NHL Power Rankings: Capitals take top spot, plus every team’s Christmas wishlist
All 32 teams — even the good ones — need something. It might not be what they want, but it's what they should get.
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We’ve hung the lights here at Power Rankings HQ. We’ve trimmed the tree. Now, it’s time to go shopping.
All 32 teams — even the good ones — need something. Luckily, they’ve got a pair of kindly elves to make those requests. It might not be what they want, but it’s what they should get.
As for you? Christmas has come early! You get a list of hockey teams, ordered from best to worst! Ho ho ho!
1. Washington Capitals, 20-6-2
Last week: 3Sean’s ranking: 1
Dom’s ranking: 1
Continued rehab progress for Alex Ovechkin.
All credit to the Capitals for pushing their way to the top of the Eastern Conference in the wake of Ovechkin’s broken leg on Nov. 18, but they’ve gone from averaging 4.3 goals per game with him to 3.82 without him. Ovechkin is skating on his own, by the way, but unlikely to return before Christmas, according to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.
That’s not to say that Washington isn’t finding a way to get stuff done without him; linemate Aliaksei Protas scored twice in Thursday’s 2-1 over Columbus, giving the Caps their 10th straight road win.
2. Vegas Golden Knights, 19-7-3
Last week: 4Sean’s ranking: 2
Dom’s ranking: 2
More Mark Stone power-play goodness.
Stone missed 14 games but is still on pace to set career highs in goals (29) and points (107). That says plenty about two things: how good he’s been this season and how much time he tends to miss.
He remains an all-around force, but Vegas might have felt his absence most acutely on the power play, where they were fourth in the NHL in goals per 60 before his injury (11.9) and 18th while he was recovering (6.8).
3. Minnesota Wild, 19-6-4
Last week: 1Sean’s ranking: 3
Dom’s ranking: 3
Some productive time off for Joel Eriksson Ek.
Over the last few years, Eriksson Ek has grown into a complete player — we knew he was a high-end defensive center, and then he started adding some consistent point production to his game. At the moment, though, he’s more than a week into his stint on the shelf with a lower-body injury with no clear end in sight.
The Wild seem to have built enough cushion to let him take all the time he needs; he’s dealt with a few issues already in 2024-25, during which his scoring rate (1.86 points per 60) dipped to its lowest level since 2018-19. In the meantime, Marco Rossi can cook, and the Wild can eventually enjoy having two true top-six-caliber centers.
4. Winnipeg Jets, 21-9-1
Last week: 6Sean’s ranking: 5
Dom’s ranking: 5
Some of that early power-play shooting juice
During their 15-1 start, the Jets had the most productive power play in the league, scoring 16.56 goals per 60, more than double their expected number. In the process, more than 27 percent of their shots found the net, nearly five percentage points ahead of second-place Colorado.
Expecting that over the course of an entire season would be foolish — and all those numbers have indeed fallen during their recent run of sub-.500 hockey. In that time, they’ve been middle-of-the-pack across the board with the man advantage. Heating back up wouldn’t hurt.
5. Carolina Hurricanes, 18-9-1
Last week: 2Sean’s ranking: 4
Dom’s ranking: 6
A top-pair bounceback
Last year the Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns pair earned 58 percent of the actual and expected goals. This year they’re down to 54 percent and have been narrowly outscored 21-19. That’s very unlike them.
In their defense, the duo is playing extremely tough minutes, more-so than usual. Still, we’re used to seeing better results and process from the pair. They need to be better. Over the last month both Slavin and Burns have just a 50 percent xG rate.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs, 18-9-2
Last week: 5Sean’s ranking: 7
Dom’s ranking: 4
Auston Matthews’ swagger back
The Leafs are 18-9-2, they’re first in the Atlantic, and they look like they have the defensive might to go deep this season. All of that is good news, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this team could be even better and that starts at the top. Matthews has been good, but he’s been nowhere close to his usual self — an MVP-caliber superstar who can score at will. Some of that is injury troubles to start the year and in time he may find his game. When he does, the Leafs have a chance to really take off.
7. Florida Panthers, 18-9-2
Last week: 7Sean’s ranking: 6
Dom’s ranking: 7
A power-play QB
The Panthers have the league’s fifth-best power play, so it’s hard to complain too much about personnel — it’s working. Having Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk running the show is a big deal. Still, it would be nice if the guy up top was someone a bit more credible.
And in the meantime, imagine being the bonehead who thought Adam Boqvist could be that guy. Wow!
