November 15, 2023
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — We’ve got a first checkmark in the “coach fired” pools. Jay Woodcroft was relieved of his duties over the weekend as the Oilers try to convince themselves he was the only problem. Meanwhile, there are a few ‘for sale’ signs going up in other cities (hello, Calgary) and other teams are patiently waiting for a Zoom link so they can pitch a certain future Hall of Fame right wing who’s on the market.
It’s also been so much fun to see the draft class of 2023 really take off recently. Connor Bedard’s a nightly highlight reel, Leo Carlsson has been terrific, and Adam Fantilli continues to do his thing in Columbus. Imagine when they all get really comfortable in the league!
Let’s get this party started.
As always, feel free to chime in and let me know what’s right and where we’ got it terribly, horribly wrong.
32. San Jose Sharks
Welcome back to the basement! With an atrocious minus-51 goal differential in 16 games and a 0-7-0 record away from the Shark Tank, we all know where this season is headed.
31. Nashville Predators
Owners of a four-game losing streak entering Wednesday, the Barry Trotz-driven quasi-rebuild project has a couple flat tires right now. They’ve allowed 52 goals in 15 games.
30. New York Islanders
Losers of five straight, the Isles have only put 33 goals on the board in 14 games. This roster might be past its expiration date.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets
When you lose six straight you move closer to the bottom of the Power Rankings. They’re still sorting out their young players and assessing their roster, but at some point they need to start producing. That includes Johnny Gaudreau.
28. Edmonton Oilers
Congrats for getting out of the basement thanks to two straight wins. Now we sit back and watch to see if Woodcroft was really the problem.
27. Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago hasn’t put together consecutive wins yet this season, but they do have Connor Bedard on an absolute heater right now. And that’s fun.
26. Ottawa Senators
With a 4-6-0 record in their last 10, the Sens are hoping to put the whole ownership change/Pinto suspended/docked a first-round pick part of their season behind them and start focusing on the ice.
25. Minnesota Wild
Remember when everyone just assumed they would finish third in the Central? Right now, they’re third from the bottom, have lost three in a row and don’t have the financial flexibility to do much to help their situation.
24. Calgary Flames
With a minus-14 goal differential in 15 games and the ‘for sale’ sign apparently up in front of the barn, the coming weeks could be very interesting for the Flames.
23. Seattle Kraken
The concerns here are their minus-18 goal differential and, more than that, their 2-5-0 record on home ice. After making the playoffs last year it’s taken them too long to get going this season.
22. Montreal Canadiens
Coming in strong with a .500 record and a minus-10 goal differential, the Habs are still trying to define themselves. Unfortunately for them, the top of the Eastern Conference might be running away.
21. Tampa Bay Lightning
How soon will their goaltender return to save the season? That might be a bit harsh, but three straight losses and a minus-six goal differential indicate this team needs to fix a few things. Their defense has left a lot to be desired lately.
20. Buffalo Sabres
We post this week’s Power Rankings with limited knowledge of how long they’re going to have to try to survive without Tage Thompson in the lineup. Perhaps Patrick Kane could come “home” to help improve the situation?
And yes, it took me that long to make a first reference to Kane being the cure for everything on your favorite team. Not bad, if I say so.
19. New Jersey Devils
Losers of three straight, it’s impossible to not put an asterisk on their last couple weeks because they’ve been without their top two centers. The sooner Jack Hughes can bring his Hart-caliber offense back into the fold the better.
18. St. Louis Blues
This week’s surprise team is the Blues, who handled the Lightning on Tuesday night and look up at a plus-six goal differential despite a 2-3-1 road record. They’ve won three straight.
17. Philadelphia Flyers
A team that was supposed to be in a hard rebuild year is hanging around. They have a positive goal differential still despite a sub-.500 record on home ice (3-4-0).
16. Arizona Coyotes
It’s becoming increasingly interesting that Arizona is floating around the middle of the Central Division (thanks to the bottom being so incredibly mediocre/bad). They have a plus-six goal differential.
15. Detroit Red Wings
Nine of their 15 games to date have been at home and they’re 5-2-2 at Little Caeser’s Arena. They’re only 4-4-2 in their last 10 and a few Eastern Conference teams are running past them (or soon will).
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
Winners of a league-best five straight games, the Pens improved to... 6-4-0 in their last 10. They’re an impressive 5-2-0 on the road, but 3-4-0 at home. This run has them up to a plus-14 goal differential. They have the big up arrow right now.
13. Washington Capitals
The Caps are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and have won their last three games, but they’re the highest-ranked team on our list this week with a negative goal differential (minus-two). Is this smoke and mirrors or are they just a gritty team?
12. Colorado Avalanche
They’re looking up at Dallas and that gap feels like it’s getting bigger. Their plus-four goal differential is somewhat surprising.
11. Carolina Hurricanes
They’ve played only four of their 15 games at home and haven’t suffered a loss there yet. So that’s a positive. Now about their goaltending... and their 49 goals allowed in 15 games... and the Kane rumors...
10. Winnipeg Jets
At 6-2-2 in their last 10 the Jets come into Wednesday with as many points as the Avalanche (though Colorado has one game in-hand). They also have the superior goal differential (plus-5).
9. Toronto Maple Leafs
Patrick Kane isn’t going to improve their defense or goaltending. I’m sorry to break that news. The issue isn’t their 55 goals scored in 15 starts, it’s the 54 they’ve allowed.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Having lost two straight, the Kings are now looking at their southern California neighbors in the rearview mirror and that object is significantly closer than they would probably like.
7. Anaheim Ducks
With an 8-2-0 record in their last 10, the Ducks are now squarely in the playoff conversation in the Pacific after finishing last season with the worst record in the league. It’s been a fun, surprising turnaround to start the season.
6. Florida Panthers
Winners of their last five since being blown out in Chicago (what?), the Panthers are 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have a lovely 6-1-0 record on home ice.
5. Vancouver Canucks
The highest-scoring offense in the league and NHL-best plus-33 goal differential just keep rolling along. They still haven’t suffered a regulation loss on home ice.
4. Vegas Golden Knights
Gasp! The defending champs slid out of the top spot this week despite having a plus-23 goal differential and being 6-3-1 in their last 10. What is this?
3. Dallas Stars
The smoke around the Dallas-Kane rumors is only going to intensify as they get better and better. How they make the financial gymnastics work will be interesting, but the Stars appear to be built for a deep run into the summer.
2. New York Rangers
Without a regulation loss in their last ten (9-0-1), the Rangers have only lost in regulation twice in 14 games this season. Every aspect of their game is working right now, and it sure looks like Alexis Lafrenière figured something out.
1. Boston Bruins
Welcome back to the top, Bruins fans. They have only suffered one regulation loss in 15 starts to begin the season, have allowed only 30 goals in those 15 games and have a plus-21 goal differential.