The lottery results are in, so theScore's Kyle Cushman, Nick Faris, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman are here to project all 32 first-round picks of the 2023 NHL Draft. A second mock will be published closer to draft day on June 28.

Note: We used series betting odds and Stanley Cup odds from Monday, May 8, to determine the order for the eight remaining playoff teams.

Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

The first pick is a tap-in. Bedard bagged 81 goals over 64 WHL games in his draft year. He shattered the Canadian single-tournament scoring record at the world juniors. His release is phenomenal. His stickhandling spellbinds defenders, creating space for teammates to receive his passes and wreak havoc. Adding Bedard will revive the Blackhawks and eventually propel them into the Stanley Cup conversation again.

Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA)

Fantilli is an all-situations force who's fresh off winning the Hobey Baker Award after tallying 65 points in 36 college games. A first overall pick most other years, the Canadian immediately rockets to the top of the Ducks' list of forward prospects. Fantilli skates very well, competes extremely hard, and is a dual threat capable of distributing and burying the puck on any given shift. Missing out on Bedard hurts, sure, but getting Fantilli is an ultra-soft landing.

Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SHL)

The Blue Jackets fell in the lottery but still get the franchise center they so desperately need. Carlsson spent much of the season on the wing in Sweden's top pro league - where he tallied an impressive 25 points in 44 games - but he possesses all the traits to be an elite player down the middle. Nobody would call him a burner, but he's a smooth skater for someone who's 6-foot-3, plus he possesses high-end skill, vision, and playmaking abilities.

Will Smith, C, USNTDP U-18

The Sharks land a much-needed offensive stud in Smith. The USNTDP star thrashed the U18s en route to tournament MVP and the gold medal, matching Jack Hughes' American record for scoring at the event. Smith is a well-rounded threat with a quality shot and passing ability, but it's his elite puck skills that truly make him a dynamic player. A coveted right-shot center, San Jose lands its future top-line pivot and running mate for William Eklund.

Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)

Benson racked up a point per night for the Ice when he was 16 years old. At 17, he surged to third in league scoring behind Bedard and WHL overager Chase Wheatcroft. Benson could tear up junior hockey next season before he graduates to the Canadiens' top six. Smart, slippery, scrappy, and defensively attentive, his toolkit justifies the decision to add a second diminutive winger beyond Cole Caufield.

Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi (KHL)

The wild card of the draft, Michkov slides out of the top five and into Arizona's lap. The small, dynamic winger possesses game-breaking abilities. He's an elusive skater and nifty stick-handler with tremendous upside. Michkov, who's under contract in Russia through 2025-26, played for four different teams this past season, most notably piling up 20 points in 27 games for Sochi in the KHL. The Coyotes are in no rush to be competitive and desperately need an otherworldly talent like Michkov to sell to the local market.

Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)

Dvorsky is the latest product of Slovakia's recent impressive run of player development. At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, his pro-ready build could put him on the fast track to the NHL. Dvorsky will need to improve his skating if he's going to stick at center, but his high motor and pure offensive skill should make him a productive player, regardless of position.

Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP U-18

Washington takes Leonard with its first top-10 pick since 2007. A versatile, hard-nosed winger, Leonard was a dominant goal-scorer with the USNTDP this season. Despite an average 5-foot-11 frame, he plays with tenacity and has a nose for the net. He's a coach's dream and heads to Boston College in the fall.

David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swiss National League)

Detroit nabs a coveted defenseman for the third time in five drafts. If Moritz Seider remains paired with Jake Walman for years to come, Reinbacher and Simon Edvinsson could partner up to form an influential second pair. A mobile 6-foot-2 righty, Reinbacher's gap control and stretch passing are two of his top attributes.

Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)

Barlow has "future St. Louis Blue" written all over him. The 6-foot-1, 187-pounder is a hard-working, physically mature, all-situations winger with a wicked shot. Barlow, captain of his junior team, accumulated 46 goals and added 33 assists for 79 points in 59 games this past season. The Blues own three first-rounders. Using the first pick on Barlow - a surefire NHLer with scoring touch - allows them to swing for the fences later in the round.

Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL)

The Canucks would've loved it if Reinbacher fell to them here, but Sandin Pellikka is an excellent consolation prize for an organization in dire need of defensemen - especially right-shooting ones. The 5-foot-11, 181-pounder lacks size, but his offensive creativity and puck-moving ability could make him a special player.

Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

The Coyotes swing for the fences on Michkov at No. 6 and add more scoring prowess with Yager at No. 12. After scoring 34 goals in 2021-22 and capturing CHL Rookie of the Year, Yager became more of a playmaker in Moose Jaw this season, doubling his assist total from a year prior. A superb showing in the WHL postseason should see him move back up draft boards.

Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP U-18

Buffalo drafted three standout young forwards - Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich - in last year's first round. Joining their ranks is Moore, an excellent skater whose doggedness at both ends of the ice heightens his floor as a prospect. He's committed to play for the University of Minnesota next season.

Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)

Danielson is arguably the best player available. Versatile and big, the Red Deer, Alberta, native also packs enough offensive punch to warrant a top-15 selection. Danielson, who narrowly missed the age cutoff for the 2022 draft, averaged more than a point per game in the WHL this past season. Some evaluators believe he can become a reliable second-line center.

Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (Czechia)

Sale may take time before arriving in the NHL, as he needs to add weight to his 6-foot-1, 168-pound frame. However, his upside is tantalizing. He's a superb skater with great hands and vision. He impressed at the 2023 world juniors, helping Czechia win silver with six points in seven games as a 17-year-old.

Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)

The only WHLer with as many assists as Heidt this season was Bedard. The deft playmaker was particularly dominant on the power play, leading the league with 39 assists on the man advantage. A lackluster performance at the U18s hasn't helped him move up the board, but the Flames take a swing on Heidt's upside in the hopes he rounds out his defensive game and develops as a goal-scorer.

Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA)

Wood only turned 18 in February, yet paced a solid Huskies team in scoring as a college freshman, showing off his pinpoint shot and dexterity with the puck at 6-foot-4. Despite lacking quickness, Wood slots in behind Marco Kasper as Detroit's premier forward prospects.

Tom Willander, D, Rogle (J20)

Willander is a two-way, right-shot blue-liner with excellent skating chops. The 6-foot-1, 179-pounder spent this past season in Sweden's top junior league and plays in the same Rogle system that produced Bruins star Hampus Lindholm, among others. Winnipeg's prospect pool is low on NHL-bound defensemen. In Willander, the Jets steal a potential top-four guy at 18th overall.

Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL)

The Bedard-Cristall combination could be one of the league's most exciting duos for years to come. Cristall is polarizing among scouts because he's small (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), and his skating needs work. But his hands and shot are truly special traits that helped him produce 95 points in 54 games this season.

Otto Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

Stenberg's stock has soared following an exceptional U18s with Sweden. He matched the nation's points record with 16 at the event, first done by William Nylander. Stenberg's struggled at the SHL level but has flashed a great shot against junior competition. The Wild dip back into the Swedish pipeline for a third straight first round.

