NHL Power Rankings: Evaluating the Top Eight Teams in Each Conference

Now that we're past the halfway point in the NHL season, it's time to re-evaluate my power rankings for the sixteen best teams in the NHL. 

Since my initial season-opening projections, there've been a few surprises; the biggest being the collapse of the Islanders, who I picked to win the Stanley Cup this year, and who were only five wins away from doing just that last year. Read my thoughts on what went wrong. Whether they will be sellers at the trade deadline remains to be seen.

Unlike October, when I predicted who the top three teams in each division would be, plus the wild cards, this time around, I've decided to rate the top eight teams in each conference, followed who I believe will win the Cup.

My criteria for evaluating each team comes down to the following: won/loss record, goals for and against, special teams, 5v5 play, goaltending and, finally, my gut instincts. That last one isn't always as trustworthy as I would like it to be.

As always, take these predictions with a grain or two or three of salt.

Eastern Conference:

1. Carolina Hurricanes: From top to bottom, the most balanced team in the NHL. Their forwards check with a reckless abandon and their defense, while lacking the pizazz of an Adam Fox or Cale Makar, has allowed the second fewest goals in the league. Imagine having to win four out of seven games in a playoff series against this team. I pity whoever draws the short straw in the wild card race.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning: They lost their entire third line during the offseason and didn't miss a beat. Credit GM Julien BrisBois for retooling on the fly. No one navigates the salary cap better. They can skate and they can check, and they have the number one goalie in all of hockey. It wouldn't shock me one bit if they won it all again.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins: Despite losing four straight going into the all-star break, they've been one of the most consistent teams this season, and they've managed to do it with Sidney Crosby missing a dozen games and Evgeni Malkin missing more than 30. Coach Mike Sullivan deserves a lot of credit. Don't sleep on them.

4. Florida Panthers: A world-class offense reminiscent of the great Edmonton Oilers teams of the '80s, and yet for all their prowess with the puck, they can be sloppy in their own end, which could bite them in the postseason. They remind me of the '92 Rangers: loaded up front, but soft.

5. New York Rangers: They have four of the top twenty scorers in the league, their special teams have been in the top ten all season long, and goalie Igor Shesterkin has stolen at least a half dozen games for them. Still, their 5v5 play ranks near the bottom, and unless it's addressed via a trade, it could undermine their playoff prospects.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs: Their regular season successes have been consistently met by epic collapses in the postseason. On paper, they look like world beaters, but until they prove they can win when it counts, I will remain a skeptic.

7. Washington Capitals: Ever since they won the Cup in 2018, they've consistently underperformed in the playoffs. And I've seen nothing this season that makes me believe a repeat performance isn't in the offing. They're showing their age and their goaltending is suspect.

8. Boston Bruins: They've been looking for a number two center ever since David Krejci retired, going so far as to put a winger between Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak. And now that Tuukka Rask has called it a career, it's hard to see this team making a serious run in the postseason.

Western Conference:

1. Colorado Avalanche: Watching this team play is like watching a tsunami come ashore. Just when you're done with the first wave, the second wave hits you. How dangerous are they? Their best forward, Nazem Kadri, happens to be their number two center. With Cale Makar having a Norris trophy-type season, they might be unstoppable in the playoffs.

2. Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel is expected to make his season debut in a couple of weeks. The rest of their forward contingent is the perfect blend of skill and grit. They have the goaltending and the depth to make a deep run in the postseason. The only thing standing in their way might be the Avs.

3. Calgary Flames: Jacob Markstrom leads the NHL with eight shutouts, and their coach, Darryl Sutter, has twice before piloted a team to a Stanley Cup championship. It's worth noting that both times the LA Kings won, they were not the best team in the league. Food for thought.

4. Minnesota Wild: I'll be honest, I totally missed this team. The third best offense in the conference and a very stingy defense makes them a dangerous opponent in the playoffs. And I have a soft spot for Mats Zuccarello. The ex-Ranger is having a career year and I'd like to see him hoist the Cup.

