Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.
As the NHL regular season enters its final week, only two playoff spots in the East and three in the West remain up for grabs.
Assuming the New Jersey Devils lock up the final spot in the Metropolitan Division – the fourth-place New York Rangers are 10 points behind – that leaves the Montreal Canadiens as the team most likely to claim the last spot. Making the same assumption for the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific, as they hold a six-point lead over the fourth-place Calgary Flames with five games to go, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues will likely take the last two spots.
There’s been a lot more clarity in the playoff picture over the past week in what has been an extremely tight race for much of the regular season. Perhaps the greatest chase, however, was Alex Ovechkin’s quest to become the NHL’s all-time goals leader, which he accomplished Sunday against the New York Islanders. He is no longer ‘Alexander the Great’ but now ‘Alexander the Greatest.’
The order of teams in the NHL power rankings are firming up as the season winds down, but there’s still a lot of movement within the top 16. Teams are jostling for playoff positioning, and some teams are running hotter than others.
The Ottawa Senators, for example, won three of four games over the past week and dutifully climb up the rankings, while losing streaks for the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes see them dip even though they’re still top-tier contenders.
1. Winnipeg Jets (53-21-4, +83. Previous: 1)
With just four more games remaining, including two bound for the lottery (Ducks, Blackhawks) and another missing their top players (Oilers), the Jets will likely claim their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. It’s a fitting end to a brilliant regular season where the Jets maintained their top spot for nearly the entire campaign.
2. Washington Capitals (49-19-9, +66. Previous: 3)
Alex Ovechkin’s record-setting campaign overshadowed a poor stretch of play where the Caps have lost five of their last seven games. It’s worth noting during this stretch, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren are a combined 2-4-1 with an .820 SP. They won’t go deep in the playoffs with that kind of goaltending.
There's Still A Lot For Capitals' Alex Ovechkin To ChaseThe Gr8 Chase is complete after Alexander Ovechkin scored his NHL record-setting 895th career goal. But he’s got more to chase.
3. Colorado Avalanche (48-27-4, +45. Previous: 5)
The Avalanche actually finish their regular season on Sunday, giving them all four days off next week. On one hand, it’ll provide them with additional rest. On the other, they’ll have almost no say on who they play in the first round and will likely start on the road.
4. Vegas Golden Knights (47-22-9, +51. Previous: 7)
Tough stretch for the Knights with three losses in their last five games, including one in a shootout, but they’ll likely claim their fourth division title and secure home-ice advantage through the first two rounds.
5. Los Angeles Kings (44-24-9, +36. Previous: 9)
Andrei Kuzmenko has unlocked the Kings' offense, which ranks eighth with 3.41 goals per game since he joined the team on March 8. Before that, the Kings ranked 23rd with 2.80 goals per game. If they want to beat the Oilers in their first-round matchup, they’ll have to be able to score a lot.
6. Dallas Stars (50-22-6, +65. Previous: 2)
The Stars have lost three straight and blew a 5-2 lead against the Canucks with one minute remaining in what may have been their worst stretch of play this season. If they can beat the Jets on Thursday on home ice, they have an easy three-game stretch the rest of the way that may put them in contention for the Presidents’ Trophy.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (47-26-4, +27. Previous: 8)
The Maple Leafs have lost just twice in regulation over the past three weeks but face some tough matchups ahead – Lightning, Habs, Canes – in order to secure home-ice advantage. The COVID-19 season’s North Division notwithstanding, the Leafs have not won a division banner since 1999-2000.
Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Plays The Long Game While Blue Jays Lock Up Guerrero Jr. The Toronto Maple Leafs have their own star player to re-sign, but the Toronto Blue Jays took care of business with theirs.
8. Carolina Hurricanes (46-27-4, +37. Previous: 4)
The Hurricanes stumble with three-straight losses with a minus-9 goal differential against non-playoff teams. The good news is they will likely face the Devils in the first round, who have essentially played .500 since March 1.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (45-26-6, +74. Previous: 10)
It’s vital for the Lightning to win the division, or at least come second. Among the top Atlantic teams, the Lightning have the worst road record (18-18-4), and Andrei Vasilevskiy has been far better at home (25-6-2, .936 SP, 1.85 GAA) than he has on the road (12-14-1, .904 SP, 2.51 GAA) this season.
