Week 3 Power Rankings For 2014-15 NHL Season
By PowerPlayCJ @powerplaywithcj
Week 3 Power Rankings For 2014-15 NHL Season
As the 2014-15 NHL season approaches its third week, the gap between good teams and bad teams is becoming more and more apparent with every game. These rankings have been constructed based on the NHL standings and my eye test. As it's still early, take these rankings with a grain of salt because there is still plenty of hockey left to play.
30. Carolina Hurricanes
30. Carolina Hurricanes
The winless Carolina Hurricanes continue their unmitigated disaster of a season as they wrap up their Western Canadian road trip in Vancouver. Even with the pending return of team captain Eric Staal, things aren’t turning around anytime soon and the winds of change are likely brewing in Raleigh.
29. Buffalo Sabres
29. Buffalo Sabres
Sam Reinhart got his first NHL point and the Buffalo Sabres beat the free falling San Jose Sharks, so some positives did come out of their West Coast swing. Beyond that, getting beaten and beaten up by Stanley Cup contenders in Anaheim and Los Angeles shows this is still a young, rebuilding squad that is years away from contention.
28. Winnipeg Jets
28. Winnipeg Jets
Being mediocre appears to be the status quo in Winnipeg, as the struggling Winnipeg Jets continue to plug along with no signs of getting better. The team’s loss to the injury-plagued Tampa Bay Lightning shows just how far the team needs to go be respectable. Getting power forward Evander Kane back in the lineup soon could give the struggling team a shot in the arm.
27. Edmonton Oilers
27. Edmonton Oilers
A three-game win streak win including a win over the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2006 Stanley Cup Final rematch shows that the Edmonton Oilers may not be the worst team in hockey. Having said that, there’s still a ways to go before the team is anywhere near respectability.
26. Colorado Avalanche
26. Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche were last year’s Cinderella team and apparently it’s midnight because they're a shell of the team they were last season. In what was supposed to be the year he established himself as a bona fide superstar teenager Nathan MacKinnon has yet to score a goal through eight games. An upcoming slate of games that includes the St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks, and New York Islanders means it’s unlikely it will be turning around.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last year’s collapse appears to not have been a fluke, as the Toronto Maple Leafs still have no idea how to play defense and appear to want their coach, Randy Carlyle, fired. Their blowout at the hands of the Boston Bruins shows how far the Leafs have fallen since almost upsetting the Bruins in 2013.
24. Florida Panthers
24. Florida Panthers
Despite their lowly two wins, things aren’t as bad as they appear as teenagers Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov are showing real signs of promise. If they continue their steady development, the team might be able to turn things around. If not, it’ll be another year of abysmal hockey in South Florida.
23. Arizona Coyotes
23. Arizona Coyotes
The win over the lowly Florida Panthers aside, the newly named Arizona Coyotes still look their old selves. The team can’t score and worse still, former Vezina finalist Mike Smith looks like an absolute shell of himself this season. An upcoming East Coast swing could be an early “make or break” situation for the team.
22. New York Rangers
22. New York Rangers
The reigning Eastern Conference champs are great one minute and awful the next, as evidenced by their loss in Montreal. The team will have a big choice to make regarding star teenager Anthony Duclair, as his nine game threshold for his rookie contract is looming. The team’s upcoming slate of games could be what decides where the Montreal native play the rest of the season.
21. St. Louis Blues
21. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have not looked like the powerhouse they were expected to be this season, but it’s still early. Their win over the hated rival Chicago Blackhawks shows how good the Blues can be. Having said that, losing Paul Stastny for an extended period of time is a tough break the team will have to overcome.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
20. Philadelphia Flyers
Wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings show how good the Philadelphia Flyers can be. That being said, losing Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald for the next four weeks is a huge blow to an already less than stellar blue line. Giving prized prospect Shayne Gostisbehere a shot in the NHL should at least give the team a shot in the arm.
19. Boston Bruins
19. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have had their ups and downs all season, and will be without team captain Zdeno Chara for four to six weeks. If any team can overcome a rough start and loss of an all-world player, it’s the Bruins. Look for them to step up with a big effort at home against the young and exciting Minnesota Wild.
18. Vancouver Canucks
18. Vancouver Canucks
For a team that was supposed to be awful, the Vancouver Canucks have looked better than average to start the season as new acquisitions Ryan Miller and Radim Vrbata have looked good in the season’s early goings. Having said that, getting blown out by the Colorado Avalanche shows it’s not smart to be too optimistic with this team.
17. San Jose Sharks
17. San Jose Sharks
After a stellar start, the Sharks are winless in four straight -- not first time that’s happened to this team in this calendar year -- and lost at home to the Buffalo Sabres. A Sunday night game in Anaheim could really be make or break for the team in the early going of the season. One positive in the early goings of the season is the seamless transition Brent Burns has made back to defense with nine points in eight games.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
The injury-riddled Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t been lighting the world on fire, as they have had their share of inconsistencies early on, but that’s okay. As long as the team keeps its head above water until reinforcements, such as Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner, arrive, they should compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
15. Calgary Flames
15. Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames have a weird mix of veterans and young talent that has made them a better than average team in the early goings of the season. It’ll be tough for them to keep it up in a loaded Western Conference, but with youngsters such as Johnny Gaudrea and Sean Monahan leading the way, there is reason for optimism. Tuesday’s home game against the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens should be a great test.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning
14. Tampa Bay Lightning
After a great start, the Tampa Bay Lightning have hit kind of a rut in the road as injuries have piled up and the team is going through some early season adversity. Rookie sensation Jonathan Drouin has been great and will only get better. With a roster this talented, they should be back to their winning ways before long, especially with a looming four game home stand.