5. Nashville Predators: They have the comeback player of the year in Matt Duchene and an all-star goalie in Juuse Saros. I'm not sure they have enough depth to go far in the postseason but their hard-nosed style of play will be difficult for opponents to overcome.

6. St. Louis Blues: Three years removed from a Stanley Cup, this team has been quietly flying under the radar. They've retooled and they could shock someone.

7. Los Angeles Kings: Talk about rebuilds. The Kings weren't supposed to be competing for a playoff spot. Yet, here they are. Jonathan Quick is still solid in net and Anze Kopitar, at 34, is the leading scorer. They'll probably exit early but this is a team moving in the right direction.

8. Edmonton Oilers: As of this writing, the Oilers are 5th in the Pacific Division, six points out of a playoff spot. It's unfathomable that a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl could miss the postseason, and that's why I'm predicting that won't happen. Somehow, someway, this team will find a way to sneak in. But poor goaltending and a lack of grit will prove to be their undoing. 

Cup finals: Colorado Avalanche over the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-3.

When It Comes to Trades It Takes Two to Tango

Even though the NHL trade deadline is still more than a month away, rumors are circulating about who might be on the move and where. On Twitter, Rangers fans are finalizing their post-Christmas shopping lists and, as is typical for them, coming up with some creative suggestions.

Of course, the problem with making a trade is that it invariably hinges on two things: 1. Who you're competing against; and 2. How willing both sides are to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Regarding the former, it's obvious the Rangers aren't the only team looking to improve their playoff prospects by adding one or more players. The Bruins have been looking for a second-line center ever since David Krejci retired; the Panthers are in need of someone, anyone, capable of playing defense; and the Avalanche could use a goaltender. You can bet they, and a few other teams, will be burning up the phone lines between now and March 21 in an attempt to address those needs.

Regarding the latter, contrary to what the Twitterverse says, it's rare that one team gets the better of another. For a trade to be consummated, both teams have to be realistic about their demands. Remember the Jack Eichel standoff? The Sabres were adamant that they weren't going to part with the all-star center unless they received the proverbial king's ransom in return. In the end, what they got from the Golden Knights was a second-line winger, a future center, a first-round pick in 2022 and a third-round pick in 2023. Not a bad haul, but hardly what I would call a king's ransom.

The bottom line is, fans don't make trades, GMs do. And that's why, if I'm a Rangers fan, I wouldn't get my hopes up about Chris Drury going trade happy at or before the deadline. Yes, per Capfriendly, the Blueshirts will have a shit-load of cap space with which to add players at the trade deadline; more than any other team that's out there. And, yes, it's better to have more cap space than less, even if it's only temporary. But having cap space is one thing; being able to utilize it is another.

In the end, any moves Drury makes will come down to who he's willing to give up and, more importantly, who he's not willing to give up. If he can find a reasonable trade partner to deal with, he'll pull the trigger; if he can't, the Rangers will go into the playoffs as is. 

With that in mind, I thought I'd conjure up a few of the more realistic trades that Drury could make that would improve his team's chances come May. I'm not saying these are done deals, just doable.

From the Vegas Golden Knights: Reilly Smith for a second-round pick in 2022 and Vitali Kravtsov. The Golden Knights need to clear about $5 mill in cap space and the Rangers need help at right wing. Smith is a UFA after the season, so he'd be a pure rental. He's played for Gerard Gallant before and he's familiar with his system. A win-win for both sides. You hate giving up a kid like Kravtsov with so much potential, but after what happened at the start of the season, some fences can't be mended. 

From the Arizona Coyotes: Phil Kessel for a second-round pick in 2022. Like Smith, he'd be a rental, except he'd be a lot cheaper to acquire. I'll be honest, Kessel wouldn't be my first choice but he's been on two Stanley Cup championship teams in Pittsburgh and his playoff experience will prove invaluable. Plus, he beats the hell out of Dryden Hunt at right wing. As for the talk of Jakob Chychrun, forget it. At $4.6m over the next three years, he's way too expensive for a team that has several, more pressing needs.