Gabe Perreault, LW, USNTDP U-18

The fourth NTDP alumnus off the board set the program's single-season scoring record in 2022-23. Perreault racked up 53 goals and 132 points on Smith's wing. Don't mistake him for Hughes, Auston Matthews, or Patrick Kane, the erstwhile NTDP superstars he outproduced. Perreault is slight and not explosive, but he processes the game extremely well and is a visionary playmaker.

Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)

Despite puzzling scouts with stretches of inconsistent play this past season, Ritchie projects to be a two-way center down the road. He's physical and has power-play utility, thanks to a scorer's touch. The question is, where in an NHL lineup will he slot in during his prime seasons? Second line? Third? Fourth? At any rate, the Rangers' pipeline could use a right-shot forward of his ilk.

Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)

The Blues have an organizational need at center and took a winger at No. 10, but while Honzek dabbled down the middle this season, he's probably best suited on the wing. Regardless, the Slovak is too tantalizing to pass up at this point in the draft. He might not become an elite point producer, but he projects to be a highly competitive two-way player due to his 6-foot-4 frame and strong skating ability.

Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL)

The Blues take Bonk with the second of back-to-back picks and their third first-round selection. The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman has played a vital two-way role - no small feat for a draft-eligible player on the Knights. With an aging group of blue-liners, St. Louis adds an intriguing defensive piece to its prospect pool.

Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)

San Jose hasn't drafted twice in the first round since 2007. After landing Smith at fourth overall, adding a defenseman with playmaking instincts makes sense. Dragicevic's 75 points ranked fourth among WHL defensemen. He needs seasoning but could ascend to the NHL around the time the Sharks' playoff drought finally ends.

Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omskie (MHL)

The 2022 Cup champs need to upgrade, well, just about everything in their system. Gulyayev is an undersized defenseman who toyed with Russia's top junior league to the tune of 25 points in 22 games this past season. His toolkit, which is highlighted by terrific skating and hockey sense, should translate well to the NHL, where transporting the puck efficiently is key.

Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)

This would mark the Golden Knights’ highest pick since the club took Peyton Krebs 17th overall in 2019, and they make the most of it here. Musty lacks foot speed but makes up for it with superb offensive skill, creativity, and an NHL-ready frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.

Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan (NCAA)

Brindley ticks all of the boxes the Maple Leafs covet in the draft. As a speedy skater and excellent forechecker that plays a defensively responsible game, everything about Brindley screams future top-nine complementary winger. He played an important role at Michigan as a freshman and earned a spot on the U.S. world junior team over higher-ranked draft-eligible prospects.

Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

The son of rugged former NHL defenseman Denis Gauthier, Ethan is creative and hard-nosed for a 5-foot-11 winger. Gauthier might have the offensive touch to produce alongside Matty Beniers or Shane Wright toward the top of Seattle's future lineup.

Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl (MHL)

But is already massive at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds. A point-per-game player in Russia's top junior league, he moves well for his size, unsurprisingly protects the puck with ease, and is armed with a dangerous shot. The Hurricanes love high-upside prospects with strong analytical profiles, and 30th overall is a spot in the draft where they should pounce on a player like But.

Dmitri Simashev, D, Yaroslavl (KHL)

Simashev is raw and needs seasoning, but there simply aren't many 6-foot-4 defensemen who can skate the way he does. He won't put up gaudy point totals in the pros, yet he has all the tools to become a modern-day shutdown defender.

Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA)

Nashville completes the first round with Stramel. Once thought of as a top-15 prospect in the class, a disappointing freshman campaign with the Badgers has seen him plummet down rankings. The Predators bet on Stramel's 6-foot-3 frame, positive skating, and physical style in the hopes he rebounds in 2023-24.

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The 2023 World Hockey Championship will take place from May 12-28 in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia. The rosters for the tourney are taking shape, so we've compiled the notable names listed alphabetically by country.

Canada

Czechia

Finland

France

Germany

Sweden

Switzerland

United States

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Heading into the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, theScore's Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman make their picks for the first round, conference finals, Stanley Cup Final, and Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers

The Bruins had arguably the most dominant regular season of all time, and their reward for such an incredible run is to face last season's Presidents' Trophy winners in the first round. It was a close season series as Boston just eeked out a 2-1-1 edge over the Panthers. But despite how close it was, our editors expect the Bruins to advance.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning and Maple Leafs meet in the opening round for the second straight year, with Toronto looking for its first series win since 2004. The Leafs took the season series 2-0-1 over Tampa, and the consensus among our editors is Toronto will get its revenge and finally earn that long-awaited series victory.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

One thing is guaranteed from this matchup: Sebastian Aho will advance to the next round. That's because, in addition to Carolina's star forward Sebastian Aho, New York has a Sebastian Aho of its own on defense. The Hurricanes took three of the four meetings during the regular season. However, they won't have the injured Andrei Svechnikov, and the Isles will have stellar goalie Ilya Sorokin. New York has a legitimate shot at knocking off the Metropolitan Division champs, which explains why we gave them a slight edge here.

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers

This will be the seventh Battle of the Hudson in the postseason, with the Rangers winning the series four times. The Devils prevailed in the most recent playoff meeting (2012 Eastern Conference Final) and took the season series with a 3-0-1 record. This will likely be one of the closest opening-round matchups, so it's no surprise that most of our editors believe it'll go the distance.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken had quite the turnaround. They went from a last-place finish in the Pacific Division during their inaugural season to making the playoffs in their second year. However, Seattle is up against the defending champions, who enter the postseason playing their best hockey of the campaign. The Avalanche erased a 14-point deficit over the season's final three months to capture the Central. Even though the Kraken won the season series, our editors think Colorado's experience and talent will prove too much for the upstarts from Seattle.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild

You can't blame a longtime hockey fan in Minnesota if they feel a little conflicted with this one since it's a meeting of the old team that used to play in the state - the North Stars, now Stars - against the current group, the Wild. Most fans from the Land of 10,000 Lakes are likely rooting for the Wild, but our editors lean toward the Stars winning this matchup after Dallas took the season series with a 2-0-2 record.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets

After missing the postseason for the first time in their short existence last campaign, the Golden Knights are back in the playoffs following a Pacific Division title. The Jets are in a similar situation, missing the postseason in 2021-22 after making four straight playoff appearances. But Winnipeg earned its spot this year by claiming the final wild-card berth in the West. Vegas swept the three meetings during the regular season, but some of our editors see the Jets pulling off an upset.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Here's another rematch from last year's first round in which the Oilers emerged from a hard-fought seven-game series and made a run to the Western Conference Final. Connor McDavid took his game to another level this season, becoming just the sixth player in NHL history to top 150 points in a campaign. That factor, plus an improved Oilers team that enters the playoffs red-hot, has each of our editors expecting another Edmonton victory in this matchup. The two teams split the season series with two wins each.

