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.
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