January 30, 2023
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — As we enter All-Star Week in the NHL, I’d like to spend a quick moment noting the passing of Hall of Famer Bobby Hull.

“The Golden Jet” was one of the premier goal scorers in NHL history with the Blackhawks and his move to Winnipeg made an enormous impact on the future of the league(s). While his off-ice transgressions leave a sordid legacy, his numbers stand as some of the best ever.

32. Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago has the entire week off and are just one point better than the Blue Jackets. The Blackhawks have two games in-hand on Columbus, however, and have scored ten fewer goals entering the new week.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets

They’re the worst road team in the league (4-17-2) and only 10 of their 15 wins have come in regulation. That’s a regulation win in only 20 percent of their games this season.

30. Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim starts the post-All-Star part of their season in Chicago. Will Connor Bedard watch the game? Teemu Selanne already has his locker ready in Anaheim.

29. Arizona Coyotes

Arizona is the first team in the league to register 20 regulation losses on the road this season and boast a minus-46 goal differential.

28. St. Louis Blues

Without Ryan O’Reilly in the lineup, the Blues have been sliding away from the playoff picture quickly. They’ve lost their last four entering Monday.

27. San Jose Sharks

With only five wins on home ice, the Sharks are the worst home team in the NHL. At this point we’re just wondering if someone can/will acquire Erik Karlsson.

26. Vancouver Canucks

They’ve moved on past the Bruce Boudreau debacle but still have major decisions coming between now and the trade deadline. How soon will we find out where Bo Horvat will finish the season?

25. Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield being done for the year puts them firmly in lottery territory. They also have a minus-54 goal differential, which is better than only Anaheim and Chicago.

24. Ottawa Senators

The Sens only have a minus-nine goal differential entering the new week, which is surprisingly decent considering their record. They’ve won three straight.

23. Detroit Red Wings

With a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 the Red Wings are floating around the late-lottery area. They need to figure out a dollar amount with Dylan Larkin at some point, too.

22. New York Islanders

They were supposed to bounce back this year and have been better at times. But they picked a terrible time to roll off a 3-5-2 run over 10 games. Can they buy enough at the deadline to make a playoff push? Their division might not make that possible.

21. Philadelphia Flyers

The city will be excited for the next two weeks about the Super Bowl, but the Flyers are only 10-12-2 on home ice. Their minus-20 goal differential speaks to the struggles they’ve had in net.

20. Nashville Predators

The Preds are 6-4-0 in their last 10 and are a respectable 14-7-3 at home this season. But their 137 goals in 48 games points to their offense being the struggle this season.

19. Vegas Golden Knights

At one point not-too-log ago the Knights felt comfortable with their playoff position. But a four-game losing streak and a 2-6-2 run in their last 10 have raised a few questions about that situation.

18. Florida Panthers

They’ll celebrate hosting the All-Star Game this coming weekend but need to get it in high gear down the stretch if they want to make the playoffs. They haven’t captured the vibe they had last year after the big summer moves.

17. Pittsburgh Penguins

At 4-3-3 in their last 10 the Pens are sliding the wrong way. The big question now if what/who will they look to add if they want to make a run with their veteran core on the ice this season.

16. Calgary Flames

An ugly home loss to the Blackhawks last week hurts, especially when they’re trying to get into a groove and make a run up the Pacific. They only have a plus-five goal differential.

15. Washington Capitals

The Caps are only 4-6-0 in their last 10 and just 12-12-3 on the road this season. They need scoring from more than Ovi at this point to secure a playoff berth.

14. Buffalo Sabres

It’s easy to love everything Tage Thompson is doing this season, but the Sabres are only 11-12-2 on home ice this season. Their 6-2-2 stretch over their last 10 is helping them make things interesting, though.

13. Minnesota Wild

With a 5-4-1 record in their last 10, they can now clearly sense the Avs in their rearview mirror. Colorado is one point back.

12. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are 7-3-0 in their last 10 and have closed the gap on Minnesota. We’ve been waiting for them to get healthy, and it appears they’re getting close. Now can they add a second-line center.

11. Dallas Stars

Losers of three straight and with a 4-2-4 record in their last 10, the Stars are nine points ahead of Colorado, but the Avs have three games in-hand. Beware Colorado in the Central.

10. Winnipeg Jets

Yeah, let’s finish the sweep of the Central with another team trying to stay ahead of the Avs. The Jets are 5-5-0 in their last 10 and, like Dallas, have lost three straight before trying to get right against the Blues on home ice on Monday night.

9. New York Rangers

They’re 6-2-2 in their last 10 and are in third place in the division, but have hopes of climbing. Would adding a big-name wing (Patrick Kane?) help them close the ten-point gap with Carolina?

8. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are 6-4-0 in their last 10, but their minus-nine goal differential continues to stick out in the standings. Will they find the right left-shot defenseman at the right price before the deadline?

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs are 6-3-1 in their last 10 but will be without Auston Matthews for the next three weeks. Thankfully they’re comfortably in the playoff picture and can now spend time figuring out what they need to add before the deadline.

6. Edmonton Oilers

They blew out the Blackhawks to close out last week and are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Their 15-7-1 record away from home stands out as we enter February.

5. Seattle Kraken

Like the Oilers, their road record (16-5-2) is exceptional this late in the season. They’ve played well enough that adding a significant piece before the deadline might now be in play for the baby in the league.

4. Carolina Hurricanes

They’ve won five straight and have only one regulation loss in their last ten games. There’s a lot to like in Carolina right now – especially the cap space they might weaponize with Max Pacioretty on the shelf.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

It’s all fun and games until the Bolts decide they’re going on a run. Tampa’s 8-2-0 in their last 10, now have a plus-34 goal differential and have a stunning 20-4-1 record in their barn.

2. New Jersey Devils

The Devils climb back to No. 2 this week by virtue of having just one regulation loss in their last 10 games. Their young group is making a lot of noise right now. Look out above (in the standings)!

1. Boston Bruins

Yeah, they’ve lost three straight. But January is going to end with the Bruins having one (1) regulation loss on home ice. They still have a nine-point lead on the rest of the NHL even after the losing streak. And they have a whopping plus-78 goal differential in 50 games.