December 11, 2024
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — We’ve reached the middle of December, hockey fans! The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters have been announced, college hockey is closing the books on their pre-Christmas schedules this weekend and the World Juniors are right around the corner. It’s a great time to be watching the game we all love.

Unless you’re a fan of a few teams... who appear early in this week’s update of our Power Rankings.

Front offices are making moves... with head coaches. Three have lost their jobs already around the NHL thus far and a few more might be feeling the warmth on their chairs right now. Trade winds continue to blow, as well.

Let’s jump into this week’s update.

As always, let us know how we massively messed up and where we might have placed your team right.

32. Nashville Predators

Welcome to rock bottom, Smashville. One win in their last ten, losers of four in a row and just two wins in 15 road starts gets you the top of this bar... which is bottom shelf.

31. New York Rangers

Winners of only two in their last ten, Memo Gate has backfired like an ’87 Camaro. The Trouba trade hasn’t helped anything. And they lost to the Blackhawks on home ice.

30. Chicago Blackhawks

They made a coaching change and won a game at Madison Square Garden since our last Power Rankings. They’ve been at least within one goal in 27 of 28 games... and won nine.

29. Buffalo Sabres

You can’t lose seven straight and stay much higher than this. The Sabres are in a bad way right now.

28. San Jose Sharks

A minus-27 goal differential is only better than the Preds and Penguins, which isn’t getting any of those teams into the postseason.

27. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs are one of only six teams in the league to have allowed 100 goals already. They’re 3-8-1 on the road.

26. Pittsburgh Penguins

Their minus-30 (yes, thirty!) goal differential in 30 games is atrocious. They’re 4-7-2 on the road.

25. Anaheim Ducks

The injury to Trevor Zegras hurts a team that was already struggling. They’re 4-4-2 in their last 10 but are 5-3-3 in starts away from the pond.

24. Detroit Red Wings

With a 4-4-2 record in their last 10, the Wings continue to sit well outside the playoff picture. When will changes begin in Motown?

23. Ottawa Senators

The Sens only have a minus-four goal differential, which is decent for a team with 26 points in 27 starts. They’re 4-7-1 on the road.

22. New York Islanders

The Isles are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and 5-7-2 on home ice, where they’ll play the Blackhawks on Thursday night.

21. Utah Hockey Club

The HC are only 4-5-3 in their new home to start the franchise’s history, which is far from ideal. Injuries have taken their toll in Utah.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jackets are only 4-9-2 on the road this season but have balanced that with a strong 8-4-1 home record.

19. Seattle Kraken

Still a .500 team in 30 games, the Kraken have a break-even goal differential. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.

18. Philadelphia Flyers

Even with five wins and points in seven of their last ten games, the Flyers have a minus-13 goal differential. They’re only 6-8-1 at home.

17. Boston Bruins

They’ve warmed up since the coaching change, but a minus-19 goal differential still stands out. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

16. Carolina Hurricanes

With a 4-5-1 mark in their last 10, the Canes slide this week. Their 7-6-1 record on the road hurts; their 11-3-0 record at home is stellar.

15. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts are only 6-6-1 away from home and have five wins in their last 10 games. They do have a plus-21 goal differential, however.

14. St. Louis Blues

Another team that’s benefitting from a coaching change, the Blues are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They’re 9-7-1 on the road.

13. Vancouver Canucks

They must do something about their 4-6-4 record on home ice. The Canucks are only 5-3-2 in their last 10 starts.

12. Calgary Flames

The Flames are the opposite of the Canucks; they’re 10-3-1 at home and just 4-7-4 on the road. Calgary is 4-4-2 in their last 10.

11. Colorado Avalanche

They’ve completely turned over their depth chart in net and have allowed 105 goals in 30 games. With a minus-four goal differential, they’re the highest team in our rankings this week to have a negative number there.

10. Winnipeg Jets

Still tied for the best goal differential in the league at plus-35, the Jets are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games. They’re 10-3-0 at home and 11-6-0 on the road.

9. Edmonton Oilers

Only a plus-four goal differential isn’t great in 28 games, the Oilers are just 8-6-1 at home to start the season.

8. Florida Panthers

The defending champs probably don’t care about being 6-3-1 in their last 10 as much as our power rankings do. They’re 9-5-1 at home and 9-4-1 on the road.

7. Dallas Stars

The Stars are only 6-8-0 on the road, which isn’t nice. But their defense is terrific; they’ve allowed only 69 goals entering Wednesday and have a plus-23 goal differential.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

Still only 5-5-2 on the road, the Leafs have a plus-10 goal differential and have won seven of their last ten.

5. Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas is 7-4-3 on the road, which isn’t great for a team that’s 11-3-0 at home and has a plus-17 goal differential. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

4. New Jersey Devils

The Devils get the Blackhawks in a Saturday matinee, but they’re only 7-6-3 on home ice to start the season. They have a plus-19 goal differential.

3. Los Angeles Kings

Welcome to the top three, LA. They’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 and have been marvelous at home (10-2-1).

2. Washington Capitals

Ovi is skating and the Caps just keep rolling. They’re 11-2-0 on the road and are tied for the best goal differential in the league at plus-35.

1. Minnesota Wild

With a 12-2-3 road record and 7-3-1 at home, the Wild have overcome salary cap headaches to take off to a magnificent start. They have a plus-22 goal differential and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.