November 26, 2025
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — We’ve reached the mythical United States Thanksgiving benchmark in the NHL where teams can feel pretty good about their playoff position... or be a nervous wreck about asking their boss(es) for permission to do something dramatic to change course.
There are already some teams making it clear they’re open for business, but the buyers’ list isn’t nearly as easy to define. The parity in the league has so many teams treading water around .500 over any 8- or 10-game stretch. But we’re seeing some striking numbers in the red in goal differentials that are likely keeping General Managers up at night – and their phones active already.
We have a new team at the top of the draft lottery board this week, but the top spot in our Power Rankings might be on lock for the foreseeable future.
Let’s jump into our Power Rankings for this final week in November. As always, let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.
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32. Nashville Predators
A minus-29 goal differential through 22 games is bad, and the “For Sale” signs are out in Nashville. To what degree do they burn it down? And how much can they realistically sell at this point?
31. Vancouver Canucks
Speaking of for sale signs, the Canucks are apparently ready, willing and able to listen. The worst part is they’re actually above .500 on the road (6-5-1) but they’ve been terrible at home (3-7-1).
30. St. Louis Blues
Are the Blues going to make a blockbuster trade to save the Oilers season? Their minus-24 goal differential is better than only the Predators entering Wednesday night’s action.
29. Edmonton Oilers
This is as much based on expectations as it is how they’re playing right now. The Oilers have allowed at least five goals in five of their 13 games in November, including allowing nine (to Colorado) and eight (to Dallas) in two of their last three home games.
28. Calgary Flames
The Flames have won three straight games and no longer own the top spot in the lottery. Congrats!
27. Toronto Maple Leafs
They’re finally starting to get some healthy bodies back in the lineup, but how much is that going to help their defensive issues? They’re 1-6-0 on the road.
26. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres are one of three teams left in the NHL still searching for a second win on the road (Nashville, Toronto being the others). Another year of crossing their fingers in the lottery?
25. New York Rangers
Things are maybe(?) getting better for the Rangers, but they’re still 2-7-1 at Madison Square Garden.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, but will get Zach Werenski back when they host the Leafs on Wednesday night.
23. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have feasted at home but are still struggling on the road. They’ve won seven of their last 10 but have a minus-four goal differential.
22. Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks have been banged up lately with some veterans missing action, but they still have a plus-seven goal differential before hosting Minnesota on Wednesday night.
21. Utah Mammoth
Entering Wednesday’s games, the Mammoth are just 3-4-3 in their last ten games. That cold streak has them fighting to stay around the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
20. Vegas Golden Knights
Winners of only three of their last ten (3-3-4) and down to just a plus-three goal differential, the Golden Knights are getting Mark Stone back just in time.
19. Boston Bruins
The Bruins are 8-4-0 at home and have won six of their last ten.
18. Montreal Canadiens
The Habs are back on the struggle bus. They’re 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and have a minus-four goal differential for the season.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins
The difference between the Habs and Pens is two key areas: Pittsburgh has a positive goal differential (+6) and… they have Sidney Crosby.
16. Detroit Red Wings
Sitting with a minus-five goal differential and four wins in their last ten, the Wings have enjoyed a good start on home ice (8-4-1).
15. Washington Capitals
Ovi keeps checking records off, but the Caps are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.
14. Florida Panthers
They are not getting their Tkachuk back yet, but the Panthers have won six of their last ten and have a solid 8-3-1 home record.
13. Ottawa Senators
The Sens are getting their Tkachuk back. They have won five of their last ten and have a break-even goal differential.
12. Winnipeg Jets
Speaking of getting captains back, the Jets have been in a funk lately. They’re 4-6-0 in their last ten but remain over .500 both at home and on the road.
11. Philadelphia Flyers
They’re still working on the Michkov Experience being more consistent, but the Flyers are a solid 8-3-2 at home to start the year.
10. New Jersey Devils
Everything on paper says they should be higher. Everything we’ve seen about the Devils without Jack Hughes the past few years tells us a slide is coming. Can they avoid that this time around?
9. Seattle Kraken
People keep telling us it’s smoke and mirrors, but the Kraken are tied for the sixth-best point percentage in the league entering Wednesday.
8. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are a fabulous 9-2-3 away from home. They’re a pedestrian 2-4-3 at home?
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
You know, just Jon Cooper’s crew quietly rolling off a four-game win streak and seven wins in their last ten. The usual.
6. New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer had some big skates to follow at the No. 1 pick after Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. But has he ever taken the NHL by storm? The Isles are 7-3-0 in their last 10 and have a plus-five goal differential.
5. Carolina Hurricanes
We couldn’t have the entire top five in the Western Conference, could we? The Canes’ plus-13 goal differential is tied with Washington for the third best in the league entering Wednesday’s action.
4. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are 8-2-0 at home and have a nice plus-11 goal differential. Their youth movement is paying off in real time, and Coach Q is showing he’s still got it behind the bench.
3. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have won five straight and are 8-1-1 in their last 10, but are still looking up at two teams in their division at the top of the standings – and our Power Rankings.
2. Dallas Stars
Dallas would have the best record in the league if the Avs didn’t exist. Unfortunately for them, not only does Colorado have a team, but they play in the Central Division.
1. Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are 9-0-1 in their last 10 and have been held to only one goal just once this year (by the Blackhawks on Sunday). They have yet to suffer a regulation home loss; they have only one regulation loss on the road. And it’s the end of November! Their plus-38 goal differential is more than double the next-best mark in the league (Dallas is plus-15).