NHL power rankings: Matthew Knies taking Leafs to another level
It really feels like we as a society are relying too much on nostalgia these days. The only movies that are successful are sequels or franchise movies, pop music has been riding the ’80s vintage sound for nearly five years now, and even the NHL is forcing out content with these Quarter-Century teams to make people look back on the good ol’ days (yes, the 2000s are the good ol’ days now). It’s just shameful!
On a completely unrelated note, Hunter is away in Chicago this week, so we’ve decided to summon Mike Gould out of retirement to do another power rankings like old times! Won’t this be fun?
1. Washington Capitals
Record: 26-10-3, +41
Last Week: 3rd (+2)
Mike’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: 1st
Scott: Alex Ovechkin has four goals in five games since returning from his injury and now has 19 goals in 23 games. He may not beat Wayne Gretzky’s record this season, but he’ll sure come close at this pace. However, the Caps are somehow only 3-1-1 in this stretch and are 5-4-1 in their last 10. That hasn’t stopped them from moving up to first place in our rankings though, as they’ve been more than fine under the hood.
Mike: I badly wanted to put Washington in first. They’re just so much fun. Can you imagine if 39-year-old Ovechkin keeps scoring at this pace? On top of breaking Gretzky’s record, what if he challenges for the Rocket Richard Trophy in a 60-game season? And what if, after that, he leads the Caps on a deep playoff run? What Ovi is doing right now is some of the most impressive stuff we’ve seen this century — right up there with Mario Lemieux’s comeback after three years off.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 27-9-3, +34
Last Week: 2nd (0)
Mike’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 3rd
Scott: Mike makes his grand return, and he picks the team in first place as a his #1 pick? Borrrrrrring! Then again, they’ve won 12 of their last 14 games and 16 of their last 20, so they’re as hot as anyone right now.
Mike: I still don’t quite love the Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin trades. I think the bottom will fall out for this team before too long. But even I can’t deny that Vegas just keeps finding ways to come out ahead. I might’ve tried harder to keep Logan Thompson over Adin Hill, but it seems to be working for them so far.
3. Minnesota Wild
Record: 25-11-4, +14
Last Week: 7th (+4)
Mike’s Rank: 3rd
Scott’s Rank: 2nd
Mike: I know it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, but there has to be some kind of mistake. Why are the Wild this good? [checks notes] Oh. It’s really just as simple as ‘Kirill Kaprizov and Filip Gustavsson are that good.’ I’m still not sure I love the David Jiricek trade as much as everyone else seems to, but the Wild are in a really nice spot for both the future and the now. Just don’t be surprised if they have to give Kaprizov upwards of $13 million a year to stick around.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 26-13-2, +16
Last Week: 14th (+10)
Mike’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: 7th
Mike: I can’t believe I’m higher on the Leafs than Scott is. You just can’t argue with the ‘Core Four’ — not in the regular season, at least. I’m fascinated to see what happens with Mitch Marner, who has always been a lightning rod (boringly so, at this point) but is driving the bus in a big way this year. Wouldn’t it be wild if Marner becomes the third 100-point winger to leave a Brad Treliving-run team as a free agent? (Also, unrelated, but I’m happy to see Chris Tanev still thriving in his hometown. He’s the best.)
Scott: It’s been a while so I’ll forgive you for not keeping up with the Leafs, but they’ve been very mediocre at 5v5 this season, so I’m usually the one who is low on them when the five-point rule allows me to. They’ve also dealt with a lot of injuries, so I wouldn’t say I’m panicking yet, but they’ve relied on their goaltending a bit more than I’d like them to. Matthew Knies has been turning into a key player for this team, though, so if he can keep up his recent run of play, he’ll be another much-needed scoring threat for this team come playoff time.
5. New Jersey Devils
Record: 24-15-3, +27
Last Week: 1st (-4)
Mike’s Rank: 8th
Scott’s Rank: 4th
Scott: I cited the Devils as one of the teams that should be viewed as a Stanley Cup contender based on their offensive and defensive play, and if not for this current four-game skid that’s seen them score just six goals in that span, they probably would be first (at least on my list). I’m not too worried about their slump, but as the trade deadline approaches, I wonder if they will start to look for another forward for some scoring depth.
6. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 24-12-3, +19
Last Week: 6th (0)
Mike’s Rank: 7th
Scott’s Rank: 6th
Scott: The Oilers went a perfect 3-for-3 in their games last week, although they weren’t exactly playing tough competition in Utah, Anaheim and Seattle. That said, the Oilers have been staying out of headlines recently, and that’s probably about as much as you could want from them this season. They’ve just been churning along, getting the job done more often than not, and are cruising towards another playoff appearance.
