January 23, 2023
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — Now that the Vancouver Canucks have maybe, possibly, finished embarrassing themselves and made the coaching change everyone knew was coming, can we all move on to being obsessed with trade rumours? Please? Because that’s a lot more interesting than the ridiculous show that has been going on in Vancouver.

The buyers and sellers are starting to sort themselves out, and now the cost to do business has come into focus. Who will be the first big domino to fall? And will either of Chicago’s future Hall of Famers actually hit the market? We’ll get answers to these questions in the coming weeks.

As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly wrong in this week’s edition of our Power Rankings.

32. Vancouver Canucks

There’s no way anyone could sit dead last in our rankings this week other than the Canucks. I wish Rick Tocchet all the luck in the world, but how they did Bruce Boudreau gets them the bottom this week.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets

Welcome back to the standings cellar, Columbus. All of the good vibes they had with the signing of Johnny Hockey last summer evaporated into IR placements this season, and they’re now in the lead for Connor Bedard.

30. Anaheim Ducks

“Boasting” the league’s worst minus-86 goal differential in 47 games, the Ducks are now looking more like a team that will add another high draft pick to their stockpile of young talent.

29. San Jose Sharks

With a 3-5-2 record in their last 10, the Sharks are coasting into the lottery this year. The biggest question for them the rest of the way will be the return they get on Timo Meier.

28. Arizona Coyotes

They certainly love them some lottery balls, but will the Coyotes tank hard enough to finally add an iconic player in time for their new building to go up?

27. Detroit Red Wings

By virtue of a 3-6-1 run in their last 10, the Red Wings have almost certainly kissed the postseason goodbye and are now looking to the future. They have some internal free agents to work with between now and the deadline.

26. Chicago Blackhawks

Before their lifeless loss to the Kings on Sunday night, Chicago had won six of seven and climbed out of the top three in the Bedard Sweepstakes. The attention of the league is on Kane and Toews, but Jake McCabe might become a popular name before the deadline.

25. Montreal Canadiens

They’re 5-5-0 in their last 10 but the season-ending injury to Cole Caufield likely turns their attention to the draft, and selling before the deadline.

24. Ottawa Senators

Everything I just said about the Habs is true in Ottawa as well. Monday’s announcement that Josh Norris’ season is over makes them an interesting case between now and the deadline.

23. Philadelphia Flyers

They’ve been better lately (6-4-0 in their last 10) but the climb is too steep between now and the end of the season or them to be a viable playoff team. Which veterans will get moved before the end of February?

22. St. Louis Blues

Jordan Binnington’s “performance” against the Blackhawks this weekend was horrendous. And it might be a straw that breaks the camel’s back if they wanted to make a push for the playoffs.

21. New York Islanders

If they wanted to make a playoff run, going 2-5-3 in their last 10 may have crushed those dreams. They need offense, but haven’t been able to add anything yet. Will Lou make a big swing early enough to change their fortunes this year?

20. Nashville Predators

With a minus-seven goal differential, the Preds just don’t score enough to make an impact in the Western Conference playoff chase. They are 6-4-0 in their last 10, however, and have a 12-7-3 record in Nashville.

19. Buffalo Sabres

They need to string together more wins to make this season something special, so a 5-4-1 run in their last 10 doesn’t help them at all. They’re still under .500 at home, too.

18. Minnesota Wild

At 5-3-2 in their last 10, the Wild are allowing the middle of the pack in the Central Division to stay interesting.

17. Calgary Flames

They welcome Johnny Gaudreau back to the Saddledome this week, so we’ll see how well he’s received. The Flames are trying to hang around in the Pacific playoff picture, but need to do a better job of finishing on the road (they’re 9-8-7 away from home).

16. Pittsburgh Penguins

At 4-4-2 in their last 10, the Pens are in the market for depth to help support their stars. Like Calgary, they need to be better on the road (10-10-4).

15. Washington Capitals

The Caps are just 4-5-1 in their last 10. They can be thankful for a mediocre run from everyone in the middle of their division making things interesting for them, however.

14. Florida Panthers

We’ve all been waiting for the Panthers to wake up, and that might have finally happened. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 and are creeping into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

13. Colorado Avalanche

The defending champs are starting to get healthy and it shows; they’re 6-4-0 in their last 10. Taking advantage of a poor division could help them down the stretch, and if they can get in and have their horses look out.

12. Los Angeles Kings

The highest ranked team again this week with a negative goal differential (minus-eight), they escaped Chicago with a 2-1 win after a debacle on Saturday night. Goaltending has been an issue for the Kings.

11. New York Rangers

We’ve reached the time of year when teams that want to go for it pick up the phone. The Rangers are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and have the cap space to go big. Will they put Kane and Panarin back together?

10. Vegas Golden Knights

Their goaltending does not appear to be the strength is was earlier this year, and we would still like to see them be better at home (14-13-0).

9. Dallas Stars

They should be running away with their division, but a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 has allowed the Central to remain interesting.

8. Edmonton Oilers

Evander Kane isn’t fixing their defensive issues, but Connor McDavid is winning games for them all by himself at this point. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 and we can already give another Hart to McDavid.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning

With Steven Stamkos’ 500th goal now in the past, the Bolts can focus on winning games and being ready to make another deep playoff run. They’re 17-4-1 at home.

6. Seattle Kraken

They are now an interesting buyer at the trade deadline, and with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 are making life hard on the veteran teams in the Pacific. They’re an impressive 16-5-2 on the road thus far.

5. Carolina Hurricanes

The loss of Max Pacioretty is a big one. Yeah, they were okay without him, but the hope that he could effectively be a big mid-season addition is now gone. How will they replace what he could have been to their offense?

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s not that they’re bad, but a 5-3-2 record in their last 10 opens the door for a couple teams to climb past them in our power rankings this week.

3. Winnipeg Jets

With a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 and now a tie for the Central Division lead, the Jets appear to be the best team in the Central. They’re 17-6-0 on home ice and have been good in every aspect of the game.

2. New Jersey Devils

The mercurial Devils are back on a heater, so they jump back to No. 2 this week. They’re 7-1-2 in their last 10 and Mr. Hughes is doing everything they could hope for from a top-tier superstar. They’re an amazing 18-2-2 on the road this season.

1. Boston Bruins

At this point, the Bruins being on top might be “sharpie” as the kids would say. It’s getting close to the end of January and they still have only one regulation home loss in 26 starts. They’re also 15-4-1 on the road and have a 12-point cushion on the rest of the NHL. They’re a wagon, and their 9-1-0 record in their last 10 just reminds us that this team takes no nights off.