February 28, 2024
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — It’s the end of February, which means we’re less than 10 days away from the NHL trade deadline. Teams are starting to sort themselves into buyer or sellers, but injuries have thrown a couple curveballs recently that could shift needs for teams that have deep playoff hopes.
Next week we’ll get everything sorted out with the trade deadline. Anticipate a great deal of movement of both players and teams in our Power Rankings as we move into March.
As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terrible, horribly wrong.
32. Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks would be No. 1 in our jersey retirement party power rankings after a wild weekend with Chris Chelios (and Patrick Kane’s heartbreaker).
31. San Jose Sharks
Losers of four straight entering Wednesday, they’re tied with the Blackhawks for the lowest point total in the NHL but have two games in-hand.
30. Anaheim Ducks
Their minus-56 goal differential is better than only the Sharks and Blackhawks, so that’s where they sit in our power rankings.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blues Jackets have won only 10 of 29 home games and the injury to Adam Fantilli took away one of their few bright spots. Back to the lottery this spring, but with a new GM calling the shots.
28. Arizona Coyotes
For as much hope as there was earlier this year, the issues on and off the ice have been too much for the Yotes. They can start their offseason talking about where they’ll play home games in mid-April.
27. Montreal Canadiens
Now down to a minus-44 goal differential, the Habs are likely ready to hit fast forward to the draft lottery.
26. Ottawa Senators
The Sens are 8-16-1 on the road. If you want to be in the playoffs, you can’t win one-third of your road games.
25. Buffalo Sabres
Like a few other teams in the bottom half of the standings, what was supposed to be a big year had been a huge disappointment in Buffalo. They haven’t stayed healthy and have been inconsistent all year.
24. Minnesota Wild
The Wild are 7-2-1 in their last 10, which is great. But all that’s done is lower their lottery odds. They have a minus-eight goal differential and have only won 14 of 30 home games.
23. Seattle Kraken
Seattle is 5-4-1 in their last 10 and are starting to trend in a positive direction, but injuries have been a consistent issue. It doesn’t look like they’ll be back in the postseason.
22. St. Louis Blues
Losers of their last two and six of their last 10 in regulation, the Blues’ minus-13 goal differential is a big part of the disappointment with this season. How much will they look to shake up their room before the deadline?
21. New York Islanders
With a minus-27 goal differential and 4-3-3 record over their last 10 games, the Islanders are slowly watching the playoffs slip further away.
20. Calgary Flames
Riding a four-game win streak, the Flames are 7-3-0 in their last 10 and haven’t seemed to miss much of a beat despite trading away one of their top forwards. They’ll remain a central focus in trade rumors in the coming week.
19. New Jersey Devils
The Devils are under .500 on home ice still and have a minus-seven goal differential. At what point do they make the big trade for a goaltender?
18. Washington Capitals
How the Caps are hanging around the fringes of the playoff picture with a minus-33 goal differential is wild. They’re 12-13-4 on the road.
17. Tampa Bay Lightning
At 5-5-0 in their last 10 and with just a plus-one goal differential for the season entering Wednesday, the Bolts need to be better than 14-16-2 on the road.
16. Philadelphia Flyers
A lot of injury news this week has clouded the Flyers being 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They’re still ahead of Tampa and Pittsburgh by point percentage, however.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins
A three-game win streak has only improved the Pens to 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. They have just a plus-16 goal differential and remain basically a .500 team both at home and on the road.
14. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are in the market for more scoring with injuries piling up among their forward group. The question is how big will they swing, and what will it cost them?
13. Nashville Predators
How about a six-game heater in late-February to crank up playoff hopes in Smashville? A surprising playoff berth would be a nice cap on a terrific first season for GM Barry Trotz.
12. Vegas Golden Knights
The defending champs are only 4-5-1 in their last 10 games but seeing Jack Eichel back on the ice was a welcome piece of news on the injury front. They’re banged up right now and might need to add to defend their title.
11. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have cooled off since their record win streak; they’re only 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. They’re slightly ahead of Vegas from a point percentage perspective and have three games in-hand entering Wednesday.
10. Boston Bruins
The Bruins are only 3-2-5 in their last 10 games and have lost their last three consecutive games in overtime.
9. Detroit Red Wings
The moment of the entire season might be Kane’s OT GWG in Chicago on Sunday night, but the Wings have now rolled off six straight wins
8. Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have won 23 of 29 on home ice thus far and have a plus-32 goal differential, but their 4-5-1 run over their past 10 games has kept the top of the Central packed closely.
7. Dallas Stars
With Tyler Seguin hitting IR, the Stars might be in the market more heavily now. But… what are they shopping for? They’re only 4-3-3 in their last 10 games.
6. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks are only 4-4-2 in their last 10, which has kept the door open in the Pacific for others to make life more interesting. They have the second-best goal differential in the league (plus-51) and are 20-5-3 on home ice.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
Winners of eight of their last ten, the Leafs would probably love to be better than 15-11-2 on home ice right now. They have a plus-31 goal differential.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and have a plus-29 goal differential. After a rough stretch earlier this season, they’ve come back to where we expected them before the year.
3. Winnipeg Jets
Sometimes winning seven of your last ten – including your last four – doesn’t quite get you to the top of our power rankings. Sorry, Jets fans. But the Jets appear to be the class of the Western Conference right now.
2. New York Rangers
The Rangers are 9-1-0 in their last 10, have a plus-34 goal differential and are 20-7-0 at Madison Square Garden. Will they celebrate their 30th anniversary with another parade?
1. Florida Panthers
Owners of the best point percentage in the NHL (.695) heading into Wednesday, they’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 and have a league-leading plus-52 goal differential.