NHL Power Rankings: Maple Leafs, Canucks Fall As Capitals Re-Take No. 1

Welcome back to The Hockey News’ NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

It’s no coincidence that the return of Alex Ovechkin has vaulted the Washington Capitals back into the top spot, right?

With the Vegas Golden Knights losing three of their last four, including a shutout loss to the New York Islanders, whose offense could put babies to sleep, and Tuesday’s loss to the bottom-feeding Nashville Predators, their hold on the top spot did not last long.

Still, the Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are this week’s biggest fallers, but each for different reasons. The Wild are missing half their defense and their MVP in Kirill Kaprizov, the Leafs were just booed off home ice after getting outscored 7-1 over two games, and the Canucks are generally inept in every area except when Quinn Hughes is on the ice.

The biggest risers, collectively, is the bottom half of the Atlantic Division (except for the Buffalo Sabres – sorry). The Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings have changed their fortunes drastically, and they’re setting the stage for an exciting second half, sitting within five points of third place in the division.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won five games in a row for the first time in five (!) years, and the New York Rangers, who look much better than they did a month ago, will also crowd the wild-card race.

1. Washington Capitals (29-10-5, +46. Previous: 3)

The Capitals have banked so many points they’re nearly assured of a playoff spot so it’s not a huge concern they’ve only managed to win consecutive games just twice since Dec. 20 to 22.

2. Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3, +32. Previous: 1)

Even with a brief two-game stumble against the Islanders and Rangers, the Golden Knights had the highest points percentage since Dec. 1 before Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Nashville. They had a plus-22 goal differential, and they were the only team allowing less than two goals per game during that span. Underrated Hart candidate: Jack Eichel.

3. Winnipeg Jets (30-12-3, +53. Previous: 4)

Connor Hellebuyck’s outsized impact – he’s already saved 10 (!) more goals above average than the next goalie in all situations, per naturalstattrick.com – should make him a shoo-in for the Vezina and a front-runner for the Hart, as I noted in the latest episode of the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast.

4. Edmonton Oilers (27-13-3, +23. Previous: 9)

The Knights had the best points percentage before Tuesday, but the new highest points percentage and point total since Dec. 1? It’s the Oilers with 29 points in 19 games. (The Stars and Avalanche also have 29, but they’ve played more games). Not weird or surprising at all, but I’ll tell you what is: Stuart Skinner has two shutout wins in his last three starts.

5. Los Angeles Kings (24-12-5, +21. Previous: 6)

Despite two-straight losses – both of them by just one goal, mind you – the Kings are the stingiest team in the league, allowing just 2.41 goals per game, and that’s without having a Vezina candidate in net and Drew Doughty. If they can get Kevin Fiala going, they will be the ultimate playoff dark horse.

6. Dallas Stars (28-14-1, +35. Previous: 8)

They’re the most balanced team without a scorer in the top 20, but after scoring 13 points in his first 20 games, Jason Robertson has now scored 23 points in his past 21 games. Scoring by committee is fine, but the Stars need that one player they can rely on, and it’s Robertson who has to be that guy.

Related: Is Jason Robertson’s Scoring Surge Revenge For Team USA’s Snub?

7. Minnesota Wild (27-13-4, +10. Previous: 2)

Hard to win games when you’re missing half your defense and Kirill Kaprizov. They were outscored 10-2 against the Avalanche and Golden Knights last week, two teams they may face in the playoffs.

8. Colorado Avalanche (27-17-1, +10. Previous: 10)

Since acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood, he’s 9-2-1, and the Avalanche are 11-4-1. Who says goaltending doesn’t matter? The Avs are still outscoring their problems, but there’s less pressure on their offense – shorthanded again with Valeri Nichushkin injured – to carry them every single night.

9. New Jersey Devils (26-15-5, +27. Previous: 7)

They ran out ahead because they played more games than everybody else. They’re a top-10 team but just a cut below the top five. They’re 2-4-2 in their past eight with only one regulation win, and they still have not been able to string together a lengthy winning streak.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (26-15-3, +24). Previous: 12)

The wins on Jan. 9 and 10 were the first time the Hurricanes have won consecutive games since Dec. 15 to 17. Similar to the Capitals, the Canes have banked so many points – they started 10-2-0 – that they’re locked into a playoff spot even though they’ve been just above average since then (16-13-3, .547 points percentage).

