December 4, 2024
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — On the day people are going to start putting together their rankings of the rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off, we’re going to update our NHL Power Rankings with plenty of significant movement. There are some great surprises and some massive disappointments around the league already, which makes for some happy and angry fans.

With those surprises and disappointments – and significant injuries around the league – the trade winds are blowing a bit more than usual for early December. We’ll see when the big dominoes start to fall around the league. And we might not have to wait for a crazy trade deadline day this year for big movement.

Let’s jump into this week’s new Power Rankings.

As always, feel free to let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.

32. Nashville Predators

This season was supposed to be different. After surprising with their success last year, the Preds have been awful. They have a minus-21 goal differential and only two wins in their last 10 starts.

31. Chicago Blackhawks

The lowest point percentage in the league is ugly, but the Blackhawks can still claim that they have at least been within one goal in the third period in 24 of 25 starts. Their goal differential is only minus-16 and they’ve allowed 11 empty net goals.

30. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs are one of four teams in the league still searching for a tenth win. They have a minus-24 goal differential.

29. New York Islanders

By virtue of being the fourth team in the league with a single digit win total, the Isles land just ahead of the other three with that distinction.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins

Yes, they’ve won their last four games. But that improves them to 5-3-2 in their last ten and they have the worst goal differential in the NHL (minus-27).

27. San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini is for real. And they’re battling; the Sharks have won their last three games.

26. Detroit Red Wings

The Wings just put Patrick Kane on IR this week and have only three wins in their last 10 starts. Not ideal for the Yzerplan.

25. Winnipeg Jets (!!)

Harsh? Oh my! But the Jets are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games and their current four-game regulation losing streak is the longest active skid in the league.

24. Ottawa Senators

The Sens are still stuck on just 10 wins and are 3-5-2 in their last 10 starts.

23. Utah Hockey Club

Like the Red Wings and Senators, Utah has only won 10 games to date. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10.

22. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have still only played 23 games entering Wednesday’s action, but their 5-7-1 home mark and minus-seven goal differential leave a lot to be desired.

21. Buffalo Sabres

Their epic collapse to the Avalanche on Tuesday night stings. Their goal differential is only minus-two, however.

20. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are hanging around. They’re 5-5-0 in their last ten and have a minus-three goal differential.

19. New York Rangers

At just 4-6-0 in their last 10, it certainly feels like Memo Gate is consuming the organization right now. There’s more buzz around their trade rumors than their play on the ice.

18. St. Louis Blues

Coaching change bump? The Blues are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and are 7-6-1 at home.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets

For all the heartbreak this summer, the Blue Jackets enter Wednesday with an even goal differential. They’re 8-3-1 at home and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

16. Boston Bruins

They needed overtime to get past the Red Wings on Tuesday night and are in Chicago on Wednesday. The B’s have a minus-15 goal differential.

15. Calgary Flames

The Flames picked up the win on an emotional night with Columbus in town on Tuesday night. They have a minus-five goal differential entering Wednesday.

14. Florida Panthers

They aren’t worried. But the Panthers are 4-5-1 in their last 10 starts. Florida cares more about who finishes first in June than where they’re at in early December.

13. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are only 7-7-0 on home ice to start the season, which isn’t ideal for a team with an altitude advantage.

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Don’t look now, but Philly is 7-2-1 in their last ten and have won their last three games. Even with that, the Flyers have a minus-10 goal differential.

11. Edmonton Oilers

It’s December and the Oilers are still sitting with a red goal differential (minus-two) and are a disappointing 5-6-1 on home ice.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts are the Bolts. They have a plus-13 goal differential. However, they’re only 5-3-2 in their last 10 starts.

9. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are 8-2-1 in LA and have won 14 of their first 25 games. They’re solid and in good position in the Pacific Division.

8. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are 10-2-1 on the road to start the season. Kevin Lankinen has stepped in and been a revelation between the pipes.

7. Vegas Golden Knights

At just 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, Vegas’ plus-13 goal differential is tied for the worst from this point forward on our power rankings this week.

6. Dallas Stars

The Stars have been rolling but the news that Tyler Seguin will miss an extended period of time (most of the rest of the regular-season, maybe more) may force them to make a move sooner than later to keep up in the Central.

5. Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 starts and have lost their last three games. Martin Necas continues to light it up, though.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs also have just a plus-13 goal differential thru 24 starts and are just 4-4-2 on the road. But they’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.

3. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are 7-3-0 in their last 10, have a plus-23 goal differential and are a stunning 11-4-0 on the road to start the season.

2. Washington Capitals

Wasn’t there supposed to be a rough stretch without Ovi? The Caps are 7-2-1 in their last 10, have a 9-2-0 road record and the best point percentage in the Eastern Conference. Washington’s plus-31 goal differential is the best in the league entering Wednesday.

1. Minnesota Wild

Hello, Minnesota! The Wild own the best record (17-4-4) in the NHL, have points in 13 of 14 road games and have a plus-20 goal differential. Minnesota has won their last four games.