January 29, 2025
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — Who doesn’t love an out-of-nowhere shocking league-altering blockbuster trade in late January to make things a little more interesting, eh?

The Mikko Rantanen trade caught everyone by surprise – including the player and his teammates in Denver. The dust is still settling for the teams involved in that deal, but the rest of the league is now on notice that Carolina is very much for real.

Meanwhile, there are some teams that can’t get out of their own way and others fighting amongst themselves. The drama in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is a lot; the drama off the ice in the Western Conference is driving the headlines.

So, let’s get into our final edition of the Power Rankings in January. As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.

32. Vancouver Canucks

At what point does this fully implode so we can all move on with our hockey lives? The soap opera has run its course.

31. San Jose Sharks

The worst point percentage in the league isn’t quite the same exciting “look what Celebrini did!” party it was earlier this season. A reminder that top players are picked at the top of the draft by bad teams.

30. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens have rattled off a 3-7-0 record in their last 10 games. It appears Crosby and Malkin are headed for the same script that we saw with 19 and 88 in Chicago before their time with the Hawks ended (bad hockey).

29. Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago went into Tampa and picked up a much-needed win on Tuesday night. Their role in the Rantanen trade hasn’t been fully understood, but Bedard keeps producing.

28. Vegas Golden Knights

Hoo boy, this week’s fanbase that’s going to be big mad. But when you’re 3-5-2 in your last 10, the slide is real. Vegas needs a boost of energy from somewhere.

27. Nashville Predators

Barry Trotz has long wanted the chance to add a legit top-tier center to his lineup. Will he get a chance to do that… in James Hagens?

26. Buffalo Sabres

The seven they put on the board Tuesday night could have helped the Bills on Sunday… (I’m sorry that was mean).

25. St. Louis Blues

Brandon Saad is going on unconditional waivers and the Blues appear ready for the lottery balls already in late January. They’ve lost three in a row.

24. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have won three in a row, which improves them to 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. Only San Jose, Pittsburgh and Chicago have a worse goal differential than Anaheim’s minus-28.

23. Boston Bruins

Maybe they need to kick start another war of words with local radio to get their offense back on track?

22. Seattle Kraken

Seattle’s goal differential is ten better than Boston’s in the same number of games (52). They need a lot of help this summer.

21. Utah Hockey Club

If they were better than 8-11-4 in their new home, the Utes might be in the playoff picture because the Central Division is a dumpster fire right now.

20. Colorado Avalanche

Is this based on record or recent on-ice performance? No. This is me saying I need to see how everything settles after trading one of the truly elite players in the game before I can buy them from here to the end of the regular season.

19. New York Islanders

Classic Isles right now. They’re the hottest team in the league (8-2-0 in their last 10) which means they’re playing just well enough to not sell before the deadline. Again.

18. Philadelphia Flyers

Fly Eagles fly, amirite? The Flyers continue to just let the NFL create a buzz for the city while they sit around .500 all year.

17. New York Rangers

What exactly are these Rangers? One night they look like what we expected them to be, the next they look like a lottery team. And will the big trade ever actually happen?

16. Detroit Red Wings

What a time to be alive! The Wings are in the upper half of our power rankings (thanks to a three-game win streak).

15. Montreal Canadiens

Every time they have a chance to maybe put a little more concrete hope into their playoff odds, a couple losses show up to make life hard. Kaiden Guhle is hurt (again), which complicates matters further.

14. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games. Will the playoff picture being so wide open right now allow them to just stay afloat long enough to sneak in, or will they do something bold to make a run?

13. Tampa Bay Lightning

They needed overtime in Chicago last week to win and lost to the Blackhawks at home last night. Not ideal.

12. Los Angeles Kings

At 4-5-1 in their last 10, the Kings are another team that’s good enough to pull away from the wild card mess but just refuse to do so.

11. Minnesota Wild

What to make of these Wild? They’re 4-6-0 in their last 10, 11-12-1 at home and just announced they’ll be without Kaprizov for “at least four weeks.”

10. Calgary Flames

Things look okay right now for Calgary, who have won six of their last 10 and are 15-7-3 at home. Will they buy before the deadline?

9. Florida Panthers

The defending champs are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. Worry level is low, however. They know what it takes to win.

8. Ottawa Senators

Thoughts and prayers to whomever is reading their comments and replies after announcing their road trip during the preseason this fall. On the ice, they’re playing well.

7. Columbus Blue Jackets

What a great story! After a nightmare summer, and then significant injuries throughout the season, they keep rolling. The Jackets are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

6. Dallas Stars

They would be higher if I didn’t see the way Miro Heiskanen went down against Vegas on Tuesday night.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

They’re 5-5-0 in their last 10 and seem to have things on autopilot on the ice. Now, about those Marner extension talks…

4. Edmonton Oilers

Winners of three in a row and owners of an 18-8-1 record at home, the Oilers and Golden Knights are heading in opposite directions right now.

3. Winnipeg Jets

Winners of four straight and owners of a 20-5-3 record at home, the Jets look like the best team in the Western Conference right now.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Finally, the Canes made the bold blockbuster move to get a truly elite player. And they got Taylor Hall to help bolster their lineup in the process. Beware the Canes!

1. Washington Capitals

They better keep an eye on Carolina in the rearview mirror, but everything is beautiful for the Caps right now. They’re 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.