10. Edmonton Oilers (44-28-5, +19. Previous: 6)
The Oilers’ situation feels dire, but it will be a 180-degree turn once Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl return to the lineup. Calvin Pickard is doing an admirable job, but he has only two career playoff starts to his resume, and both were from last year.
11. Florida Panthers (45-29-4, +31. Previous: 13)
The Panthers made a statement with a 3-1 win Tuesday against the Leafs to end their five-game losing streak. We must take the Panthers’ losing streak with a grain of salt – three of their losses were by just one goal, and the defending champs are already prioritizing a playoff run over regular-season wins.
12. St. Louis Blues (43-29-7, +18. Previous: 11)
All good things must come to an end, but at least the Blues set a franchise and season record with 12-straight wins. It’s an incredible run for the Blues, which were two points out of a playoff spot and sat fourth in the wild-card race prior to their winning streak. They will likely become the seventh team to clinch in the West in the coming days.
13. Ottawa Senators (42-30-6, -1. Previous: 16)
Talk about catching fire at the right time. The Sens lost 5-2 on Tuesday but clinched the ‘x’ next to their name anyway thanks to a Red Wings loss. They wouldn’t have been in that position if not for a 3-0-0 run with only one goal allowed against the Lightning, Panthers and Jackets.
14. Montreal Canadiens (39-30-9, -17. Previous: 12)
Not sure what more Lane Hutson has to do to clinch the Calder with 20 points in his past 19 games. The Canadiens have won six in a row, leaving them eight points clear of the next four teams and return to the postseason.
15. New Jersey Devils (41-30-7, +25. Previous: 14)
Perhaps no team enters the post-season with less momentum than the Devils, which have lost six of their past 11 with some really poor performances sprinkled in. They lost 7-2 to the Bruins on Tuesday in a game filled with errors and carelessness atypical of a good team.
16. Minnesota Wild (42-29-7, -12. Previous: 15)
The complexion of this team will surely change once Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek return. They’ve lost six of their past eight but at least managed to earn points in half those games, and they’ll likely make the playoffs thanks to a massive 23-11-4 cushion in the first three months of the season.
17. Utah Hockey Club (36-30-12, -10. Previous: 18)
Utah just keeps hanging around, and Karel Vejmelka has arguably been the most impressive goalie down the stretch. Sure, there have been some bad starts, but who doesn’t after 21 (!) consecutive starts. After a tough stretch, Vejmelka has won four of his past five with five goals allowed in those wins. He’s making a very strong case to be their undisputed No. 1 next season.
18. Calgary Flames (37-27-13, -22. Previous: 19)
The Flames’ playoff hopes stay alive because they’ve managed to earn points in five of their past six games, but it’s looking out of reach despite a valiant effort. Fun stat: Dustin Wolf will be just the eighth rookie in the cap era to start at least 50 games.
19. Columbus Blue Jackets (35-33-9, -14. Previous: 17)
A six-game winless streak through mid-March and losing four of their past six ultimately dropped the Jackets out of playoff contention. Nevertheless, the Jackets should be the proudest of the non-playoff teams considering how competitive they’ve been after the tragic loss of one of their best players.
20. Vancouver Canucks (36-29-13, -17. Previous: 20)
It’s actually quite commendable for the Canucks to stay in the playoff race for this long despite significant roster changes and injuries to key players. There was just too little room for error, however, which wastes another brilliant season from Quinn Hughes, who is – gulp – two years away from unrestricted free agency.
21. Buffalo Sabres (35-36-6, -12. Previous: 23)
Trust the Sabres to win games and keep avoiding elimination when it no longer matters. They’ve won eight of their last nine – where was this in December?! – and again offers some hope heading into next season. This is a vastly talented young group that still hasn’t quite figured it out.
