NHL power rankings: Lightning exit trade deadline as Stanley Cup favorites
The dust has settled from a chaotic 2020 NHL trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Lightning have emerged from the rubble as the clear Stanley Cup favorites in our NHL power rankings.
They say the second season starts after the NHL trade deadline. That’s when playoff teams resemble who they’ll be in the playoffs, at least roster-wise. This week’s NHL power rankings will sort out the best of the best from the rest.
If you’ve never read our power rankings before, welcome aboard! And if this isn’t your first time, welcome back. These rankings are my opinion of who I think the best teams in the league are. My rankings are based on who I think will win the Stanley Cup. I look at a team’s record, their strength of schedule, and their underlying numbers.
Don’t be shy to let your voice be heard. Do I hate your favorite team? Was I too kind to that team you really hate? Feel free to post your musings and thoughts in the comment section below. Without further ado, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
NHL POWER RANKINGS
31. Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings did well at the trade deadline, which means they’re in really good shape to finish with the NHL’s worst record. They have a 16 point lead over the LA Kings for last place in the league. As bad as the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres and 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche were, the 2019-20 Red Wings are a special breed of “bad”.
30. Ottawa Senators
For a second straight season, the Ottawa Senators were very active at the trade deadline. This time around, they got a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, plus two mid-round picks in 2021 for Vladislav Namestnikov and Tyler Ennis.
The Senators also traded Dylan DeMelo, who was arguably their best all-around defenseman. In short, the Red Wings better watch their back and not win too many more games if they want the honor of finishing in last place.
29. Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings continued their roster purge by getting great returns for Tyler Toffoli and Alec Martinez, plus about as good of a return as one could have hoped to get for Derek Forbort. This team is objectively bad and they just got worse. But at least they should finally get some young players more playing time.
28. San Jose Sharks
I’ll come out and say it. The San Jose Sharks deserve to suffer for not trading Joe Thornton to a Stanley Cup contender. But with that said, I love what they did at the trade deadline.
27. Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks struggle to score goals, so it’s probably not good that they traded Ondrej Kase, who, when healthy, can score goals. It’s become clear that general manager Bob Murray shouldn’t be leading this rebuild. And yes, it’s a rebuild.
26. New Jersey Devils
It’s painful to rebuild in the Metropolitan Division, which is stacked full of Stanley Cup contenders. But New Jersey Devils fans should be happy about their future. Tom Fitzgerald has done a heck of a job as their interim general manager and has made a really good case that “interim” should be removed from his job title.
25. Chicago Blackhawks
If you’re a Chicago Blackhawks fan, chances are you wanted general manager Stan Bowman to be fired before the NHL trade deadline. Even if you didn’t want him fired before, after seeing what they did at the deadline, you’re probably on board the “Fire Stan Bowman” express. And is it time to start wondering what’s going on with Alex DeBrincat?
24. Montreal Canadiens
I’ve got some bad news for you, Canadiens fans. Marc Bergevin did a really good job at the trade deadline. That might be enough to save his job, so the Canadiens will continue to tread in the waters of mediocrity.
23. Minnesota Wild
Credit general manager Bill Guerin for actually trying to do things. He got a solid return for Jason Zucker a few weeks ago. Given the circumstances and the whole “they tried to trade him twice and failed” thing, a first-round pick, a roster player, and a good prospect is about the best return he could have gotten. Also, Guerin almost traded Zach Parise to the Islanders.
22. Buffalo Sabres
How can have you have a player as outstanding as Jack Eichel and be this terrible? It should be a crime. Eichel should be in the Hart Trophy discussion, but likely won’t even finish in the top five (maybe not even top 10) because the Sabres are that bad.
21. Winnipeg Jets
Don’t their 32-27-5 record fool you. The Winnipeg Jets are an objectively bad team. They have plenty of skill, but their structure is horrible. Head coach Paul Maurice isn’t a good coach, yet he just got a multi-year extension. If they make the Stanley Cup Playoffs (which is sadly still possible), it will be due to Connor Hellebuyck.
20. Florida Panthers
No matter what happens to the Florida Panthers this season, they need to find a new general manager. Dale Tallon isn’t cutting it. And the Panthers have been quite patient with him, too. The Vincent Trocheck trade was brutal.
19. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers, as everyone expected, got an extra first-round pick at the NHL trade deadline because they traded someone. But it didn’t come via Chris Kreider, who got an extension. Rather, it came from Brady Skjei.
18. Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators made the interesting decision to do absolutely nothing at the trade deadline. They’re close to the playoffs and if their goaltending improves, it’s not hard to see them making some noise in the postseason. That is, if they get there.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets
Give credit to the Columbus Blue Jackets for sticking in the playoff hunt for this long despite having so many injuries. But all those injuries are starting to catch up to them, as they’ve won just two of their last 10 games. Not good when the teams you’re competing with are starting to do well.