From the Seattle Kraken: Mark Giordano for a second and third-round pick in 2022, a third rounder in '23 and Patrik Nemeth. Ron Francis agrees to take Nemeth's $2.5m contract off Drury's hands for the next two seasons in exchange for some badly-needed draft capital, and the Rangers add an experienced defenseman to solidify their third pairing.

From the Vancouver Canucks: J.T. Miller for Filip Chytil, Nils Lundkvist and 2022's first rounder. As I wrote in an earlier piece, the only way Drury goes after Miller is if he feels he can't re-sign Ryan Strome. Miller has one more year remaining on his contract at a very team-friendly $5.25m, so acquiring him won't hamstring the organization in their efforts to extend Kaapo Kakko in the offseason. Of all the potential trades, this one might be the most difficult to pull off because the Canucks will likely want Braden Schneider instead of Lundkvist, and according to Larry Brooks of The New York Post, Drury has labeled him untouchable.

From the Winnipeg Jets: Mark Scheifele for Chytil, Lundkvist, and a first and second rounder in 2022. His name has surfaced recently. He's signed thru the '24 season, but at $6.125m, he might be a little too expensive for an organization that has several players it will have to sign to extensions over the next couple of years. Like Miller, if Drury goes this route, it means Strome is gone after the season.

From the Dallas Stars: Joe Pavelski for a first and second round pick in 2022, Chytil, Kravtsov and Lundkvist. This will be an expensive acquisition, but as rentals go, it doesn't get any better than Pavelski, who at 37, is leading his team in scoring. I'm not even sure this haul will be enough to land him, that's how valuable he is. One potential roadblock: Dallas is still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, so they may not want to trade him, even for a "king's ransom."

From the Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux for a first-round pick in 2022 and Chytil. Chuck Fletcher still believes the Flyers can make a push in the second half, so he might not shop Giroux. But let's say he's willing to part with him, the Bruins might come to the table with a better package. Charlie Coyle and a number one would definitely be better than the Rangers offer, and unless Drury wants to get into a bidding war, the asking price might be too steep. Still, Giroux would be a great addition for the Rangers at center, and as a rental wouldn't upset the apple cart.

Of all the potential trades I listed above, the two I think are the most likely to come to fruition are Smith and / or Kessel. The Rangers need help at right wing and both these players represent considerable improvements over what they have. Since they'd be rentals, Gallant can keep Alexis Lafreniere on the third line with Chytil and either Kakko or Barclay Goodrow. And if they land both, Gallant can slot Goodrow on the fourth line with Kevin Rooney and Ryan Reaves. I also think it's possible they get Giordano, though that begs the question, what does Drury do with Nemeth if Francis balks at taking him in a deal?

I still think at the end of the day, Drury would prefer to re-sign Strome, but if he can't, Miller remains a viable option over Scheifele. As for Pavelski, I predict Dallas will hold onto him, the Bruins will end up with Giroux, and the Avs will acquire Marc-Andre Fleury from the Blackhawks, making them the odds-on favorite to win the Cup.

In my next piece, I'll rate what I think are the top eight teams in each conference.

Imagine What Might've Been

Beginning in 2019, the NBA decided to use a weighted lottery system to determine which team had the privilege of going first in the draft. The decision couldn't have come at a worse time for the New York Knicks, who had the league's worst record at 17-65 and were looking forward to drafting Duke power forward Zion Williamson with the number one pick. Thanks to the bean counters in the league offices, they now had no better than a 14 percent chance of landing him.

Well as fate would have it, the New Orleans Pelicans, the team with the 7th worst record, wound up winning the rights to Williamson; the Knicks got the third pick, which they used to pick Williamson's teammate, RJ Barrett.

At the time, Barrett was considered a solid choice for a rebuilding Knicks team that was desperately looking to turn the page from yet another disastrous front office administration. But while Barrett has been a good, if unspectacular, player for New York, it was the second overall pick, which belonged to the Memphis Grizzlies, that has garnered the majority of headlines over the last three seasons.