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-16-2, +8. Previous: 5)

Quite the tumble for the Atlantic Division leader, but that’s what you get when you get booed off home ice. Note they have the second-lowest goal differential (plus-8) among the top 10 teams in points percentage, and the very mediocre Islanders and inconsistent Flyers comprised four of their last five wins. They blew a 2-0 lead against the Canes, sleepwalked to a loss against the struggling Canucks and then lost to the Stars.

Related: NHL Rumor Roundup: Maple Leafs Search For A Center, Red Wings Linked To Dylan Cozens

12. Florida Panthers (26-16-3, +11. Previous: 13)

If we had to predict whether or not the Panthers could defend their title, the answer right now would be ‘no.’ They’re 4-5-1 since their four-game winning streak with only two regulation wins. Matthew Tkachuk is making the highlight reels for hits and scrums, not goals, and Aleksander Barkov has also not scored a goal since Dec. 30.

13. Boston Bruins (22-19-5, -22. Previous: 14)

That’s now two impressive wins against the Panthers and Lightning, but with caveats: they blew a lead three times and won with two seconds left in overtime against the Panthers, and the Lightning held Brayden Point out of the lineup. There’s plenty of evidence that suggests the Bruins just aren’t a good team, and the second half might even be tougher than the first.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning (23-16-3, +34. Previous: 11)

For a team that has the league’s best offense and has the 11th-fewest goals allowed per game, you’d think their record would be better. The issue is they are really good at blowing out their opponents but also lose quite a few high-scoring games. You wonder which version you’ll get in the playoffs.

15. St. Louis Blues (21-20-4, -7. Previous: 18)

A lot of eyes will be on Jordan Binnington over the next few weeks as the presumptive starter for Team Canada at the 4 Nations, and he’s been very good over the last two games (.947 SP). While they have undoubtedly improved under Jim Montgomery – they’re 12-8-3 since the coaching change – they’re still outside the playoff picture.

16. Calgary Flames (21-15-7, -11. Previous: 16)

If the Flames want to make the playoffs, they need to just give Dustin Wolf the net. He’s won three-straight games with a 15-6-2 overall record, while backup Dan Vladar is 6-9-5.

Related: The Next Leap Is Here For Flames’ Dustin Wolf

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (21-17-6, -1. Previous: 21)

For my money, the Blue Jackets are the most exciting team to watch. There’s never a dull moment for a team that scores as often as it gets scored on, and Kirill Marchenko is a human highlight reel. They’ve won five straight for the first time since 2020 (!) and are in the thick of a playoff race nobody expected them to be in.

Related: If You Can’t Get Behind The ’24-25 Blue Jackets, Seek Help Now

18. Montreal Canadiens (21-18-4, -12. Previous: 19)

Good vibes only. Lane Hutson should be the Calder front-runner right now, and Jakub Dobes has won three-straight games. Not only has he proved he can be a capable backup, but he’s also taken some pressure off Sam Montembeault. It certainly looks like the Canadiens have turned a corner.

19. Detroit Red Wings (20-19-4, -15. Previous: 20)

This feels far more exciting than the Wings’ late-season run to make the playoffs. The Wings are now 7-2-0 with Todd McLellan behind the bench with the league’s second-best 46.7 percent conversion rate (14-for-30) on the power play during that span. Also, do not play Ville Husso – full stop.

Related: Detroit Red Wings Get Elite Bump After Being Told To ‘Play F—— Hockey’

20. Ottawa Senators (22-18-3, +4. Previous: 23)

The Senators are one of the most frustrating teams because they can be dominant one night and look absolutely listless on others. I’m not sure how long they can rely on Leevi Merilainen – he’s as hot as peak Andrew Hammond right now – but the odds of them making the playoffs are certainly lower without Linus Ullmark.

21. Utah Hockey Club (18-18-7, -10. Previous: 15)

The loss of Dylan Guenther is a big blow, but the return of John Marino is a huge positive. Utah has lost eight of their last 10, and they need to be more consistent for 60 minutes and stop their slide. It was around at this point last season when the Arizona Coyotes started sliding and saw their playoff hopes evaporate.