16. Arizona Coyotes
Injuries are once again killing the Arizona Coyotes. It will be a darn shame if they miss the playoffs after trading for Taylor Hall. But the Pacific Division is rather weak and the Coyotes are, as of Feb. 25, in the playoffs.
15. Calgary Flames
It’s pretty incredible the Calgary Flames are doing so well despite the struggles of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Luckily, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm have stepped up big time. But unless they get Gaudreau and Monahan going, they won’t go far in the playoffs even if they make them.
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
Bad goaltending has certainly been an issue for the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially in February. But when you lose to an emergency backup goalie and you only put up 10 shots in 30+ minutes against him, maybe there’s a work ethic issue too.
13. Vancouver Canucks
Jim Benning’s job is on the line. That much is obvious. He wouldn’t have given up so much for Tyler Toffoli unless he knew he had to make the playoffs. With all of the Canucks injuries, Benning has to be sweating bullets.
12. New York Islanders
Getting Jean-Gabriel Pageau makes the Islanders better. But it’s fair to ask how much better it makes them. Is he going to make a team that recently scored two goals in a four-game span a Stanley Cup contender? And will Pageau continue to have over 15% of his shots on goal go in the net?
11. Edmonton Oilers
Ken Holland made some nice moves at the trade deadline. Andreas Athanasiou will be fascinating to watch. He certainly has enough speed and skill to play with Connor McDavid. Leon Draisaitl’s a Hart Trophy candidate. But what about the rest of the roster? That’s going to determine how far the Oilers go.
10. Carolina Hurricanes
It’s a bit surprising they didn’t trade for a goalie at the trade deadline, but if the Carolina Hurricanes play as well as they did in front of their emergency backup, they won’t need one. I’m curious to see where Vincent Trocheck fits in their lineup. He could play a variety of roles.
9. Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have quietly climbed up to third place in the Metropolitan Division. I like what they did at the trade deadline by getting quality depth forwards for cheap prices, but will it be enough to hold off the Islanders and Hurricanes? If their goaltending continues to improve, it should be enough. But the Flyers have a complicated history with goaltending, so who knows?
8. Vegas Golden Knights
They’re the best team in the Pacific and now they’re finally starting to play like it. Adding Robin Lehner’s going to make things mighty interesting.
7. Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars needed to add offense at the trade deadline, but they did nothing. I love them defensively. Ben Bishop is the kind of goalie who gives you a good chance of winning whenever he’s in goal. But the Stars can’t win games -1 to 0, despite what they might believe.
6. Colorado Avalanche
A lot of people are upset they didn’t do more at the trade deadline, and rightfully so. But if the Avalanche can get healthy, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Also, Vladislav Namestnikov is a good player, so there’s that.
5. St. Louis Blues
It was a bit surprising to see the St. Louis Blues add virtually nothing at the trade deadline. But hey, this team won the Stanley Cup a year go. And they’ll be getting Vladimir Tarasenko back soon. Repeating as the champs is hard, but the Blues have a shot.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Sullivan deserves the Jack Adams for getting this team to play as well as they have despite so many injuries. Patrick Marleau is still good offensively, but his defense has gone down the drain. If the Penguins can stay healthy (knock on wood), I think they’re going to be a really tough team to beat in the postseason.
3. Washington Capitals
They’ve been struggling, but they have so much skill. If the Capitals figure things out, they’re downright scary. Hopefully, the Caps will give us Ovechkin and Kovalchuk on the ice at the same time at 5v5. It’s what the hockey universe has been waiting for years to see.
2. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins didn’t make any sexy deadline moves, but I like what they did. Ondrej Kase, when healthy, is a great goal scorer. He’s what their second line needs. Nick Ritchie is a big guy who can skate well, so it’s not hard to see why the Bruins wanted him. He’ll make them tougher to handle in the playoffs.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last year, the Tampa Bay Lightning did nothing at the trade deadline and they regretted it. This time around, the Bolts got tougher, more skilled, and bigger. Blake Coleman is small on paper, but he’s a tough guy to play against and he’s physical. Not to mention he’s an outstanding 200-foot player. Good luck scoring on the Lightning if they put Anthony Cirelli and Coleman together.
Trade Deadline Grades For Each Team. dark. Next
I like Barclay Goodrow because it’s way harder than you think to find forwards who are actually good on defense. But he is. That said, a first-round pick is an asinine price to pay for Goodrow. I’m sure Lightning fans won’t mind the price if they win the Stanley Cup. But if they don’t, things could get interesting in Tampa.