Eastern Conference Final

After their incredible regular season, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that most of our editors expect the Bruins to keep up their stellar play and emerge as the East representatives in the Stanley Cup Final. Who they'll face is split between the Rangers and Devils despite neither winning the Metropolitan Division.

Western Conference Final

Unlike the East, the West is a little more up for grabs, though it still likely comes down to two teams - Oilers and Avalanche. Both enter the playoffs playing incredibly high-level hockey, and our editors expect that to continue through the postseason, giving a slight edge to Edmonton here.

Stanley Cup Final

A season like the Bruins put together in 2022-23 is hard to bet against, and most of our editors see them as the favorite to lift Lord Stanley's mug. Between allowing significantly fewer goals than anyone else in the league and scoring more than anyone other than Edmonton, Boston really was in a league of its own. But they play the games for a reason, and maybe, just maybe, this is Toronto's year.

Conn Smythe Trophy winner

With most of our editors selecting the Bruins to win it all, Pastrnak becomes the pretty clear choice to take the Conn Smythe. There's no shortage of talent on the Bruins, and Linus Ullmark had a remarkable season in goal, but Pastrnak scored 46 more points than anyone else on the team. If Boston is going to succeed in the playoffs, it'll require a lot of scoring from Pasta.

Interestingly, despite the Oilers not being selected to win the title, McDavid got a Conn Smythe vote here. That would make him only the sixth player ever and the second forward to take the trophy while losing the Cup Final. If any player is capable of such a feat in today's game, it's McDavid.

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We've been evaluating several of the NHL's award races all season long, so with the 82-game schedule in the rearview mirror, it's time to pick the winners and finalists. Our team of hockey editors - Kyle Cushman, Mike Dickson, Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman - has assembled to do exactly that.

In the interest of transparency, we've included the voting point totals and a glimpse at each editor's hypothetical ballot - remember, these aren't official and we won't be voting in the real thing - for the six most significant individual regular season honors.

Our voting points system matches the standard one, but with an exception. As in years past, since we only have six participants, we've given additional voting power to the individual editors who covered each of the four awards we've been examining with monthly rankings.

The normal first-place picks were worth three points, the conventional second-place votes were worth two, and the standard third-place votes were worth one. The expert votes were worth double compared to everyone else's selections, so six points, four, and two for first, second, and third, respectively. The expert editors are denoted by asterisks in the charts.

Here's who we think deserves to take home the hardware:

Jack Adams Award

Montgomery nearly wins the NHL's coach of the year award unanimously by our estimation, and for good reason. His juggernaut Boston Bruins steamrolled the rest of the league during the regular season, setting numerous records in the process. He also deserves credit for effectively guiding a club that was without Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy at the start of the campaign.

The 53-year-old should be lauded for accomplishing all that, especially in his first season with Boston. But the Bruins are absolutely loaded with talent. They boast a Hart Trophy candidate, the Vezina and Selke favorites, other stars both up front and on defense, and an extremely deep squad as a whole. So it could be argued - as Gold-Smith essentially does here - that other coaches are more deserving because they had less to work with.

Enter Ruff, whose New Jersey Devils exceeded expectations this season. They have a solid stable of skilled players led by budding superstar Jack Hughes, but few predicted this team would be among the cream of the Eastern Conference crop before the campaign began. Bednar should also get some recognition for helping the perpetually injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche remain competitive.

Selke Trophy

This one is unanimous, as we all believe Bergeron deserves to pad his NHL record for Selke wins by being voted the best defensive forward for the sixth time. The 37-year-old Bruins center has long been a paragon of consistency on both sides of the puck. He kept that going in 2022-23, ranking near the top of the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes among qualified forwards while posting favorable numbers in many other categories.

Marner led all NHL forwards in takeaways per 60 among those who played at least six games and also placed among the league's best in terms of both wins above replacement and goals above replacement.

We didn't cover this award on a monthly basis, so we don't have an editor's expert points that could've broken the tie for third. But Barkov, Hischier, and Staal all warrant some real votes for their consistently elite two-way play.

Calder Trophy

Beniers is the clear choice to be voted top rookie. The 20-year-old led the class in goal-scoring and points while centering the top line for the playoff-bound Seattle Kraken. Beniers' development is a major reason Seattle has taken a much larger step forward this season than most expected.

Power is meeting the lofty expectations he's shouldered as the 2021 first overall pick. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman - who's also 20 years old - paced all rookies in average ice time at nearly 24 minutes and registered nearly half a point per game in 2022-23.

Maccelli flew under the radar this season because he plays for the Arizona Coyotes, but he had a sneakily impressive campaign. The 22-year-old led all rookies in total assists and finished second in the class to Beniers in points by nine despite playing 15 fewer games.

Norris Trophy

If Karlsson doesn't win the Norris, it would frankly be a travesty. This award should never be purely about points, but the veteran blue-liner became the first defenseman to collect 100 in a season since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.

Karlsson was the oldest rearguard to ever accomplish the feat and only the sixth to ever do it. The vast majority of the 32-year-old's production came at even strength, too. He was fourth in the NHL in points in those situations behind only Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak, and Connor McDavid. Plus, Karlsson did all this for the lowly San Jose Sharks.

Vezina Trophy

This was by far the closest vote we conducted. In the normal points system, Sorokin and Ullmark would be tied with 15 points apiece. But this is where our expert system pays off, as O'Leary's more informed opinion gives the Bruins goaltender the narrowest possible victory.

Ullmark was spectacular for the NHL's best team this season. But Sorokin was right there with him in terms of the underlying numbers, and the Islanders netminder bested him by a wide margin in goals saved above expected at five-on-five while leading the league. Sorokin excelled with a less inspiring supporting cast, which explains why he nearly wins here.

Hart Trophy

There was rightfully no drama when it came to our MVP pick. Much like the Norris Trophy, the Hart shouldn't just be about offensive production. But McDavid crushed the rest of the NHL in that regard, so giving this award to anyone else would just seem wrong.

In our adjusted points system, Pastrnak and Tkachuk find themselves in a dead heat for second place. However, the Bruins winger earns the higher spot in a tiebreaker because he'd have one more voting point than Tkachuk in the real system, and Pastrnak appeared on all six ballots.

Pastrnak was the Bruins' catalyst, and he provided immense value relative to his skilled teammates. Tkachuk was also outstanding in many facets of the game. He was by far the best Panthers skater and only McDavid amassed more wins above replacement and goals above replacement than Tkachuk in the NHL this season.

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

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This is the 12th and final edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 regular season. Check back for updated rankings before the playoffs begin.

In this edition, we break down each team's best hope to win an individual award at the end of the season. Note that most awards are legit, but some have been creatively thought up.