Mike: They don’t quite have the same depth as they did last year, but the Oilers still have the horses to go far. Leon Draisaitl has been amazing. But this team is just too top-heavy for my liking.
7. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 27-12-2, +43
Last Week: 4th (-3)
Mike’s Rank: 6th
Scott’s Rank: 8th
Scott: Mike and I may have disagreed on a lot of the top 10 for our reunion, but I have to say, it’s a breath of fresh air to finally have someone on here that rates the Jets closer to what I do (sorry, not sorry Hunter). They’re still much lower for me if not for the five-point rule, so Mike and I still might not see exactly eye-to-eye on how fraudulent this team is, but I’ll take it, especially while they’re on a three-game losing streak.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 23-10-5, +22
Last Week: 5th (-3)
Mike’s Rank: 9th
Scott’s Rank: 5th
Mike: I’m still not quite sure how Coyotes legend Darcy Kuemper didn’t make Canada’s 4 Nations roster. I get it, he’s 34, but he has as many regulation losses as shutouts (two) through the first half of the season and is currently sitting at a .920 save percentage. If, by chance, Kuemper ends up making it as an injury replacement, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him end up as the starter.
Scott: Considering the Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill picks were Canada going for goalies with championship experience, I’m surprised that Kuemper also didn’t get a look. He’s been excellent behind the Kings this year, and has been a savior for my fantasy team.
9. Dallas Stars
Record: 24-13-1, +28
Last Week: 10th (+1)
Mike’s Rank: 5th
Scott’s Rank: 9th
Scott: The Stars were one of the first teams that I got criticized for under-ranking compared to their perceived standing in the league, and while ninth isn’t much higher than where they started, I’d just like to point out that the Stars were actually first in my rankings before adjusting with the five-point rule. We made it, everybody, they’ve finally reached that point where they’ve turned around their concerning underlying numbers… at least offensively!
10. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 24-14-2, +21
Last Week: 13th (+3)
Mike’s Rank: 12th
Scott’s Rank: 10th
Scott: The Canes have been a bit inconsistent in recent days, with a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games, but are still looking quite excellent under the hood. That said, Brent Burns has really reached the point where he’s on his last legs as an NHLer, and that’s really hurting Carolina’s otherwise strong defensive numbers this year.
11. Florida Panthers
Record: 24-14-2, +11
Last Week: 9th (-2)
Mike’s Rank: 10th
Scott’s Rank: 12th
Mike: Sam Bennett is one of the most talked-about players who has never cracked the 50-point mark in his career, and after it looked like he might finally change that in his age-28 season, he suddenly went ice-cold after being named to Team Canada for the 4 Nations. Bennett hasn’t scored a goal since Dec. 3 and has one assist and is a -11 over his last 11 games. He’s a solid player, but I’m still not entirely sure I understand that international pedigree.
Scott: Should we really be surprised considering what we just witnessed from Hockey Canada at the World Juniors? I wonder if players can be kicked off a team, because Bennett might make the case for that if Canada wasn’t so tunnel-visioned on bringing in pests for fourth-liners.
12. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 24-15-1, +7
Last Week: 11th (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 11th
Scott’s Rank: 13th
Scott: Only the Avalanche would run the Jets out of the building and make an exciting late-game comeback against the Sabres just to only get one goal against the Habs to close out the week. That snapped a six-game winning streak, but the Avs have still pulled away from the rest of the Wildcard race, and their playoff spot is in a bit less jeopardy than it seemed to start the year. However, with Scott Wedgewood out for a bit after that play against Buffalo, you have to hope that it doesn’t disrupt the good thing Colorado had going in net recently.
Mike: The vibes in Colorado are still just weird — I feel like I said that a lot last year, too — and it’s beginning to concern me that they haven’t re-signed Mikko Rantanen, who is having one of his best seasons ever. Much like the Oilers, these guys are just a bit too top-heavy, although it hasn’t helped that they’ve gone without Jonathan Drouin, Sam Girard, Artturi Lehkonen, and Val Nichushkin for extended periods of time. Fortunately, it looks like Mackenzie Blackwood is exactly what they needed between the pipes.
13. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 20-15-2, +32
Last Week: 8th (-5)
Mike’s Rank: 13th
Scott’s Rank: 14th
Mike: Can you imagine where the Lightning would be if they hadn’t signed Jake Guentzel? Granted, their defense took a bit of a hit when the main piece they got back in the Mikhail Sergachev trade, J.J. Moser, suffered a lower-body injury last month, but the Bolts remain one of the most electric offensive teams in the league and Guentzel is a big reason for it. Now that’s how you retool.