Ja Morant is generally acknowledged to be an elite point guard and one of the most exciting players in the NBA. And in a league that rewards its stars the way kids are rewarded with ice cream for cleaning their rooms, Morant has his team solidly in 3rd place in the Western Conference, while the Knicks are mired in 12th in the East. 

Imagine what might've been. Imagine if the Knicks, instead of picking third, went second. Imagine Ja Morant wearing the blue and orange in the most famous arena in the world. Imagine what coach Tom Thibodeau could do with a budding star like Morant in his back court. The Knicks would be a contender instead of a sub-500 team that, with a bunch of middling players last year, over achieved and were ousted in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.

It is axiomatic that in today's NBA, teams that do not have elite-level talent simply don't succeed. Take a look at the standings. Without exception, each team at or near the top has at least one player that can carry his team. The Sixers have Joel Embiid; the Nets have Kevin Durant; the Warriors have Steph Curry; the Suns have Chris Paul.

Unlike the NHL, which for some reason rewards its less talented teams by allowing them to neutralize the advantage superior talented teams have once the postseason begins, in the NBA, the cream always rises to the top. If the Knicks shot pucks instead of hoops, they'd be the Islanders. Hard as it is to believe, last year, the boys from Uniondale were five wins away from a Stanley Cup championship, and they didn't have a single scorer in the top 40. Go figure.

But, alas, the Knicks shoot hoops, and as it turns out, not very well. As a basketball team, they're not bad; they're just not all that good, especially against the top teams in the league. Julius Randle, last year's most improved player, tries hard every night. He just isn't a star; nor is Barrett, or anyone else on this team.

After last year's early exit, you'd think that Leon Rose would've spent the offseason moving heaven and earth to acquire a star that could've transformed this franchise into a bonafide contender. Someone like, say Damian Lillard, the Portland Trailblazer point guard who, while not quite on Morant's level, is considerably better than either Kemba Walker or Evan Fournier, both of whom played for the Boston Celtics last year. While the Celtics are currently five games over .500, the Knicks are five under. You can't tell me that for the right package, Rose couldn't have landed Lillard. You can't.

And now, with the trade deadline a few days away, it's time for Rose to think big picture. Having a team full of sixth-men just isn't going to hack it. You don't get an E for effort in the NBA; what you get is a big fat L. Case in point, the game against the Lakers the other night. Despite jumping out to a twenty point lead in the first half, the Knicks had no answer for LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the third quarter. They eventually lost in overtime.

That's been the story of this team all season long. Game in and game out, early leads dissipate once the other teams stars take charge. In the end, all the perspiration in the world can't overcome the dearth in talent. I don't care how good your coach is - and Thibodeau is one of the game's best - he can't shoot, or pass, or rebound. Athleticism, or a lack thereof, is the ultimate determining factor.

I've been a Knicks fan since the 1970s. I remember, fondly, the '73 team that had the likes of Walt, Clyde Frazier, Dave DeBusschere and Earl, the Pearl, Monroe. Under the guidance of coach Red Holzman, they won the NBA championship that season. That would be the last title this franchise would win. In all the years since, they've been to the finals twice: '94 and '99, with no cigar.

Great players come and go, most of them wearing the opposition's uniform. In the '80s, it was Bird and Magic; in the '90s, it was Jordan and Shaq. Like the Four Tops used to sing, it's the same old song. The only thing that changes is the date on the calendar.

The NFL's Minority Problem

The accusations made by Brian Flores in his class-action lawsuit against the NFL, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos have shaken the sports world, and if they are proven true, will have profound repercussions throughout the league.

Here are the allegations that are contained in the lawsuit:

In 2019, the Denver Broncos kept Flores waiting several hours to interview for their head-coaching vacancy, and when team officials finally did show up, they looked disheveled and hung over from the previous night. At the time, Flores was an assistant with the New England Patriots. The job eventually went to Vic Fangio, a white man.