1. Boston Bruins (57-11-5)

Previous rank: 1st

Patrice Bergeron (Selke Trophy). It's safe to say between Linus Ullmark winning the Vezina Trophy and Jim Montgomery taking home the Jack Adams Award, the Bruins are going to clean up on awards night. But the biggest lock of all is Bergeron being named the best defensive forward for a record-extending sixth time.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (47-16-9)

Previous rank: 3rd

Jordan Staal (Selke Trophy). We know we just highlighted Bergeron for the same award, but Staal is equally as deserving to be a finalist. Among all forwards to log at least 800 even-strength minutes this season, Staal ranks second in expected goals against per 60 at 2.05.

3. Vegas Golden Knights (46-21-6)

Previous rank: 5th

Logan Thompson (Calder Trophy). Injuries derailed a legitimate case for hardware in this instance, as Thompson leads all rookie netminders this season in save percentage (.915), goals against average (2.65), and shutouts (two).

4. Los Angeles Kings (43-20-10)

Previous rank: 12th

Rob Blake (GM of the Year Award). This award always seems to go to a team that makes it to the conference finals. While there's no guarantee L.A. goes that far, Blake's additions of Kevin Fiala, Joonas Korpisalo, and Vladislav Gavrikov have been paramount to the team's success.

5. New Jersey Devils (46-19-8)

Previous rank: 2nd

Lindy Ruff (Jack Adams Award). Ruff's tenure behind the Devils' bench had a rough start. The team finished in the bottom five of the league's standings in 2020-21 and 2021-22, but he has New Jersey singing a different tune (not to mention a "Sorry Lindy" chant) this season. Under his guidance, the Devils have clinched their first playoff berth since 2018.

6. New York Rangers (43-20-10)

Previous rank: 7th

Adam Fox (Norris Trophy). The 2021 top defenseman has a great chance to be a finalist again this year. Fox hasn't attracted much of the spotlight but has put up 65 points in 73 games while averaging over 24 minutes per night and is in the top 10 among all blue-liners in Evolving-Hockey's WAR and GAR metrics.

7. Colorado Avalanche (43-23-6)

Previous rank: 10th

Mikko Rantanen (Conn Smythe Trophy). The Avalanche have been hampered by injuries all season, but Rantanen hasn't missed a single game while helping Colorado overcome several key absences with a career-high 48 goals in 72 contests. If he can keep up that production in the playoffs, he's got a real shot at being named postseason MVP.

8. Edmonton Oilers (41-23-9)

Previous rank: 11th

Connor McDavid (Hart Trophy). McDavid might need a bigger trophy room. While he's also a lock to win the Art Ross Trophy, the "Rocket" Richard Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award, we thought we'd highlight the Hart since not only is it the most important of the bunch, but he'll probably win it unanimously for the second time in his career.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (44-20-9)

Previous rank: 4th

Mitch Marner (Selke Trophy). We've already covered why this award is likely going to Bergeron, but Marner shouldn't be slept on, either. The Maple Leafs star leads the team with 94 points while pacing all NHL forwards with 97 takeaways. He's also a key part of the Leafs' penalty kill, averaging north of two minutes shorthanded per contest. Talk about a two-way player.

10. Minnesota Wild (42-22-9)

Previous rank: 9th

Jared Spurgeon (Lady Byng Trophy). Spurgeon has been a finalist each of the last two seasons, so the third time is the charm, right? The Wild captain is one of the most underrated defensemen in the league, is well-respected by his peers, and has only taken 10 penalty minutes all season.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (42-26-6)

Previous rank: 8th

Steven Stamkos (Mark Messier Leadership Award). Stamkos is in his 10th season as captain of the Lightning. Not only has he been a leader on the ice as part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams, but he also leads off the ice as a fixture in the Tampa Bay community.

12. Dallas Stars (39-20-14)

Previous rank: 6th

Joe Pavelski (Lady Byng Trophy). Pavelski has received down-ballot votes for this award several times in the past, but this could be the year. The 38-year-old is having another stellar season with 67 points in 73 games, he's one of the most classy and well-respected players in the league, and he's only recorded eight penalty minutes.

13. Seattle Kraken (40-24-8)

Previous rank: 13th

Matty Beniers (Calder Trophy). This should come as no surprise, seeing as the Kraken rookie has been in the driver's seat for the hardware virtually all season. Beniers paces all first-year players with 50 points in 70 games while ranking second on Seattle with 16 even-strength goals. The center has taken his large role with the Kraken in stride as they look to make the playoffs.

14. Winnipeg Jets (41-30-3)

Previous rank: 14th

Josh Morrissey (Norris Trophy). His nickname is "Norrissey" for a reason. The Jets defenseman ranks tied for second among all blue-liners with 69 points in 72 games, trailing only the resurgent Erik Karlsson. Morrissey's previous career high in points was 37. What a coming-out party it's been for the 27-year-old.

15. New York Islanders (37-28-9)

Previous rank: 16th

Ilya Sorokin (Vezina Trophy). Ullmark is a heavy favorite, but there's a valid argument that Sorokin has been the NHL's best goalie this season. He's played 10 more games than Ullmark and leads the league with 42.92 goals saved above expected - eight more than the Bruins netminder. Sorokin is the only reason the Islanders are in line to make the playoffs.

16. Calgary Flames (33-26-15)

Previous rank: 18th

Jacob Markstrom (Anti-Vezina Trophy). Flames fans, we apologize because this is kind of mean, but come on. Markstrom went from being a finalist for the Vezina last season to falling directly on his face. He owns a 20-20-10 record this season to go along with an .890 save percentage while ranking among the league's worst netminders in goals saved above average (minus-19.59).

17. Florida Panthers (36-30-7)

Previous rank: 17th

Matthew Tkachuk (Hart Trophy). The Panthers haven't enjoyed a strong follow-up to their Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign, but that hasn't been Tkachuk's fault. He's come as advertised in his first season in Florida, leading the team with 97 points - 31 clear of Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe in second place. Tkachuk will be key to the Cats' playoff hopes.

18. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-27-10)

Previous rank: 15th

Kris Letang (Bill Masterton Trophy). If returning to NHL action 12 days after having a stroke doesn't display "perseverance" and "dedication to hockey," then what does? Letang is a warrior, and he's still playing at a high level in his age-35 season with 34 points in 55 games.

19. Nashville Predators (36-28-8)

Previous rank: 21st

Juuse Saros (Vezina Trophy). Saros has done his absolute best behind a disastrous defensive outfit this season, ranking third among all goaltenders in GSAx at 33.98. Saros has virtually no chance of winning this award with Nashville outside the playoffs, but it's scary to imagine where the club would be without its star between the pipes.

20. Buffalo Sabres (35-31-6)

Previous rank: 20th

Rasmus Dahlin (Norris Trophy). Karlsson is the favorite, but Dahlin is having a sensational season in his own right that'll warrant plenty of consideration. He's tallied 65 points in 68 games while displaying exemplary two-way play.

