The Way Too Early NHL Power Rankings

Welcome back to the first edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey for this season. The way-too-early edition of the rankings. 

The NHL’s regular season is underway. Lots of hope and expectations heading into the season for a lot of teams. Especially for those who made moves in the offseason. Some teams have played more games than others, but that does not mean there isn’t enough of a sample size to rank these teams. You can see who the better teams are just in a couple of games that have been played. You can also tell who the bad teams are gonna be again. But there is time to turn it around.

Time to dive into the way-too-early edition of NHL Power Rankings and find out where these teams stand.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Calgary Flames

The Flames were rebuilt in the off-season and have a whole new feel. Dare we say they are better than last year? Absolutely Calgary is. Still early but the Flames have a shot to end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought.

2. New York Rangers

The Rangers look like an offensive juggernaut to begin the season. Gerard Gallant continues to push the right buttons moving Alexis Lafreniere to the second line with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin. It is paying dividends.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

Eventually, Father Time is going to catch up with an aging Pittsburgh Penguins team. Right now it hasn’t but it could. And with Sidney Crosby playing at such a high level still, the Penguins are never out of it.

4. Boston Bruins

Even with the loss in Ottawa, the Bruins showed an offensive punch many people did not expect with the loss of Brad Marchand. Having David Krejci back has been vital to the success of David Pastrnak early.

5. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes continue to fly under the radar. Nobody really talks about them much. Yes a sexy pick to win the Stanley Cup, but they continue to go about their business by winning.

6. Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are off to a slow start for their standards. The loss of Gabriel Landeskog will be a big one with Nazem Kadri leaving via free agency. One thing that needs to turn around quickly is their penalty kill.

 

7. Philadelphia Flyers

Again this is why it is the way too early edition. Does anyone expect the Flyers to remain this high? Off to a better start than most expected. One thing is for sure under John Tortorella this team will never be outworked.

8. Dallas Stars

New Year. The new head coach and the Stars are off to a good start. Jason Robertson signed an extension. Jake Oettinger is playing lights out. But having Mason Marchment playing with Tyler Seguin gives the Stars depth scoring.

9. Vegas Golden Knights

How about these Vegas Golden Knights? Bruce Cassidy is an underrated coach and he has this team clicking. It won’t be easy every night, but Logan Thompson is the goalie of the future.

10. Detroit Red Wings

Steve Yzerman is doing it again in Detroit. This is the year for the Red Wings to take the next step. Goaltending looks better, so if that holds up don’t be surprised to see the Wings back in the playoffs.

11. Los Angeles Kings

Everyone thought Kevin Fiala was going to be the answer offensively, instead, it is the young players in Gabriel Vilardi and Arthur Kaliyev carrying the load for the Kings.

12. New York Islanders

Offensively through a handful of games, the Islanders look better offensively. The Islanders are averaging 4.33 goals per game which is already up from last year. Let the kids succeed like Oliver Wahlstrom. He looks healthy with three goals in two games.

13. Nashville Predators 

The Predators are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Having Ryan McDonagh only makes them better. Nashville is a sleeper in the Central Division.

14. Florida Panthers

The Panthers are in a familiar position with no Aaron Ekblad. At least it is now and not heading into the playoffs. However, still an uphill climb especially with MacKenzie Weegar now in Calgary. The load falls on Sergei Bobrovsky, Spencer Knight, and that offence to get it done.

15.  St. Louis Blues

Similar to Carolina in the East, the Blues are always flying under the radar. This is a talented team and if Jordan Binnington plays like he did last year, St. Louis is a threat to win in the West.

16. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs have bigger problems than just goaltending. Matt Murray is out injured again. Ilya Samsonov is carrying the load. But Toronto’s early season problems of being outworked always show up in the playoffs.

Around Full Press Coverage

---

NHL: Lindy Ruff Continues To Take Responsibility For Devils Shortcomings

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils

NHL: New York Rangers Living Up to Locker Room Expectations

NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 38: NHL Season Preview: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau

---

17. Buffalo Sabres

These Sabres are going to be a fun team to watch this season. Rasmus Dahlin is off to a great start. And the hockey world has been introduced to J.J. Peterka. Buffalo is on the rise and giving the city hope for the playoffs down the road.

18. Washington Capitals

Injuries are piling up for the Washington Capitals. This defence is not as good as the one in Colorado and Darcy Kuemper is finding that out the hard way. All the focus will be on Alex Ovechkin and his goal chase.

19. Montreal Canadiens

Here is another fun team in the Atlantic Division. Head coach Martin St. Louis is allowing the kids of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Kirby Dach to have fun playing hockey again. Perfect fit for this team.

20. Ottawa Senators

Right now Ottawa is low on the Rankings but this team is exciting to watch. The additions Pierre Dorin made in the summer have given hope to the fans of Ottawa with the reality of playoffs just around the corner.

21. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are struggling out of the gate. For Tampa Bay, it is more about April than now. However, the loss of McDonagh to that defence is going to be bigger than most people think.

22. Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton has a great dynamic duo with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The addition of Evander Kane gives this balance upfront. It will come down to goaltending and defence like it always does for this team.

23. Winnipeg Jets

It is a new-look Jets team under Rick Bowness as Blake Wheeler is no longer the captain. It will be a grind every game for Winnipeg, but Connor Hellebuyck is looking strong between the pipes. He needs to keep it up.

24. New Jersey Devils

The Devils have some major defensive issues. Again only three games for New Jersey, but it is the same old record when it comes to them. For this team to succeed the goaltending has to be better.

25. Seattle Kraken

While the roster may be better, the Kraken just look so dysfunctional on the ice. Matty Beniers is a fun player to watch. Shane Wright will eventually get there but he needs time.

26. Minnesota Wild

The Wild defensively are just not a good team. Minnesota has to resolve this problem or else they will not be making the playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury has to be better with no Cam Talbo in Minnesota anymore.

27. Chicago Blackhawks

We know the Blackhawks will not be a good team on the ice this season. Luke Richardson is a good coach in a tough situation. Everyone will be watching what Chicago does with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Do they stay or do they go?

28. Columbus Blue Jackets

There is an expectation that Columbus will be better. Right now like most teams defensively they need to be better. And with Patrik Laine out of the lineup for three to four weeks, all the pressure is on Johnny Gaudreau to carry the offensive load.

29. Arizona Coyotes

We know the Coyotes are going to be bad. They are making no bones about it. However, it is really impressive how they have gotten at least a point while playing Toronto in Toronto. Arizona is 20-0-2 since October of 2002 while playing in Toronto.

30. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are in a rebuild just like the Sharks. The difference is the Ducks have younger talent with skill. They are not too far away with Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale. It will be interesting to see if John Gibson sticks it out there for the long haul.

31. Vancouver Canucks

It is hard enough to blow two multi-goal games in a row, the Canucks have done this four times to begin the season. Defensively this team is bad. They need a save or two from Thatcher Demko to get them going or else it will be a tough year in Vancouver.

32. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks could be possibly the worst team in the NHL. Their defence looks old and slow. In fact, the whole team does. David Quinn has his work cut out for him with this team.

That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned more another edition of NHL Power Rankings in a few weeks when the season really gets going.