NHL Power Rankings: Boston Bruins Class of the NHL

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

It has been a while since we have done one of these Power Rankings. There has been so much going on with a wild and crazy NHL Trade Deadline. There were so many big names moved prior to the deadline as contending teams look to make a run at the Stanley Cup this season. The Eastern Conference is such a gauntlet for whoever makes it to the Stanley Cup Final. One thing is for sure the Boston Bruins are the best team in the league and it is not even close.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out where these teams stand after a couple of weeks off.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Boston Bruins (Previous Ranking 1) 

The Boston Bruins are the most complete team in the NHL right now and remain number one on the NHL Power Rankings. Shocker. The Bruins have won 10 straight games with no signs of slowing down. The additions of Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, and Tyler Bertuzzi have been excellent. The only thing that can stop the Bruins is the Bruins themselves.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous Ranking 2) 

How about those Carolina Hurricanes? The Hurricanes made sneaky good moves at the deadline trading for Jesse Puljujarvi and Shayne Gostisbehere. Carolina is the second-best team in the NHL right now. The Hurricanes play hard every night as they know they are never out of any game.

3. New Jersey Devils (Previous Ranking 3) 

The Devils continue to show this team is for real. The Devils continue to find different ways to win hockey games. Even when they are not at their best, they are finding ways to win games they would have lost over the past couple of seasons. Jack Hughes is a star in this league and the addition of Timo Meier will only make them better.

4. Seattle Kraken (Previous Ranking 9) 

The Seattle Kraken are not going away folks. Hate to say it. Settle has now won five in a row and are one of the best 5-on-5 teams in the league. Philipp Grubauer has taken over the reins from Martin Jones. Seattle is closing in on securing a playoff spot.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous Ranking 5) 

The Maple Leafs made a lot of additions at the trade deadline. They are tougher to play against on both sides of the puck. Goaltending is still an issue, but Ilya Samsonov is showing he can handle the workload. Offensively this team is great even without Ryan O’Reilly in the lineup, they still have Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

6. Los Angeles Kings (Previous Ranking 13) 

The Kings are still hovering in the Pacific Division sitting in second place in the division. The additions of Vladislav Gavrikov and Jonas Korpisalo filled areas of need despite Jonathan Quick being on the other end of the trade. Winners of four straight, the Kings momentum is continuing with their newest additions.

7. Edmonton Oilers (Previous Ranking 7) 

The Oilers added Mattias Ekholm on defence at the deadline. They have only gotten better, but goaltending is an area of concern. However, Connor McDavid‘s historic season continues as he is putting the Oilers on his back.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previous Ranking 4) 

We know what this Lightning team is all about. Survive the regular season before the playoffs come in April. Tampa Bay has played a lot of hockey and it showed over the previous five games, but we can’t overreact to them losing. These players know how to turn it around.

9. Minnesota Wild (Previous Ranking 19) 

The Wild are right there in the Central Division. Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes have elevated this team in the standings. Especially the play of Gustavsson. Offensively Kirill Kaprizov continues to do his thing as the Wild look to keep their playoff streak alive.

10. Colorado Avalanche (Previous Ranking 11) 

And just like that the Colorado Avalanche are back in playoff contention. 7-2-1 over their last 10 games and getting healthier. They still have some injury concerns.  Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen can only do so much. There is still some doubt surrounding the defending champs because of how fluid the Western Conference is.

11. New York Rangers ( Previous Ranking 6) 

The Rangers find themselves in a good spot in the Metro Division and the playoff picture. New York was one of the big winners at the deadline adding Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Rangers are still looking for chemistry, this practice time will do them wonders.

12. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous Ranking 12) 

Vegas is still atop of the Pacific Divsion as Jack Eichel has stepped up his game in the absence of Mark Stone. The addition of Jonathan Quick will help their revolving door at the goaltending position.

13. Dallas Stars (Previous Ranking 8) 

The Stars continue to hold on to the top spot in the Central but things are getting tight as their play has dipped. Dallas will need to be more consistent down the stretch. Hopefully with Joe Pavelski breaking the goalless drought, things will pick up for Dallas.

14. New York Islanders (Previous Ranking 20)

The New York Islanders added Bo Horvat, which is a great addition, but they need more. Horvat has carried the load without Mathew Barzal out of the lineup. What the Islanders are doing is impressive. They have one of the best goalie duos in the business so if they get in watch out.

15. Winnipeg Jets (Previous Ranking 10) 

The Jets find themselves in the wild-card mix as they hit the skids recently. Defensively the team is not as good as it once was. Josh Morrissey is a stud on defence, but they have to clean things up in their own zone.

16. Ottawa Senators (Previous Ranking 24) 

How about those Ottawa Senators, they are right back in the playoff mix playing meaningful games. Losing to Chicago does not help their chances, but they are still in the mix. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Claude Giroux have been outstanding this year for the Pesky Sens.

Around Full Press Coverage

---

NHL: NHL Trade Deadline: Winners and Losers

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils Trade Targets

NHL: NHL Insights: Playoff Format, All-Star Weekend, and More

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. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous Ranking 16) 

The Penguins are still in the mix in the Eastern Conference keeping their hopes alive with a big win over Columbus rallying from a 4-0 deficit. Pittsburgh is still in the driver’s seat but do you really feel confident in their ability to get in and win a round?

18. Calgary Flames (Previous Ranking 18) 

The Flames need to start getting their act together. Back-to-back road wins inside the division help them stay alive for now. Jacob Markstrom will have to put this team on his back and if the Flames get in, they have a playoff-ready roster.

19. Florida Panthers (Previous Ranking 14) 

The Florida Panthers are still alive in this thing as well. They need to play with more consistency than they do right now. Sergei Bobrovsky has to be the team’s best player. Still, work to do with a tough schedule ahead.

20. Nashville Predators (Previous Ranking 21) 

The Nashville Predators are in selling mode but they are finding ways to win hockey games and still have a slight hope to make the playoffs.

Rest of the Rankings

21. Washington Capitals (Previous Ranking 15) 

22. Buffalo Sabres (Previous Ranking 17) 

23. St. Louis Blues (Previous Ranking 22) 

24. Detroit Red Wings (Previous Ranking 23) 

25. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous Ranking 25) 

26. Vancouver Canucks (Previous Ranking 26) 

27. Montreal Canadiens (Previous Ranking 27) 

28. San Jose Sharks (Previous Ranking 28) 

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous Ranking 31) 

30. Arizona Coyotes (Previous Ranking 30) 

31. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous Ranking 31) 

32. Anaheim Ducks (Previous Ranking 32) 

 

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