14. Boston Bruins
Record: 20-17-5, -20
Last Week: 12th (-2)
Mike’s Rank: 17th
Scott’s Rank: 11th
Scott: Every time the Bruins start to flirt with the idea of possibly being a competitive team again, they go on a losing streak like the four-game slump they’re currently on and make us all doubt ourselves again. They really feel like the weak link of the five Atlantic teams currently vying for a playoff spot, and it says a lot when we get a Leafs-Bruins game and Leafs fans aren’t met with quite the same dread as past years. Boston will still somehow beat Toronto in a playoff series though.
Mike: The Bruins have always had great centers, which makes it all the more shocking that their depth at the position has eroded to this extent. It’s … not good.
15. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 18-12-8, -5
Last Week: 16th (+1)
Mike’s Rank: 15th
Scott’s Rank: 16th
Mike: What an exciting mess! I mean, sure, Jake DeBrusk and Kiefer Sherwood look like pretty good additions — it’s just a shame that they’re first and third in goal-scoring on this iteration of the Canucks and not the previous one. Beyond those two, Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland, and Kevin Lankinen, pretty much everyone in Vancouver is somewhere between ‘underperforming’ and ‘having the worst time of my life.’ Will Elias Pettersson ask for a trade? Will J.T. Miller figure everything out? Will Brock Boeser re-sign? Find out next week on Canucks Chaos!
Scott: Hughes’ injury has made it very apparent that this team needs another defenseman. Losing your two best defensemen will hurt any team, but it shouldn’t catch a competitive team with their pants down like it has with the Canucks. Guillaume Brisebois and Tyler Myers might be the worst top pair in the league right now. If they end up trading one or both of Pettersson and Miller, they should certainly use the opportunity to bring in another puck-moving defenseman.
16. Calgary Flames
Record: 18-14-7, -15
Last Week: 17th (+1)
Mike’s Rank: 14th
Scott’s Rank: 19th
Mike: Yes, Dustin Wolf is that good, and he’d probably have a much better chance at winning the Calder Trophy if not for Mack Celebrini looking like the second coming of Sidney Crosby. Jonathan Huberdeau is looking a lot more like his old self, too, and guys like Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, and Rasmus Andersson have done a good job of building their value for when the Flames inevitably trade them. Unfortunately, Yegor Sharangovich and Andrei Kuzmenko have fallen off the map a bit, although there’s reason to believe Sharangovich in particular could have a stronger second half. Don’t be surprised if the bottom eventually falls out in Flames-land, but for now, they’re still in the hunt.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 17-17-7, -27
Last Week: 15th (-2)
Mike’s Rank: 19th
Scott’s Rank: 15th
Scott: Are the Penguins that terrified of being in the playoffs? It felt like every time they were in a position to pull away from the pack in the past few seasons, they went on a slump, and now that they hold the second Wildcard spot, they’ve lost three in a row. Rickard Rakell continues to have a resurgence of a year, though, and it makes you wonder if the Penguins possibly try to sell high on him if they do find themselves being sellers at the deadline.
Mike: If the Penguins could get a save every now and then, they’d probably be right around our Top 10 — not because they’re especially good, but because the teams right in front of them on our list are thoroughly middling.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 17-17-6, -8
Last Week: 21st (+3)
Mike’s Rank: 20th
Scott’s Rank: 18th
Scott: It’s a bit ironic right now that the Blue Jackets’ mascot is a bee, because they’re currently that annoying bug that won’t go away in the playoff race. They haven’t been super consistent right now, but they’re one point out of a playoff spot after no one expected them to sniff the playoffs this season. There have been bigger surprise stories this season, but the Blue Jackets probably shouldn’t be slept on at this point.
19. Ottawa Senators
Record: 19-17-2, +1
Last Week: 18th (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 16th
Scott’s Rank: 23rd
Mike: Hey, cool, I think the Sens-O-Meter 3000 wants to take this one.
Sens-O-Meter 3000: I AM THE SENS-O-METER 3000. [Electronic whirring and beeping] GENERATING REPORT ON WHO HAS BEEN SENS’D. [DING] MINNESOTA WILD: SENS’D. DALLAS STARS: NOT SENS’D. ST. LOUIS BLUES: NOT SENS’D. NEXT TARGETS TO BE SENS’D: DETROIT RED WINGS, BUFFALO SABRES, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. THE SENS ARE IN SESSION. [Electronic hum stops]
Scott: Are you good, Mike?
