November 5, 2021
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — How about we start November with an implosion in Chicago and Jack Eichel finally getting traded? As if those headlines aren’t enough, we have two teams without a regulation loss on Nov. 6 and four teams without a loss on home ice... that includes the New York Islanders, who still haven’t stepped onto their new rink’s sheet yet.

So how do our updated Power Rankings look? Let’s dive in. As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re crazy.

[View the Power Rankings from Week 3]

32. Arizona Coyotes

How bad are things in Arizona that they’re ranked lower than the Chicago Blackhawks? Somehow the Coyotes have zero wins to show for their first 11 games – and only one point.

31. Chicago Blackhawks

How much longer will Jeremy Colliton call the shots in Chicago? Stan Bowman’s hand-picked coach appears to have lost the room; Chicago’s performance on Friday night in Winnipeg was pathetic. One win in 12 games to start the season is not what they expected.

30. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs will get Carey Price back to start the new week, which should life the spirits in Montreal. But three wins in their first 12 games is bad. The decision to send Cole Caufield down was also puzzling.

29. Ottawa Senators

Ottawa told us they were ready to make a move in the standings before this season and yet they’re averaging only 2.5 goals per game. Seven points in ten games isn’t going to get them closer to the playoffs than they have been over the last few years.

28. Vancouver Canucks

When the season began, the Canucks’ defense was our concern. But now that they have 27 goals to show for 11 games offensively, there are more issues than we expected in Vancouver. They started the season with one win in their first five home games.

27. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken opening their new barn should help them; they won three of their first five home games. But three points in their first six road games have the Kraken where we traditionally expected expansion franchises to be at this point in the year.

26. Vegas Golden Knights

This is what happens when you have $27.2 million on LTIR after two weeks of the regular season. The Jack Eichel trade made a lot of waves, but we won’t see the true impact of the deal until Eichel is ready to full contribute on the ice – which might be next season. Getting Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty back at some point would help, too.

25. Detroit Red Wings

This is still a learning year in Detroit, but early signs are that their past few drafts may have been winners. We’re concerned about only 30 goals scored in 11 games, but this roster didn’t have an overwhelming amount of fire power when the season began.

24. Colorado Avalanche

Do they miss Philipp Grubauer? Brandon Saad? Or are they still searching for chemistry after starting the season with some injuries, procotol trips and a suspension? Whatever it is, the Avs have been a huge disappointment thus far.

23. Boston Bruins

Yeah, they’re two games over .500 and have only played eight games entering Saturday. But the Bruins starting the year 1-3-0 on the road is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses. They’ll need to be better away from Boston to stay in the heat of their division.

22. New Jersey Devils

This is about where we expected the Devils to be at this point in the season. They’re young, building and have been dealt a few tough blows in the form of injuries. They were going to struggle to be a playoff team if healthy.

21. Dallas Stars

A minus-7 goal differential through 10 games is ugly for Dallas. But we’re primarily worried about the lack off offense; 22 goals in those 10 games is nowhere near enough to compete, even in the mediocre Western Conference.

20. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens really just need to get their veteran leaders healthy and on the ice consistently to start seeing progress. They’re scoring well; their defense hasn’t been strong. Only two of their first nine games have been away from home, which will catch up with them soon.

19. Los Angeles Kings

A 5-2-0 start to the season on home ice has been a nice development. Winless in their first four road starts is far from ideal. These are growing pains for the Kings who could make an interesting play of a playoff spot in an awful division if they continue building.

18. Buffalo Sabres

Give the Sabres a lot of credit. They’ve won four of their first five in Buffalo despite the Eichel cloud hanging over the franchise for almost a full calendar year. With that move now in the rear view mirror, the Sabres can look to focus on improving.

17. Nashville Predators

Nashville gets a shot at Chicago on Sunday, which could set up as a good opportunity for the Preds to put a few goals on the board. Their goal differential is break even after 11 games and their record (6-5-0) reflects that.

16. San Jose Sharks

Six regulation wins in their first 10 games is a great start for the Sharks. Their 2.7 goals against average is a bit high but the offense is hold up its end of the bargain. They have a legit chance to not be the worst team in California this season.

15. New York Islanders

The Islanders started the year 4-2-2 in eight road games; they haven’t played on their new home ice yet. Having allowed 2.5 goals per night without the benefit of a single home game is a nice way to get out of the blocks in a season with high expectations.

14. Minnesota Wild

The Wild have a minus-3 goal differential through nine games leaves room for improvement, as does allowing more than three goals per game. The youth movement needs time to come together after an offseason of significant change.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus opened the year 4-1-0 at home which, after another summer superstar defection, is much better than some thought they would. A new voice leading the Jackets has them looking confident and they have taken advantage of their early schedule to be in a great spot.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs

We would love to pump their tires, but the Leafs are 1-3-0 away from home to start the year and have a negative goal differential. It isn’t as bad as some might lead you to believe, but it isn’t good, either. There are more questions than answers right now in Toronto.

11. Anaheim Ducks

The young Ducks have been a really pleasant surprise early this season. Their offense has been great; 38 goals in 12 games is solid. Allowing 36 goals in 12 is about what we expected. All five of their wins coming in regulation could be significant later this year.

10. Philadelphia Flyers

Philly rebuilt their blue line over the summer and had a few injuries to deal with right out of the gate but they’re playing well. The Flyers are over .500 at home and on the road – albeit in only nine games – but the new-look defense has worked and the offense is getting it done.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning

No Kucherov (again) means the Bolts will have to find enough offense until he can come back (again) for  late-season run for at another championship. It hasn’t been pretty early for the defending champs, but we trust the leadership in the room.

8. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets enjoyed beating up on the Blackhawks on Friday night, but they’ve had a good time every night on their home ice. They’re undefeated in Winnipeg to start the season and have a plus-7 goal differential through 10 games.

7. New York Rangers

They’ll have to watch Connor McDavid part their defense like the Red Sea in highlight packages for the rest of the season and their offensive struggles led to an abrasive postgame presser from Gerard Gallant. They’re winning games, but you can feel the stress already for the blue shirts.

6. Washington Capitals

Alexander Ovechkin is on a mission to prove that a grey beard can still hang with the kids in the Art Ross race. He’s been so much fun to watch early this season that you can forget the three overtime losses on home is in their first six starts in D.C.

5. St. Louis Blues

It’s hard to find many holes in the Blues after a 7-1-1 start to the new year. The supposedly necessary divorce with Vlad Tarasenko didn’t happen and, now, they might find a way to work together. All seven of their wins have come in regulation.

4. Calgary Flames

It’s hard to figure out the Flames. They’re 5-1-0 away from home to start the year, but have three overtime/shootout losses on home ice in four starts. We love their plus-12 goal differential in 10 games, though. Can they sustain this play for four of five more months?

3. Florida Panthers

We really, really want to put Florida at No. 1 on the list. Their play is worthy of the top spot; they have outscored their opponents 41-22 through 10 games. There aren’t many – if any – holes on this roster. But when and how Joel Quenneville left the club gives us pause. We’ll wait and see how Andrew Brunette handles taking over for Q.

2. Edmonton Oilers

They have Connor McDavid and 31 other teams don’t. That might feel like we’re oversimplifying things, but did you watch him end the Rangers on Friday night?

1. Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes are absolutely legit. Nine games – nine wins. Five at home, four on the road. They have allowed 15 goals in nine games and scored 37. Nobody is playing better than Carolina (though we will admit two of their nine games coming against the Blackhawks does discount those two wins).