With several teams recently hitting the 50-game mark, we are approaching the final stretch of the regular season. Each individual game becomes more and more important. The difference between coming away with a point and losing in regulation could very well decide who makes the playoffs and who doesn’t. Let’s see where each team currently sits in The Hoosier Network’s Week 15 power rankings.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 34-5-9
Previous Ranking: 1
The winner of the President’s Trophy has not won the Stanley Cup since 2013. The Avalanche, who are well on pace to be the league’s best team by season’s end, have the best shot out of recent trophy winners to win the cup. Looking at this team top to bottom, there are no weaknesses. Nathan Mackinnon is terrorizing opponents right now, as he has four 3+ point games in the month of January.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 31-13-4
Previous Ranking: 2
The Lightning are currently on a league-best 14-game point streak. Andrei Vasilevskiy has aged like a fine wine, and the former Conn Smythe winner has a good shot at the Vezina trophy, assuming he stays healthy. Once Tampa Bay gets fully healthy, they will be even more dangerous than they currently are, a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 31-15-4
Previous Ranking: 3
No change in the top three compared to last week’s rankings. Carolina is as consistent as they come, and they have been succeeding despite Sebastian Aho only having 6 goals over the last 30 games. Fortunately for the Canes, they’ve gotten great performances from players such as Andrei Svechnikov and young goaltender Brandon Bussi.
4. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 31-16-4
Previous Ranking: 7
One of the best stories in hockey this season has been the reemergence of John Gibson, who has looked like his former Anaheim self his first year in Detroit. He has won 16 of his last 18 starts, and along with the Red Wings’ top heavy offense, has Detroit in great position to snap their long playoff drought. Playoff hockey in the “Motor City” just feels so right.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 24-12-12
Previous Ranking: 8
There’s no question the Golden Knights have one of the most lethal offenses in hockey, an offense that just added Rasmus Andersson in a blockbuster trade with Calgary. The veteran blueliner already has 10 goals in 48 games, and is one away from matching his career high. Akira Schmid has done well in net in each of his last four starts, and if he can build on those performances, no team may be more dangerous in the league.
6. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 28-15-7
Previous Ranking: 4
The Canadiens are the Golden Knights of the Eastern Conference. Their offense has been incredible all season long, and the young talent is simply ridiculous. It’s pretty reasonable to think the core of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov will hoist the Stanley Cup at one point. However, the goaltending is still a major question mark, as whoever they throw out there seems to get shelled. While their elite offense has shadowed those issues for now, the current state of the position will hold them back significantly in the postseason.
7. Dallas Stars
Record: 28-13-9
Previous Ranking: 6
The Stars rely on their sheer talent more than just about any team in the league. They are reliant on their power play for scoring, as the point totals for each player takes a huge drop once you get beyond the five guys in the top power play group. Dallas’ lack of depth has prevented them from competing for the President’s Trophy. With how aggressive GM Jim Nill usually is, I expect the Stars to improve their roster significantly at the deadline.
8. Minnesota Wild
Record: 28-14-9
Previous Ranking: 5
The Wild are dealing with a few key injuries right now, and it certainly has affected their play. They are not as good without Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek out there. That being said, Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes have been carrying the load and have Minnesota sitting comfortably in the top three of the Central Division. They certainly paid a hefty price for both, but it has been well worth it.
9. New York Islanders
Record: 27-18-5
Previous Ranking: 10
The Islanders are another team that’s been hampered by the injury bug this season. Specifically, they’ve been without their captain Bo Horvat since January 1st when he got hurt against Utah. That being said, they’ve done a great job of taking advantage of a weaker Metro Division. The goaltending duo of Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich has done wonders for this team.
10. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 27-17-5
Previous Ranking: 13
Welcome to the Top 10, Buffalo Sabres. Lindy Ruff has to be considered the frontrunner for the Jack Adams Award. The job he has done is unbelievable, and Buffalo is on the right track to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010-2011, the second longest drought in North America behind the New York Jets.
11. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 25-18-8
Previous Ranking: 9
At long last, the Oilers finally called up Connor Ingram. And wouldn’t you know it, Ingram has been awesome in his nine starts, racking up five wins and a .917 save percentage. He and Tristan Jarry have been a massive upgrade over the previous duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Edmonton has all the pieces to win its first Stanley Cup in the Connor McDavid era.
12. Utah Mammoth
Record: 26-20-4
Previous Ranking: 18
The Mammoth have been terrific even-strength this season. They have some fun young players such as Clayton Keller. Their veteran blue line corps has also shut down opposing offenses, with players such as John Marino and Nate Schmidt standing out specifically. Combine that with good enough goaltending from Karel Vejmelka, and Utah is in prime position to make the playoffs out of a very weak Western Conference.
13. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 24-17-9
Previous Ranking: 12
For once, Toronto’s struggles have been their inability to score, rather than struggling to prevent goals. Both Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have been excellent in net. This once lethal power play doesn’t have the same juice it used to have. The Maple Leafs continue to hang around in the playoff race, but if they want to make it in a tough decision, the offense needs to wake up sooner rather than later.
14. Boston Bruins
Record: 28-20-2
Previous Ranking: 16
The Bruins’ live and die with the play of goaltender Jeremy Swayman. When he is in Vezina form, no team in the league may be better. When he is not playing well, Boston can easily accrue 5+ game losing streaks. The one consistency for the Bruins has been superstar David Pastrnak, who can always be relied on to produce. However, whether Boston makes the playoffs solely relies on the play of Swayman.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 24-14-11
Previous Ranking: 19
Stuart Skinner was a nice little find for the Penguins, as he has been solid in his 10 starts with a .902 save percentage. Pittsburgh boasts both a top five power play and top five penalty kills in hockey, and that dominance on special teams has kept an aging roster in playoff contention. First year coach Dan Muse has done a heck of a job and deserves a lot of credit for the team’s success.
16. Washington Capitals
Record: 24-21-6
Previous Ranking: 11
A weaker year from the Metro Division may not make it seem so obvious, but let it be known: the Capitals are in an all-out freefall right now, and are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. This team is broken right now. When they don’t play well even-strength, there is no possible solution with how bad their special teams have been this year.
17. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 26-21-3
Previous Ranking: 23
Well, wouldn’t you know it? After a month-long downward spiral, Anaheim has won four in a row and are right back in the thick of the Pacific Division race. The young talent on this team is simply ridiculous, and the commitment to the youth movement has paid off massively for this team. They will have to survive without Leo Carlsson for the next few weeks, but if they can manage to do that, it’s shaping up to be a fun second half ride for the Ducks.
18. New Jersey Devils
Record: 26-22-2
Previous Ranking: 22
Despite how poorly the Devils have played this season, the Metro Division being so weak has them on the outskirts of the playoffs. New Jersey is slowly starting to figure things out, having won four of their last five. If they can build on that success and also get their offense going, they have the potential to be the best team in this division.
19. Florida Panthers
Record: 25-20-3
Previous Ranking: 14
Matthew Tkachuk made his long awaited return to the lineup Monday against San Jose. However, it may be too little too late for the defending back-to-back cup champs. They have fallen behind the rest of the division, and father time seems to have caught up to Sergei Bobrovsky. It seems at this point Florida is going to need a magical second half run for a chance at the three peat. Despite what I’ve said, you can never count a Paul Maurice team out.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 23-17-9
Previous Ranking: 15
The Flyers are in major trouble. Remember when I said that this team cannot lose Dan Vladar? Well, sure enough, Vladar is on IR, and the Flyers have been terrible without him. Their goaltending is undoubtedly the worst in hockey until he comes back from injury. And Philadelphia doesn’t score nearly enough to make up for the loss of Vladar. It could get ugly real quick for the Flyers.
21. San Jose Sharks
Record: 25-21-3
Previous Ranking: 21
Macklin Celebrini deserves the world for somehow having San Jose in playoff position. The 19-year old has more than double the points of Alex Wennberg, who sits second on San Jose with 34 points. He’s already looking like one of the greatest No. 1 overall picks of all time, and if he keeps up his play, there’s no reason the Sharks can’t make the playoffs this season..