22. Anaheim Ducks (34-35-8, -34. Previous: 21)
It was a tough stretch, but it was good to see the Ducks win games in which they had a legitimate chance to upset (Rangers, Oilers). With Lukas Dostal starting most of the games down the stretch, you have to wonder if the Ducks will finally close the John Gibson chapter this summer.
23. Detroit Red Wings (36-34-7, -23. Previous: 24)
The Wings shored up their goaltending acquiring Petr Mrazek, but it was again veteran Cam Talbot who has kept them in the race going 3-2-1 in their last six, including impressive wins against the Panthers and Canes. Alas, it just won’t be enough as we once again question the validity of the Yzerplan. Two months ago, we were sure the Wings would be in the post-season.
24. New York Rangers (36-34-7, -5. Previous: 22)
There have been only three instances where a team has won the Presidents’ Trophy only to miss the playoffs the following season, and one of them was the 1992-93 Rangers. The good news is the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Cup in the following season. That’s the silver lining in a disastrous season.
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Future Of Rangers' Kreider And Flyers' Summer PlansOn April 15, 2024, the New York Rangers clinched the 2023-24 Presidents' Trophy with a 4-0 shutout of the Ottawa Senators. They entered this season considered among the Stanley Cup favorites.
25. Pittsburgh Penguins (32-35-12, -52. Previous: 26)
Tristan Jarry is really good or really bad with no in-between. The good news is that he’s shown he’s capable of winning games at this level again, but the Penguins face such an uncertain future ahead. There’s no clear path to put them back in the playoffs.
26. Seattle Kraken (34-39-6, -17. Previous: 27)
Another season where the Kraken simply stay afloat. Like it or not, the Kraken’s success (or lack thereof) will be compared to the Knights’, and they’re falling way behind. The fan base feels like they’re getting antsy, and we shall see if GM Ron Francis opens the wallet to make significant improvements for a second-straight summer.
27. Philadelphia Flyers (31-37-9, -47. Previous: 28)
Maybe the layoff was just too long. After a three-game winning streak, the Flyers had a four-day break and lost their following game to the Canadiens. They’re scoring, and the goaltending doesn’t look too bad, but it’ll be interesting to see what direction they take in the off-season, whether it’s continuing to add futures or making win-now moves.
28. Nashville Predators (28-42-8, -59. Previous: 29)
Are the Predators a bounce-back candidate next season, or did they fast-track themselves on the age curve? They’ve won just two games in regulation since March 14 (3-10-1), the third-worst points percentage in the NHL and still cannot score on a consistent basis.
29. New York Islanders (34-32-11, -22. Previous: 25)
Not only did they get picked on by Ovechkin for his record-setting 895th – and so many big goals before that – they’ve lost five of their last seven. Their big free agent signing who was supposed to provide much-needed offense, Anthony Duclair, ended up taking a personal leave after Patrick Roy ripped him in public.
30. Boston Bruins (32-38-9, -49. Previous: 32)
The Bruins' 10-game winless streak ended, and they’ve won two of their past three, but it does not hide the fact that this team has a ton of flaws. The bad part is they’re very much locked into this core – Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Jeremy Swayman are finishing up the first seasons of their long-term contracts.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (22-46-10, -74. Previous: 31)
A 3-1 win against the Pens was just their second regulation win since March 8. More worrisome, however, is Bedard’s stagnant development in his sophomore season. Without a better roster, it’s hard to see the Hawks being competitive next season.
32. San Jose Sharks (20-47-10, -95. Previous: 30)
Last place and zero wins in their last six games? No problem. The Sharks’ bright future is easy to see, and getting the best chance to draft defenseman Matthew Schaefer in the upcoming draft will give them a much-needed bona fide prospect on their blue line.
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The Buffalo Sabres have been hitting on all eight cylinders over the last few weeks, as their 3-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes marked the club’s eighth win in nine games and seventh straight victory at Key Bank Center, but in spite of their recent turnaround, the Sabres were mathematically eliminated from playoff competition.
