December 3, 2025
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — We’ve turned the calendars to December, hockey fans! Some teams are jumping into the playoff picture who haven’t been there in a while, and some of the teams we assume will be playing in May have a lot of work to do to just get back into the races in their respective divisions and conferences.
From the hot goaltending in Minnesota to the incredible shows being put on from young superstars in Chicago and San Jose, the league is seeing the next wave of great players elevate themselves into the elite conversation. It’s truly a great time to be watching hockey.
Unless you’re a fan in Vancouver. Or Calgary. Or Nashville. Or St. Louis...
Let’s jump into our first Power Rankings for the final month of the calendar year. As always, feel free to chirp about what we got right and where we’re terribly, horribly wrong.
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32. Vancouver Canucks
The smoldering dumpster is only getting worse in Vancouver. The Canucks are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. The cellar isn’t that far off at this point.
31. Calgary Flames
The Flames escaped the last spot this week because the Canucks are that bad. But they’re the only team in the league entering Wednesday with a point percentage under .400.
30. Utah Mammoth
Things are rough in Utah right now. The excitement from the preseason has cooled off with the weather. The Mammoth are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games and have lost four straight.
29. Nashville Predators
The Preds are in last place in the Central, but there’s plenty of competition for that spot.
28. St. Louis Blues
One of four teams with a sub-.500 point percentage in the league (Calgary, Nashville and Vancouver), the Blues have the For Sale sign up. We’ll see how long it takes for the selling to begin.
27. Montreal Canadiens
Posting a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games, the Habs are starting to fight uphill for a playoff berth.
26. Edmonton Oilers
Please hear me when I say everything isn’t Stuart Skinner’s fault in Edmonton. A minus-15 goal differential isn’t exclusively a goaltending issue, unfortunately.
25. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres continue to tread water in the wrong rent district in the NHL, largely because they can’t win away from home (2-6-2 road record).
24. Florida Panthers
They won a championship with Seth Jones on the roster, but they need to turn the ship around soon or that first-round pick they sent to Chicago with Spencer Knight is going to be in the lottery.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner wasn’t the problem. Sorry, Leafs nation. They’re 4-4-2 in their last 10 and have a brutal 4-7-0 road record.
22. Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are doing alright in the standings, but they’re 4-4-2 in their last 10 and have a minus-seven goal differential.
21. Winnipeg Jets
It’s hard to explain how the Jets have been so middle-of-the-road… until you remember their goaltender was the league’s MVP last year. And who’s missing right now?
20. Detroit Red Wings
Are they chasing Quinn Hughes? Maybe. Will he help their minus-11 goal differential? Maybe. But the Wings have more holes than one elite defenseman will fix.
19. New York Rangers
The Rangers won a home game! And that improved them to 3-8-1 at Madison Square Garden this season. That has to get better.
18. Boston Bruins
The Bruins are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and have a minus-four goal differential. They need their best player to be healthy and back on the ice asap.
17. San Jose Sharks
Only seven of their 13 wins are in regulation and they have a minus-seven goal differential. But Macklin Celebrini has fully, officially arrived.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets need their offense to click consistently. They’re 4-2-4 in their last 10 games and have a minus-seven goal differential.
15. Chicago Blackhawks
The Connor Bedard Era has exploded this season. He’s making highlight plays every night, and has a fast supporting cast. Good luck to Hockey Canada making a decision on Bedard and Celebrini for the Olympics!
14. Ottawa Senators
They got Brady Tkachuk back this week, which should help. The Sens are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.
13. New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer might be better than advertised, which says a lot about a No. 1 overall pick. They’re an impressive 8-4-1 on the road.
12. Pittsburgh Penguins
At just 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, the Penguins are benefitting from parity making the Eastern Conference a wide-open race right now.
11. Los Angeles Kings
LA is the highest-ranked team in our power rankings this week with a negative goal differential; the Kings are minus-4 with a back-to-back at home against the Blackhawks on deck.
10. Dallas Stars
Dallas being here isn’t about their record or recent play. It’s about the growing list of players out of their lineup and hurting. Tyler Seguin’s injury adds him to a list with Nils Lundqvist, Lian Bischel, Thomas Harley and Matt Duchene.
9. Vegas Golden Knights
Their game with Chicago on Tuesday night was epic. Vegas has their captain back and an opportunity to do some damage in their division.
8. Philadelphia Flyers
Rick Tocchet can coach, folks. I know Vancouver doesn’t’ want to hear it, but he’s made a huge difference in Philly this year.
7. Anaheim Ducks
Leo Carlsson is emerging as a bona fide star in the league, and the vets around him are making the Ducks a tough out every night.
6. New Jersey Devils
There are still questions about their staying power without Jack Hughes, but the Devils are 9-2-1 on home ice.
5. Carolina Hurricanes
Still the top point percentage in their conference (.680), the Canes are only 5-3-2 in their last 10 and have a few teams in their rearview mirror now.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts rank second in the East in point percentage (.654) and are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. Another masterclass from Jon Cooper.
3. Washington Capitals
The Caps are 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have won five straight games. They’re rolling and are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference at the moment.
2. Minnesota Wild
Maybe the best goaltending tandem (certainly the hottest) in the NHL has the Wild 8-0-2 in their last 10 games. They’re rolling. But they’re still looking up in the Central Division, because…
1. Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have one regulation loss in 26 starts. They’re historically good. And 18 of their 19 wins have been in regulation.