20. Utah Hockey Club
Record: 17-15-7, -5
Last Week: 19th (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 23rd
Scott’s Rank: 17th
Mike: Contrary to popular belief, the Utahns aren’t really better than they were in Arizona. If anything, they’re pretty much the same, despite owner Ryan Smith’s promises to the contrary. They’re currently sixth in the Central with 41 points in 39 games; at this time last year, Arizona was fifth in the Central with 40 points in 37 games. That Coyotes team had a positive goal differential, too. No, Utah’s defense hasn’t been healthy all year, but they were never a splashy Mikhail Sergachev trade away from turning the corner even in the best of circumstances. Don’t be surprised if this Utah roster looks very different if and when they finally develop into a contender.
Scott: Mike is clearly just a jaded ex who hates seeing his former love happier with someone else. They’re eighth in generating expected goals and only 13th in preventing them at the other end, and that’s with all of the injuries on their blueline. Once they get healthy, I think they could make a solid run at the playoffs, although it does feel like they need to keep their eyes out for a Jack-Eichel-to-Vegas type of deal to really turn them around.
Mike: You’re right, because I don’t know if they have quite enough blue-chip pieces in their pipeline as it stands. I like Tij Iginla and Daniil But just fine, but I never liked them moving on from Conor Geekie and J.J. Moser so soon — especially for Sergachev, who is really miscast as a No. 1 making $8.5 million. I would’ve saved those pieces for a better target. It struck me as an owner wanting to put a stamp on his new team without respecting the rebuild process.
21. St. Louis Blues
Record: 19-18-4, -9
Last Week: 22nd (+1)
Mike’s Rank: 21st
Scott’s Rank: 22nd
Mike: You know who’s been really good for the Blues over the last month? Cam Fowler, who’s gone from wasting away in Anaheim to driving play and scoring plenty on an otherwise unremarkable Blues team. Sure, St. Louis is somehow two points outside the Western Conference playoff picture, but that has more to do with Vancouver falling off the map than it does their own prowess. Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg have proven to be outstanding additions, though.
22. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 18-18-3, -15
Last Week: 25th (+3)
Mike’s Rank: 18th
Scott’s Rank: 26th
Scott: I’m sorry Mike, 18th?! I get that the Habs have won seven of their last nine games and just finished a stretch that saw four of their last five games come against the four previous Stanley Cup champions (and won all four of those games), but they’re still horrific defensively. They have put themselves in the playoff conversation for now, but this feels more like a blip on the radar than a bold statement that the Habs have returned.
Mike: I seem to recall reading an article here on Daily Faceoff a few months ago that went along the lines of, ‘The Montreal Canadiens could be better than you expect in 2024-25.’ So, really, I’m just repeating what I saw there. It seems to me that whomever wrote that particular piece was right on the money.
Scott: I’d joke about how that same guy predicted the Predators to be one of the worst teams in 2023-24, but that take has clearly turned out better this season, so maybe he’s onto something.
23. New York Islanders
Record: 15-18-7, -20
Last Week: 20th (-3)
Mike’s Rank: 25th
Scott’s Rank: 20th
Mike: I want to say it … should I say it? Should I!?
Scott: The people demand it, Mike!
Mike: It’s the Islanders. Who cares?
Scott: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytVEh0G8m2I&ab_channel=742EvergreenTerrace
24. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 17-18-4, -19
Last Week: 27th (+3)
Mike’s Rank: 22nd
Scott’s Rank: 24th
Scott: I have to say Mike, after you made a bit out of hating on the Red Wings, I’m surprised to see you rank them higher than I have. Credit where it’s due though, this team had defensive issues, and so far, Todd McLellan has managed to put a bandage over that problem. It’s a small sample size, but Detroit has the 10th-best expected goals against per 60 minutes since he took over, although they now have the third-worst expected goals for per 60 minutes. One problem at a time, I guess.
Mike: I’m definitely not going to identify the forward who has been on the ice for more expected goals against per 60 minutes than any other Red Wings player (yes, even Ben Chiarot) this season. It’s just not something I feel the need to share.
25. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 17-18-5, -21
Last Week: 24th (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 24th
Scott’s Rank: 25th
Scott: For as much of a roller coaster of a season as it’s been for the Flyers, they’ve been an excellent team at 5v5, and it’s shown in the past week even as they’ve lost three of their last four. The problem is that everything else is an issue, and that’s why they just can’t seem to eke out wins when they outplay their opponent. It’s a good sign for the rebuild though, as they can play well and still lose and get more of a supporting cast for Matvei Michkov, who’s now gone pointless in 10 of his last 11 games.