“It’s mixed emotions for sure, (I’m) pissed that we started to play good now, it’s too late,” Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin said after the game. “But also it's good that we can see we can play good hockey. We can beat any team in this league. We have to build for next year. This is how you do it. This is the right way to do it."
The Sabres have been widely inconsistent all season – most notably the 0-10-3 stretch that derailed their chances at making the playoffs before Christmas – so it is difficult to discern whether their winning ways are a symptom of realizing what they have to do to win or if it is more because teams are taking them for granted.
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"We want to continue to grow our game. I thought tonight was another step against a really good team, a really tough team. We know where we're at." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the victory. "I'm disappointed where we're at. We can't do anything about that, but we can work on our game, and we're going to continue to work on our game until it's over.”
While the Sabres success has been more apparent at home (13-2-0 in their last 15 games and 22-14-3 overall), the near mirror-image 13-22-3 record on the road is an area where the club needs to improve on next season if they want to finally end their long playoff drought. Buffalo will start their final road trip of the season in Columbus on Thursday against the Blue Jackets, before back-to-back contests in the Sunshine State against the Panthers on Saturday and Lightning on Sunday.
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Winnipeg Jets forward Rasmus Kupari participated in Wednesday morning's practice in a non-contact jersey.
The 25-year-old was placed in concussion protocol on Mar. 6 following a game against the New York Islanders. He returned for just one game against the Washington Capitals on Mar. 25, skating in just 5:44 of ice time, before being announced day-to-day on Mar. 28 after suffering a setback in his recovery.
Kupari has played 59 games this season, scoring five goals and eight points. Listed at 6'2, 201 lbs, Kupari has the physical tools to be an effective bottom-six player and has shown that this season despite offensive consistency being a bit of an issue.
The former 2018, 20th overall pick is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, recording a top speed of 24.47 MPH, the third fastest speed recorded this season behind Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (24.56) and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas (24.49) according to NHL EDGE.
Prior to making the switch to North American hockey, Kupari had shown flashes of a high offensive ceiling in Liiga, Finland's top professional league and throughout various junior international tournaments.
Although the offence hasn't followed, he's continuing to carve out a role and better understand what makes him effective. Returning in a non-contact jersey is a positive sign that he is progressing and should be available when the playoffs commence.
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The Colorado Avalanche announced they have assigned forward and captain Gabriel Landeskog to their AHL affiliate Colorado Eagles on a conditioning stint.
Landeskog has not played a game since game six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals when the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to capture their third cup in franchise history.
The 32-year-old has dealt with a variety of injuries to his knee including one surgery in 2022 and a cartilage transplant in May 2023.
The Avalanche's captain is currently on long-term injured reserve, this allows him to be loaned to AHL for three games or six days, whichever lasts longer, as the Avalanche assess his health.
In his last full season in 2021-22 Landeskog recorded 59 points in 51 regular season games and 22 points in 21 playoff games.
Landeskog has never appeared in an AHL game and has 248 goals and 571 points in 748 career NHL games.
Check out The Hockey News' Colorado Avalanche team site for more updates on Landeskog and the roster.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
There are certain lists that no NHL player wants to be on. For example, nobody wants the fictional “Masters Green Jacket” this time of year, a title that's cruelly attached to the player with the worst plus-minus in the league.
For the record, the leaderboard has Chicago's Connor Bedard at -40 right now, good for a one-stroke lead over teammate Tyler Bertuzzi and Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei.
No one wants to be associated with an early golf season either, but unfortunately, that’s been the reality in Ottawa for the past seven seasons. As a result, a few Ottawa Senators now appear on the NHL list for the most games played by an active player without ever making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Brady Tkachuk leads the way, currently in fourth place in the league, followed closely by Thomas Chabot in sixth. But their frustrating wait is about to end. On Tuesday night, the Senators officially punched their playoff ticket, and a week and a half from now, they'll be taken off that active player postseason futility list.