21. Vancouver Canucks (34-34-5)

Previous rank: 23rd

Quinn Hughes (Norris Trophy). The Canucks rearguard doesn't have any time for critics of his defensive ability, and for good reason: Hughes is a plus-18 on a struggling Vancouver team that owns a goal differential of minus-17. He also sits tied for second in blue-liner scoring while ranking second in goals above replacement (19.7).

22. Washington Capitals (34-32-8)

Previous rank: 22nd

T.J. Oshie (King Clancy Trophy). An award for humanitarian contributions is difficult to quantify, and there are always several worthy winners around the league. But Oshie, who's generous with charities that support Alzheimer's and youth hockey, would be a deserving winner this year.

23. Ottawa Senators (35-33-5)

Previous rank: 19th

Brady Tkachuk (Mark Messier Leadership Award). This award typically goes to more of a veteran player, but Tkachuk is mature beyond his years in the way he carries himself off the ice. On the ice, he's willing to do anything for his teammates, even if it means dropping the gloves.

24. St. Louis Blues (33-34-6)

Previous rank: 25th

Jordan Kyrou (Green Jacket). Unlike Masters champions in golf, this is a jacket Kyrou certainly won't want to wear. The Blues forward is an NHL-worst minus-34 on the season.

25. Philadelphia Flyers (28-32-12)

Previous rank: 28th

Noah Cates (Selke Trophy). It's Bergeron's award to lose, but Cates, who's probably an unknown player to the average fan, has been one of the league's best defensive forwards this season. His six defensive goals above replacement rank second among forwards.

26. Detroit Red Wings (31-32-9)

Previous rank: 24th

Ben Chiarot (Least Impactful Signing). The Red Wings inked the rugged blue-liner to a four-year, $19-million deal last summer, and in his first year in Detroit, Chiarot is a minus-27 while ranking last among the club's D-corps in expected goals and shots against.

27. Arizona Coyotes (27-34-13)

Previous rank: 26th

Connor Ingram (Bill Masterton Trophy). It's a difficult award to measure, but Ingram would be an excellent choice. He voluntarily entered the player assistance program in 2021-22, and this season he's played well with a .907 save percentage in 27 games on a clearly tanking team.

28. Montreal Canadiens (29-38-6)

Previous rank: 27th

Cole Caufield (Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy). Sure, Caufield's season ended in January thanks to a shoulder injury, but he still leads the Habs with 26 goals in 46 contests. That would put him on pace for 46 tallies over an 82-game season, which obviously wouldn't be enough to catch McDavid, but we wanted to give the sniper a shoutout here.

29. Chicago Blackhawks (24-43-6)

Previous rank: 30th

Taylor Raddysh (Anti-Art Ross Trophy). Raddysh paces the abysmal Blackhawks with 33 points in 73 games, which is by far the lowest total that leads a team this season. Oof.

30. Anaheim Ducks (23-40-10)

Previous rank: 29th

The fans (Bill Masterton Trophy). Oh boy. The Ducks have been a tire fire this season and own a cataclysmic minus-108 goal differential. Any fan still watching Anaheim limp across the finish line has shown perseverance and dedication to hockey.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets (23-42-7)

Previous rank: 32nd

Kirill Marchenko (Cy Young Award). Marchenko's goal-to-assist ratio of 19-3 is awfully reminiscent of a Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher's win-loss record. We're not mad; we're impressed.

32. San Jose Sharks (19-39-15)

Previous rank: 31st

Erik Karlsson (Norris Trophy). As bad as the Sharks may be, Karlsson has put together a historically great campaign that makes him the front-runner to be named top defenseman. Points aren't everything, but he has 21 more than the next-closest blue-liner.

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 11th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, with the 95th Academy Awards handed out Sunday night, we look to the movies for inspiration and pick one film that sums up each team's season thus far.

1. Boston Bruins (50-10-5)

Previous rank: 1st

"Catch Me If You Can" (2002). Much like Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Frank Abagnale Jr. in this early aughts romp, the NHL-best Bruins have stayed more than one step ahead of the rest of the league thanks to the skill and smarts of their players, coaches, and executives alike.

2. New Jersey Devils (44-16-6)

Previous rank: 3rd

"John Wick" (2014). Few expected the Devils to be this good and this entertaining, much like the Keanu Reeves-driven cult hit and its sequels. Maybe we should have seen it coming in both cases; New Jersey assembled a talented, young core complemented by some skilled vets, and well, Keanu rules. Much like the John Wick movies, the Devils have been much better and more enjoyable to watch than even optimists predicted.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (43-14-8)

Previous rank: 2nd

"The Perfect Storm" (2000). The Hurricanes have been near-perfect in many aspects of the game this season. Of course, a "perfect storm" like the 1991 one depicted in the film entails a combination of negative circumstances. Yet Carolina has overcome a slew of injuries, including major ones to Frederik Andersen and Max Pacioretty.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-17-8)

Previous rank: 4th

"Groundhog Day" (1993). The Maple Leafs have lived the same campaign six years running: regular-season success, followed by first-round failure in the playoffs. Is this the year Auston Matthews and Co. finally escape Punxsutawney?

5. Vegas Golden Knights (41-20-6)

Previous rank: 7th

"Kill Bill: Volume 1" (2003). Jonathan Quick is playing like someone who's sworn revenge on those who doubted his talents. The 37-year-old is 3-0-0 with a .939 save percentage since joining the Golden Knights after being unceremoniously dumped by the Los Angeles Kings.

6. Dallas Stars (36-17-13)

Previous rank: 11th

"The Wild Bunch" (1969). The synopsis for this classic reads, "An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the 'traditional' American West is disappearing around them." While the Stars' best player is 23-year-old Jason Robertson, Dallas has nine players who are at least 30, including 38-year-olds Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are seeking the ultimate prize, too, and this team has a shot at it.

7. New York Rangers (37-19-10)

Previous rank: 9th

"The Expendables" (2010). The Rangers are loaded with older stars, especially after adding a couple at the trade deadline. But can such an impressive collection of marquee names meet expectations while sharing the spotlight? Moviegoers had similar questions about Sylvester Stallone's action hero ensemble extravaganza, and fans in Manhattan are probably hoping the Rangers' script turns out a bit better.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-22-6)

Previous rank: 5th

"Diamonds are Forever" (1971). When general manager Julien BriseBois traded five draft picks for Tanner Jeannot at the deadline, the Lightning's motivation was clear: Diamonds (in Stanley Cup rings) are forever.

9. Minnesota Wild (38-21-8)

Previous rank: 15th

"From Russia with Love" (1963). Kirill Kaprizov has been an offensive force for a Wild team that's struggled to score. This upcoming stretch without him will define their season.

10. Colorado Avalanche (36-22-6)

Previous rank: 6th

"Sleeping Beauty" (1959). No one can dance around the fact the Avalanche have underwhelmed throughout the post-championship regular season, but the whole league is hoping Colorado doesn't awake from its lengthy slumber come playoff time.

