November 1, 2023
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — Welcome to November, hockey fans! We’ve had a few suspensions for bad hits, one for gambling, a superstar step away, a GM get the boot, and Jumbo Joe Thornton finally confirmed his career if officially over. All of that has played out in the background while some of the League’s heavyweights have sprinted to great starts and others have struggled to find their footing.
With all of the off-season talk about which teams should be Stanley Cup contenders, there are a few near the bottom of the standings still that should be concerned. So, let’s get the ball rolling on Month Two of the 2023-24 regular-season.
As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly wrong.
32. Edmonton Oilers
This isn’t saying they’re the worst team in the NHL, but at a minus-10 goal differential and with only five points in eight games, they’re way worse than we expected thus far. So, they get the bottom this week. Sorry, Oilers fans, Sam Gagner isn’t fixing this.
31. San Jose Sharks
Zero wins in nine starts. I’m sorry, Sharks fans. Start praying to the lottery gods now.
30. Calgary Flames
Their minus-15 goal differential is second-worst in the NHL and there’s buzz they’re already thinking about selling. Maybe it wasn’t a coaching issue (completely)?
29. St. Louis Blues
The Blues are really just not very good. They’ve scored 14 times in their first seven games, which has limited their success despite allowing just 20 goals in those games.
28. Pittsburgh Penguins
Not exactly the start they had hoped for when they “won the off-season.” Erik Karlsson is still trying to find his place on the roster, but their 2-4-0 start on home ice is a major concern.
27. Seattle Kraken
The Kraken starting November with a minus-10 goal differential isn’t what they hoped for after a playoff berth last season. They’ve played seven of 10 on the road with only two wins in those contests.
26. Chicago Blackhawks
They still have road wins in Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vegas on their resume, and that’s impressive. This isn’t a great team around Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski but we knew that going into the season.
25. Arizona Coyotes
They put eight goals on the Blackhawks; that margin accounts for their entire plus-seven goal differential thus far.
24. Ottawa Senators
Maybe we can settle into some normalcy now that the ownership change, Josh Norris’ injury, Shane Pinto gambling-related suspension, Evgenii Dadonov revenge game, and Pierre Dorion firing are all in the rearview mirror? They have a plus-six goal differential thus far, which is good.
23. Nashville Predators
The off-season sell by Barry Trotz led us to believe this would be the start of a rebuild year and the Preds have played to that level. They’re 1-3-0 on the road thus far and have scored just 25 goals in nine starts.
22. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have problems. They’re supposed to be built around their defense, but Minnesota has allowed 38 goals in nine games and are 1-3-1 on the road.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets have a minus-seven goal differential and are just 2-3-1 on home ice. They hoped this season would be an improvement – and it still might be – but missing Patrik Laine has impacted the offense.
20. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres are doing what they do: get off to a slow start and then toy with being a .500 team until Christmas. They’re a break-even goal differential team right now and have won three of six at home in their first nine games.
19. Washington Capitals
With the news on Wednesday that Nicklas Backstrom is taking a step back from playing to deal with his health, this team might be on the cusp of an implosion. They’ve scored 19 times in eight games and have a minus-seven goal differential.
18. Winnipeg Jets
One of a surprising-few teams that have had a relatively balanced schedule, the Jets are taking advantage of the Central Division being mediocre already and have slid into the early playoff conversation. They could use some offensive help; they’ve scored 29 times in nine games.
17. New York Islanders
Offense continues to be the issue on the Isle, which shouldn’t be surprising since they’re running back almost the same roster that ended last season. They’ve scored 21 times in eight games and six of those have been at home.
16. Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are one of the nice surprises early this year. They have a positive goal differential – albeit plus-two – entering November and are 3-2-0 on home ice. Carter Hart has been solid.
15. Florida Panthers
The Panthers will get a couple looks at the Blackhawks, starting this weekend in Chicago. They’re only 1-2-1 on the road in the early going and have only scored 22 times in eight games.
14. Montreal Canadiens
They have a negative goal differential and have taken advantage of a home-heavy schedule early this season. They still need to score more goals to keep moving in the right direction.
13. Anaheim Ducks
They’re taking the sloooow road with Leo Carlsson this season, which is interesting when you place that in the context of how well the rest of their young players have performed. Starting the season 4-2-0 on the road has been impressive.
12. Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes have won their last three games, so it appears they might be righting the ship. But they’re still just 3-4-0 on the road.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning
They’re still winless away from their own barn, which is a surprise. But they’re 4-0-2 at home, which helps them rank this high.
10. Dallas Stars
One of only a couple teams that have only played seven games still, the Stars have scored only 22 goals in those seven but have only one regulation loss. They could use a boost in their offense (hello, Patrick Kane?) at some point soon, but the Central Division isn’t pressuring them.
9. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs limping into November at only .500 on home ice isn’t what the fans want to see, but they’re 3-1-1 on the road. Losing their last two hurts.
8. New Jersey Devils
Their defense isn’t quite what we’d want but they’re winning games. The Devils have won their last two entering Wednesday and haven’t lost either of their two road games.
7. Los Angeles Kings
They’re road warriors (4-0-0) but their 1-2-2 record on home ice is a concern.
6. Colorado Avalanche
Six of their first eight games have been on the road and they’ve won four of them, which is terrific. But they have health concerns on their blue line; Bowen Byram and Cale Makar are both banged up right now.
5. Detroit Red Wings
The Wings are averaging four goals per game offensively and Alex DeBrincat is playing like the guy we saw in Chicago a few years ago.
4. Vancouver Canucks
Yeah, I’m going to pump the Canucks’ tires a little this week. They’re still second-best in the League with a plus-15 goal differential (tied with Boston) and haven’t lost a home game in regulation yet. They’re putting the Pacific on notice early.
3. New York Rangers
The Rangers have played seven of their first nine games away from Madison Square Garden and have won six of them. They have a plus-10 goal differential and have allowed only 18 goals in nine starts.
2. Boston Bruins
What a time in the League when a Bruins team that is off to the best start in the 100-year history of the franchise isn’t No. 1 on our list! They haven’t lost a game in regulation in nine starts and are tied with Vancouver for the second-best goal differential in the league.
1. Vegas Golden Knights
Y’all they still haven’t lost a game in regulation in ten starts. Their plus-16 goal differential is barely the best in the league but their 4-0-0 record away from home is impressive. They’re still the champs, and they’re playing like they want a repeat.