NHL preseason power rankings: Lightning, Avs sitting pretty as season begins
The reigning Stanley Cup champions and the Avalanche open the season with high expectations.
Hello friends!
Today is the first of two (2) preview pieces I’ve written before the start of the new season. For today, enjoy my personal preseason power rankings as to where I’ve put each team on a scale heading into the new year. Hockey is almost back, so let’s dive in!
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The 2020-21 NHL season is upon us! It’s been some time since we’ve had NHL hockey grace our television screens, but on Wednesday the league will begin its slate of 56 games set to last until May, should everything go to plan in this pandemic world.
Previously in my career, I’ve had the pleasure of doing power rankings for the NHL at large at the start of every month, so I thought I’d keep up with the tradition and do my own personal power rankings here instead! For these preseason power rankings, you may notice some differences in where I rank teams here in comparison to where I rank teams in my predictions piece, which will go live tomorrow. These power rankings are how I slot the teams as they stand currently, my predictions are for where they’ll end up when the season finishes play.
Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the power rankings!
31. Detroit Red Wings
Not much to say about Detroit here. The 2020-21 season is yet another rebuild year for the Red Wings, so don’t expect much from them.
30. Ottawa Senators
The Senators made some intriguing pickups in the offseason (Matt Murray, Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette, Alex Galchenyuk) but I can’t see them climbing out of the NHL’s basement this year with the way the team is constructed.
29. Chicago Blackhawks
An unfortunate injury to Kirby Dach in the World Juniors and the out-indefinite status of Jonathan Toews due to an illness has torpedoed any chances the Blackhawks had of making a possible playoff run this year. Chicago’s window has been closing for some time, but these losses have quite emphatically slammed it shut.
28. Los Angeles Kings
I’m excited to see what No. 2 overall pick Quinton Byfield can do on NHL ice, alongside World Juniors standout Alex Turcotte. No surprise to see the Kings here though, as their status as a rebuilding team is well-known.
27. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are also in a period of transition for their franchise. Their future looks bright with Team USA star Trevor Zegras in the midst of a break out and goaltender John Gibson in net, but don’t expect big things from this team this year.
26. New Jersey Devils
Goaltender Cory Schneider’s time with the Devils is done, and the Mackenzie Blackwood era has begun. Given the state of the East Division, I can’t see much changing for the Devils this year, though Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier could take strides forward.
25. San Jose Sharks
There’s reason to believe San Jose’s swift downfall last season was just an anomaly, but I’m more inclined to believe this was just the beginning for this aging roster. There are some bright spots in the form of Tomas Hertl and Kevin Labanc, but I’m not willing to bet on San Jose taking a step forward this year.
24. Buffalo Sabres
I feel bad for the Sabres. Even though Taylor Hall and Jack Eichel make for a great top-line knockout punch, Buffalo doesn’t have much else going for them. And they’ve been placed into the most competitive division in the NHL this season as well, meaning there’s very little chance for them to make any positive jump this year.
23. New York Rangers
Alexis Lafreniere joining the ranks of Kaapo Kakko and Artemi Panarin should be an exciting mix. The loss of Henrik Lundqvist in goal has ushered in the new age of Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev, hailing the start of new times for New York. While the Rangers have some good pieces, they’d have to make a Herculean effort of incredible proportions to make the playoffs this season.
22. Winnipeg Jets
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is without a doubt the best player on this Jets team, meaning a playoff run is possible if he puts up Vezina-winning numbers again this season. Patrik Laine also has a lot to prove after being on the trade block all offseason, with the flat cap likely being the main reason he wasn’t moved. There’s potential here for Winnipeg, but it’ll have to be on the back of Hellebuyck to get them there.
21. Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes likely have the top goalie tandem in the league in Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta. As long as neither of them go down for long stretches of time this season, Arizona could be in contention for that final playoff spot in the West. However, after the loss of Taylor Hall in free agency, their forward depth is quite thin and likely not up to snuff to keep pace with the rest of the division.
20. Florida Panthers
The 2020-21 season will be a big one for Sergei Bobrovsky in net after his disasterous debut for the Panthers. If Bobrovsky rebounds, Florida has a chance to compete for a fringe playoff spot in the Central. If he doesn’t, the Panthers will have a long six years ahead of them.
19. Nashville Predators
I’m still not sure why the Predators rushed to hire John Hynes of all head coaches when there were others with better track records available. We’ll see how it works out for them this season, and if the team overall can get better production from their players (looking at you, Matt Duchene), but right now this team is at best a fringe playoff contender.
18. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota has a legitimate chance to make the playoffs this year. After boasting one of the league’s best defenses last season, the Wild are returning most of their major players, while swapping Devan Dubnyk for Cam Talbot in goal. The wild card of NHL rookie Kirill Kaprizov playing his first games this season also can’t be understated, especially since expectations are so high for him.
17. New York Islanders
Barry Trotz’s Islanders are likely going to give the major players in the East Division a run for their money this season. While the Islanders lack incredible star power in their lineup, they make up for it with a defensive system that frequently frustrates opponents. It may not be exciting hockey, but I would not be surprised if the Islanders sneak into a playoff spot this year because of it.
16. Vancouver Canucks
After taking the Golden Knights to seven games in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Canucks have taken a big hit to their roster this offseason with the losses of Jacob Markstrom, Tyler Toffoli, and Chris Tanev via free agency. The Canucks still have a solid young core led by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, it’s hard not to see this team taking a slight step back — or at least falling back to earth just a little.
15. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens surprised a lot of people after taking the Penguins to task in the play-ins and giving the Flyers all they could handle in the first round. I’m high on this Canadiens team, especially after picking up Jake Allen to slot in behind Carey Price. With much of the North Division up for grabs, the Canadiens have a realistic shot at making the top four this year.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last season, the Blue Jackets proved they could still compete even without their biggest names in Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin. This year, Columbus will likely benefit from playing games in a weaker Central Division, but don’t think that means the team itself isn’t worthy of fighting for a playoff spot.
13. Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have their work cut out for them in the North Division this season. On top of that, playing 10 games against the Calgary Flames will no doubt bring the heat. Though the Oilers goaltending duo is a bit shaky, it’s hard to count out the duo of McDavid and Draisaitl after the two have pulled Edmonton into playoff contention before.
12. Washington Capitals
There will be some familiar faces missing from the Capitals this season, alongside a few surprising additions. Braden Holtby is out and Lundqvist was in until a heart condition was discovered that sidelined him for the 2020-21 season. Also, Zdeno Chara is on the Capitals now too, as is Peter Laviolette as the team’s head coach. What’s old is new again in Washington, and with the added benefit of having Alex Ovechkin on the roster, this Capitals team is looking to prolong their window.
11. Carolina Hurricanes
I expect at least two lacrosse goals from Andrei Svechnikov this season. The Hurricanes also will benefit greatly from moving to the Central Division away from the murderers' row that would have waited them in the Metro. Though I have my doubts about the duo of Petr Mrazek and James Reimer in net, Carolina’s defense is so good it may not even matter at the end of the day.
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
Speaking of goaltenders I don’t know if I can trust, I am confused by Pittsburgh putting all their hopes on Tristan Jarry to save them in net. I get why they moved on from Matt Murray, but throwing Jarry into the deep end and hoping his one really good season is the norm is a bit suspect. I can’t count out a team helmed by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, yet I can’t shake the feeling this Penguins team might be headed for a drop off a cliff this season.
9. Calgary Flames
After snagging both Markstrom and Tanev from the Canucks this offseason, the Flames have positioned themselves well to be a top contender in the North Division. If Johnny Gaudreau bounces back like many believe he will after a down season last year, the Flames could be quite the powerhouse this season.
8. Dallas Stars
While the Stars have already had their first four games of the season postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak, this Dallas team is looking to avenge their 2020 Stanley Cup Final loss. A weaker Central Division should be to the Stars’ benefit, even though the team will be missing Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop for some time. Keep an eye out for all eight Stars and Lightning games that will be played this season too, as the NHL putting these two teams in the same division will mean we get multiple Stanley Cup Final rematches for our enjoyment.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
There’s a lot to love about this Flyers team. Outside of having Carter Hart in net, Philadelphia has a really deep forward corps that will likely be well-equipped to deal with the trials and tribulations of holding sporting events in the middle of a pandemic. The Flyers weak spot is clearly the defense, with Matt Niskanen’s retirement leaving a hole in the top pairing, but overall this Philadelphia squad is the best version we’ve seen of them in years.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
It feels easy to pencil in the Maple Leafs at the top of the North Division, and for good reason. While Toronto also has defensive deficiencies, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded offense than what the Maple Leafs will trot out this season. Plus, the additions of Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds to Toronto round out an offense that’s well-equipped for any situation.
5. Boston Bruins
Boston fans have to be rejoicing that David Pastrnak is progressing a bit ahead of his mid-February injury timetable. Given how the Bruins’ offseason gutted the team of their captain Chara and fan-favorite defenseman Torey Krug, any bit of good news is probably welcome for the Boston faithful. I can foresee a bit of growing pains for the Bruins this season without two of their top four defenders from season’s past, but it’s hard to count this Boston team out even before the season begins.
4. Vegas Golden Knights
I am shocked that Marc-Andre Fleury made it to another season with the Golden Knights after the drama that unfolded last summer. Even if Fleury mostly rides the bench this season, Vegas is still a better team with him in the locker room and as the face of the franchise. Swapping Nate Schmidt for Alex Pietrangelo was a major splash that will keep Vegas competitive in the top-heavy West Division, though it may bite them in the long run with the contract they gave out.
3. St. Louis Blues
Jordan Binnington will have a lot to prove after a terrible playoff stint last year. All the evidence is there that he can rebound, and likely will, but I’d keep an eye on him as the season begins in St. Louis. All that being said, the Blues are a top-tier Stanley Cup contender, as while they traded away some big pieces, they also added Mike Hoffman and Krug to the roster and look as strong as ever entering the 2020-21 season.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Expectations could not be higher for this Avalanche team. Not only is the team returning much of their squad from last season, including Hart finalist Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado bolstered their roster by trading for Brandon Saad and Devon Toews in the offseason. As long as no major injuries befall the Avalanche this year, expect great things from this team out west.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
While the loss of Nikita Kucherov for the season hurts, it’d be unfair not to place the reigning Stanley Cup champions from Tampa Bay at No. 1 to start the season. For the most part, the Lightning were able to keep the core pieces of their Stanley Cup roster intact while losing some pieces at the fringes. The return of Steven Stamkos back onto the ice after missing all but one playoff game due to injury will no doubt be a spark for this Lightning team looking to repeat as champions.
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