11. Edmonton Oilers (36-23-8)

Previous rank: 8th

"The Fast and the Furious" (2001). Connor McDavid has raced away with the battle for the Art Ross Trophy - and likely the Hart Trophy too.

12. Los Angeles Kings (38-20-9)

Previous rank: 10th

"Star Trek: Generations" (1994). The Kings are still led by franchise icons Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, but they continued to transition from the old crew to the new one by trading Quick to the Golden Knights. L.A. has remained relevant by injecting youth and new talent into the equation, just like a certain science fiction franchise did when it brought parts of its two crews together on the big screen.

13. Seattle Kraken (37-22-7)

Previous rank: 13th

"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004). With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Kraken find themselves in the thick of the playoff race in the Pacific Division - who saw that coming? Can they make like the Average Joe's crew and go on a run?

14. Winnipeg Jets (38-26-3)

Previous rank: 12th

"Top Gun: Maverick" (2022). The original Jets had many great seasons but were unable to capture a Stanley Cup. Can the current iteration emulate the success of this sequel and find more glory than its 1980s predecessor?

15. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-22-10)

Previous rank: 18th

"The Bourne Identity" (2002). The Penguins appear to have suffered an amnesia-induced identity crisis much like Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. Pittsburgh general manager Ron Hextall either forgot or refused to acknowledge the club's sense of urgency at the deadline given its aging core. Now it may be too late for the Pens to remember who they are, meaning we may not get multiple successful sequels with this team.

16. New York Islanders (34-26-8)

Previous rank: 19th

"No Country For Old Men" (2007). The Islanders own the league's oldest roster by average age and are run by an 80-year-old general manager equally as intimidating as Javier Bardem's performance in the 2008 best picture. That said, we don't expect this New York squad to clean up at any awards shows.

17. Florida Panthers (33-27-7)

Previous rank: 17th

"Cats" (2019). The Panthers haven't been as bad as this ill-fated Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation - Florida is still in the playoff hunt, after all. But the fact that these Cats have to scratch and claw to try to make the postseason coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign is a disappointment worthy of CGI-enhanced feline costumes.

18. Calgary Flames (30-24-13)

Previous rank: 20th

"Speed 2: Cruise Control" (1997). The Flames underwent a significant recast for the 2022-23 season, and the result has turned out like most sequels do in Hollywood: a major disappointment.

19. Ottawa Senators (33-29-4)

Previous rank: 21st

"Deadpool" (2016). Yes, there's an obvious Ryan Reynolds connection here. But that's not the only reason this one fits. The Senators aren't doing a conventional retool, and Deadpool's whole appeal is his atypicality. Then there's the playful attitude of the Sens' fanbase. Also, Brady Tkachuk is ultra-skilled and fun to watch, yet intense. Sound familiar?

20. Buffalo Sabres (32-28-5)

Previous rank: 14th

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" (2022). This Sabres season has certainly been a thrill ride. Buffalo is the ultimate high-event team, ranking near the top of the league in both goals for and against. There may not be any awards in the Sabres' immediate future, but their roller-coaster campaign has resembled the absurdist dramedy that won Best Picture on Sunday.

21. Nashville Predators (33-24-7)

Previous rank: 22nd

"About Time" (2013). It's about time the Predators retool with a new general manager at the helm. Barry Trotz stepping in this summer is a much-needed breath of fresh air for a team that's floundered in the middle tier of the league for too long.

22. Washington Capitals (32-28-7)

Previous rank: 23rd

"I Am Legend" (2007). We're not saying Washington's season has been bad enough to be described an apocalyptic hellscape, but the title here is fitting in relation to Alex Ovechkin and his 800th career goal a few months ago - the lone bright spot of a underwhelming year of hockey in D.C.

23. Vancouver Canucks (28-32-5)

Previous rank: 27th

"Horrible Bosses" (2011). This one's pretty self-explanatory. The Canucks have been mismanaged in numerous ways recently, from their atrocious treatment of ex-head coach Bruce Boudreau to their ill-advised roster construction. Unlike the movie, though, the players may not be able to do much about it.

24. Detroit Red Wings (30-27-9)

Previous rank: 16th

"Daddy's Home 2" (2017). The Red Wings dipped into their pocketbooks to add numerous free agents last summer. The result? Another middling season, not unlike this more expensive and underwhelming sequel.

25. St. Louis Blues (29-32-5)

Previous rank: 23rd

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008). Blues supporters recently endured harsh breakups with two fan favorites in Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko, and while it's fun to reminisce on the glory days those relationships brought, it's best for all parties to find a way to move on.

26. Arizona Coyotes (24-32-11)

Previous rank: 28th

"Bad Boys" (1995). The Coyotes own the league's worst penalty differential at -57. That's a group of bad boys right there.

27. Montreal Canadiens (26-34-6)

Previous rank: 26th

"Home Alone" (1990). The Canadiens have been without their "child" (Cole Caufield) since January, as the talented youngster is done for the season due to injury. He wasn't exactly left behind, but Habs fans have undoubtedly been missing the 22-year-old, who could certainly foil burglars given how capable he is of embarrassing opposing defensemen.

28. Philadelphia Flyers (24-34-11)

Previous rank: 25th

"The New Guy" (2002). This version of the movie stars Daniel Briere, the latest executive tabbed with finding a consistent direction for a Flyers franchise stuck in the mud.

29. Anaheim Ducks (22-35-10)

Previous rank: 31st

"D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996). Trevor Zegras aside, this season has been more like the third "Mighty Ducks" movie than the first two for Anaheim in terms of quality. It may be a while before the players on the NHL team can call themselves true "Game Changers" like the kids in the new streaming series.

30. Chicago Blackhawks (22-38-6)

Previous rank: 29th

"The Replacements" (2000). It's not exactly subtle that the Blackhawks are gunning for the first overall pick with a lineup that features a dozen players that make you say, "who?"

31. San Jose Sharks (19-36-12)

Previous rank: 30th

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008). This is dedicated to Erik Karlsson, who appears to be aging backwards, much like Brad Pitt did in the 2008 drama. Pushing 33, Karlsson has put together his best statistical season to date despite suiting up for the lowly Sharks.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-38-7)

Previous rank: 32nd

"The Room" (2003). So bad, it's good? Sorry Blue Jackets fans, it's been a tough season.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 11th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, with the 95th Academy Awards handed out Sunday night, we look to the movies for inspiration and pick one film that sums up each team's season thus far.

1. Boston Bruins (50-10-5)

Previous rank: 1st

"Catch Me If You Can" (2002). Much like Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Frank Abagnale Jr. in this early aughts romp, the NHL-best Bruins have stayed more than one step ahead of the rest of the league thanks to the skill and smarts of their players, coaches, and executives alike.