They’re among five Sens draft picks who've done hard time here, not only missing the playoffs but enduring more than their share of off-ice nonsense. The core list includes:
Brady Tkachuk – 511 NHL games
No one has wanted this more than Tkachuk, who's now in his seventh season. After watching his brother Matthew win a Stanley Cup in Florida last spring, Tkachuk showed up in the fall even more determined to get to the postseason—if such a thing is possible. Assuming he's healthy, he's likely to be a playoff weapon like Ottawa has never seen before. He showed the hockey world what he can do when the stakes are at their highest during February's Four Nations Faceoff.
Thomas Chabot – 509 games
The Senators' first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has been here longer than anyone. He debuted with the Senators in 2016-17, getting into one game during the regular season. So the following year, his rookie season ran perfectly parallel to the franchise’s eight years of difficulties. Despite losing in Columbus on Tuesday night, finally clinching a playoff spot felt great for the 28-year-old.
"It definitely does," Chabot told TSN 1200's Gord Wilson. "From top to bottom, I think everybody just took a huge step this year. Everybody did whatever they could every single night to get into the playoffs. And obviously, now that it's confirmed, we've still got some games to play, but I think the entire group is just freaking fired up. We're just excited to get in. We can't wait to go at it."
Drake Batherson – 387 games
Batherson entered the organization as a fourth-round draft pick in 2017 but would easily slide into the first round in a fictional redraft. Batherson may be the best golfer on the team, but he has to be thrilled he's not making tee times in mid-April again this year.
“To find out we're in the dance is pretty exciting,” Batherson told the media after Tuesday’s game. “Some of us have been at it seven, eight years without a playoff game, so I'm really proud of the group, and everyone's really excited in the organization right now.”
Tim Stützle – 363 games
Stützle is now in his fifth season with the club and, over the years, has frequently worn his frustrated heart on his sleeve. He broke into the league as an 18-year-old and seemed unprepared for its chronic shortage of Lady Byng candidates. Stutzle has now graduated from the school of hard knocks, and the team's most highly skilled player is pumped to finally be at this point.
Shane Pinto – 206 games
Pinto’s games played total doesn't really line up with the number of seasons he's been emotionally invested in the organization. Pinto just missed being a first-rounder in 2019, going 32nd overall. He's been with the club for parts of five seasons, but his games played totals have been affected by injury and a 41-game suspension last season. His happy demeanour has been a highly positive influence in the room.
The drought for these players will end with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, set for either April 20th or 21st. So that's one big hurdle they're finally past.
But are they ready for more?
By Steve Warne
More Sens Headlines:
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- CLINCHED: Ottawa Senators Officially Clinch First Playoff Spot In Eight Years
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- Top 10: Jake Sanderson Takes His Offensive Production To A New Level
- What's Going On With The Injury To Brady Tkachuk?
- Battle of Ontario: Debating Who Would Win A Senators-Leafs Playoff Series
Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting.
Although players will move on from organizations, fans often keep tabs on them.
Detroit Red Wings fans are no different.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Two former Red Wings players were nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial trophy on Wednesday morning. This trophy is awarded to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
Painful 4–1 Loss in Montreal Costs Red Wings Their Playoff HopesOn Tuesday night at the Bell Center in Montreal, not long before 10 pm local time, whatever remained of the Detroit Red Wings' playoff aspirations shriveled in upon itself in a 4–1 loss to the Canadiens.
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Patrick Kane is the Red Wings' nominee for the trophy. Here are the two former Red Wings who were nominated for their respective teams.
David Perron is the Ottawa Senators' nominee for the Masterton. This season, Perron and his family have battled personal struggles related to the health of their newborn.
Additionally, he has also had to contend with personal injury this season. Since returning, Perron has been a spark for the Senators. In 40 games with the team, he has 16 points while averaging 14:03 per game.
Calvin Pickard has found his place with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s been a more than serviceable backup for the team. Pickard has had to step up recently due to Stuart Skinner getting injured.
This year, Pickard has played the second-most games of his career (33). He has a career-high in wins (20), a very respectable 2.64 goals against average, and a .902 save percentage.
Congratulations to both Perron and Pickard on their nominations. Each of them are more than deserving.
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