22. Ottawa Senators
Record: 23-19-7
Previous Ranking: 24
The Senators are simply stuck playing in a loaded division. There is a lot of exciting talent up and down this roster, but it just hasn’t been enough to keep up with teams such as Montreal and Tampa Bay. One thing Ottawa is not good at is goaltending, as they have had by far the worst group of goalies in the league this season. It’s more than likely going to cost them a second straight trip to the playoffs.
23. Seattle Kraken
Record: 22-18-9
Previous Ranking: 17
I’ve simply come to the conclusion that I will never figure this Kraken team out. Some nights, they look like the best team in the Pacific. Other nights, they’re so bad they look like they could be playing for the No. 1 overall pick. One thing I have been able to figure out is how dominating their goaltending has been, and that has kept them in playoff contention despite the offense’s tremendous struggles.
24. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 20-16-13
Previous Ranking: 21
Speaking of dominant goaltending, the Kings have made scoring nearly impossible for opponents, with both Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg having stellar seasons. Despite that, they are somehow not in playoff position because of their atrocious offense, which has still not found a rhythm more than halfway through the season. It really is a matter of time before Los Angeles gets a new coach in, because missing the playoffs in such a weak division would be embarrassing.
25. Nashville Predators
Record: 23-22-4
Previous Ranking: 25
Nashville is starting to slip back to their old ways. I’ve been saying for weeks not to be fooled by their recent hot-stretch. This roster is full of old and expensive veterans who they need to ship off so they can start a rebuild. Guys like Ryan O’Reilly should garner significant interest, and I see the Predators moving as many veterans as possible to clear cap space and build the farm system.
26. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 20-23-6
Previous Ranking: 27
It’s unfortunate that career seasons from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are most-likely going to go to waste. Winnipeg has absolutely no depth beyond the top guys, and you wonder if key contributors such as Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti are still playing hurt. Winnipeg is going to need a Hart caliber second half from Connor Hellebuyck if they want to save their season.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 22-20-7
Previous Ranking: 28
The Blue Jackets have looked rejuvenated under new coach Rick Bowness. With how weak the Metropolitan Division is this year, there is still time for Columbus to make a name for themselves. If they want to do that, they’re going to have to improve on special teams, and both their power play and penalty kill rank near the bottom of the league.
28. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 20-22-7
Previous Ranking: 26
It’s Connor Bedard and not much else happening in Chicago. The Blackhawks are at least a year away from competing for the playoffs, however, they are building a strong foundation centered around Bedard. Combine that with the emergence of Spencer Knight, the future in the “Windy City” certainly looks bright.
29. St. Louis Blues
Record: 19-23-8
Previous Ranking: 30
The Blues’ playoff hopes are all but gone at this point. Combine a multitude of injuries with significant veteran depression, and the Blues have been one of hockey’s most depressing teams to watch this season. It’s an extremely tough spot for Jim Montgomery, who did such a great job last year in helping St. Louis turn their fortunes around.
30. New York Rangers
Record; 21-24-6
Previous Ranking: 29
The Rangers are getting ready to sell the house at the trade deadline. We already know Artemi Panarin won’t be a Ranger much longer, and other veterans could be on their way out as well. General manager Chris Drury needs to kickstart the rebuild as soon as possible. The Rangers desperately need draft capital and young farm talent.
31. Calgary Flames
Record: 21-24-5
Previous Ranking: 31
The Flames firesale began with the trade of Rasmus Andersson to Vegas for a haul. I expect many more veterans such as Nazem Kadri to also be traded. Good on Calgary for not banking off their fluke season last year, realizing the time is now to start the rebuild and look towards the future.
32. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 17-28-5
Previous Ranking: 32
Not only are the Canucks at the bottom of the league standings, they are last by quite a mile. Quinn Hughes was the only bright spot until he was sent to Minnesota. Most players on the Canucks wouldn’t be starters for basically any other team. They are another team who should shop any veteran who’s not a part of the future plans.