2. New Jersey Devils (44-16-6)

Previous rank: 3rd

"John Wick" (2014). Few expected the Devils to be this good and this entertaining, much like the Keanu Reeves-driven cult hit and its sequels. Maybe we should have seen it coming in both cases; New Jersey assembled a talented, young core complemented by some skilled vets, and well, Keanu rules. Much like the John Wick movies, the Devils have been much better and more enjoyable to watch than even optimists predicted.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (43-14-8)

Previous rank: 2nd

"The Perfect Storm" (2000). The Hurricanes have been near-perfect in many aspects of the game this season. Of course, a "perfect storm" like the 1991 one depicted in the film entails a combination of negative circumstances. Yet Carolina has overcome a slew of injuries, including major ones to Frederik Andersen and Max Pacioretty.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-17-8)

Previous rank: 4th

"Groundhog Day" (1993). The Maple Leafs have lived the same campaign six years running: regular-season success, followed by first-round failure in the playoffs. Is this the year Auston Matthews and Co. finally escape Punxsutawney?

5. Vegas Golden Knights (41-20-6)

Previous rank: 7th

"Kill Bill: Volume 1" (2003). Jonathan Quick is playing like someone who's sworn revenge on those who doubted his talents. The 37-year-old is 3-0-0 with a .939 save percentage since joining the Golden Knights after being unceremoniously dumped by the Los Angeles Kings.

6. Dallas Stars (36-17-13)

Previous rank: 11th

"The Wild Bunch" (1969). The synopsis for this classic reads, "An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the 'traditional' American West is disappearing around them." While the Stars' best player is 23-year-old Jason Robertson, Dallas has nine players who are at least 30, including 38-year-olds Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are seeking the ultimate prize, too, and this team has a shot at it.

7. New York Rangers (37-19-10)

Previous rank: 9th

"The Expendables" (2010). The Rangers are loaded with older stars, especially after adding a couple at the trade deadline. But can such an impressive collection of marquee names meet expectations while sharing the spotlight? Moviegoers had similar questions about Sylvester Stallone's action hero ensemble extravaganza, and fans in Manhattan are probably hoping the Rangers' script turns out a bit better.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-22-6)

Previous rank: 5th

"Diamonds are Forever" (1971). When general manager Julien BriseBois traded five draft picks for Tanner Jeannot at the deadline, the Lightning's motivation was clear: Diamonds (in Stanley Cup rings) are forever.

9. Minnesota Wild (38-21-8)

Previous rank: 15th

"From Russia with Love" (1963). Kirill Kaprizov has been an offensive force for a Wild team that's struggled to score. This upcoming stretch without him will define their season.

10. Colorado Avalanche (36-22-6)

Previous rank: 6th

"Sleeping Beauty" (1959). No one can dance around the fact the Avalanche have underwhelmed throughout the post-championship regular season, but the whole league is hoping Colorado doesn't awake from its lengthy slumber come playoff time.

11. Edmonton Oilers (36-23-8)

Previous rank: 8th

"The Fast and the Furious" (2001). Connor McDavid has raced away with the battle for the Art Ross Trophy - and likely the Hart Trophy too.

12. Los Angeles Kings (38-20-9)

Previous rank: 10th

"Star Trek: Generations" (1994). The Kings are still led by franchise icons Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, but they continued to transition from the old crew to the new one by trading Quick to the Golden Knights. L.A. has remained relevant by injecting youth and new talent into the equation, just like a certain science fiction franchise did when it brought parts of its two crews together on the big screen.

13. Seattle Kraken (37-22-7)

Previous rank: 13th

"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004). With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Kraken find themselves in the thick of the playoff race in the Pacific Division - who saw that coming? Can they make like the Average Joe's crew and go on a run?

14. Winnipeg Jets (38-26-3)

Previous rank: 12th

"Top Gun: Maverick" (2022). The original Jets had many great seasons but were unable to capture a Stanley Cup. Can the current iteration emulate the success of this sequel and find more glory than its 1980s predecessor?

15. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-22-10)

Previous rank: 18th

"The Bourne Identity" (2002). The Penguins appear to have suffered an amnesia-induced identity crisis much like Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. Pittsburgh general manager Ron Hextall either forgot or refused to acknowledge the club's sense of urgency at the deadline given its aging core. Now it may be too late for the Pens to remember who they are, meaning we may not get multiple successful sequels with this team.

16. New York Islanders (34-26-8)

Previous rank: 19th

"No Country For Old Men" (2007). The Islanders own the league's oldest roster by average age and are run by an 80-year-old general manager equally as intimidating as Javier Bardem's performance in the 2008 best picture. That said, we don't expect this New York squad to clean up at any awards shows.

17. Florida Panthers (33-27-7)

Previous rank: 17th

"Cats" (2019). The Panthers haven't been as bad as this ill-fated Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation - Florida is still in the playoff hunt, after all. But the fact that these Cats have to scratch and claw to try to make the postseason coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign is a disappointment worthy of CGI-enhanced feline costumes.

18. Calgary Flames (30-24-13)

Previous rank: 20th

"Speed 2: Cruise Control" (1997). The Flames underwent a significant recast for the 2022-23 season, and the result has turned out like most sequels do in Hollywood: a major disappointment.

19. Ottawa Senators (33-29-4)

Previous rank: 21st

"Deadpool" (2016). Yes, there's an obvious Ryan Reynolds connection here. But that's not the only reason this one fits. The Senators aren't doing a conventional retool, and Deadpool's whole appeal is his atypicality. Then there's the playful attitude of the Sens' fanbase. Also, Brady Tkachuk is ultra-skilled and fun to watch, yet intense. Sound familiar?

20. Buffalo Sabres (32-28-5)

Previous rank: 14th

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" (2022). This Sabres season has certainly been a thrill ride. Buffalo is the ultimate high-event team, ranking near the top of the league in both goals for and against. There may not be any awards in the Sabres' immediate future, but their roller-coaster campaign has resembled the absurdist dramedy that won Best Picture on Sunday.

21. Nashville Predators (33-24-7)

Previous rank: 22nd

"About Time" (2013). It's about time the Predators retool with a new general manager at the helm. Barry Trotz stepping in this summer is a much-needed breath of fresh air for a team that's floundered in the middle tier of the league for too long.

22. Washington Capitals (32-28-7)

Previous rank: 23rd

"I Am Legend" (2007). We're not saying Washington's season has been bad enough to be described an apocalyptic hellscape, but the title here is fitting in relation to Alex Ovechkin and his 800th career goal a few months ago - the lone bright spot of a underwhelming year of hockey in D.C.

23. Vancouver Canucks (28-32-5)

Previous rank: 27th

"Horrible Bosses" (2011). This one's pretty self-explanatory. The Canucks have been mismanaged in numerous ways recently, from their atrocious treatment of ex-head coach Bruce Boudreau to their ill-advised roster construction. Unlike the movie, though, the players may not be able to do much about it.

24. Detroit Red Wings (30-27-9)

Previous rank: 16th

"Daddy's Home 2" (2017). The Red Wings dipped into their pocketbooks to add numerous free agents last summer. The result? Another middling season, not unlike this more expensive and underwhelming sequel.

