Whoo boy, what a week. Never mind the awesome games we got this week; we also got a blockbuster trade that shook up the NHL world. It set the precedent for the second half of the season and most likely set up one heck of a trade deadline.
It’ll be fun to see what changes come within the teams involved in the trade and the impact it has on the rest of the league. Without further ado, let’s get into the week sixteen NHL rankings.
Who are the top teams in the NHL power rankings after week 16?
32. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous rank: Unchanged)
I was considering moving the Hawks up a spot this week, but honestly, I decided it was best not to, considering it looks like they’re blowing up their roster once again. Chicago was one of the three teams involved in the blockbuster trade this week, and they’re definitely the team that got the short end of the stick. While Carolina got Taylor Hall and Mikko Rantanen, Colorado got Martin Necas and Jack Drury, Chicago got a single third-round draft pick. That’s it. Not even a first-rounder. And they retained half of Rantanen’s salary. What a ridiculously bad deal for Chicago.
31. San Jose Sharks (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Sharks get to remain above the Hawks this week simply because, at this moment in time, it looks like they at least have a semblance of an idea of where they want to go from here. They could still end up tearing it all down and starting from scratch again, but at least for now, it looks like they have a base to build on. That’s really the only thing saving them from the bottom of the rankings this week, considering they’ve lost six in a row.
30. Buffalo Sabres (Previous rank: 29)
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What is there really even to say about Buffalo anymore? They had one moment of hope this season and then went right back to disappointing everybody. They’re well out of the NHL playoff race and really only a couple of losses away from being at the bottom of the league. They most likely need to blow it up and start from scratch once again, but are their fans really ready to sit through another few years of rebuilding?
29. Anaheim Ducks (Previous rank: 30)
I think it’s safe to say that out of the basement teams we’ve mentioned so far, Anaheim might be the closest to getting out. It could still take a while, but I look at Anaheim, and I see the potential there. The young core is there for them to rally around, and if they continue getting good goaltending, then it’s only a matter of time until they find their way out. They desperately need someone to spark their dead offense, though.
28. Seattle Kraken (Previous rank: Unchanged)
Seattle has managed to get some wins recently, but it hasn’t done much for their NHL standing. Honestly, it’s unlikely that anything they do will truly be able to salvage this season unless they do something crazy. They’ve dug their own grave at this point, and it’s hard to see what success this team will have going forward. They may just have to restart at this point and bring in some actual names rather than just hoping for depth to save them.
27. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous rank: 24)
It seems like every week, I’m saying the same things about Pittsburgh. “Oh, they’re dead in the water,” to “Oh, maybe they still have some life left!” In reality, there’s not really anything to say about the Penguins. They’re hanging by a thread to try and stay relevant, and honestly, all they’ve done is just make their downfall slower and more painful. Not even Sid the Kid can save this sinking ship. The question is whether he decides the team deserves his loyalty and stays until the end of his career or if he goes to a different team for a chance to win one more cup.
26. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous rank: Unchanged)
Despite being in similar spots in the rankings, Philly and Pittsburgh are on two totally different paths. While Pittsburgh clings desperately to its relevance, Philly realized a few years ago that it was time for a change and blew it up. Fast forward to this season, and they’re slowly but surely reaping what they’ve sown. They’re probably going to miss the NHL playoffs this year, but if they can get some solid goaltending and keep developing their young guys, there’s a bright future in store.
25. Nashville Predators (Previous rank: 27)
This is the most success we’ve seen from the Preds all season long. They’re 7-3-0 in their last ten, and they actually look somewhat like the team that we’ve gotten used to. That being said, it’s probably still too little too late, and no matter what happens this season, their time in the sun is still most likely done. They spent a lot of money in the offseason and probably don’t have much room to make the roster moves they need to make.
24. Utah Hockey Club (Previous rank: 23)
Utah is hovering around .500 now, and honestly, that’s probably the truest representation of this team. They’re not bad enough to be in the basement, but they’re certainly not good enough to be considered a playoff contender. There’s no reason to give up hope, though. If they can find a couple more pieces, they might be able to get to the next level here very soon.
23. New York Islanders (Previous rank: 24)
The Islanders have managed to string some wins together, but it’s likely to not last. They’ll take the success they can get, however. Anything to help them pretend that they can still compete and don’t have to change everything about themselves. They’re going to be in for a rude awakening, though, especially if they can’t find a way to score goals and keep up with the younger, faster NHL teams.
