NHL Power Rankings: Florida Panthers Take Over Top Spot

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey.

It has been a couple of weeks since we have done our NHL Power Rankings. One of the reasons has been the NHL has been on pause. Not only that but the NHL is postponing so many games due to COVID-19 running through the league. However, with the league back in action, it is time to see if there have been any shakeups. Some teams benefited from the break, while other teams were hurt from the break.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out what shifts happen within the top 10.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers continue to roll despite the pause. They have picked up four wins over their last four games all in dominating fashion. This team has so much depth as they continue to click on all cylinders.

2. New York Rangers 

The New York Rangers continue to win games despite having some of the worst analytics in the league. Despite, the loss to Florida, the Rangers have won three in a row including two against the defending champion Lightning. Mike Zibanejad is finally heating up. This team is dangerous.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs continue to play well despite injuries to some of their star players. They are getting healthier and Jack Campbell is a legit number one goalie in the league.

4. Vegas Golden Knights 

The Golden Knights are back where they are supposed to be atop the Pacific Division. But as one star goes out in Max Pacioretty another one in Jack Eichel is close to returning.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins continue to climb up the power rankings as they are on an eight-game winning streak. Pittsburgh again is back in the playoff picture despite not having some of their top stars for most of the year. Mike Sullivan has to be considered for Coach of the Year.

6. St. Louis Blues

The Blues look like the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2019. Jordan Binnington is back to his old self and after an impressive 2022 Winter Classic Jordan Kyrou has become a household name. You still think Vladimir Tarasenko wants to be traded.

7. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are finally healthy again after dealing with a COVID scare. Carolina has won four in a row and this team has so much depth at each position. They are the definition of a hard-working team. Just as their coach drew it up.

8. Colorado Avalanche 

Despite sitting in third place in the Central Division, the Colorado Avalanche are playing well. They finally have secondary scoring in the form of Nazem Kadri. The key for Kadri will be to keep his cool come the playoffs.

9. Washington Capitals

Outside the loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, the Capitals continue to amaze. Alex Ovechkin at age 36, is three points behind Connor McDavid for the scoring lead. Just amazing.

10. Boston Bruins

Look who is back in the playoff picture, the Boston Bruins. The Bruins have won four straight and  Charlie Coyle is back in his third-line centre role and is thriving. Depth scoring which has been an issue has picked up.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning 

Look the Stanley Cup Champions have hit a rough patch with the COVID going through their team. In the last couple of games, we have not seen the true Tampa Bay Lightning team. When healthy there is no reason this team can’t three-peat.

12. Calgary Flames 

The Flames remain outside the top 10. They have played two games since December 12th winning two of them. Andrew Mangiapane continues to raise eyebrows by scoring all but one goal on the road.

13. Nashville Predators

Many people had the Predators taking a step back this season. John Hynes is proving he can coach in this league and many high-priced players are having bounce-back seasons which has helped lead to much of the Predators success this year.

14. Minnesota Wild 

The Wild are struggling having lost two in a row. One of which came in a poor showing at the Winter Classic against the Blues. Cam Talbot being out for a while certainly does not help things moving forward.

15. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have struggled coming off the pause. A big reason is the loss of Trevor Zegras, not to injury, but the young phenom is in COVID protocol. Zegras has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Ducks this season.

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16. Los Angeles Kings 

The Los Angeles Kings, like the Ducks, have embraced the youth movement. It took some time, but the kids are a reason why the Kings are still in the playoff picture. Oh yeah, Jonathan Quick‘s resurgence helps too.

17. Vancouver Canucks 

The Canucks are returning back to form. All it took was a coaching change. Not to mention Thatcher Demko is playing like “Bubble Demko.” Demko has put himself in the Vezina conversation. Vancouver is 8-0-1 under Bruce Boudreau.

18. Winnipeg Jets

Can we just all agree that Kyle Connor is the most underrated player in the NHL. He continues to be clutch scoring big goals for the Winnipeg Jets.

19. Dallas Stars 

The Stars have some work to do to get back into the playoff picture. While Joe Pavelski continues to show he is the ageless wonder, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have started scoring again. This will only help Dallas going forward.

20. Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have real problems up and down their roster and were just swept by the NJ/NY teams. The main issue is on defence and between the pipes. They need to figure this out or the coach could be on his way out.

21. New York Islanders

The Islanders have another pause in their season. Not the best timing for them as they have won two straight picking-up points in nine of the last 11 games. The youth movement is on and they need to stick with it.

22. Philadelphia Flyers

The coaching change has done wonders for the Flyers. Two points back out of a playoff spot. Cam Atkinson has been a real nice addition and has given this offence life.

23. New Jersey Devils 

The Devils have used the pause to their advantage winning three of four games. Jack Hughes now has nine points in four games. Devils are in tough with injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Nico Hischier

24. San Jose Sharks 

Despite the poor play of James Reimer, the Sharks are 2-1 in their last three games. Granted one of the losses was to the Penguins, so there is that. But San Jose is still in contention in the Pacific Division.

25. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are still in playoff contention in the East as they are ahead of schedule. Realistically, the Red Wings will be a major player in a season or two.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets 

The Blue Jackets are starting to come back to Earth some as they have one regulation win in their last 12 games. With COVID becoming an issue, Columbus has an uphill with other teams playing better.

27. Seattle Kraken

Time to face some harsh facts the Kraken drafted a bad team based on analytics. Add to the fact the coaching choice was not the greatest has led to disaster in their first season.

28. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are so up and down, some weeks good, some weeks not so good. Chicago will be a seller at the deadline with players like Calvin de Haan and Marc-Andre Fleury.

29. Ottawa Senators 

COVID is becoming an issue again for the Senators. They are having multiple games postponed and in the one game they have played in they got shelled by Toronto.

30. Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes have been entertaining recently. The rebuild is going strong and look for Jakub Chychrun to move at the deadline.

31. Buffalo Sabres

The two good things happening in Buffalo right now are Kyle Okposo and Alex Tuch. Tuch just suited up for the Sabres and has three points (one goal and two assists).

32. Montreal Canadiens

This has just been a lost season for the Canadiens. Things have gone from bad to worse. Montreal is 31st in goal differential and to make matters worse they have 22 members of the organization in COVID protocol. All their focus is on the 2022 NHL Draft.

 

That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned for another edition next week.