March 18, 2022
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — We’ve had a couple nice celebrations for franchise icons recently. Alexander Ovechkin passed Jaromir Jagr into third place on the NHL’s all-time goal scorers list, and Philadelphia was able to pay their respects to Claude Giroux on Thursday night as he played his 1,000th career game – and, likely, his last – for the Flyers.

But now we turn our attention to Monday’s trade deadline. This will be our final Power Rankings before the flurry of trades that will come this weekend. How those trades impact the sellers and buyers will have bearing on our rankings between now and the end of the season – and the Stanley Cup playoffs.

So, let’s get into it. As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly wrong.

[View the Power Rankings from Week 18]

32. Seattle Kraken

Now 2-6-2 in their last 10 and with a minus-64 goal differential and selling, the Kraken are sprinting to the bottom of the sea... I mean NHL. They’re 8-20-3 away from home. At least they’ve stockpiled enough picks in the next two drafts to make things interesting in the future.

31. Ottawa Senators

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ottawa is back in the seller column heading to a deadline and are an ugly 2-8-0 in their last 10 games. So much for being out of the draft lottery this year.

30. New Jersey Devils

We keep talking about the Devils’ youth movement, and Luke Hughes being a Hobey Baker finalist as a freshman is a good indicator that there will be brighter days. But 8-20-2 on the road is not good.

29. Montreal Canadiens

Apparently, Martin St. Louis was the right call. Cole Caufield has found his scoring touch again and the Habs have played significantly better since the coaching change. They might not be in the cellar by this time next week.

28. Arizona Coyotes

Is there a hotter offense in the NHL right now than Arizona? They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10 and are scoring at will. Unfortunately, they’re still 9-20-1 at home this season and still sit only three points out of dead last in the league despite their recent surge.

27. Buffalo Sabres

Peyton Krebs has three goals and four points in seven games in March, which has been a nice addition to the offense. Things haven’t been good in Buffalo this season, but they’ve been getting more offense lately.

26. Detroit Red Wings

The Wings are 2-7-1 in their last 10 and now we close on a fascinating deadline for Steve Yzerman, who has some veteran pieces (Nick Leddy) who could go but they may be looking to make more hockey trades than adding picks for the future.

25. Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim enters Friday riding a five-game losing streak and with a 2-6-2 record in their last 10. They’re still 16-11-4 at home, which is a solid mark for a team that has seven overtime/shootout losses on the road.

24. Philadelphia Flyers

Full marks for the celebration for Claude Giroux on Thursday night. To play 1,000 games for one franchise is a remarkable accomplishment, and it’s great that he was able to get it done before they trade him this weekend.

23. Chicago Blackhawks

One trade down.  We’re all waiting to see what the weekend will bring in Chicago. Will Marc-Andre Fleury accept a trade or stay with the Hawks? And how many more moves will now-permanent GM Kyle Davidson make in his first trade deadline?

22. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks got a deal done with Tomas Hertl, which is good news. But a 4-4-2 mark in their last ten and two consecutive losses entering Friday isn’t ideal. This hasn’t been the season they hoped for in San Jose.

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

With a minus-25 goal differential and just four losses in their last ten, the Jackets aren’t playing consistent hockey still. And 21 of their 31 wins have come in regulation; they’ve actually been pretty good in extra time.

20. Vegas Golden Knights

They were supposed to run away with the division this year. And then they added Jack Eichel, making them a formidable offense. Right? Now 4-6-0 in their last 10 entering Friday and with significant questions in net and cap issues, the Knights have questions they might not be able to answer.

19. New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin made what might be the save of the year on Thursday night and the Islanders came away with a nice win. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 and have a goal differential of only minus-five, which should have them closer to the playoffs than their record currently does. What will they do before the deadline?

18. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are now 16-11-2 at home and have won six of their last ten, which is a step in the right direction. The middle of the pack in the Central Division is up for grabs right now and Winnipeg is in the mix.

17. Dallas Stars

They have been dominant at home (20-8-1) and have six wins in their last ten but they’re just three points up on the Jets in the division. Dallas will be fascinating to watch on the trade market this weekend.

16. St. Louis Blues

The Blues need to buy if they’re going to make a meaningful playoff run. They’re 4-3-3 in their last 10 entering Friday, losers of their last two games. Their plus-45 goal differential is much better than their record would indicate.

15. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are winners of six of their last ten and are in the mix in their division after waiting entirely too long to make a coaching change. They’re now positive (plus-one) in goal differential after a brutal start to the season.

14. Nashville Predators

Will they get a deal done with Filip Forsberg or trade him? And what else will they do to try to hang onto a playoff spot? The Preds are in an intriguing position heading into the weekend.

13. Minnesota Wild

The Wild are just 4-5-1 in their last 10 and have allowed Winnipeg, Dallas and Nashville to all hang around the playoff picture in the division. They’re 18-7-1 on home ice, however.

12. Edmonton Oilers

Look who’s riding a four-game win streak entering Friday! Winners of six in their last ten, the Oilers are climbing a division that has allowed them to figure their stuff out and remain relevant. They need to improve defensively (the story of the last decade) but things are looking better in Edmonton.

11. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have allowed only 176 goals in 63 games, a strong number. That has translated into just a plus-five goal differential, a problem that has been amplified by the struggles of some of their top forwards in recent weeks.

10. New York Rangers

The Rangers are 5-5-0 in their last 10 but have allowed only 159 goals in 61 games. They’re an excellent defensive team that needs to bolster their offense to make a sincere playoff run. Can they get a deal done for the right guy this weekend?

9. Washington Capitals

The scene around Alexander Ovechkin moving into third on the all-time goal scorers list this week was fun. And the Caps have won their last three games entering Friday. But they’re just 15-11-5 on home ice.

8. Boston Bruins

The Bruins are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and look like a dangerous team. They’re 19-9-3 on the road this season and have started to show offensive ability that has been dormant at times this season.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

Will they add on the blueline or in net? Or try to do both? They’re in a great spot to make the playoffs but, if a championship is the goal, they need to make a move or two this weekend. Their 22-7-2 record on home ice is impressive.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens are just two points up on the Rangers and New York has one game in-hand, so they need to stay on the gas pedal. Like so many teams in the top half of the league, Pittsburgh has won six of their last ten.

5. Calgary Flames

The Flames are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and now have a plus-64 goal differential, which ranks third in the league behind Florida and Colorado. They’re a legit force to be scared of in the Western Conference playoff picture.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning

Here we are at the trade deadline and Tampa’s near the top of the league and they just pulled off another shrewd move by adding Brandon Hagel. Winners of six of their last ten, the Bolts are now squarely in the rearview mirror of the Canes.

3. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina is just three points up on Tampa with 22 games to play. Their plus-58 goal differential is almost double that of the Lightning, however. But losing two straight has made things tighter in the division. They’re 23-4-2 at home.

2. Florida Panthers

The Panthers just keep getting it done. Moving out Frank Vatrano this week was an interesting move, but they’re 26-6-0 at home and 15-8-6 on the road. The top spot in the division is up for grabs but Florida appears to be in it to win it. They own the best goal differential in the league (+71).

1. Colorado Avalanche

Colorado is now 24-3-3 in Denver and have allowed only 170 goals in 61 games. They are the best team in the league and it appears Joe Sakic is going to do what he can to add before the deadline to bolster their championship chances.