8. New Jersey Devils, 19-10-3
Last week: 8Sean’s ranking: 8
Dom’s ranking: 9
Better from Jacob Markstrom
It’s not that Markstrom has been bad — he started Thursday night with a .906 save percentage and about two goals saved above expected, then stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced against Los Angeles. That’s OK. The Devils, no doubt, thought they were getting a bit more than “OK” when they acquired Markstrom over the summer. Jake Allen, solid a backup as he may be, shouldn’t look like an equally appealing option.
9. Los Angeles Kings, 17-9-3
Last week: 11Sean’s ranking: 9
Dom’s ranking: 10
Some respect for Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar has spent most of his career not getting the credit he deserves and that hasn’t changed in his 19th season. At 37, this man has 32 points in 29 games — a 90-point pace. And yet there hasn’t been much press about it from the dastardly East Coast media. For shame.
10. Edmonton Oilers, 17-10-2
Last week: 13Sean’s ranking: 11
Dom’s ranking: 8
Any five-on-five offense from anyone other than McDavid and Draisaitl
On Thursday night, Edmonton’s offense finally looked like the machine we expected it to be, against the Wild no less. It was an impressive 6-1 win, but it still needs to be said that outside the team’s two megastars, goals have been extremely difficult to come by at even strength.
After McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers have just two players scoring over 1.5 points-per-60 at five-on-five. Mattias Janmark (1.64) and Jeff Skinner (1.54). Almost all of their other forwards are below 1.25 points-per-60. That’s pathetic!
And while Zach Hyman has taken a lot of heat this season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ offensive struggles shouldn’t be glossed over. In 28 games he has just six points at five-on-five. That’s unacceptable for a guy who spends so much time with the best player in the world.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning, 15-10-2
Last week: 10Sean’s ranking: 10
Dom’s ranking: 11
Some forward depth
We’ve spent plenty of space here gassing up the Lightning’s top six, and for good reason — they have 74 goals from their big guns. Anthony Cirelli, for one, is a legit Selke candidate and 55th in the league in goals per 60, and he’s, what, their third-best forward? Fourth?
Still, they need a little more from the third and fourth lines. Those guys are generally playing with the puck, which is nice, but 17 goals in more than two months of hockey isn’t what you want to see from a top-tier contender.
12. Dallas Stars, 17-11-0
Last week: 9Sean’s ranking: 12
Dom’s ranking: 12
A top-four defenseman
It was clear from the offseason that the Stars would enter the season with a serious hole on their blue line without Chris Tanev. Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin absolutely weren’t going to cut it in the top four.
Lo and behold, that’s exactly what’s happened. Dumba has not magically bounced back and Lyubushkin has not magically become more than a third-pair guy. How bad is it? The Stars are willingly pairing Nils Lundkvist — who infamously averaged 4:28 during the playoffs last year — with Esa Lindell on the second pair.
Lucky for Dallas, the Stars have three excellent defensemen. But the drop-off afterward is dramatic. This team desperately needs an upgrade.
13. Vancouver Canucks, 14-8-5
Last week: 12Sean’s ranking: 13
Dom’s ranking: 13
A defenseman Hart Trophy win
It’s been a long time since a defenseman was a Hart Trophy finalist, let alone won the thing. Quinn Hughes might just change that this season with how vital he’s been for the Canucks. This, from earlier this week, is just one example.
Hughes has the production and all-around game to make a case, but for those who love a good narrative when it comes to MVP voting, Hughes’ case feels stronger than any other right now. He is the engine keeping a weirdly mid Canucks team competitive every night.
14. Colorado Avalanche, 17-14-0
Last week: 15Sean’s ranking: 14
Dom’s ranking: 14
Goaltending
And would you look at that, Santa came early. The Avalanche wasted no time fixing their woeful goalie situation trading both of the goalies they started the season with. Is a combo of MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood something to believe in? Probably not. But hey, it’s an improvement over what they were getting with Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen.
15. Boston Bruins, 15-12-3
Last week: 14Sean’s ranking: 15
Dom’s ranking: 16
Someone to hug Jeremy Swayman
For the first time in his career, Swayman allowed eight goals on Tuesday in an embarrassing drubbing at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets. Fresh off a big contract, Swayman has not looked himself this season with an .886 save percentage while allowing 11.8 goals saved above expected. That’s the worst mark in the league!
It’s clear what’s missing from the equation here: Hugs from his best friend Linus Ullmark. The power of friendship is real and Swayman is struggling without it. Someone on the team needs to step up to fill the void.