January 22, 2025
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — Happy Wednesday, hockey fans. There are so many wild storylines to follow around the league right now. The Canucks’ drama, the Rangers almost and then not making a trade, the Devils chasing a trade with an unhappy top prospect, and oh, the suspensions! Let’s not forget the suspensions!!

With all of those issues off the ice, there are some teams sprinting to the front of the pack while others continue to celebrate mediocrity on a nightly basis. The playoffs are totally up for grabs still, and the wild cards might not be settled until the end of the regular season. Which would be great!

Thanks in large part to a slide by the Sharks and a couple intriguingly competitive games in Chicago, there’s a new team resting on top of the draft lottery odds today – and in last place in our power rankings. Congrats!

Let’s get into it.

As always, let us know what’s right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.

32. San Jose Sharks

Congrats to the fightin’ Celebrinis for finding their way to the basement in the NHL. Riding a four-game losing streak, San Jose now owns the worst point percentage in the league.

31. Vancouver Canucks

With a 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games and the embers still smoldering in the dumpster, the Canucks need to do something just to save face at this point.

30. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are just 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. Only Chicago and San Jose have a worse goal differential than Anaheim’s minus-37.

29. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens are just 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. They’re one of four teams in the league with a goal differential of at least 30 in the red; we’ve mentioned the other three already.

28. Chicago Blackhawks

They get to move up a bit after beating Vegas and forcing overtime against the Canes. Connor Bedard has a point in 12 of his last 14 games (6 goals, 9 assists in those 12 games).

27. Boston Bruins

The Bruins are only 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and are leaving the door wide open for another mediocre team to pass them in the Eastern Conference wild card race.

26. Buffalo Sabres

A 9-12-3 home record isn’t how you get into the playoffs. At least they’ve got the Bills to get excited about this weekend...

25. Nashville Predators

Every time you think the Preds are doing to turn a corner and start playing like everyone expected them to they find a way to not stay at least warm.

24. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and might see the number of potential buyers between now and the deadline as a positive. They’re in sell mode.

23. New York Islanders

The Islanders remain the same old Islanders.

22. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are 2-5-3 in their last 10 and have lost two in a row.

21. Utah Hockey Club

When they aren’t having a name trademark application denied, Utah is only 8-11-4 on their home ice.

20. Detroit Red Wings

Remember all the good vibes after the coaching change? We’re nine days from the end of January and the Wings have a minus-20 goal differential.

19. St. Louis Blues

The Blues are the sneaky team that’s just kinda hanging out around the Western Conference wild card race with nobody paying attention, playing .500 hockey while everyone else has their ups and downs.

18. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have won three in a row, which is good. They’ve only won 13 of their 22 games in regulation, however.

17. New York Rangers

Even after a stunning 5-0 shutout win on Tuesday night the Rangers are still in the red in goal differential for the season.

16. Ottawa Senators

The Sens have as many wins at home as they do on the road; they’ve played five more games on the road, and lost them all in regulation.

15. Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa’s 10-12-2 mark on the road is puzzling for them to be under .500 this late in the season.

14. Calgary Flames

The Flames are an even .500 over their last ten games but have a minus-12 goal differential for the season.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jackets are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and have their eyes on a potential wild card spot. Maybe Jack Adams voters should be paying attention to what’s going on in Columbus.

12. Edmonton Oilers

We’re really going to ask Corey Perry for his thoughts on player conduct? The suspension isn’t going to hurt them in the long run. Keeping everyone healthy is more important.

11. Carolina Hurricanes

They needed overtime to finish a comeback win in Chicago, but they’re only 11-11-2 on the road this season. Carolina has won three straight.

10. Montreal Canadiens

Yup, we’re moving the Habs into the top ten this week. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 and are having fun in the process.

9. Florida Panthers

The defending champs continue to quietly just go about their business and stay in prime position to defend their title.

8. Los Angeles Kings

Things at home outside the arena have been scary in LA with the wildfires. Inside the arena, the Kings are dominant (14-3-1).

7. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are 14-9-0 away from home and have a plus-10 goal differential. In a strong top four in the Central Division, someone is going to have to be a wild card berth. The Avs have their hands full.

6. Minnesota Wild

The Wild are only 11-10-1 at home and have only a plus-six goal differential. Maybe they want to start the playoffs on the road? They’re 17-5-3 away from home.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

19-9-0 at home with a three-game win streak moves Toronto up into our top five this week.

4. Vegas Golden Knights

They’re good enough for No. 3 this week but the loss in Chicago costs them a spot by default.

3. Dallas Stars

Please, don’t sleep on Dallas. They’re 17-7-1 at home, have won six of their last ten, have a plus-32 goal differential and they’re going to get to use Tyler Seguin’s cap space to get better before the deadline.

2. Winnipeg Jets

The second-best point percentage in the league, the second-best goal differential (plus-49) and an 18-5-3 home record keep the Jets flying high.

1. Washington Capitals

Five wins in a row, zero regulation losses in their last ten, the only team with a point percentage over .700 in the league (they’re .734) and a league-leading plus-51 goal differential is what puts you at the front of the class.