In 2019, while head coach of the Miami Dolphins, owner Stephen Ross approached Flores and offered him $100,000 per game to tank the season so that the team could land the overall number pick in the NFL draft the following year.

In January of this year, the New York Giants invited Flores to interview for their head-coaching vacancy. However, in a text exchange with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, which was intended for then Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, but was mistakenly sent to Flores, Belichick congratulates Daboll for landing the job three whole days before Flores's interview. To say Flores was humiliated would be an understatement.

Look, I realize that these are just allegations; we still have no way of knowing whether they're true. But here's what we do know:

Over the last twenty years, only two NFL head coaches have had consecutive winning seasons for the Miami Dolphins: Dave Wannstedt and Brian Flores. After getting off to a 1-7 start, the Dolphins went 8-1 the rest of the way, finishing 9-8. Yet Flores was let go after only his third season.

News of the termination was met with surprise and skepticism by most people covering the league. By all accounts, Flores was considered a good head coach who had done a more than competent job with a team coming out of a rebuild. Given that the Dolphins play in the same division as the Patriots and the Bills, a 9-8 record isn't all that bad.

When the Rooney Rule was instituted in 2003, there were three Black head coaches in the league. With the firing of Flores, there is now only one Black head coach: Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the conclusion of the regular season, nine head-coaching vacancies opened up; four have already been filled. Not a single one by an African American, though technically Flores is still a finalist for the Houston Texans vacancy. Who knows what will happen now that this suit has been filed. 

It is inconceivable with such qualified assistant coaches as Eric Bieniemy in Kansas City that not a single one has been hired as a head coach. Indeed, Bieniemy never even received the courtesy of an interview this off season. The question begs, why?

Initially, I thought John Mara and Steve Tisch were going to hire former Chiefs' Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles as their next GM, and Poles would then hire Bieniemy as his head coach. It would've been a win-win for a beleaguered organization: two eminently qualified African Americans charged with restoring the Giants to their glory days. What a headline that would've made.

Instead, another headline has dominated the sports pages of the New York metro area.

Just to be clear, Mara and Tisch are well within their rights to hire anyone they feel is best qualified to lead their franchise. Nothing in the Rooney Rule compels a team to hire a minority coach; only to interview them. And to be sure, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are considerable improvements over the previous regime of Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge. But the revelation that they went through a pro forma interview simply to check a box is an indictment for an organization that has had more than its fair share of missteps over the last decade.

Regarding the bribery charge, it is certainly no revelation that the way in which the NFL conducts its draft incentivizes teams to deliberately lose games in order to get a better seeding. That is precisely why both the NBA and NHL conduct draft lotteries: to ensure that their teams aren't tempted to tank games for personal gain. Regardless of what the investigation into Ross reveals - and if in fact the allegation against him is proven to be true, he should be permanently banned from the league - it would behoove the NFL to amend its draft procedures to conform with the above-mentioned leagues.

Speaking of things the NFL should amend, it is time to revisit the Rooney Rule. Clearly it isn't working. All it has done is given teams an off ramp when it comes to hiring Black coaches. It is time the league tried a new approach; something along the lines of dangling supplemental draft picks for hiring men of color for assistant coaches and head coaches. The former would get a second round pick; the latter a first rounder. It sure as shit beats what's in place now. 

If the NFL really wanted to fundamentally change how it does business, it could incentivize its owners to sell off parts of their teams to minority owners. Two supplemental first round picks for a 25 percent share; three first rounders for 40 percent. What good is having a seat at the table if you don't own the table?

The bottom line is this: Brian Flores has taken a huge risk here by launching this lawsuit. In all likelihood, he has permanently imperiled any chance he has of ever becoming a head coach in the NFL. The league has a long memory; just ask Colin Kaepernick. I'm sure Flores knew that going in. All the more reason to take him and these allegations seriously.

As for the parties involved in the suit, including my own Giants: They have some 'splainin' to do, that's for sure.