22. Vancouver Canucks (19-14-10, -11. Previous: 17)

Quinn Hughes carries the weight of the entire franchise on his shoulders, and the return of defensive partner Filip Hronek… *checks score against Jets*… didn’t make much of a difference. Of bigger concern: Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller’s lackluster play and Thatcher Demko’s long-term health. The Canucks rely on their star players to win games, and they’re not going anywhere if they underperform.

Related: Canucks’ Pettersson Quiets Trade Talk In Award-Worthy Win Against Maple Leafs: “A Couple Guys On The Bench Were Yelling ‘Selke!’ “

23. Philadelphia Flyers (19-20-6, -19. Previous: 24)

The Flyers are so streaky, but I do wonder where they would be if they consistently got good goaltending, not just every now and then. There might be three names on the depth chart, but they are not really in any particular order and just kind of floating next to each other rather than being stacked one, two, three.

24. New York Rangers (20-20-3, -10. Previous: 27)

Is their recent 4-1-2 record a sign of a turnaround? They nearly beat the Avalanche in Denver, and Igor Shesterkin has allowed just six goals in three games since returning, but the Rangers are just squeaking by. It’s unclear if GM Chris Drury is done overhauling this roster, so it’s hard to get a good read on this team.

25. Seattle Kraken (19-23-3, -14. Previous: 25)

Joey Daccord missed time, which is why Philipp Grubauer has played 20 games so far this season, but the difference is stark. Daccord is 14-9-2 with a .914 SP, while Grubauer is 5-14-1 with a .870 SP. Since Grubauer was named the Kraken starter in 2021-22, his .890 SP ranks last among 41 goalies with at least 100 starts. They should’ve sunk him long ago.

26. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8, -36. Previous: 22)

Every time the Penguins look like they’re turning it around, they reach .500 and then just hit a wall. From late November to the end of December, they were 10-5-1 and ninth in points percentage, but since Jan. 1, they’re 1-3-3 and tied for 15th in points percentage. Once the third period comes around, they absolutely just crater themselves; they have allowed a league-high 63 goals in the third period.

27. Anaheim Ducks (18-21-5, -30. Previous: 26)

The Ducks have been kept afloat with excellent goaltending all season despite losing by a combined 15-2 score in their three most recent losses. Jackson LaCombe has been fantastic on their blueline, leapfrogging Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov on the depth chart, but they’re still waiting for a franchise player to emerge from their promising pool of young players.

28. Nashville Predators (14-22-7, -29. Previous: 31)

Considering Justus Annunen has won both of their most recent games, it’s worth noting Juuse Saros’ performances are dipping for the third-straight season. It’s a minor concern considering how good he’s been in the past, and their flawed roster construction is the far bigger problem, but it’s as if counting on an undersized goalie who relies on his athleticism to start 60-plus games a season is a bad idea.

Related: NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Predators, Bruins And Islanders

29. San Jose Sharks (14-26-6, -41. Previous: 30)

The Sharks are much better than they were last season but – Tuesday’s win against the Wings notwithstanding (they started Husso, that’s why) – their struggles to consistently generate offense have put a lot of pressure on Yaroslav Askarov and Alexandar Georgiev to steal games. Only one of them is really capable of doing so.

30. New York Islanders (17-19-7, -17. Previous: 29)

The Islanders are tracking to have the third-worst power play ever in the cap era. They have scored just 11 (!) power-play goals this season in 105 opportunities (10.5 percent). Brayden Point alone has 12 power-play goals. You think the Isles wouldn’t trade their entire roster for Point in a heartbeat?!

31. Buffalo Sabres (16-22-5, -14. Previous: 28)

The Sabres came off impressive wins against the East-leading Caps and shut out the Sens 4-0 but then allowed six goals against a meager Kraken offense. That 13-game winless streak essentially killed their season, and there just doesn’t seem to be any positive catalysts to turn their season around. Going into the season, the Sabres, Sens and Wings faced immense pressure to make the playoffs, and the Sabres’ playoff odds per moneypuck.com sits at just 2.1 percent, the lowest in the conference.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (14-28-2, -39. Previous: 32)

Connor Bedard is the least of anyone’s worries. What’s worrying is their goaltending isn’t as good as it was earlier in the season, and their offense isn’t nearly good or deep enough to overcome it. Since the previous season, the Blackhawks are averaging a league-worst 2.30 goals per game.

Related: Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard On Pace To Be An NHL Superstar

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