It’s our last week of the regular season. Come Friday, all teams will have completed their 82 regular season games and we will officially begin our transition into the postseason. All but one of the playoff spots has been clinched and it looks like that last spot is going to come right down to the wire. Once the playoffs start, it’s anybody’s game. Let’s take a look at how the teams battled last week, and how they rank heading into this last week of the regular season.
32. San Jose Sharks (Previous week: Unchanged)
Don’t expect to see the Sharks moving position before the end of their year. They have to have points in their last two games to even make it to fifty points on the year. You can’t have a team in a much sorrier state than the Sharks are in right now. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way the game goes sometimes.
31. Anaheim Ducks (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Ducks lost out on getting to see much play time from Cutter Gauthier, but that’s okay. He’ll be around next season hopefully. If they can win the draft lottery this year and add a number one pick to their prospect pool, they’ll be in decent shape heading into the next season. The youth and talent is there, it’s just about developing and playing the game at this point.
30. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous rank: Unchanged)
Unlike the last two teams, the Hawks didn’t seem content just sitting back and banking on a draft lottery again this season. They seemed to want to test themselves and see what they can bring to the table next year. That’s fairly respectable given the season they’ve had. Their focus should be building a core around Connor Bedard that will actually help him out as opposed to just give him the puck and hope for the best.
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29. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Jackets could win the draft lottery and I don’t think even that will have much help. There’s a long road of darkness ahead of them and it starts with finally finding a GM that’s going to help navigate them out of this. I don’t envy that GM though. He has a heck of a mess to deal with and a lot of futures to decide, including but not limited to Johnny Gaudreau and Patrick Laine.
28. Montreal Canadiens (Previous rank: Unchanged)
I’ve said it multiple times this season already, but it still rings true. The Habs have such a bright prospect pool they just need a core that can really bring it all together. Nick Suzuki is cool and all, but he’s not that level of talent that’s going to elevate this team to the next level. I’ll be watching Montreal’s offseason very closely to see what direction they choose to go in.
27. Arizona Coyotes (Previous rank: Unchanged)
This season seemed like it was going to finally bring brighter days in Arizona. Then the long losing streak happened, and they missed out on the playoffs. But they might still get a new arena right? Except that the governor doesn’t want them to build a new arena and the NHL might strike a deal to move the Coyotes to Utah before the team even gets a chance to bid on the land they were looking at. The good news is they’ll finally be rid of that awful ownership that has run this franchise into the ground.
26. Ottawa Senators (Previous rank: 25)
The Sens are finishing strong once again but this time it won’t be enough to erase the sour taste, they’ve left in everyone’s mouth. They promised so much this season and delivered on absolutely nothing. It’s hard to have any excitement moving forward for this team after the disappointments they’ve caused this season.
25. Calgary Flames (Previous rank: 26)
The Flames tore everything down in order to build a prospect pool, however they somehow played too well to be in the running for the draft lottery. Oh well. They still have some things to be excited about and if they play their cards right this hopefully won’t be too long of a rebuild for them.
24. Buffalo Sabres (Previous rank: Unchanged)
It’ll be interesting to see if the Sabres can do anything different with a roster that stays healthy. But injuries aside a lot of their top guys still underperformed. Is it ever really going to come together for the Sabres, or is it all doomed to fall apart once again? It’s tough to say at this point in time.
23. Seattle Kraken (Previous rank: Unchanged)
There were moments of brilliance, but all in all the Kraken failed to capture the magic they had from last season. Be it their offense mysteriously disappearing or just the fact that they don’t have the talent to match up with the elite teams, the Kraken simply fell short.
22. New Jersey Devils (Previous rank: Unchanged)
What a train wreck of a season for the Devils. You better believe it’s going to come with one heck of a fallout too. If they can’t find a permanent solution for their goaltending, not a whole lot is going to change next season. It’s a shame. It feels like a wasted season with the amount of talent that’s on this team. Hopefully they can pull it together.
21. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous rank: 19)
It’s officially the worst-case scenario for the Flyers. They have completely imploded and now their playoff hopes rest in the hands of other teams. They need to beat the Capitals, and then hope Washington, Detroit, and Pittsburgh lose out. That’s a tall order and leaves a lot up to fate. For a team in the midst of a rebuild, having a season like this and not making the playoffs could stall them quite a bit.
20. Detroit Red Wings (Previous rank: 21)
Similar to the Flyers, the Red Wings iffy play this last quarter of the season has left their fate up to other teams. Unlike the Flyers, they still have two games left in hand. That gives them an edge over Philly, but not over Pittsburgh or Washington. If the Wings don’t get fate in their favor, we could very well see this playoff drought continue.
19. St Louis Blues (Previous rank: 20)
With every playoff spot in the Western Conference clinched, St Louis is officially out of the race. They put up a better fight than anyone could’ve expected, but in the end this result is probably for the best. This team is not a contender. It needs a lot of work. And making the postseason could’ve entirely put that on hold. Hang in there, St Louis; it’ll get better.
18. Minnesota Wild (Previous rank: Unchanged)
Like the Blues, the Wild are officially out of the postseason race as well. They had moments where they looked like they could pull it back, but the writing was on the wall. This team didn’t have what it takes. Their salary cap situation makes it near impossible to make any real changes in the offseason, but the good news is they’re reaching the end of their buyouts of Parise and Coyle.
17. Washington Capitals (Previous rank: Unchanged)
It looked like the Caps had found their drive at the very right time, but while Ovechkin has kept producing, the rest of the team seems to have run out of steam again. The good news is they currently hold the final wild card spot and have the tiebreaker and a game in hand on Philly. The bad news? They most likely have to win both of their next games if they want any chance of keeping that spot.
16. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous rank: 15)
I don’t think anyone expected Pittsburgh to be here. Despite everything this season, they are one point out of a playoff spot with two games left to play. Crosby is the man to thank. His play all season has kept Pittsburgh afloat when they otherwise would have drowned. He has nearly single-handedly saved the Penguins’ season. Who would’ve thought?
15. New York Islanders (Previous rank: 16)
Someone, please tell the Islanders to decide if they’re a good team or a bad team. This back-and-forth is giving me a headache. The last couple of weeks have been great for the Islanders. A six-game winning streak (ended by the Rangers) has them well in control of their own fate as they sit in third place in the Metro division. All they need is one more win and they clinch the spot.
14. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous rank: 13)
Vegas accidentally slipped up and lost three straight. They’re okay, though. There’s no danger in them missing the playoffs, it’s just a matter of who they will play. Right now, they sit a point behind LA for that third-place spot. And conveniently, Mark Stone has once again been cleared to play right before the postseason. Right now, it’s a case of pick your poison, guys. Would you rather play Edmonton or Vancouver/Dallas?
13. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previous rank: 14)
Yet another postseason clinched for the Bolts. With Nikita Kucherov sitting just two assists away from 100, this team has shown that its top guys are still among the best in the league. Vasilevsky regaining that classic form has been a big help as well down the stretch. However, do they have it in them to make another big run?
12. Los Angeles Kings (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Kings might want to consider losing their last two games just to have a chance to play Vancouver in the first round. Or at least hope Edmonton can pass them up for the division lead. LA has a lot of momentum heading into the postseason, but I don’t think anyone wants them to play the Oilers in the first round for the third year in a row. The Oilers still seem to have LA’s number this year, so I’m sure it’s not the ideal matchup the Kings want.
11. Nashville Predators (Previous rank: 10)
The Preds are proof of how stacked the top of the Central Division is. Despite being on the verge of a 100 point season, the Preds do not have a top three spot in the division, and with only one game left to play they are guaranteed to be a wild card. They’ll be playing either Dallas, who has clinched the Central, or Vancouver/Edmonton, if the Oilers can somehow pass Vancouver by.
10. Winnipeg Jets (Previous rank: 11)
At one point it looked like the Jets might be able to win the Central. While they were unable to hold onto that, they still secured a top three spot. Fortunately, with that top three spot comes a first round matchup against Colorado, a team they’ve fared well against this season. Winnipeg even starched them 7-0 this last week. Anything can happen once the postseason starts though.
9. Edmonton Oilers (Previous rank: 7)
Man, this is an entirely different team without Connor McDavid. With their captain gone to injury, a lot of the Oilers shortcomings suddenly become more apparent. Especially the fact that for another year, they didn’t do anything to bolster their blue line. I wouldn’t count them out though. Shortcomings or not, the talent on this team is enough to give anyone a run for their money.
8. Colorado Avalanche (Previous rank: 3)
What an awful fall from grace for what was one of the hotter teams in the league. Colorado has lost more than won this last week, including getting whooped 7-0 by their first round opponent the Jets. The race now is to decide who gets home ice advantage in that first series, as Colorado currently sits one point behind Winnipeg. Can they get their feet back under them before the postseason, or is it another first round exit incoming?
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous rank: 9)
Is this the year? Will the Leafs finally do something? Will anyone be able to deny Auston Matthews, who is only one goal away from 70 this year? It’s tough to say, as playoff Leafs are usually a different team than regular season Leafs. There’s a weird aura in the air around this team though.
6. New York Rangers (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Rangers are in the prime spot to win the President’s Trophy, but be that as it may, it doesn’t feel like they’re the best team in the league. They’re very good, but it just feels like something’s missing with this team. When I watch them play, they don’t look like a dominant force that the standings would have you believe they are. Maybe I’m just being skeptical.
5. Vancouver Canucks (Previous rank: 8)
The Canucks seem to have found some of their mojo again, and unless they completely fall apart, the division is as good as theirs. I don’t know if I can trust them in the playoffs though, especially if they match someone like the Kings, who have been their kryptonite this year. The good news is, Thatcher Demko has been cleared to play and will return Thursday. That’s huge for the Canucks.
4. Florida Panthers (Previous rank: 5)
The Panthers have gotten their feet back under them and are full systems go into the postseason. They have one game left and whether or not they win the Atlantic is entirely dependent on the Bruins at this point in time. I have no doubt this will be a team to watch in the playoffs though. They more or less have the same roster they did when they made it to the Final last season, now they appear to be more refined.
3. Boston Bruins (Previous rank: 4)
The only reason the Bruins are ahead of the Panthers right now is because they’re ahead of the Panthers in the actual standings by one point. Both teams have played some pretty good hockey right now. The Bruins have two games left as opposed to the Panthers’ one, so their destiny is entirely in their hands. Just one win and they clinch the Atlantic.
2. Dallas Stars (Previous rank: 1)
It seems anytime I rank a team in first place they tend to falter. While they did lose two in a row, one of which was to the Blackhawks, they appear to have not slowed down at all. In fact they got right back on their bike. They’ve clinched the Central Division title, and they’re in the President’s Trophy race though I can’t tell you with confidence that they’ll win it.
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous rank: 2)
If you had told me at the All-Star break that the Hurricanes would be one point away from the President’s Trophy I would not have believed you. This team has entirely flipped their season around and are reaching the potential we thought they had before the season started. They’re all in this season. They want to win, and that fire to win is brighter than it’s been in years.