13. Minnesota Wild
13. Minnesota Wild
After losing in Anaheim and Los Angeles, the Minnesota Wild have returned to their winning ways and appear to be very much a contender in the Western Conference. With Charlie Coyle locked up long-term, look for the Massachusetts native to have a big game in his homecoming when the team takes on the Boston Bruins this week.
12. Ottawa Senators
12. Ottawa Senators
In the Wake of the tragedy in Ottawa, the Ottawa Senators have become a nice sanctuary for the city to turn to get through its tough time. New captain Erik Karlsson has been a big reason for the team’s hot start and will need to be at his best, as the team has five straight games against 2014 playoff teams coming up.
11. Chicago Blackhawks
11. Chicago Blackhawks
Losing back to back games in St. Louis and Nashville is tough, but this Chicago Blackhawks team knows how to rally through adversity and will surely bounce back before long. Look for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to get the team back on track, as Tuesday night’s game against Anaheim is an absolute measuring stick game.
10. New Jersey Devils
10. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have surprised many behind the stellar play of Cory Schneider and Jaromir Jagr continuing to defy age. A big game in Pittsburgh this week will surely go a long way in seeing how good this New Jersey squad is. It’s worth noting that their historically bad run in shootouts will need to change if the team wants to be a legitimate player in the Eastern Conference.
9. Dallas Stars
9. Dallas Stars
The Tyler Seguin trade keeps looking better and better, as he and Jamie Benn have formed one of the best dynamic duos in the league. Despite their loss to the New York Islanders, the Dallas Stars show all the signs of contending this season. Upcoming home games against St. Louis and Anaheim will be great gauges for the team’s potential.
8. Detroit Red Wings
8. Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings’ young talent is amazing, and the return of Pavel “The Magic Man” Datsyuk means Detroit is playing to win. Despite their loss in Philadelphia, the Red Wings look like a legitimate playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
7. Washington Capitals
7. Washington Capitals
Barry Trotz has revitalized this team, as the squad looks better than it has in years, despite a loss to the lowly Edmonton Oilers. With superstar Alexander Ovechkin buying into the system, the best could be yet to come for the team and Ovechkin this season.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
Losing to the arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers stings, but the Pittsburgh Penguins got back to their winning ways in the Music City, handing the Nashville Predators their first regulation loss. Pittsburgh’s retooled top line of former Pred Patric Hornqivst with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz has been one of the best lines in hockey all year. That’s what Crosby does.
5. New York Islanders
5. New York Islanders
Frans Nielsen’s hat trick against the Dallas Stars is only one highlight of the team’s great start to the season. With depth at every position and the team clicking on all cylinders, look for the team to prove itself on it upcoming West Coast road trip.
4. Nashville Predators
4. Nashville Predators
Despite suffering their first regulation loss of the season at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Nashville Predators have established themselves as a great team in the early goings of the season. New acquisition James Neal has given the team new-found offense, and the defense/goaltending that have been the bread and butter of the team remain as good as ever.
3. Los Angeles Kings
3. Los Angeles Kings
The reigning champions are looking like absolute world beaters, as they are one of the hottest teams in the league. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter’s “homecoming” in Philadelphia highlight an upcoming East Coast swing for the Los Angeles Kings, who will surely see their mettle tested.
2. Montreal Canadiens
2. Montreal Canadiens
A blowout in Tampa aside, the Montreal Canadiens are looking an even better version of their 2014 Eastern Conference Finalist squad. With Max Paciroretty leading an underrated group of forwards, the best could be yet to come for this Montreal team.
1. Anaheim Ducks
1. Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks keep rolling, as they have won seven straight games and appear to be as good their 2007 version that won the Stanley Cup. Corey Perry looks like he could be adding even more hardware to his already stellar resume, as he just keeps scoring. Five straight games against 2014 playoff teams will test how good Anaheim is.
Cory Schneider Needs A Smaller Workload
by Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils have played goalie Cory Schneider every game. This isn't sustainable. Read More
New Jersey Devils Get Blown Out By Pittsburgh
by Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils were dominated by the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-3. Read More
Opportunities Arise For Gaudreau Due to Injuries
by Shaun Lavery
Due to the Mason Raymond injury, Johnny Gaudreau can prove himself to the Flames' staff with an increase in playing opportunities. Read More
Maple Leafs Facing Sabres In No-Win Scenario
See how the Toronto Maple Leafs face a no-win scenario as they look to redeem themselves with the Buffalo Sabres in town. Read More
Hockey Fight Ends In One Punch
This is how you end a hockey fight quickly. Read More
Blue Jackets Must Fight Through Key Injuries
The Columbus Blue Jackets' injuries are piling up, but they have find a way to persevere in the coming weeks. Read More
Brassard Quietly Off To Great Start For Rangers
The New York Rangers have little depth at the center ice position, but that hasn't stopped center Derick Brassard from having a fast start to the season. Read More
Canadiens Must Learn Lessons From Shutout Loss
by Lissa Albert
The Montreal Canadiens lost only their second game this season. There were many things that did not go well for the Habs. Here are some lessons to take from the loss as the team moves forward. Read More