
5-4-1 in their last 10. They have slowed up a little bit here. They sit with a +1-goal differential which is the weakest in the playoff race. But do still have a spot in the Pacific Division. They will be making moves only if it means they will be long term moves. Regardless of where the core is at age-wise, to go for it and mortgage the future I think is a big risk. They are facing some injuries right now which may force Rob Blake’s hand. Stay tuned on this team.
#14 Edmonton Oilers (35-23-4, 74 Points)
Previously #16
Man, the Oilers have looked much better. 5-game winning streak now with a 6-3-1 split over 10 games. Mikko Koskinen has lost 2 regulation games in the last 2 month. He’s been one of the best goalies in the league over that time. He is shutting up the biggest of doubters, including me. If the Oilers get this kind of tending, alongside the improved D, and find a way to unlock even more depth scoring, this team will make a run, or at least get out of round 1.
#13 Nashville Predators (36-22-4, 76 Points)
Previously #14
2-1-0 this week and are sitting tied in points for the 3rd Central Spot, with more game played. They are currently looking better than the Blues and Wild, I just can’t quite justify moving them up just yet. They come to So-Cal and Vegas this week with a chance to gain some points. LAK and Vegas are in desperation mode to turn things around so they will need to bring their A-game.
#12 St. Louis Blues (34-18-9, 77 Points)
Previously #11
Blues are hitting major speed bumps. 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. That is what is putting them under the Caps who have that better point percentage. They need to find a way to find points because Nashville is looking good, and you really don’t want to have to play either the Avalanche or Flames in the first round. I do wonder what they will do tomorrow at deadline.
#11 Minnesota Wild (36-20-4, 76 Points)
Previously #13
Won their last 2 games. I still would like to see a better consistent team, especially from the goaltending position. They took on Nic Delauriers from the Ducks which just shores up their grit and “edge” factor. I like this deal. Let’s see if they can finish up this season trending up.
#10 Washington Capitals (35-19-10, 80 Points)
Previously #12
6 points out of a possible 8 this week, that’s pretty good. 7-2-1 in their last 10, following a bit of a rough patch prior to this streak here. I have to hand it to this team; they find a way to stop their issues and right the ship quickly. Ovechkin is the league’s solo 3rd spot for all-time most goal scored. They sit just 31 away from Gordie Howe and 125 from Wayne Gretzky. Let’s see if he has another 8 in him over the next 6 weeks.
#9 Toronto Maple Leafs (39-18-5, 83 points)
Unchanged
5-4-1 in their last 10 games. Toronto is looking fine at this junction. They will make playoffs. No one cares about that at the end of the day though. They still managed to let 6 in against Nashville and the question remains if they can make it through the first round, who’s most likely going to be Tampa Bay. Grabbing Mark Giordano was a good way to shore up your defensive depth. At least he’s out of the Pacific Division so I don’t have to worry as much about him hurting McDavid again. Just kidding…kinda.
#8 Boston Bruins (38-19-5, 81 Points)
Unchanged
I like this Bruins team. This core is aging out and they are focused on squeezing as much out of it as they can. Bergeron is going to win the Selke by my estimation, who would have thought that (extreme sarcasm). He has played great as has Marchand. Adding the Ducks biggest trade chip in Hampus Lindholm and then signing him to an 8-year extension is quite a splash I would say. 8-year deals never work out much at the end, but he is 28 and so they will get some good years out of him. The Bruins are set on D for a little while at least.
#7 Pittsburgh Penguins (38-16-9, 85 Points)
Previously #6
Tough to move switch Pitt with the Rangers. This was more a product of New York’s week against the top teams vs. the pay of the Penguins. Pitt has won their last 2 games, with a 7-2-1 record over their last 10. I imagine they will be as active as they can be tomorrow considering whenever you have Geno and Crosby on your team, you have to go for it, especially if your team is looking this good.
#6 New York Rangers (40-18-5, 85 Points)
Previously #7
Now they decide to start winning one or two goal games? Okay. They took down both Tampa Bay and Carolina this week. I still think a lot of this team is coming from the goaltending but as I have said before, when the Rangers are good it’s good for the NHL. Traded away a low pick for Frank Vatrano who was just a product of being on a good team who needed cap space. Depth piece for NYR.
#5 Calgary Flames (38-16-8, 84 Points)
Unchanged
Calgary sitting 6-2-2 over their last 10 games. +66 goal differential and have the ability to win in any way it takes. They are an absolute buzz saw and I pray the Oiler stay in the divisional spots so we can avoid that first round matchup. Getting Calle Jarnkrok from Seattle was a great depth move. I can’t imagine they will be making a huge splash, why mess with this chemistry?
#4 Tampa Bay Lightning (39-16-6, 84 Points)
Unchanged
5-5-0 in their last 10 games. How did they respond to losing three in a row (to Western Conference Canadian teams no less)? They win two in a row but did drop one to New York. Tampa sent a huge haul for a depth player in Brandon Hagel, who may think is an insanely dumb overpay and a complete lack of focus for the future. I want to ask, is it worth it to three-peat? Do you actually think the Lightning give a sh*t about the future? Answer is no. I would want a three-peat well before I focus on the future.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (41-15-6, 88 Points)
Previously #2
Carolina has had a bit of a slow period here, losing to Pittsburgh, Toronto, Washington and New York (Rangers) this week. 4-4-2 in their last 8 games, not great at all. The best of teams face these waves and for their sake (and mine) I hope its short. I like this team on paper, love the coach, and think this team has a chance to win. No moves have been made yet.
#2 Florida Panthers (42-14-6, 90 Points)
Previously #3
Moved two spots in 2 weeks to the upside. They sit 7-2-1 and just continue to buzz. They added Ben Chiarot and Claude Giroux already before this deadline. This team got even better on paper and has really only mortgaged the future. Some might have an issue with that, but as I heard from a Panthers fan at the Ducks/Panthers game, this may be the best Panthers team in franchise history. It means a lot for this franchise to go for it now and I tip my hat to that.
#1 Colorado Avalanche (44-13-5, 93 Points)
Unchanged
I don’t necessarily believe in peaking too early, but in theory it is possible. Everything coming together at the right time is key as we know. With this Colorado team, things have been “together” since November. 3 Game Winning Streak as of tonight. They just added Josh Manson in a trade to shore up their back-end depth and I hardly can believe they will be done.