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NHL Power Rankings: Last Regular Season Rankings, Washington Is Number One

By Matt Duscharme

Apr 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) after their game against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-0, and clinched the Metropolitan Division and the President's Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) after their game against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-0, and clinched the Metropolitan Division and the President's Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (27) warms up before the game against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous Ranking: 30 (+1)

Team Record: (22-54-3)

Goals For:

158

Goals Against:

267

Special Teams

PP: (12.5 percent) (30th)
PK: (76.4 percent) (29th)

Injury List

Blake Comeau – Leg – Day-to-Day
Mikko Rantanen – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Anton Lindholm – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Nikita Zadorov – Ankle – Out-for-Season
Semyon Varlamov – Groin – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Nathan MacKinnon (79gp 16g 35a 51pts)
Top Defenseman: Tyson Barrie (71gp 6g 30a 36pts)
Top Rookie: Mikko Rantanen (73gp 18g 18a 36pts)
Top Goaltender: Calvin Pickard (15 wins 2.95GAA .905save percentage)

Player of the Week: C Matt Duchene (3gp 1g 2a 3pts)

The nightmare is almost over, and the players are ready for a much needed lengthy summer to get the bad taste out of their mouths. The Colorado Avalanche will finish the season with one of the worst records in the past twenty years. The players that still have pride in their team colors have done some good for the fan base this past week. The Avs defeated the Blues in a shootout and defeated the West-leading Chicago Blackhawks in overtime with a loss to the Wild sandwiched in between to give them a 2-1-0 record.

Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog led the way offensively in what could be the duo’s final games in the Rockies. Duchene and Landeskog have both had poor seasons offensively themselves, but many believe their trade values aren’t at a complete loss. The Avs have seen some promising play from trial players like Matt Nieto, Sven Andrighetto, and Mark Barberio and will be expecting a jump in production from youngsters J.T. Compher, Mikko Rantanen and to a lesser extent Nate MacKinnon.

The Avalanche will be holding the best odds to obtain the first overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and many will wonder which of the big two (or three) they will take. Many experts say Nolan Patrick is the safe bet, but he lacks explosiveness in his game. Nico Hirschier has that explosiveness in his game, but visions of Nail Yakupov may make some GM’s nervous. Defender Timothy Liljegren is the best defenseman in the draft, and considering how much the Avs need defense in the short and long term, he could surprise. Just look at Matt Duscharme’s Mock Draft. The year from hell in the Rockies is almost over.

Prospect of the Year: C Tyson Jost, U. of North Dakota (NCHC)

2016-17 stats: 33gp 16g 19a 35pts

The Avalanche think they may have the next Jonathan Toews in Tyson Jost. The 10th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft does everything really good but doesn’t necessarily excel in one attribute. If he becomes Jonathan Toews 2.0 then great, but if he becomes Travis Zajac, the Avs can still be happy. Jost has the two-way game understanding down pat, and those are the types of players who win championships. He’s getting a look at the NHL level currently.

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