We are closing in on a month since the start of the season, and there have already been many signature moments, specifically by individual players. However, the season standings are what really matters and decides what teams play postseason hockey. Let’s see how all 32 teams stack up against one another in The Hoosier Network’s latest power rankings.
1. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 6-1-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Jack Eichel is currently on pace for more than 150 points this season. Vegas certainly has to be happy about extending Eichel to a mega contract extension right after the start of the season. The Golden Knights would like to get their goaltending situation figured out sooner rather than later, as neither Adin Hill nor Akira Schmid have been stellar in net.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 6-1-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Despite a recent stretch consisting of three overtime/shootout losses in four games, the Avalanche have still picked up points in 10 of 11 games. Nathan Mackinnon and Cale Makar are early season favorites for the Hart and Norris Trophies respectively. Scott Wedgewood’s recent slump has Colorado missing starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
3. New Jersey Devils
Record: 8-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Jake Allen has done a tremendous job filling in for the injured Jacob Markstrom. The big guns are carrying the offense, as Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt are all having stellar seasons. The Devils should expect their success to continue at a similar pace for the season, assuming the stars, especially Hughes, stay healthy.
4. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 8-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Is Martin St. Louis the current frontrunner for the Jack Adams Award? He has his young Canadiens team sitting atop the Atlantic Division. The offense has woken up over the last few weeks, as Montreal is now seventh in the league in power play percentage. Jakub Dobes has a .930 save percentage, and it’s time for the shared reps between Dobes and Sam Montembeault to end for good.
5. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 7-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
It’s honestly hard to believe that the Hurricanes are sitting at 6-3-0 despite having the league’s worst power play unit early on in the season. The goaltending has also been less than stellar as usual. However, the Hurricanes are doing what they do best: score at even strength, and that’s what carried them early on.
6. Utah Mammoth
Record: 8-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
The Mammoth has been the NHL’s biggest surprise early on. Their top six has been ridiculously productive, with five of the six having double digit points. Nick Schmaltz is tied for second in the league in points, and Logan Cooley signed an 8 year, $80 million dollar extension this past week. I’m curious to see if Vitek Vanecek gets more starts in net, as Karel Vejmelka has struggled as of late.
7. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 8-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
No Adam Lowry, no Cole Perfetti, no problem. The Jets are looking every bit like the President Trophy winners they were last year. Mark Schiefele and Kyle Connor have combined for 33 points, while Connor Hellebuyck is one again a Vezina contender. Once Lowry and Perfetti come back, the Jets are not a team anyone wants to see in the playoffs.
8. Dallas Stars
Record: 6-3-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Three straight wins, four straight losses, then three straight wins again. The Stars have traded good weeks with bad weeks early on. Dallas has relied almost solely on the power play to win games. Their even-strength play has been subpar. Only one player, Wyatt Johnston, has more than four goals. Jake Oettinger’s .913 save percentage has certainly helped a slow start from the offense.
9. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 8-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
The Red Wings are off to a great start as they are looking to end a nearly decade-long playoff drought. Dylan Larkin is red hot, with 16 points now on the season. Detroit’s strong power play and much improved penalty killing has fostered their strong start. The goaltending is an issue, however, as both John Gibson and Cam Talbot have sub .900 save percentages.
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 8-2-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
My preseason No. 30 team has now cracked the top ten. The Penguins have exceeded everyone’s expectations, including their most optimistic fans. Sidney Crosby reached another milestone with 1,700 career points. Evgeni Malkin has found the fountain of youth at age 39. In addition, Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs have formed a formidable goaltending duo.
11. Washington Capitals
Record: 6-4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Capitals have struggled to find consistency this season. It seems that every game they either score five goals or one. Washington is certainly grateful for Logan Thompson, as he has been the only consistent player on the team through the first 10 games. Tom Wilson has led the way offensively with 11 points.
12. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 5-4-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
When does Connor Ingram get called up? The goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard simply isn’t cutting it, especially after the pair cost Edmonton their first Stanley Cup in 35 years last June. The offensive production will once again lead this team to a top three finish in the Pacific Division, but this team won’t get over the hump once the goaltending is figured out.
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 6-4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Three straight wins for Columbus, and this team has the makings of being a threat in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets continue to play incredibly well at even strength. However, the special teams department needs improvement, as both their power play and penalty kill rank towards the bottom of the league. Elvis Merzlikins continues to impress on the net.
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 5-5-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
We’re only one month into the season, and I’m already beginning to wonder if Anthony Stolarz is a one year wonder. Toronto’s starting goaltender continues to struggle, and backup Cayden Primeau hasn’t been any better. The Maple Leafs’ usually stellar power play ranks fourth worst in the league, and that is largely due to limited production from Auston Matthews.
15. Florida Panthers
Record: 5-5-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are clearly missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. They are simply an average hockey team without those two on the ice. It’s early in the season, but it’s hard to not look ahead to what this team could do at the trade deadline, especially because they’ve been active there over the last few years. Speaking of the trade deadline, Brad Marchand, acquired at the deadline last year, continues to produce well into his late thirties.
16. Seattle Kraken
Record: 5-2-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
It seems that the newest team in the league may finally be turning a corner, as the Kraken are second in the Pacific Division right now. It’s been a struggle for Seattle to find the back of the net, however, Joey Daccord’s rock solid play in net has been enough for the Kraken to win games. The penalty killing needs to improve, as they won’t make the playoffs with the third worst penalty killing in the league.
17. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 6-3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Trevor Zegras trade is looking like a home run for Philadelphia, as he is averaging more than one point per game. He has catapulted a jump in Philadelphia’s offensive production. The Flyers have the fourth best penalty kill in hockey, and with their power play now an average unit compared to where they’ve been the last few years, this team can be a threat in the East.
18. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 5-3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Funny enough, Trevor Zegras’ former team is next on the power rankings. Before the season, I talked about the Ducks’ 21 point improvement from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025. Now, do I think they will do that again to give them 101 points this season? No. However, with the young talent and being in the weakest division in hockey I could easily see this team end their long playoff drought.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 5-4-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Through six games, I felt like a fool for picking Tampa Bay to win the Stanley Cup this season. However, a four game winning streak has me believing again. Andrei Vasilevskiy has bounced back after a horrific start. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel are putting up their usual numbers. In a tough Atlantic Division, a massive advantage for Tampa Bay is their experience, which could be key when playoff time comes.
20. Los Angeles Kings
Record; 5-3-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
In just 12 games, the Kings have already gone to extra hockey seven times, going 3-4 in the extra time. Adrian Kempe has stepped up with Anze Kopitar out of the lineup, as he has 15 points in 12 games. The goaltending situation continues to be a major question mark for Los Angeles, as both Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg continue to struggle.
21. Ottawa Senators
Record: 6-5-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Four wins in the last five games for Ottawa, as they are beginning to look like the playoff team from last year. Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson are carrying the offense with Brady Tkachuk on the shelf. Those two are a huge reason Ottawa isn’t sitting at the bottom of the league standings, because the goaltending and penalty killing have been laughably bad.
22. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 5-4-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Connor Bedard recorded his first career hat trick this past week against the Ottawa Senators. Bedard, the 2023 top pick in the NHL draft, and Frank Nazar should be dubbed the “Baby Blackhawks”, and they look like the second coming of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Spencer Knight continues to shine in net in his first season in the Windy City.
23. New York Rangers
Record: 5-5-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
This team is so incredibly confusing, and you never know what you’re going to get from them on any given night. Back-to-back wins have me feeling a bit more optimistic about this team. Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick continue to keep this team in games as the offense continues its atrocious start.
24. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 6-6-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
The Canucks’ are basically as average of a team as you can imagine. Thatcher Demko will keep this team competitive, but there isn’t nearly enough offensive production for Vancouver to contend for the playoffs. I’d keep an eye on Quinn Hughes. If Vancouver slips to the bottom of the league standings, I wouldn’t be shocked if they field trade offers and ultimately send him away.
25. Boston Bruins
Record: 6-7-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Surprisingly, it’s been the offense that’s kept the Bruins afloat so far this season. David Pastrnak is without a doubt one of the league’s top forwards, as he has 17 points in 13 games. Jeremy Swayman’s play has been subpar, and that’s a big no-no if the Bruins want to contend in a tough Atlantic Division.
26. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 4-4-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
The Sabres’ elite penalty killing and above average power play has kept them out of the basement of the Atlantic Division early on. Alex Lyon has a .912 save percentage in nine starts. Alex Tuch has led the way offensively with 11 points, and Buffalo will certainly hope he keeps that production up, especially with J.J. Peterka no longer playing in Western New York.
27. Nashville Predators
Record: 4-6-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
The bottom line is that this is an aging team with very little offensive production. Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and Steven Stamkos are all past their primes, especially Stamkos who only has two points on the season. Juuse Saros can only do so much in net if this team refuses to score.
28. New York Islanders
Record: 4-5-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Bo Horvat and Matthew Schaefer are the only bright spots on this team right now. Ilya Sorokin’s fall from grace needs to be studied. The Islanders are bottom ten in both power play and penalty killing. This team has a long way to go before they contend for the Metropolitan Division again. Keep an eye on Patrick Roy, who could be on the hot seat soon if he isn’t already.
29. St. Louis Blues
Record: 3-6-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Six straight losses for the Blues, as they have failed to build on a strong finish to last season. The goalie duo of Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have combined for an atrocious .840 save percentage. Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich have been extremely quiet on the offensive front. The Blues need to get out of this slump immediately if they want to contend in the Central Division.
30. Minnesota Wild
Record: 3-6-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
The Wild have lost five in a row, and they haven’t looked good doing it. The top six has been a consistent source of production, especially on the power play which ranks in the top five. However, their atrocious penalty killing and lack of goaltending has led to a nightmare start. I have no doubt that Kirill Kaprizov and the offense will continue to score, but Minnesota has to keep the puck out of their net.
31. San Jose Sharks
Record: 3-6-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 32
Congratulations to the Sharks, as they are no longer at the bottom of the power rankings. Macklin Celebrini had a hat trick against the Rangers, and the 2024 No. 1 overall pick is looking like a budding star in the league. William Eklund and Will Smith have also provided solid offensive production. The defense and goaltending will continue to hold this team back.
32. Calgary Flames
Record: 2-8-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
Before the season, I talked about how I thought Calgary was going to struggle significantly to score this season. While I ended up being right, I also didn’t think they would be this bad. The reason their record is terrible is that Dustin Wolf has regressed significantly after finishing second in the Calder Trophy voting last year.
