NHL Power Rankings: Movement Amongst the Top Teams

As the NHL concludes the first full week of January, there is some movement amongst the top teams in the rankings. While the Tampa Bay Lightning are clearly the best team in the NHL, the next tier of teams is where it gets interesting. Calgary continues to prove they are for real, while San Jose is finally showing what they are truly made of. Then there is Winnipeg and Nashville, who have yet to find their stride. Time to go inside this week’s power rankings to see where teams stand.

NHL Power Rankings: Movement Amongst the Top Teams

1. Tampa Bay Lightning – Is anyone going to be able to stop the runaway train that is the Tampa Bay Lightning?
2. Calgary Flames – This reminds people of what the Flames did in 1989. Getting a complete group effort which has led to winning formula.
3. Winnipeg Jets – Every time the Jets have a setback, the next time out they rise to the occasion and prove they are a contender to win.
4. San Jose Sharks – This is where everyone thought the Sharks would be after their off-season acquisitions right near the top.
5. Vegas Golden Knights – Vegas continues to ride high, but the Golden Knight need to clear things up on the road to win in the playoffs.
6. Nashville Predators – The Predators continue to get healthy and this only bad for the Central Division.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs – Is there panic in the streets of Toronto? Not yet, as Auston Matthews and his mates will pick up their level soon.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins – Every time you think Pittsburgh is out of it, they come back stronger. They are the New England Patriots of the NHL.
9. Washington Capitals – Every defending champion goes through hills and valleys. Washington will find a way to up their level when it matters.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets – Columbus is in win-now mode and will use Bobrovsky and Panarin as own rentals down the stretch.
11. Boston Bruins – Bruins fans need to complain about something and the target is Tuukka Rask, even though he is playing well.
12. New York Islanders – Barry Trotz has to be named coach of the year for what he is doing with this bunch.
13. Montreal Canadiens – The Price is Right again in Montreal and even Shea Weber is back to his old self.
14. Buffalo Sabres – Buffalo is right on the bubble of making/missing the playoffs. The deadline will be an interesting time for the Sabres.
15. Dallas Stars – The Stars could be so much better than they are. At least the top line is going again.
16. Colorado Avalanche – Colorado has a great top line and nothing else. They will need scoring depth going forward.
17. Minnesota Wild – Have to give the Wild credit for staying around this long. The career underachievers need to make a push now.
18. Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver is still sticking around despite not having Elias Pettersson in the lineup. Imagine if he was.
19. Carolina Hurricanes – Maybe just maybe the Hurricanes can finally break through and crack a wildcard spot this year.
20. St. Louis Blues – Who would have thought St. Louis would be in this position, thanks in part to Vladimir Tarasenko.
21. Edmonton Oilers – Edmonton just doesn’t have the manpower behind Connor McDavid to pull off this late season run.
22. New York Rangers – There is something about playing Madison Square Garden where it brings the best out in the Rangers.
23. Arizona Coyotes – Here is another team that is right on the fringe of making the playoffs. Maybe it will click eventually.
24. New Jersey Devils – All eyes are on and should be on Mackenzie Blackwood. He solidifies the goaltending position.
25. Detroit Red Wings – Jimmy Howard continues to keep Detroit in games, let’s see where he lands at the deadline.
26. Florida Panthers – Here is another team that needs an overhaul. The pieces are there, but something is missing.
27. Anaheim Ducks – GM Bob Murray is making minor trades to give his team a jolt to end this losing streak. It worked in Pittsburgh.
28. Philadelphia Flyers – As long as Carter Hart does not take a step back mentality the Flyers are in good shape for next year
29. Los Angeles Kings – The Kings have a lot of pieces teams want, but what will the cost be for those teams.
30. Chicago Blackhawks – Teams might be interested in some defensive pieces, but at least Patrick Kane is still a highlight reel.
31. Ottawa Senators – Unfortunately the Senators do not have a first round pick this year, its to0 bad too, they sure could use one.

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Photo Credit: By Michael Miller (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons