NHL Power Rankings: First Month Surprises and Sleepers

NHL Power Rankings are in, and the first month of the regular season is in the books. We are starting to get a feel of which teams are establishing themselves as contenders, as well as which teams aren’t really in the running for the playoffs.

NHL Power Rankings – Month in Review

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-8-4) (-1)

Oct 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Reilly (44) races down ice with the puck against Ottawa Senators in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Not a huge drop in the standings for the Leafs, but that’s because there really wasn’t that far to drop in the first place. Toronto has struggled mightily to begin the 2015-2016 campaign, winning only two of their first 13 games. Toronto finds itself in the bottom third in almost every important statistical category (28th in GPG, 25th in GA, 24th in PP%, and 20th in PK%). That is a recipe for disaster.

While Mike Babcock certainly won’t have to worry about being in the hot seat this early into his tenure as coach, but this couldn’t have been the start he imagined. The Leafs only have three players with a positive plus/minus rating: Daniel Winnik, Michael Grabner, and Dion Phaneuf.

The goaltending situation has been atrocious. James Reimer (2-2-3) and Johnathan Bernier (0-6-1) have split starts through the teams first 13 games, but neither has taken the reins on the starting gig. Tough times in Toronto right now, and it doesn’t seem like a turnaround is close.

Toronto’s approach to prospects has already been on full display after the Maple Leafs decided to call up Byron Froese, instead of calling up William Nylander, who already has 14 points in 12 games. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier was placed on IR last week, which triggered the call up of Antoine Bibeau. The young goaltender is still looking to make his NHL debut.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (4-11-0) (-6)

Nov 6, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Curtis McElhinney (30) attempts to block a shot by Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (not pictured) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

After an absolutely brutal start to the season where we saw the Jackets fail to register a single point in their first 7 games of the season, it was clearly time for a change. Columbus fired coach Todd Richards, and brought in a more seasoned coach with a winning track record in John Tortorella.

While Tortorella lost his debut with Columbus, and accordingly saw his team drop their record to 0-8-0, it is obvious the Blue Jackets are playing much more inspired hockey with Torts behind the bench. Since Tortorella has taken over, the Jackets have gone 4-4, and are trying to turn their season around.

Columbus is struggling to put the puck in the net, while also having a difficult time keeping the rubber out of their own net, resulting in only Cody Goloubef and Brandon Dubinsky having a positive plus/minus so far through the season.

Sergei Bobrovsky, after a tough start to the year, has started to look more confident in net, but the backup situation is far less stable. The Jackets have a long way to go and need a lot of luck if they want to find a way into the postseason this year. But if there’s anyone who can help, it’s John Tortorella.

28. Calgary Flames (5-9-1) (-18)

Nov 7, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrates his empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Flames won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

One of the preseason’s sexiest picks to make the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flames have been anything but hot to start the year. Many thought with the mixture of youth and experience, coupled with last season’s success, that Calgary would come firing on all cylinders out of the gate. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Like Toronto, the Flames find themselves in the bottom third in some very important statistical categories (20th in GPG, 30th in GA, 23rd in PP%, and 25th in PK%).

The goaltending situation is without a doubt the biggest issue in Calgary. The rotation of Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller, and Joni Ortio has been a disaster. All 3 netminders have a SV% south of .900, while also having GAA average north of 3.50. It doesn’t matter what team you have in front of you, that type of production is not going to cut it on any level, let alone the NHL.

Newcomer Dougie Hamilton has had a very frustrating start to his career in Calgary. Hamilton has accumulated a -9 rating so far this year, and while his defense has always been his biggest flaw, usually his offensive numbers have been there to make up for it. Unfortunately for Hamilton he has only two goals and two assists so far; shockingly low numbers for a player of his offensive ability. The recent return of T.J. Brodie should hopefully add some stability to Calgary’s blue-line (Brodie was Giordano’s top-pair partner last season).

The only bright spot for the Flames is the continued growth and development of Johnny Gaudreau. He is currently the only player on the roster to have played every game this year, and have posted a positive plus/minus. Luckily for Calgary, Sam Bennett is starting to heat up with nine points in 14 games. The Flames still have all the talent to be successful, but they need to start playing better defense and they need one of their goalies to establish themselves as a solid starter.

27. Colorado Avalanche (4-9-1) (-7)

Nov 6, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) is congratulated for his power play goal by center Carl Soderberg (34) and defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) and left wing Alex Tanguay (40) and right wing Jarome Iginla (12) in the first period agains the New York Rangers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Av’s were another team picked to be a possible threat in the West this year, but a slow start has gotten people questioning whether they are the real deal.

One thing that is surely for real, which is Nathan MacKinnon. The 3rd year pro is showing signs of a bounce back season after a sophomore slump that saw his production drop heavily from his rookie campaign. MacKinnon looks more confident on the ice and it seems as though he is a more experienced and smart player out there.

The main problem with Colorado this year has been their defensive play. Too many times have breakdowns or mental mistakes cost the Av’s while leaving Semyon Varlamov hanging out to dry. There really isn’t a defenseman on the roster that is a lock-down defender, and it shows.

The Av’s have plenty of offensive firepower, but I believe the old adage, “Defense wins championships” applies more than ever with this team. Head Coach Patrick Roy might begin to feel his seat getting a little hot if the Av’s don’t find a way to turn things around on the defensive end.

26. Anaheim Ducks (5-7-2) (-23)

Nov 6, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) celebrates with his team after the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Honda Center. The Anaheim Ducks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Oh, how the Mighty (Ducks) have fallen. Seriously, the Ducks have dropped 23 spots since the preseason power rankings were released. Not many could have seen this start coming from a perennial playoff team like Anaheim. The strange thing is, the Ducks have been one of the best defensive teams in the league to start the year. They are currently 6th in GA average, while also boasting the league’s best penalty kill.

The obvious problem then, is the offense. The Ducks are the 28th in PP% which is contributing to them scoring only 1.5 goals per game, worst in the league. The losses of Francois Beauchemin and Matt Beleskey seem to have hurt the Ducks more than originally anticipated. Leaders like Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have had less than stellar starts to the year, which is especially critical to this team as they are relying on those two more than ever. Newcomer Carl Hagelin has been invisible, posting only a goal and an assist for 2 points in the teams first 14 games.

Goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Anton Khudobin have been great in net, often keeping their team in games they have no business being in. But the goaltending really doesn’t mean much when the men in front of you are averaging less than 2 goals a game. Are the Ducks still as Mighty as we are used to? Or will Gordon Bombay need to come in and re-establish the Flying-V?

Next: 25-21