NHL 2022-23 Season Weekly Power Rankings: Tuesday 1/17
Welcome to week 14 of our power rankings here at Puck Prose. Today we are looking at the top teams in the NHL right now, and there is a new team in the top spot. Let’s dive right in with today’s rankings.
NHL 2022-23 Season Weekly Power Rankings: Tuesday 1/17
32. Chicago Blackhawks
For the fifth week in a row, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the bottom spot of our power rankings. The Blackhawks might have won a few games this past week, but their big loss to the Seattle Kraken is telling of why they are in the bottom spot.
This team is 11-26-4 on the year and are counting down the days until the 2023 NHL Draft. Oddly enough, the Blackhawks did have the fourth-best power-play percentage in the entire league.
31. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are next up with a record of 13-27-2 in their last ten games. Columbus went 1-2-0 this past week. They have given up a lot of goals averaging 5 per game, and are not playing great. Like the Hawks, they are looking toward the draft as the next major event.
30. Arizona Coyotes
Next up, we have the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes played four games this past week and lost all four of them, giving up 13 goals during that time. The Coyotes are on a nine-game losing streak and are close to getting back in the race with the Blackhawks for the bottom spot in the Central Division.
29. Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks also lost their games this past week. They lost two, scoring just two goals during each game, losing to the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils, giving up six goals in each game. Anaheim has the trade deadline to look forward to, but with John Klingberg not playing very great the Ducks might not be able to get as much for him.
28. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks went 1-2-0 this past week, losing to the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers; however, they did beat the Arizona Coyotes, so that can showcase why San Jose is above Arizona in these rankings.
27. Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver played four games this past week. They beat the Carolina Hurricanes in a shoot out to improve to 18-22-3 on the season. However besides that they lost to the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins. This team does not have a lot going for them, and considering the comments Jim Rutherford made recently about head coach Bruce Boudreau, I do not think this team is going in the right direction. Here is the quote from Rutherford
“All I can say is that Bruce is our coach right now. But with that, I’m calling and talking, but don’t know that we’re making a change and don’t want to make a change.”
Kind of an odd quote during the season on the current state of the coaching staff.
26. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are next up on the list finishing this past week with two wins and two losses. The Canadiens did beat the Rangers and Predators, which are two wins for the young team against teams trying to make the playoffs. However, they were part of history when the Seattle Kraken came to town on Monday, Jan. 9, and won one of their eight road games.
25. Ottawa Senators
This past week the Senators went 1-2-0 on the week. This team does not look like they are a contender one bit, losing 7-0 to the Avalanche on the road. While losing to the Avs is alright, falling 7-0 was definitely a shock to the system, and they did not wake up after that game as they lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
24. Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers actually had a great week. They went 3-0-0, beating the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. Capitalizing on a home-and-home versus the Capitals, where the Flyers outscored their opponent 8-4 overall and shutting out the Sabres is a big win for the team. Going into their matchup on Monday night against the Boston Bruins, the Flyers were 18-18-7 on the season, however, they lost that matchup on Monday 6-0.
23. Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are next up on the list. Nashville played four games this past week, winning just one against the Ottawa Senators on Monday. Besides that, this team has lost games against the Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Sabres. This was the first three-game stretch for the Predators where they did not pick up a single point on the year. Luckily it did not last long as they won 2-1 against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
22. Florida Panthers
Considering we are at the halfway point of the season, one team that really has been disappointing has been the Panthers, and a lot of different fans have spoken about this recently. The Panthers are the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner, but as of right now, it is by no means a guarantee that this group will make the playoffs. In fact, I would almost say chances are they miss out on the postseason.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been up and down all year. Unfortunately for them, this past week was not really great. The Penguins beat the Canucks on Tuesday but then lost two straight against the Jets and Hurricanes, two teams poised to be in the playoffs. In fact, in the Penguins’ past 11 games, they have won just three games, and all those wins have been against teams that are outside of the playoff picture in Anaheim, Vancouver and Arizona.
20. Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings actually had a good week this past week, going 2-1-0 winning games against the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs. The frustrating thing for this team is the game against the team outside of the playoff picture in Columbus is the one that ended up being a loss for the Wings. Detroit is having a really strong season this year. However, they are not winning enough games against beatable teams.
19. St. Louis Blues
St. Louis played three games this past week, going 1-2-0 during that time, beating the Calgary Flames and losing to the Lightning and Flames. Interestingly enough, though, the Blues did win on yesterday night which ended up being the franchise’s 2000 win.
18. Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres played four games this past week. Unfortunately, they won just one of them against the Nashville Predators. The Sabres are having a good season, and before this week, they were 19-15-2 on the season. While they are not in the playoff picture yet, they are playing some good hockey.
17. Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames have really found their grove since December started. Since the beginning of December, the team has gone 11-6-6, which really is pretty strong. This past week alone, the Flames were 2-0-1.
16. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders were 1-1-1 on the week, beating the Canadiens, losing to the Wild and picking up one point against the Dallas Stars. The Islanders are playing competitive hockey for the most part. They are in games against some of the best teams in the league and are in the hunt for a playoff spot.
15. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are getting a career season out of their captain and franchise star Connor McDavid. Yet that might not be enough to get this team to the postseason. The Oilers currently are tied with the Flames for the first wild-card spot, but the Avalanche are right behind them.
14. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is having an odd season after winning the Stanley Cup. They are fourth in the Central Division with 47 points and a record of 22-17-3. While they are having a pretty good season, some other opponents, particularly in the Pacific, are making things interesting to even compete for a wild card. With the top three teams in the Central at least five points ahead of the Avs, it is going to take an incredible stretch of games to get this team comfortable in the playoff race.
13. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are playing really well this year. Without consistent goaltending, this team is managing to win games. Last week the Kings were 2-1-0 on the week having beaten the Oilers and Sharks while falling to the New Jersey Devils. I think the big thing for the Kings is winning those divisional matchups, and so far, they have going 9-4-2 against Pacific Division teams. The scary thing for the Kings has to be their matchup against the Metro, where they have gone 0-6-1.
12. Washington Capitals
The Capitals are next up on the list. They currently have a record of 24-16-6 o the season, and if the playoffs started today, they would be the first wild-card team in the playoffs. I think the goal has to be the top wild card team considering the other matchup is destined to be the Boston Bruins, who have lost just five games in 43 games so it is hard to imagine they are going to lose four in seven right at the start of the playoffs.
11. Minnesota Wild
The Wild recently signed Matt Boldy to an extension keeping him in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. Like the extension, the Wild on the ice are showing that they do not care about their salary cap issues, and they are destined to play some great hockey. In their past ten games, the Wild are 5-3-2.
10. New York Rangers
Next up, the New York Rangers have really found their ground. In their past ten games, the team is 6-2-2. While they did recently lose to the Canadiens at home, the Rangers are finding their footing again. They might not be the top team in the league, but once the playoffs come around, anything can happen for the Rangers.
9. Dallas Stars
At number nine, we have the Dallas Stars. Dallas has a record of 6-3-1 in their last ten and a record of 26-12-7 so far on the season. The way the standings fall on Tuesday morning currently has the Stars and Wild matched up for a round-one playoff matchup. While it is still early, can we all agree that if this happens, the winner gets the Stars’ name? If Dallas wins, they remain the Dallas Stars, but if Minnesota wins, the North Stars are back!
8. Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is the lackluster team currently in the top eight. This team is 5-4-1 in their last ten and have lost two straight games. Additionally, the Golden Knights are not having the best showing t home. Currently they are just 13-12-0 at home compared to a dominant 15-3-2 record on the road. While there is still plenty of time to work out the kinks for this team, the Golden Knights do seem to be struggling a bit as of late.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is having a strong year. They are 26-11-7 on the season. They have 59 points on the year, which would put them in first place in the Pacific Division or tied for first in the Central Division, yet in the Atlantic Division, they are basically stuck in second place. Toronto can move up and down the rankings over the coming weeks, but all that will matter for them is game one of the Stanley Cup playoffs, their next real meaningful game.
6. Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are on a three-game win streak and are 8-2-0 in their last ten games. They have to be in the top six this week. Winnipeg is having one of the best comeback years we have seen, yet there are a few other teams on top of them in the rankings that are also putting up amazing seasons.
5. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are another one of those turnaround teams. The Devils have won five straight after struggling for a few weeks after going on a long winning streak. Hopefully, this team can start playing consistent hockey. I would say the one issue that still remains for this group has to be their goaltending situation.
4. Seattle Kraken
Next up, we have the Seattle Kraken. Seattle might have lost yesterday to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home, but before that, they went on an eight-game win streak, including seven games all on the road in a row. That is an incredible record for the young Kraken team, and I cannot wait to see how this fan base reacts as we reach the postseason for their first real welcome to the NHL.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have found their groove. They have won eight of their last ten games, including four in a row. They are third in the Atlantic Division, a place they are really comfortable being as they have been here before and won.
Additionally, this team is getting production from their top stars and more depth players. The best thing that could happen to this team is Brandon Hagel turning up the heat after being traded to the Lightning last year. Hagel has 17 goals and 20 assists in 42 games on the year, making him a really good top-six guy on a cheap deal for the team.
2. Boston Bruins
In second place, we have the Boston Bruins. Boston is 7-1-2 in their last ten games and has an overall record of 34-5-4. This team could break a record this season for the most wins in a regular season. They would need to get more than 62 to take the top spot, so it will be interesting to see how they do.
1. Carolina Hurricanes
The top team for the second time this season is the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina is currently in first place in the Metropolitan Division and is getting production from a ton of different players. So far this season, eight different players have over 20 points, and 11 different players have five or more goals. This team is deep and is really enjoying the addition of Brent Burns, who has six goals and 29 points on the season. This could be the Hurricanes’ year to make a real name for themselves in the playoffs.