October 17, 2022
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — We’re now almost a full week into the 2022-23 NHL regular-season but the performance we’ve seen thus far have led to some seismic shifts in our Power Rankings. Hope is quickly fading in some cities while other teams are giving fans something to believe in early in the new year.

Let’s jump into our updated Power Rankings for the middle of October.

As always, please feel free to let us know what we got right and where we’re selling your team short.

32. San Jose Sharks

Welcome to the Connor Bedard Sweepstakes! They celebrated the legacy of Doug Wilson (appropriately against the Blackhawks) on Saturday night and suffered their league-leading fourth loss. Giving up five on home ice to an offensively challenged Blackhawks team gets you the cellar.

31. Arizona Coyotes

They’re going to hang around the bottom for a while. They’re one of seven winless teams starting the first full week of games and continue their lengthy road trip.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

The hype around Johnny Hockey arriving has faded pretty quickly. Three regulation losses to start the season puts a damper on their hopes of being more competitive. And injuries are already hurting.

29. New Jersey Devils

There are already fans calling for a new head coach in Jersey, where a talented young roster is supposed to take another step forward this year. It sounds like they had a bag skate on Monday, which is a sign they’re still working through some issues.

28. Minnesota Wild

They’re supposed to be near the top of the list, and they were in our preseason Power Rankings. But when you allow 14 goals in your first two games – both losses – it gets you closer to the bottom. Huge drop for the Minnesota not-so-Wild.

27. Ottawa Senators

We were told this year would be different. The additions of Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux would help the offense, they said. And yet, three goals scored in two starts has them winless after two games and sliding the wrong direction.

26. Vancouver Canucks

Another winless squad, but their overall numbers aren’t quite as outrageous as the others above them on the list. It isn’t breaking news that their defense needs to be better, and the offense will come at some point.

25. Chicago Blackhawks

Their five-goal outburst in San Jose was a nice showing and earned Luke Richardson his first win as an NHL head coach. The old guys are getting it done and they’re playing hard for Richardson.

24. Anaheim Ducks

They do have a win already, but allowing 11 goals in two games isn’t an ideal way to start the season. And yet they can comfortably say they aren’t the worst team in California.

23. Nashville Predators

This probably feels low for a team with two wins on the board already. But both came in Prague against the Sharks, and they’re now winless in two starts since coming back to North America. They’ve allowed 12 goals in four games but scored only nine.

22. Buffalo Sabres

They haven’t left Buffalo yet and have allowed only five goals in two starts. Don Granato got a well-deserved extension and has them headed in the right direction.

21. Washington Capitals

The Caps have a negative goal differential after three games, and have only scored seven times in those three starts. They have some injury concerns to work though this season, most notably Mr. Backstrom not being around much – if at all.

20. Los Angeles Kings

They’re 0-2-0 on home ice and have allowed 14 goals in three starts. Those aren’t ideal numbers for a team that made the playoffs last year and wants to get back into the postseason again this spring.

19. Montreal Canadiens

They’ve scored a whopping five goals in three games. But their win on home ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs gets them out of the 20s (and 30s) this week. Congrats, Montreal!

18. Seattle Kraken

The roster is younger and improved this season, and Matty Beniers is legit. But they’ve allowed 11 goals in three games and need Philip Grubauer to be better between the pipes.

17. Winnipeg Jets

By virtue of playing only one game, they aren’t climbing too much this week.

16. St. Louis Blues

See Winnipeg. Just one game doesn’t get you a big climb in our Power Rankings.

15. New York Islanders

The defense and goaltending is going to be there, we all know that. But if the Islanders can continue scoring four goals per game (which they have in their first two wins) this could be a nice bounce-back season.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts haven’t played a home game yet and have allowed 11 goals in three games. It hasn’t been the start they have hoped for, but this team has shown us they work through rough patches pretty well.

13. Detroit Red Wings

How about Detroit winning their first two games under head coach Derek Lalonde? They’ve limited their opponents to just two goals in two games, which is a great sign.

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Give credit where it’s due: the Flyers are working for Torts. Carter Hart looks more comfortable, and the offense has been there early.

11. Edmonton Oilers

Two home games split with Calgary coming into their barn and putting it on them isn’t the best start. But they’re going to score, they’re going to make the playoffs and Connor McDavid is going to put up numbers we marvel at this year.

10. Dallas Stars

The Stars have a home and road win already, and have held their opponents to two goals in two games. If they wanted to take advantage of their early schedule to get off to a good start, mission accomplished (so far).

9. Colorado Avalanche

They’ve only played twice, and their one win was against the Blackhawks on home ice. So they fall this week because of the impressive starts elsewhere.

8. Vegas Golden Knights

They’re on top of the standings with six points and have two road wins on their resume. We have some concern after a 1-0 win on home ice against the Blackhawks, but this team looks rejuvenated under Bruce Cassidy. Jack Eichel is back to being Jack Eichel, too.

7. New York Rangers

The Rangers have a road loss on their record, but they have held opponents to eight goals in three games and scored 11. We like where the Rangers are trending this season.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

The loss in Montreal hurts. But they’ve been great on home ice and look like another playoff trip is coming. But I don’t need to tell fans in Toronto that making the playoffs isn’t what this season is about for the Leafs.

5. Boston Bruins

Two big wins to start the season with 11 goals scored is a fabulous start, especially when we take into account the guys missing from the lineup. It appears the coaching change made a difference.

4. Calgary Flames

The new-look Flames went into Edmonton and beat the Oilers. Their additions appear to be fitting into the lineup well and their defense has been solid. There’s a lot to be excited about in Calgary right now.

3. Florida Panthers

Two road wins to open the season and just four goals against are precisely what we expect from last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners. New coach, same results.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

With only two goals allowed in two games, the defense ahs been as dominant as we expected. This is a team built for a deep playoff run.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Two home starts and they’ve outscored their opponents 12-4. They appear to have the fountain of youth flowing in Pittsburgh.