22. St Louis Blues (Previous rank: 21)
It’s the same old story for the Blues. Doing enough to stay in the bubble but not doing enough to be a contender. They’ll probably finish a few points out of a playoff spot and go home with the attitude of “Oh well, we’ll get ‘em next year.” In reality, they probably will not “get ‘em next year” or any subsequent year. It’s hard to see St Louis ever “getting ‘em” again without some serious changes to this roster.
21. Detroit Red Wings (Previous rank: 22)
Detroit has managed to keep themselves in the playoff race the last couple of weeks, but that’s about all they’ve been doing. It’s still hard to have any sort of faith in this team, as they’ve consistently shown themselves to be shaky and unreliable. Even if they somehow miraculously find a way to make the playoffs, their glaring flaws are going to get them eaten alive.
20. Vancouver Canucks (Previous rank: 18)
One minute, it looked like J.T. Miller was as good as traded, then the next, it looked like Vancouver had moved onto Elias Pettersson as their main candidate. Well… one of the Elias Pettersson’s. They need to make waves somehow, and fortunately for them, they can afford to move one big piece to make this team better. That being said, unless Thatcher Demko finds his form soon, it’s hard to see this team going very much further.
19. Calgary Flames (Previous rank: 17)
The Flames probably overperformed for a lot of this NHL season, and it’s starting to show that they simply don’t have the roster or weapons to keep up with the rest of the playoff teams. Despite that, they’re holding down the second wild card spot because Vancouver can’t get it together. Crazy how things have worked out for them. Honestly, as long as Dustin Wolf keeps playing the way he is, the Flames will always have a chance to win games.
18. Boston Bruins (Previous rank: 20)
The Bruins have kept their season afloat by gathering enough points to stay in the race. They’re really not that far from dropping out of a playoff spot, though, and that’s a scary thought for this team and its fans. They’ve coasted for years off of fantastic regular seasons, so if they fail to even make the playoffs this year, then they’ve got a rough ride in store for them in the future.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous rank: 16)
The Jackets are still competing, and man, that is a really good feeling. They’re only one point out of a wild card spot right now, and with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten, they’re in a much better position than the Lightning and Bruins. They’re not just beating bad teams either, and they’re getting points against legitimate NHL playoff contenders like the Kings. This is something I didn’t see coming from this team, but man, has it been a pleasant surprise.
16. New York Rangers (Previous rank: 19)
It seems the Rangers have refound their form again for the time being. The question now becomes if they have what it takes to pull themselves out of the hole that they’ve dug. They’re currently three points out of a playoff spot, and with a 6-1-3 record in their last ten, it’s certainly not impossible for them, especially if they keep getting points the way they have been. It’s more than likely they will be looking to add some pieces at the deadline as well.
15. Montreal Canadiens (Previous rank: Unchanged)
Although they’ve slowed down a little bit, Montreal is still very much red-hot and charging forward. Nick Suzuki has led the way for this team as a captain should, and the team has very much rallied around him. Getting some help from surprise goalie Jakub Dobes has certainly helped as well. This is the kind of play we’ve wanted to see from Montreal for a while now, and hopefully, it’ll be a sign of better things to come.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previous rank: 12)
Tampa seems to have sputtered out again. With a record of 5-4-1 in their last ten, the Bolts are barely clinging onto that last wild card spot right now. Columbus, Montreal, and New York are all nipping at their heels, and their best chance to survive right now is probably to try and find a way to pass Boston and leave them for the wolves. Certainly not impossible with the season Boston has had so far, but Tampa certainly isn’t making things easier for themselves, either.
13. Ottawa Senators (Previous rank: 14)
It’s almost the end of January, and the Senators aren’t only in a playoff spot, but they’re also in the top three of their division. That is not something I expected to say this NHL season. They’re one of a few teams that have shocked me so far this year, and honestly, I can’t say I’m too upset about it. It’s nice to see the Sens making waves for once rather than just sputtering around and letting everybody down.
12. Colorado Avalanche (Previous rank: 11)
Mikko Rantanen is no longer a member of the Avalanche, and I am shocked, to say the least. Looking back on the trade, it definitely made more sense than I originally thought. Rantanen’s contract expires at the end of this season, and it was likely Colorado wouldn’t have the cap space to extend him with the money he’s worth. I’m sure it was a hard decision, but making a move to get something worthwhile out of him rather than just letting him leave for nothing will help this team in the long run. Colorado has made some good moves this year, and it will be interesting to see how Martin Necas and Jack Drury fit into this team.
11. Minnesota Wild (Previous rank: 9)
The Wild certainly didn’t have the easiest January. Karill Kaprisov missed most of the month, and they definitely felt that loss. What’s impressive about this team is that they showed resilience that I didn’t know they had. They stayed in the top two of the division, and now that Kaprisov is back, they’re back to full strength. It was an impressive navigating of adversity from a team that just a year ago we thought was on its way to the basement.
10. Florida Panthers (Previous rank: Unchanged)
It’s really just the same old story for Florida. They’re chugging along, doing what they need to get into the playoffs and get themselves the chance to defend their title. They’re a fun team to watch, as usual, although they don’t seem as dominant as they did the year prior. Who ever really does after winning the Cup?
9. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous rank: 8)
It’s the same feeling with Toronto that I had before. They’re obviously a good team, but it doesn’t feel like they have IT. There’s something missing. Some sort of spark. This team just doesn’t seem all that driven to do what they need to do. I hope I’m wrong and they managed to stave off yet another first-round exit, but I don’t know. It’s really hard to put any sort of faith into this NHL team.
8. New Jersey Devils (Previous rank: 7)
The Devils are personally one of my favorite teams to watch play. They’re a lot of fun. Do I think they’re ready to go all the way? No, not yet. That being said, I don’t think they’re far off either. They’re well on their way to being a true contender, something we haven’t seen from Jersey since their surprise Finals run back in 2012. Even that turned out to be a flash in the pan as they went on to miss the playoffs for the next few years.
7. Los Angeles Kings (Previous rank: 5)
No one can deny that the Kings are good. Their defense alone has proven that. The issue right now is they can’t seem to score goals. That’s a familiar issue for this team, though, and one they’ve navigated quite well in the past. I mean, if you rewind to 2012, they struggled with scoring all season long, barely made the NHL playoffs, and went on to win the Cup in dominant fashion. I’m not saying LA will win the cup this year, but they are good enough to navigate this bump and make something happen. Oh, and can we please start giving Kopitar some recognition?
6. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous rank: 13)
The Hurricanes were already starting to get hot, but this year, they decided not to wait until the deadline to start making moves. They are fed up with their lack of playoff success, and it’s clear they want a change. Will Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall bring that change? It’s hard to say, but they certainly won’t hurt it much. Hall has obviously struggled in Chicago, but it was Chicago. A lot of good players have struggled there recently. It’s very possible he could flourish in Carolina.
5. Winnipeg Jets (Previous rank: 6)
Who knows where this team would be without Connor Hellebuyck? Luckily, they won’t have to find out anytime soon, as he signed that massive extension last NHL season. He’s my favorite to win the Vezina again this year, and he’s been the reason Winnipeg has been able to navigate any rough patches that come their way this year. He will likely be the reason they have any playoff success this year, if they do have any.
4. Dallas Stars (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Stars have been a bit more up and down this year than they were in the last few seasons. Is it cause to be worried? I don’t really know, but I will say one thing. I will never count this team out with Jake Oettinger in between the pipes. The man has been nothing short of outstanding this season in every single game he’s in. If he can keep this form into the postseason, it’ll be hard to count Dallas out at all.
3. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous rank: 2)
I probably should’ve dropped Vegas down lower, considering they’re 3-6-1 in their last ten, but honestly, it still just feels like a bump in the road for them. However, they have let Edmonton close the gap on them and now only hold a one-point lead in the division. With the Oilers being as hot as they are, it’ll be a tough task for Vegas to hold onto that lead unless they get hot again. That’s definitely a reasonable ask for them, though.
2. Edmonton Oilers (Previous rank: 3)
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Oilers managed to find a way to dominate even after another rough start. This team is built to succeed in the NHL regular season. That being said, it’ll mean nothing if they can’t finally find a way to get past that last hurdle and bring McDavid a Cup. How long can they expect to keep him without finally bringing him that glory? It’s hard to say, but this year will say a lot.
1. Washington Capitals (Previous rank: Unchanged)
At this point, it’s not a question of whether or not Alex Ovechkin will break Gretzky’s goal record. It’s really just a matter of when. He’s less than 30 goals away, and it’s likely that he will either break it this year or the next. Amazing turn of events for Washington, considering last year it looked like Ovi was on his way out. This entire team looked like it was on its way to the basement. I can’t believe how they’ve turned it around.
