January 24, 2024
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — It’s a busy time in the NHL and hockey worlds, for good and bad reasons. As the NHL approaches the All-Star Game, teams are heating up on the ice while others are still stuck in the ice. Optimism for the present and future is apparent in many cities, however.
The flip side of the coin is the report that the investigation into the 2018 Canada World Junior team may make more noise around the league in the near future. Players leaving their teams to deal with legal issues will have a ripple effect on depth charts and decisions before the trade deadline.
With all of that being said, let’s jump into this week’s Power Rankings.
We have new teams on top and bottom this week. As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.
32. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are 3-7-0 in their last ten and now boast a minus-64 goal differential. With so many of their top offensive players injured, including Connor Bedard, they simply cannot generate much offense.
31. San Jose Sharks
With three straight wins, the Sharks have now caught up to the Blackhawks at the bottom of the standings (Chicago has one game in-hand). Their minus-90 goal differential is still the worst in the league but they’re trending in a better direction than the Hawks.
30. Anaheim Ducks
At just 2-7-1 in their last 10, the Ducks have slid to third in the draft lottery odds. They have a minus-44 goal differential, better than only the Sharks and Blackhawks.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets
One of the last three teams in the league with single-digit regulation wins (with San Jose and Chicago), this season has not been what they wanted in Columbus. They’re 3-4-3 in their last 10 games.
28. Montreal Canadiens
The Habs have a minus-36 goal differential and have lost three straight games. With a 3-5-2 record over their last 10 games, they’re looking at the lottery this summer.
27. New York Islanders
The Isles made the change behind the bench and Patrick Roy got a win in his first appearance, but they’re still 3-6-1 in their last 10 and have a minus-21 goal differential.
26. Ottawa Senators
The Sens have won their last two games and only have a minus-eight goal differential in 43 games. But they’re 6-13-0 on the road.
25. Buffalo Sabres
With the Bills’ disappointing loss ending their season, the Sabres are now the focus in Buffalo until spring. And at 5-5-0 in their last ten and losers of their last two games, they need a spark.
24. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have won three straight, but the hole might be too deep to dig out and get into the playoff race in the Western Conference. Their captain’s season is over, and their veteran goaltender might be a trade chip.
23. St. Louis Blues
The Blues have won their last two and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but have a minus-14 goal differential. Their defensive struggles have been covered up by decent goaltending.
22. Seattle Kraken
They’ve lost four in a row and are only 9-9-3 at home, but the visiting Blackhawks might be the perfect get-right opponent for them at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday night.
21. Calgary Flames
Losers of their last three, the Flames will likely be more active in trade rumors than the win column the rest of the way.
20. Washington Capitals
With a minus-26 goal differential and at 4-6-0 record in their last 10, the Caps need to change course quickly if they want to sniff the playoffs this season.
19. Los Angeles Kings
After a strong start, the Kings are sliding in the wrong direction. They’re 2-2-4 in their last 10 and are struggling to score goals; their plus-25 goal differential still looks good despite their recent issues.
18. Nashville Predators
The Preds are hanging around the bottom of the wildcard picture in large part because they keep playing .500 hockey. They’re 5-5-0 in their last 10 even with losses in their last two starts and have a minus-two goal differential in 47 games.
17. Arizona Coyotes
The gap between the top three teams in the Central Division and the middle of the pack is growing, but the Coyotes are right in the thick of the wildcard conversation because the Western Conference is a mess.
16. Pittsburgh Penguins
Own goals don’t help teams trying to find a playoff berth. The Pens are 4-4-2 in their last 10 and have lost their last two games.
15. New Jersey Devils
Injuries have hurt what was supposed to be a big year for the Devils. They’re 14-7-1 on the road but only 10-11-2 at home and have a minus-three goal differential.
14. Philadelphia Flyers
Carter Hart taking leave this week complicates their goaltending situation, which may hurt their hopes of making the playoffs. They’ve lost three in a row.
13. Tampa Bay Lightning
Never mind the talk about this team being washed. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10 and are simply doing what the Bolts do around this time of year every year.
12. Detroit Red Wings
Winners of seven of their last ten and with a plus-10 goal differential, the Red Wings are playing themselves back into playoff consideration because their goaltending has been solid.
11. Carolina Hurricanes
Here come the Canes. At 7-2-1 in their last 10, they’ve surged to a plus-15 goal differential. They’re 13-5-4 at home.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are only 5-4-1 in their last 10 and just 10-9-2 in Toronto – not ideal. They still have only 15 regulation wins.
9. New York Rangers
The Rangers are sliding the wrong direction; they’re 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Will they look to mix up the formula before the trade deadline to go for it again this year?
8. Florida Panthers
Now with a plus-25 goal differential and winners of six of their last ten, the Panthers are setting themselves up for another deep playoff run before making some important decisions with their free agents.
7. Vegas Golden Knights
The Knights have the same plus-25 goal differential as the Panthers and have also won six of their last ten. They’re an impressive 18-5-2 on home ice.
6. Dallas Stars
The Stars have a battle on their hands for the seeding in the Central Division with Colorado and Winnipeg. Dallas has a plus-30 goal differential in 47 starts and are 14-8-2 on home ice.
5. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado has won seven of their last ten and has a plus-29 goal differential in 47 games. They’re 18-5-0 at home.
4. Winnipeg Jets
The great story in Winnipeg just keeps rolling. They’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 and now have a plus-42 goal differential. They’re 14-5-2 on the road.
3. Vancouver Canucks
They’re 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have won their last three games. With a league-best plsu-59 goal differential in 47 games, the Canucks should feel more comfortable atop their division than they probably do right now.
2. Boston Bruins
Winners of their last five games and with a plus-41 goal differential, the Bruins once again look like the class of the Eastern Conference. But that’s not good enough for our top spot this week, because...
1. Edmonton Oilers
Will Edmonton ever lose another game? They’re now on a 14-game win streak and have a relatively soft schedule before the all-star break. They’re up to a plus-30 goal differential and are now 13-9-0 on the road.