26. New York Rangers
Record: 18-20-1, -10
Last Week: 23rd (-3)
Mike’s Rank: 30th
Scott’s Rank: 21st
Mike: Scott, Scott, Scott. The Rangers are dreadful. They’re 3-7-0 in their last 10. They’re a tire fire in every sense of the phrase. Their record is bad, their underlyings are worse, and pretty much every skater on the roster — save for Adam Fox and, inexplicably, Will Cuylle — is underperforming. Igor Shesterkin is hurt, Chris Kreider is sleepwalking (sleep-skating?), and Mika Zibanejad looks like he’s just waiting for a trade. There are pretty much no silver linings here.
Scott: For the record, I don’t disagree entirely. Their defense has been dreadful this season, but their offense and power play have been just good enough to drag them ahead of other teams outside of the playoff race. That said, they are easily the most disappointing team.
27. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 17-18-4, -17
Last Week: 26th (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 26th
Scott’s Rank: 29th
Mike: Hey, remember when the Ducks gave up a pick for Jacob Trouba? Why’d they do that? And why did they agree to pay Frank Vatrano until he’s 50 years old? Why is Pavel Mintyukov still being healthy scratched? Why hasn’t John Gibson been traded yet? Everything about the Ducks is a big ol’ ‘why?’ — to me, at least.
28. Nashville Predators
Record: 13-20-7, -25
Last Week: 28th (0)
Mike’s Rank: 28th
Scott’s Rank: 27th
Mike: As Scott mentioned earlier, I did predict that the Predators would finish dead-last in the NHL prior to the 2023-24 season. I guess that take was just a little ahead of its time. No, I didn’t think the Preds would regress this hard after handing out roughly $200 billion worth of contracts this past summer, but that’s what happens when your forward group was led by the triumvirate of Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, and Gustav Nyquist to begin with. It certainly doesn’t help that the Preds have reacted to their stunning underperformance by trading or releasing basically all of their up-and-coming younger players. Why were Philip Tomasino, Dante Fabbro, and Alex Carrier the fall guys for this team in November and December? And what unearthly force compelled Barry Trotz to give Brady Skjei that gargantuan contract in the first place?
29. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 14-21-5, -15
Last Week: 29th (0)
Mike’s Rank: 29th
Scott’s Rank: 28th
Mike: The Sabres entered this season with the fourth-lowest active payroll in the NHL and thought they’d be better. It’s not the players, it’s not the fans, it’s not the city — it’s the owner. There’s no reason why an NHL team should ever miss the playoffs for a full decade in a row. The Sabres, led by their ownership, just aren’t willing to do what it takes to be a serious team.
30. Seattle Kraken
Record: 17-20-3, -11
Last Week: 30th (0)
Mike’s Rank: 27th
Scott’s Rank: 31st
Scott: I still don’t think there’s a lot to like about this Kraken team as a whole, as their roster design to succeed through depth seems to have been figured out by most of the league, and they’re really lacking in star talent. They aren’t in Blackhawks territory just yet, but a high draft pick probably wouldn’t hurt them right now.
31. San Jose Sharks
Record: 13-23-6, -39
Last Week: 32nd (+1)
Mike’s Rank: 31st
Scott’s Rank: 30th
Mike: I’m a huge fan of Celebrini. I think he has what it takes to be the very best player in the league for a long, long time. I also really like Tyler Toffoli, who has been just as good as I thought he’d be when he entered the UFA market this past summer. William Eklund, Will Smith, and Yaroslav Askarov are also really nice pieces. The depth isn’t quite there, but I think the Sharks are only a couple strong drafts away from being ready to go again.
32. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 13-25-2, -35
Last Week: 31st (-1)
Mike’s Rank: 32nd
Scott’s Rank: 32nd
Scott: The good: Anders Sorensen has at best helped Connor Bedard’s development and at worst not stood in his way, as Bedard now has 16 points in 14 games since the coaching change after beginning the year with 19 in his first 26 games. The (sort of) bad: with six losses in their last seven games, the Blackhawks are really establishing themselves as the worst team in the league and may now hold the distinction for being the worst team to ever play in the Winter Classic.
Mike: Chicago needs to find Bedard’s long-term running mate in the worst way. I don’t think it’ll be Frank Nazar. It won’t be Lukas Reichel. And with Bedard himself looking a little more like a Brayden Point (very, very good) in the making than an Auston Matthews (truly elite), Chicago should have even more urgency to identify that secondary star. Unfortunately, it might take a while.
_____
POST SPONSORED BY bet365
_____