NHL Power Rankings: Here Come the Golden Knights

A week into 2019, there are some significant changes amongst the teams in the NHL Power Rankings. If you look at the East, there are three or four teams that contenders. However, in the West there are more than five teams that can win the Stanley Cup. In each conference there are a handful of teams that can make the playoffs. Out of those handful of teams, maybe one or two can make a deep run in the playoffs. Let’s see if those teams in the playoffs, can hold onto those spots going forward. Time to go inside this week’s NHL Power Rankings.

NHL Power Rankings: Here Come the Golden Knights

1. Tampa By Lightning – Tell me if you heard this before the Tampa Bay Lightning are the best team in the NHL. The only thing you have to wonder is have the Lightning hit their peak to son?
2. Calgary Flames – Considering how good the Flames are playing, you have to wonder how long this can be sustained long-term especially with Mike Smith in between the pipes.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs – With William Nylander back in the lineup, the Maple Leafs have yet to be jell on all cylinders, as the chemistry of the team has been disrupted. Hopefully Frederick Anderson is back soon.
4. Vegas Golden Knights – Everyone’s surprise team from last season, is showing last year was no fluke. Marc-Andre Fleury is back as the Knights have won 7 games in a  row. Once all the pieces are in place, they will get even better.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins – With Matt Murray back in the lineup, the Penguins have won eight of their past nine games. This is exactly what this team needed to propel them back to the top.
6. Washington Capitals – Washington is still the defending champions, and everything seems to be falling into place for another deep playoff run even with some kinks to iron out.
7. Winnipeg Jets – Winnipeg will need to dig deep as they battle through adversity with Ehlers and Byfuglien out of the lineup. This team still has the talent to win the whole thing.
8. Nashville Predators – Things are turning around for the Nashville Predators. After dealing with a rash of injuries, the Predators are healthy and starting to win games again.
9. San Jose Sharks – This is the team everyone expected the Sharks would be. The San Jose Sharks defense is firing on all cylinders and with the play of Martin Jones, the Sharks have become serious contenders.
10. Boston Bruins – As many expected, the reinforcements would help the Bruins get back to being a dominating in the league. Home ice is not out of the question for this group.
11. New York Islanders – What an amazing job Barry Trotz has done with this group of players. Even though their six game winning streak ended, the Islanders are a fun group to watch.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets – All eyes are on the two big names in Columbus. While it seems that Artemi Panarin might stay, it appears Sergei Bobrovsky is out the door.
13. Colorado Avalanche – Everything in Colorado revolves around that top line. The Avalanche are on tough stretch as of late. Eventually, the league would catch up to this line.
14. Dallas Stars – Maybe a kick in the pants was just what the doctor ordered for the Dallas Stars. Tyler Seguin is on a six game point streak as he leads his team up the standings.
15. Buffalo Sabres – Barely holding on in the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres need to start putting wins together with the Islanders and Canadiens breathing down their necks.
16. Montreal Canadiens – Montreal is caught of the middle and that is not a good place to be if you are a rebuilding team. It will all come down to where the Canadiens are at come the trade deadline.
17. Minnesota Wild – The Minnesota Wild are another team caught in the middle. The worst thing a team could be just sitting on the outside of the playoffs. Either be really good or be really bad.
18. Vancouver Canucks – Elias Pettersson is now on IR. Even though he should not be out of the lineup long term, the Canucks will deeply miss his production.
19. Florida Panthers – Give credit to head coach Bob Boughner, he has got the Panthers playing some good hockey right now. Like always it will be too little too late.
20. Carolina Hurricanes – Every time this team is counted out, the Hurriances come out of nowhere and surprise everyone. While this team is still in a rebuilding phase, the Hurricanes can make things interesting down the stretch.
21. Anaheim Ducks – Crazy to think the Ducks can still make the playoffs despite losing eight straight games. Granted John Gibson is having an amazing season.
22. Edmonton Oilers – Everything hinges on what Connor McDavid can and cannot do. Even though Ken Hitchcock had this team playing better, the Oilers have taken steps backwards.
23. New Jersey Devils – Either the New Jersey Devils are really good or really bad. There is no in between. It’s time for Andy Greene to realize he needs to call it a career as he is a liability on defense for New Jersey.
24. Arizona Coyotes – Nothing Arizona does seem to work. Nick Schmaltz was playing well for the Arizona, but alas he is just another who will be out the rest of the season.
25. New York Rangers – How’s that old saying go… Brace Yourself for the Trade Deadline!! The Rangers are could be one of the biggest sell-offs of the season.
26. Chicago Blackhawks – Chicago is on a 6-3-1 stretch and they are really making an impressive on these power rankings. If they keep this up, the Blackhawks will be a spoiler down the stretch.
27. St. Louis Blues – Another team making some noise is the St. Louis Blues. St. Louis wins games they are suppose to lose, and lose games they are suppose to win. This team is so frustrating.
28. Detroit Red Wings – As the trade deadline quickly approaching all eyes will be on Jimmy Howard. Howard, an All-Star this season, is drawing attention from teams around the league.
29. Los Angles Kings – Little improvements over time, but all attention will be on the trade deadline, when with veterans could be shipping out of Los Angeles.
30. Philadelphia Flyers – The goaltending situation in Philadelphia is not getting better. It is time for Carter Hart to go back to the minors. His development is just being ruined.
31. Ottawa Senators – What will the Ottawa Senators do at the trade deadline. If Mark Stone and Matt Duchene do not want to stay, then the team will need to find some trading partners.

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