NHL Power Rankings Heading Into Week 5 of 2016-17

Previous Ranking: 3 (+2)

Team Record: (10-4-0)

Player of the Week: F Kevin Hayes (4gp 3g 3a 6pts)

Special Teams

PP: 11-for-49 (22.4 percent) (8th)
PK: 6-for-38 (84.2 percent) (12th)

Another great week on Broadway going 3-1. The Rangers scored five goals in each of their first three games before being limited to just three in their loss to Vancouver. Is there a hotter team in the NHL right now? Montreal might have a better record, but that 10-0 blemish tells you more about the impact Carey Price has. At this point, New York could be considered among the favorites for the Presidents’ Trophy and a deep Stanley Cup push.

At 58 goals for, the NYR are dominating the NHL with an astounding 4.14 goals-per-game average. While it’s difficult to imagine that impressive pace to hold over the course of 82 games, there is no reason to believe that the well-rounded scoring their receiving is about to dry up anytime soon. GM Jeff Gorton did an excellent job bringing in just the right players which allows the team to spread out the scoring effectively. It also doesn’t hurt that veteran Rick Nash has bounced back from a dreadful 2015-16 with 10 points in 13 games already. Even if New York is hoping to shed the salary via expansion draft, a performance such as this makes freeing up that $7-plus million dollars more likely.

Even the blue line has stepped up to contribute in the offense and one might argue it’s a driving force to their success. After all, the more effectively you can move the puck and play in the offensive zone, the less they have to worry about defending. I imagine some fans might be upset over the recent trade of Dylan McIlrath, and that’s understandable given his potential. It just seemed there was no room in the equation, which wasn’t fair to the player who deserves an opportunity. Instead, Jeff Gorton adds another draft pick to the cupboard (much needed) and a reliable depth defender in Steven Kampfer. This is a surprisingly good deal when you break it down.

The statistics up front are unreal through 14 games. Kevin Hayes hot-week brought him up to 13 points, while J.T. Miller also has 13. Rick Nash, Jimmy Vesey, Michael Grabner, Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider all have 10 points (all have played the full 14 games aside from Kreider at 10gp). Both Mats Zuccarello and Brandon Pirri sit with nine points (tied with defenders Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei). Then lastly, we’ve got Jesper Fast with seven points in 14 games and Pavel Buchnevich also with seven points, but in nine games.