Rank Teams Spots Moved
- Arizona Coyotes (↓1)
The rebuilding Coyotes have taken great strides to receive that first draft pick. Starting their season getting embarrassed 8-2 by the Blue Jackets and losing two straight following that. Look for this type of play by the Coyotes for the rest of the season, well they will not lose every game…maybe.
- Anaheim Ducks (—)
The Ducks have been carried yet again by goaltending, a popular theme with this team throughout the last multiple years. John Gibson and rookie Anthony Stolarz have kept this team competitive, and if their play keeps up they may continue to be relevant.
- Chicago Blackhawks (↓6)
The Blackhawks have no wins through four games, and yeah I know it is early and they can turn this around, but the fact is they have allowed the second-most goals (17) in the NHL and have only scored 8. The Blackhawks have been one of the worst teams in the NHL through the first week, and that is why they have been placed here on my power rankings.
- Detroit Red Wings (—)
The Red Wings have survived two games where they blew the lead at one point in the game, including having two three-goal leads in the same game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and eventually losing in a 7-6 overtime win. I don’t think I have to tell you this but that’s not sustainable.
- Buffalo Sabres (↑4)
I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t surprised by the Sabres this year. Their record is 3-0-0, yes you read that right, they are undefeated. I don’t see this continuing, but it is always fun to see the Sabres succeed with their great fanbase.
- Nashville Predators (↓8)
When looking at this team coming into the season, it was fair to question what to expect. The Predators have shown that they will struggle any night where Juuse Saros struggles.
- San Jose Sharks (↑2)
The Sharks remain undefeated through two games in which they have played the Jets, and the struggling Canadians, but they have already looked much improved from their struggling season last year.
- Calgary Flames (—)
It is hard to judge the Flames’ start to the season, so I have chosen not to move them from my previous ranking. Calgary had to play the Oilers to start their season, which is a mismatch for the team.
- Montreal Canadiens (↓8)
The Canadians are winless through four games, the worst in the league if you’re counting. To make things sting more for the Stanley Cup participants they have only scored three goals. I think there was regression anticipated, but I certainly didn’t see this big of a fall from grace.
- Ottawa Senators (↑3)
The first week could not have gone better for the Senators, first, they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, then signed their stud forward Brady Tkachuk to a long-term deal.
The Blue Jackets started the year off on the right foot, having seven different players score en route to an 8-2 win against the Coyotes. A good start to an emotionally motivated squad with new leadership.
- Seattle Kraken (↑2)
The Kraken started their franchise off 1-1-1, and it has gone downhill from there as they have dropped 2 in a row, and have not looked too sharp. The Kraken showed some fight in their first three games, but in the last two, they have looked almost tired.
- New Jersey Devils (↑2)
The Devils have looked like a much better team thus far. Free-agent acquisition Dougie Hamilton has already made a large impact scoring in the first game. I think the Devils could be primed for a breakout year, barring the Jack Hughes injury is not too significant.
- Philadelphia Flyers (↑1)
I had said in my preseason rankings that Carter Hart was the X-Factor for this team, and through the first two games that has been exactly it. Hart was unlucky in the loss against the Canucks, but he turned around and had a much better game, saving every shot but one. It seems that if Hart is on his game, the Flyers have a chance to win.
- Los Angeles Kings (↑1)
The Kings have a young talented core upon them, along with good veterans who can still play in Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar while adding some scoring skill in Viktor Arvidsson.
- Winnipeg Jets (↓6)
The Jets have been a complete mess defensively, which has been an unfortunate theme to this team the last couple of seasons. The thriller against the Wild on Tuesday was a case of no hockey sense when Kyle Connor drifts offsides and gets the open net goal disallowed, which gave the Wild life to come out and win 6-5 in overtime. The Jets are struggling on the backside of the rink, which includes a horrible start for Connor Hellebuyck.
- Vancouver Canucks (↑2)
The Canucks had to play three games in four days to start the season, so fatigue is not uncommon and is a good reason for the record. The record is not where they want to be, but, on the bright side, newcomer Conor Garland has been very good so far.
- New York Rangers (↑2)
The Rangers are a team that continues to have high expectations, and so far they are looking sharp. Perhaps this team is starting to gel together and maybe they can finally make a run for the playoffs.
- Dallas Stars (↑1)
The Stars, like the Canucks, had to play three games in four days which resulted in back-to-back road losses to the Bruins and the Senators.
- St. Louis Blues (—)
The Blues are in a very competitive conference playing in the Central, so a good 2-0-0 start is encouraging for the squad.
- Carolina Hurricanes (—)
Andrei Svechnikov seems to be only getting better as he has started the year off with four points in 2 games. The Canes seem to be a team that will only go up on this list.
- New York Islanders (↓5)
The “it’s still early” excuse can definitely be used to describe the start for the Islanders so far. The team was outscored 11-4 in their first two games, thankfully for the team, they got a break against the struggling Blackhawks and won 4-1. I expect this team to get back on track and start winning again.
- Las Vegas Golden Knights (↓5)
Injuries have killed this team early, with Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty going down. The Knights are a favorable call away from being 0-2-0 this season.
- Washington Capitals (—)
It has been the Alex Ovechkin show early in the season as he has four in the first three games. He is now 161 goals away from breaking Gretzky’s all-time goal record.
- Pittsburgh Penguins (↑6)
I was way off on this squad in my previous rankings, I really thought without both Crosby and Malkin this team would be lacking firepower, and wow was I wrong. The Penguins look to be a very competitive team yet again.
- Toronto Maple Leafs (—)
The Auston Mathew-less Leafs dropped an early-season blunder against the Senators, but with Mathews returning Tuesday, there is little to worry about with this team.
- Boston Bruins (↓3)
The falling of the Bruins in this rankings is unfair I admit, but with them only playing one game, and other teams impressing early it is just something that has to happen, sorry Bostonians.
- Edmonton Oilers (↑3)
The Oilers so far look to be a tough team to beat, with Mike Smith playing some of his best hockey in Edmonton, and McDavid doing McDavid things. The team is primed to have a big season.
- Tampa Bay Lightning (↓3)
Tampa Bay had their Stanley Cup hangover, and have passed their hangover, losing their banner-raising game at home to the injured Penguins, then coming back from a three-goal deficit twice in the same game against the Red Wings to win in a shootout. Yes I moved them down from one, no they are not the worst team, but the team has been better and that’s how these rankings work.
- Colorado Avalanche (↓1)
In the season debut of Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanch fall 6-3 to the Capitals and MacKinnon finished with a -4 rating and an assist. Safe to say it hasn’t been the start to the season they want, but expect them to turn things around quickly.
- Minnesota Wild (↑9)
The Wild just got done playing the game of the year so far, down 2 goals late in the third only to come back and win in overtime 7-6 against the Jets. Joel Eriksson Ek with the OT winner completed his hat-trick Tuesday night, and his play last year and to begin this year has established him as Minnesota’s number one centerman.
- Florida Panthers (↑3)
The Panthers are such a talented team, from a young goalie to great defense, and upfront they have so much talent. Sam Bennet’s resurgence with the team has created an even more dangerous offense. I think they could be Stanley Cup-bound if this keeps up.
Make sure to check out my previous articles!
https://thesportswave.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=39340&action=edit
