NHL Power Rankings: Blues Making Moves Inside the Top 15

Since the NHL All-Star Break, the St. Louis Blues are one of the hottest teams in hockey. The Blues are starting to take control of one of the wild card positions in the West. Though a losing streak can change things in a minute. Along with the Blues, the Blackhawks are also trending in the upwards direction. Elsewhere in the standings, the Sharks getting closer to the Lightning. While the Blue Jackets are on the verge of making a make or break deadline decision. Let’s go inside this week’s power rankings.

NHL Power Rankings: Blues Making Moves Inside the Top 15

1. Tampa Bay Lightning – A model of consistency all season, the question remains can the Lightning sustain this come playoff time?
2. San Jose Sharks – This roster is rounding into form nicely as the Sharks have taken over the top spot in the West.
3. Calgary Flames – Still second in the West, the Flames have a team that can compete right now with the young talent on the roster.
4. Winnipeg Jets – Despite their recent slide, the Jets still sit pretty in the Central. Adding a second line center would help their cause.
5. New York Islanders – Barry Trotz has the Islanders doing amazing things as they sit in first place in a tough Metro Division.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs – William Nylander is starting to play like the player he can be, but the rest of team most to the do same on a consistent basis.
7. Nashville Predators – The Predators might need to add more than just Brian Boyle and Cody McLeod, but hey they are tougher.
8. Montreal Canadiens – The Canadiens have found the model of succes with speed and skill.
9. Boston Bruins – Not having David Pastrnak will hurt for a couple of weeks, but the Bruins offense is still potent.
10. Washington Capitals – With Evgeny Kuznetsov back in the lineup, the Capitals have found their stride again.
11. Vegas Golden Knights – Vegas has the third spot locked up in the Pacific with such a balance on offense.
12. Pittsburgh Penguins – The Penguins have yet to regain the form they had prior to the holiday, hopefully they can get consistency again.
13. Columbus Blue Jackets – Going forward the Blue Jackets have a big decision to make. It will all depend on where they are in the standings.
14. St. Louis Blues – What a second half the Blues are putting together. Jordan Binnington and Vladimir Tarasenko are propelling this team up the standings.
15. Carolina Hurricanes – Until this team gets into the playoffs, they are still a tease and not a true contender.
16. Philadelphia Flyers – While the streak is over, the Flyers now know what it takes to end losing streaks quicker.
17. Chicago Blackhawks – What a turnaround by Dylan Strome. All he needed was a change of scene from the start.
18. Dallas Stars – If this sounds like a broken record it probably is, but the Stars need to win on the road.
19. Minnesota Wild – This will be a tough stretch for the Wild without Mikko Koivu in the lineup.
20. Buffalo Sabres – If the Sabres want the playoffs, it is time to take it another gear.
21. Vancouver Canucks – Just on the verge of making the playoffs, the Canucks are looking to take the next step.
22. New York Rangers – While the production has been nice to see, the Rangers are looking to make moves at the deadline.
23. Florida Panthers – Even though the Florida played well against the contenders, they still have work to do to make the playoffs.
24. Colorado Avalanche – Wow have the mighty have fallen. If this slide keeps up Colorado may have draft picks inside the top 5 in 2019.
25. Arizona Coyotes – Surprisingly the Coyotes are keeping up in a tough Western Conference.
26. EdmontonOilers – It’s hard to watch each and every night… Connor McDavid needs seriously help offensively.
27. Los Angeles Kings – The Kings have been the most consistent of the bottom teams, but that is not saying much for a team that is selling.
28. New Jersey Devils – How about is Taylor Hall hurt, or are the Devils just facing reality it would be better to keep him out the rest of the year.
29. Ottawa Senators – We are inching closer and closer to seeing where Matt Duchene and Mark Stone will end up.
30. Detroit Red Wings – Now the youngsters who guided Detroit to a good start are struggling, it only a matter time before they are dead last.
31. Anaheim Ducks – This team is a train wreck but maybe Bob Murray can stop the bleeding up close and personal.

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Photo Credit: By Michael Miller (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons