Peter Baugh (TheAthletic)
The NHL is a peculiar league. Bad teams beat good teams, good teams beat better teams, and sometimes the best teams just beat everybody.
In that sense, it's not easy to make a power rankings when something will immediately change the very next night. Despite that, many of my readers aren't quite able to keep up on every game going on in the hockey world. Understandable. So, I decided I would spark up a new series here on Sincere Sports.
Every two weeks, I will rank every team in the NHL based on how well they are performing.
Casual fans are most often interested in knowing which teams are good and which teams are bad. My hope is that these articles can summarize that.
With the intro out of the way, let's get onto the teams.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Points Percentage: .710
Glance at the week ahead: vs SEA, @ NSH, vs ARI, @ ARI, vs MIN
The Avs are undoubtedly the biggest threat to ending Tampa Bay's hopes of a three-peat once the playoffs start in May. They're averaging almost 0.50 goals per game more than the next closest team.
The defense needs tightening up and it would help if starting goalie Darcy Kuemper got back to his Arizona form. GM Joe Sakic must be all in this year, so it wouldn't surprise me if we saw him deal a prospect like Justin Barron or Alex Beaucage, who are both having decent seasons in the QMJHL this year, for a top-4 defensemen and/or forward for their bottom-6.
I wouldn't worry about them, though. In Colorado, there is now a debate whether Nathan MacKinnon is their best player. The fact that point is even worth talking about means they'll be fine.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Points Percentage: .758
Glance at the week ahead: @ PHI, vs CBJ, vs VAN
On a consistency basis, the Canes have been the best team in the NHL this season. Sebastian Aho has been an absolute star, their defense is typically stout, and Freddie Andersen is putting forth a Vezina-caliber season.
I'll openly admit that they probably deserve to be first on this list, but I trust Colorado's star power more than I do Carolina's. Andrei Svechnikov has still never had the 90-point season I am predicting from him and Jesperi Kotkaniemi has made much more of an impact on the Montreal Canadiens (psychologically) than he has on the Hurricanes.
If I were a betting man, I'd pick the Avalanche for the Cup right now, but there is no denying the brilliance of Carolina.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Points Percentage: .712
Glance at the week ahead: @ VGK, @ ARI, @ STL
Claus Andersen (Getty Images)
Leafs fans everywhere are frustrated that they can't get their hopes up. Why can't a fanbase that is cheering on a team that is 22-8-3 this season get their hopes up? Well, because they're the Leafs.
Despite having a dynamic group of forwards and a goalie in the form of his life, nobody will care until it pays off in the playoffs. Honestly, I can't blame them. As much as I want to be optimistic, the Leafs will likely have to face either Florida or Tampa Bay in the first round, both of whom are powerhouses of the league.
They will be tested soon, but with a deadly power play ranked first in the league, the Leafs should be able to establish themselves as legitimate contenders.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
Points Percentage: .689
Glance at the week ahead: @ BUF, vs VAN, vs DAL
I don't need to sell anybody on the Lightning. We all know how good they are. They're two-time defending Cup champs after all.
While Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy are all having brilliant individual seasons, Corey Perry has been an incredibly underrated addition. He's averaging half a point per game and adds a lot of grit in their bottom-6.
They finally have Nikita Kucherov back from injury, so expect their middling power play to rise back to the heights we expect of Tampa soon.
5. Florida Panthers
Points Percentage: .729Glance at the week ahead: vs VAN, vs DAL, vs CBJ
The Panthers are having a great season, second in the league via points percentage. They play fast, have a great offense, and possess the reigning Selke winner up the middle. So why am I bit lower on them than most? Mainly their ability to keep the puck out of the net.
Beyond Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar, they don't have too many effective defensive skaters on their blueline. After a hot start, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has cooled off. Backup goalie Spencer Knight hasn't hit the heights expected of him. Rookie coach Andrew Brunette must find the balance between filling the net and keeping it out
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
Michelle Veluvolu (Getty Images)
Points Percentage: .662
Glance at the week ahead: @ ANA, @ LAK, @ SJS, @ VGK
Every year, we doubt the Pittsburgh Penguins. Every year, they make us look stupid. Penguins management has an uncanny ability to identify the next breakout star every single season. After losing Jared McCann in the summer, the Pens have found Evan Rodrigues. The former Sabre has put up a career-high in points (30) already in 40 less games than his previous career-best season.
Though Pittsburgh's 10-game win streak came to halt against Dallas recently, this is a team that is prepared to make some noise. Tristan Jarry has been excellent in goal all season and Evgeni Malkin is set to return soon. Get excited, Pens fans.
7. St. Louis Blues
Points Percentage: .653
Glance at the week ahead: vs SEA, vs TOR, vs NSH
Did I expect to see the Blues this high on the list early in the year? No, not at all. However, I can't deny what a good job Craig Berube has done this season.
Since a blowout of the Minnesota Wild in the Winter Classic, St. Louis has been red-hot. Despite only averaging 16 minutes per game, Jordan Kyrou is fulfilling the potential we all knew he had. Vlad Tarasenko is finding the goal-scoring form that made him one of the game's premier snipers. Ville Husso and Jordan Binnington is proving to be a very good goaltending tandem (and Charlie Lindgren; remember him, Habs fans? He's currently 5-0-0 with a .958 SV%; in case this season wasn’t bad enough).
The Blues will be a very tough out in the postseason.
8. Vegas Golden Knights
Points Percentage: .618
Glance at the week ahead: vs TOR, vs PIT
The Knights have undoubtedly been getting a bit lucky with their results recently. Frankly, scoring the amount of equalizing goals with the net empty that they do is unsustainable at best. However, they still keep picking up points and I can't punish them for it.
Once Jack Eichel joins the team, Vegas becomes much more interesting. They'll have to ship a couple players out just to shed salary. Reilly Smith is an obvious candidate, but he's an original member of the organization and team chemistry could take a hit with his departure.
Vegas are a team to keep an eye out for in the next few weeks.
9. Washington Capitals
Rob Carr (Getty Images)
Points Percentage: .681
Glance at the week ahead: vs BOS, @ NYI
Despite Alex Ovechkin's historic season, the Capitals aren't putting up the record some might expect of them. Carl Hagelin's embarrassing own goal only overshadowed the minor problems looming for Washington. Their power play is better than only 4 teams in the league, all teams in my bottom 10.
Their depth scoring isn't showing up like it needs to be. Outside of John Carlson, their defense is underperforming. I'm expecting a potential slump for Washington, but for now they remain among the league's elite.
10. New York Rangers
Points Percentage: .694
Glance at the week ahead: @ LAK, @ SJS, @ PHI
The Rangers are the biggest reason why stats aren't everything in hockey. Their advanced analytics are unappealing; in terms of team expected goals percentage, they are near the middle of the league. Despite that, they keep winning.
Igor Shesterkin is keeping them in games every times he hits the ice. Chris Kreider is officially the best net-front goal-scorer in the NHL according to HockeyViz's goals above expected stat.
Let's see if the Rangers can keep it up. I also expect that they'll be big players at the trade deadline.
11. Minnesota Wild
Points Percentage: .667
Glance at the week ahead: vs ANA, @ COL
The Wild haven't been the most consistent team in the NHL this year. One of their most talented players, Kevin Fiala, has had a season that’s been the epitome of Minnesota’s so far. Unimaginable highs and some very low lows. After a cold patch due to Cam Talbot's poor play, a couple impressive wins recently against Boston and Washington have them just outside the top 10.
Due to the Parise and Suter buyouts, the Wild have an opportunity to trade some of their bigger prospects for rentals at the deadline. I'd expect that Matt Boldy, the US NTDP graduate, will be off-limits after scoring on his debut against Boston.
12. Nashville Predators
Frederick Breedon (Getty Images)
Points Percentage: .667
Glance at the week ahead: vs COL, vs BUF, @ BOS, vs STL
Maybe it's because he's been such a valuable pick in fantasy for me two years in a row, but Juuse Saros has caught my attention. He makes everything look fairly simple and is very composed in his net.
Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen are having great bounce-back seasons. Filip Forsberg has had a typically injury-hit season, but when he's been on the ice, he's been excellent. The D corps hasn't suffered as much as expected following the Ryan Ellis trade, largely thanks to the presence of Alexandre Carrier, the single most underrated rookie of the season. In terms of Game Score Value Added, he's second place among all rookies behind only Trevor Zegras.
The Preds are being led by a coach who used to be a joke in John Hynes. This year, he might legitimately win the Jack Adams award.
13. Boston Bruins
Points Percentage: .613
Glance at the week ahead: @ WSH, vs MTL, vs PHI, vs NSH
Boston are the opposite of the New York Rangers. Their advanced analytics are just ridiculous. They lead the league in xG and dominate play with a top-3 Corsi For percentage in the league. However, they simply aren't picking up results like you'd expect from them.
However, they should be a good bet for the playoffs. Tuukka Rask is coming back soon, David Pastrnak is due for one of his signature red-hot scoring runs very soon, and Charlie McAvoy is suddenly one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
Bruins fans shouldn't worry.
14. Calgary Flames
Points Percentage: .606
Glance at the week ahead: vs OTT
The Flames' COVID outbreak makes them a very tough team to grade. They have a very good goalie in Jacob Markstrom, a top-tier coach in Darryl Sutter and are getting valuable contributions from Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau.
However, as proven by a recent run against Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida, they are far from the league's elite. I still think they should get one of the Pacific Divison playoff spots.
Now if only they can get Sean Monahan's contract off the books...
15. Anaheim Ducks
Eric Stephens (TheAthletic)
Points Percentage: .592
Glance at the week ahead: vs PIT, @ MIN, @ CHI
Trevor Zegras is one of the most exciting players we've ever seen. He is a franchise player and will one day be one of the best in the league. It's a testament to how good Zegras has been that Anaheim have been overperforming this much. With that being said, Troy Terry is the real star of this team, at least in 2021. He's currently tied with Auston Matthews for third in the league for goals with 22.
It would be a great experience for Anaheim's young guns to make the postseason. So far, they're on pace for that. John Gibson hasn't been able to continue his brilliant form from the early part of the season, though he's still been very good.
With Dallas Eakins at the helm, Anaheim has a good chance to sneak in to the playoffs.
16. Los Angeles Kings
Points Percentage: .557
Glance at the week ahead: vs NYR, vs PIT, @ SEA, @ SJS
As a Leafs fan, watching Sean Durzi succeed for the Kings is definitely a bit disheartening. Sure, I can't complain with Jake Muzzin, but Durzi is becoming a really important part of a fun Kings team.
Jonathan Quick has shown flashes of the Conn Smythe form we saw from him 10 years ago. Maybe they aren't as likely to make the playoffs as some teams under him, but personally I'm in on LA.
Adrian Kempe, a former first-round pick, is having a great season at age 25. He currently leads the team in goals.
With one of the best prospect systems in hockey, I expect the Kings will have a successful season and will have some great campaigns in the future.
17. Dallas Stars
Points Percentage: .563
Glance at the week ahead: vs SEA, @ FLA, @ TBL
The Stars have had a tumultuous year under Rick Bowness. Nevertheless, they are still existing and making things hard on other teams. I'm not convinced that they'll make the playoffs just yet, but if they can get in, they'll be a pesky squad to face.
While I'm on the subject of Dallas, I have to give credit to 22-year old Jason Robertson. With 30 points in 26 games, he is the best forward on the Stars and I'm wishing that I gave him more thought on my top-50 list.
18. Vancouver Canucks
Arlen Redenkop (PNG)
Points Percentage: .515
Glance at the week ahead: vs FLA, vs TBL, vs CAR, vs WSH
BRUCE, THERE IT IS!
Sure, he's had some embarrassing playoff defeats in the past, but Bruce Boudreau may be the most fun guy to work for among all NHL coaches. The Canucks are 8-0-1 under Brucey, and after a miserable start to the season, they are suddenly in the middle of a playoff race.
Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser have been much improved under Boudreau and if this form can continue (it probably won't), the Canucks will have pulled off one of the greatest in-season turnarounds in recent memory.
Could they be the next 2019 St. Louis Blues?
19. Winnipeg Jets
Points Percentage: .561
Glance at the week ahead: @ DET
Despite an elite offense and the second best goalie in the NHL, Winnipeg continues to fall short of expectations. The exciting defensive additions in July haven't provided much help for Connor Hellebuyck.
Under new coach Dave Lowry, there really hasn't been any difference as far as results are concerned. The pace is different, but the results are no better.
I'm still a believer, but they had better pick it up quickly.
20. Edmonton Oilers
Points Percentage: .559
Glance at the week ahead: vs OTT
Man, what a disappointment. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are generational players, but they are being ruined by this joke of an organization. GM Ken Holland can't form a team like he could in his Detroit days, and Dave Tippett is doing nothing to slow the inevitable demise of this squad.
They're a lottery team with two of the best players in the world, which just cancels out to be a mediocre squad.
21. San Jose Sharks
Stan Szeto (USA Today)
Points Percentage: .542
Glance at the week ahead: vs DET, vs NYR, vs PIT, vs LAK
The Sharks must be thrilled with Tomas Hertl's season thus far. He's on pace for nearly 40 goals and 75 points. I'm expecting either Calgary or Boston to throw some valuable picks at San Jose for their star center.
The recent struggles of James Reimer have limited the Sharks' ceiling and floor. Now let's see if they can get any lottery luck.
22. Detroit Red Wings
Points Percentage: .500
Glance at the week ahead: @ SJS, vs WPG, vs BUF, @ BUF
The Wings are an incredible team at home. They're not so good on the road. With that being said, the future is bright in Motown.
Alex Nedeljkovic, Lucas Raymond, and Moritz Seider are all the real deal. Dylan Larkin is having a great season after a disappointing year in 2020-21.
Playoffs are unlikely, but with Steve Yzerman steering the ship, Detroit has a bright future ahead.
23. New York Islanders
Points Percentage: .464
Glance at the week ahead: vs NJD, vs WSH, vs PHI
I continue to have hope that the Islanders can bounce-back (just kidding, I hate the Isles; they can stay down here).
Ilya Sorokin is establishing himself as a top-10 goalie in the NHL. Other than that, there aren't many positives from New York's season so far. Mathew Barzal is the team leader in points as you'd expect, but it's only 21 points, which you wouldn't expect.
Pelech and Pulock (which isn't a classic detective show from the 90s, as you may have suspected; it is in fact, a defensemen pairing) had a shot at playing for Team Canada at the Olympics. Those dreams are shot, and not just because NHL players can't go.
Barry Trotz is a top-level coach. He has a tough job ahead to get the Islanders into a playoff spot.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Aaron Doster (USA Today)
Points Percentage: .500
Glance at the week ahead: vs CHI, @ CAR, @ FLA
Another Metropolitan team, the Jackets came into this season with much lower expectations, but they started off the season blisteringly hot. Elvis Mezlikins was establishing himself as a true starter, Alexandre Texier was playing very well, and Oliver Bjorkstrand was living up to the potential he showed at the World Juniors many years ago.
Unfortunately, they are 4-10-1 in the last 15 and it may be time to consider selling at the trade deadline, as a playoff run looks increasingly unlikely.
25. New Jersey Devils
Points Percentage: .458
Glance at the week ahead: @ NYI
The Devils are severely lacking in positives so far this season. The MacKenzie Blackwood-Jonathan Bernier tandem hasn't been as effective as anticipated. Dougie Hamilton, their marquee signing, has been good, but recently underwent jaw surgery, and the team itself is not winning games as often as they may have expected prior to the season starting.
Luckily, they have witnessed a Jack Hughes breakout. It was the most obvious thing in the world that Jack Hughes was going to breakout this year; he's just showing it. The former first overall pick has arrived with 20 points in 19 games, including 12 in his last 6. He's as good as advertised. Too bad the rest of the team isn't.
26. Philadelphia Flyers
Points Percentage: .471
Glance at the week ahead: vs CAR, @ BOS, vs NYR, vs NYI
The issues that arose under Alain Vigneault are persisting under Mike Yeo. The Flyers are just not a fun team to watch.
Ryan Ellis, who had a great start to the season, has barely played and they Flyers' defense is suffering because of it.
Another big defensemen who joined Philly in the offseason was Rasmus Ristolainen. His advanced numbers were terrible in Buffalo, but they believed in his raw talent enough to trade away a first round pick for him and send Shayne Gostisbehere for virtually nothing to create cap space. It's gone as horribly wrong as you may have expected. Ristolainen has been brutal and Gostisbehere has been great.
The Kevin Hayes contract is pretty awful too. Bad days in the City of Brotherly Love.
27. Chicago Blackhawks
Tracey Myers (NHL.com)
Points Percentage: .414
Glance at the week ahead: @ CBJ, vs MTL, vs ANA, @ SEA
To sum up Chicago's season very quickly: they recently lost to the Arizona Coyotes (who have 7 wins all season) and it barely cracked the list of most embarrassing moments for them this season.
That's all I really have to say about this terrible franchise.
28. Ottawa Senators
Points Percentage: .345
Glance at the week ahead: @ CGY, @ EDM
When Pierre Dorion confidently stated that the rebuild was finally over, we believed him. We were foolish.
The Sens still can't find consistent goaltending. I will never understand why they didn't pick either Sebastian Cossa or Jesper Wallstedt in the first round of the last NHL draft. Especially Wallstedt. I promise to you right now that the Sens passing on Wallstedt will define their next decade. He's a stud. The Sens are lacking in studs.
Aside from Drake Batherson, the young guns haven't found the next gear we know they possess yet.
29. Seattle Kraken
Abbie Parr (Getty Images)
Points Percentage: .364
Glance at the week ahead: @ COL, @ DAL, @ STL, vs LAK, vs CHI
This team has a sub-40 % xG rate in the last month. In other words, they're not very good.
Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger look like awful contracts and almost one year on from the expansion draft, I can safely say that I could have made a better team than Ron Francis did.
At least Jared McCann has been a bright spot. He's almost on pace for 40 goals.
30. Buffalo Sabres
Points Percentage: .382
Glance at the week ahead: vs TBL, @ NSH, @ DET, @ DET
The Sabres started off the year suspiciously hot. Then we remembered which team we were talking about and immediately wrote them off, expecting a downturn. Well, here it is.
Don Granato has shown that he deserves a head coaching job for a much better team. However, aside from the emergence of "Donny Meatballs" as a legitimate coach and the Kyle Okposo resurgence, Buffalo doesn't have much to cheer for.
Sabres fans are probably better off watching Owen Power tear it up at the University of Michigan.
31. Arizona Coyotes
Points Percentage: .258
Glance at the week ahead: vs TOR, @ COL, vs COL, vs MTL
A hilarious stat that I recently read was that last Thursday was the first time the Coyotes have been up by two goals this ENTIRE SEASON. It was their 32nd game of the year and they had not previously been up by two goals in a game.
Now they are trying to trade their cornerstone Jakob Chychrun. All is not well in Arizona.
I haven't even mentioned that they might not even have a team next year either, due to not being able to pay off rent on their arena.
32. Montreal Canadiens
Allen McInnis (Montreal Gazette)
Points Percentage: .265
Glance at the week ahead: @ BOS, @ CHI, @ ARI
It's sad that Montreal are here. I have a few good friends who are Habs fans, and this is just sad. The power play is embarrassingly bad at just over 11%. The penalty kill is not much better.
I challenge any seasoned hockey fan to take a look at Montreal's lineup from the first game of 2022 and see if you've heard of at least half of them. Yes, it's mainly because of a COVID outbreak, but it is still utterly depressing.
From the Stanley Cup Final to last in the league, it's been a rough year for the Habs.
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED
Comments
Post a Comment