25. St. Louis Blues (29-32-5)

Previous rank: 23rd

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008). Blues supporters recently endured harsh breakups with two fan favorites in Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko, and while it's fun to reminisce on the glory days those relationships brought, it's best for all parties to find a way to move on.

26. Arizona Coyotes (24-32-11)

Previous rank: 28th

"Bad Boys" (1995). The Coyotes own the league's worst penalty differential at -57. That's a group of bad boys right there.

27. Montreal Canadiens (26-34-6)

Previous rank: 26th

"Home Alone" (1990). The Canadiens have been without their "child" (Cole Caufield) since January, as the talented youngster is done for the season due to injury. He wasn't exactly left behind, but Habs fans have undoubtedly been missing the 22-year-old, who could certainly foil burglars given how capable he is of embarrassing opposing defensemen.

28. Philadelphia Flyers (24-34-11)

Previous rank: 25th

"The New Guy" (2002). This version of the movie stars Daniel Briere, the latest executive tabbed with finding a consistent direction for a Flyers franchise stuck in the mud.

29. Anaheim Ducks (22-35-10)

Previous rank: 31st

"D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996). Trevor Zegras aside, this season has been more like the third "Mighty Ducks" movie than the first two for Anaheim in terms of quality. It may be a while before the players on the NHL team can call themselves true "Game Changers" like the kids in the new streaming series.

30. Chicago Blackhawks (22-38-6)

Previous rank: 29th

"The Replacements" (2000). It's not exactly subtle that the Blackhawks are gunning for the first overall pick with a lineup that features a dozen players that make you say, "who?"

31. San Jose Sharks (19-36-12)

Previous rank: 30th

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008). This is dedicated to Erik Karlsson, who appears to be aging backwards, much like Brad Pitt did in the 2008 drama. Pushing 33, Karlsson has put together his best statistical season to date despite suiting up for the lowly Sharks.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-38-7)

Previous rank: 32nd

"The Room" (2003). So bad, it's good? Sorry Blue Jackets fans, it's been a tough season.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 10th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we grant one wish for each team ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.

1. Boston Bruins (45-8-5)

Previous rank: 1

A goalie goal for Jeremy Swayman. Starting netminder Linus Ullmark electrified the hockey world by lighting the lamp on Saturday, and we want more! But seriously, the Bruins don't need to add anything else. They're practically perfect in every way.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (39-11-8)

Previous rank: 2

A top-six forward. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, it seems like every top forward available this trade season has gone to a member of the Eastern Conference. Carolina will have to think outside of the box to add some top talent up front. Perhaps there's a match to be made with the Nashville Predators.

3. New Jersey Devils (39-15-5)

Previous rank: 3

Instant chemistry with Timo Meier. The Devils got their guy. Now, they've got to see how he fits into the lineup. The 26-year-old playing alongside either Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier would be must-watch hockey.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (37-15-8)

Previous rank: 7

A defenseman. The Maple Leafs could use a bottom-six winger as well, but they've already bolstered their forward group by adding Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, so general manager Kyle Dubas should focus on reinforcing the back end next.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-18-4)

Previous rank: 4

Health. The Lightning have roughly $770,000 in deadline cap space and no first-round picks until 2026 after adding Tanner Jeannot. Barring something unforeseen, it looks like Tampa will be rolling into the playoffs mostly as is, so the least it can do is hope all hands are on deck.

6. Colorado Avalanche (33-19-5)

Previous rank: 10

A second-line center. Even as the Avalanche have gotten healthy, a glaring hole remains at second-line center. Colorado's lack of cap space will make it tricky to address, but 2C has to be Chris MacFarland's top priority at the deadline.

7. Vegas Golden Knights (35-18-6)

Previous rank: 11

A big fish. Most of the league's elite teams have already made their moves, so is there anyone of significance left for the Golden Knights to nab with their new-found cap space? Six wins in 10 games suddenly made Vegas a buyer again.

8. Edmonton Oilers (32-20-8)

Previous rank: 6

Erik Karlsson. Who doesn't want to see Karlsson passing the puck to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? A potential deal with the San Jose Sharks for the two-time Norris Trophy winner would be complicated due to his $11.5-million cap hit, but it's not impossible. Work the calculators and get it done, Ken Holland.

9. New York Rangers (34-17-9)

Previous rank: 5

Patrick Kane. It's no secret that the Rangers are Kane's preferred (and possibly only) destination. Kane's recent hot streak, combined with New York's moves to create cap space, makes this combination feel like an inevitability.

10. Los Angeles Kings (33-20-8)

Previous rank: 12

Jakob Chychrun. There aren't many goalies available to help the Kings' 29th-ranked five-on-five save percentage, so they might as well target the top defenseman available to solidify their status in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has the assets to make a potential blockbuster for the Coyotes D-man work.

11. Dallas Stars (31-16-12)

Previous rank: 8

A top-six forward to play with Tyler Seguin. We've known for months that this is what the Stars want, and we're not convinced Evgenii Dadonov fits the bill for the Central Division-leading squad.

12. Winnipeg Jets (35-24-1)

Previous rank: 9

Depth scoring. Nino Niederreiter was a shrewd pickup for the Jets on Saturday, giving them a versatile winger who can slot in anywhere on the wing in their top nine. Adding another scorer to the bottom six would only help Winnipeg climb the goal charts.

13. Seattle Kraken (32-31-6)

Previous rank: 13

A seller in need of picks. The Kraken have kept their deadline plans largely under wraps, but the playoffs are in sight for the league's newest franchise, and they should give the fanbase a jolt by doing some shopping. Seattle has three second-round picks this year and two third-rounders in 2024 - attractive trade chips for teams out of contention looking to stock up.

14. Buffalo Sabres (31-23-4)

Previous rank: 18

A playoff berth. It's kind of cheating, but we don't think there's a player on earth Sabres fans would want to add over making the postseason this spring and ending an 11-year drought.

15. Minnesota Wild (33-21-6)

Previous rank: 20

A top-six forward. The Wild have the fewest goals per game of any team currently in a playoff spot. Having failed to replace the production that departed last summer when they traded Kevin Fiala to the Kings, a difference-maker up front would be a major boost.

16. Detroit Red Wings (28-22-8)

Previous rank: 22

For Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin to remain Red Wings. That would mean that Detroit is still firmly in the playoff hunt and, therefore, unwilling to part with the pair of pending unrestricted free agents.

17. Florida Panthers (29-26-6)

Previous rank: 14

Help on the back end. Without their own first-round pick, thanks to last year's Ben Chiarot trade, there isn't much incentive for the Panthers to sell at the deadline since they can't improve their draft position by losing more games. Reinforcing the blue line and easing the workload for Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, and Gustav Forsling - who are each averaging over 23:00 per game - would be beneficial to their playoff hopes.

18. Pittsburgh Penguins (29-21-9)

Previous rank: 16

A savior for the third line. The Penguins ... oof. They've got to fetch an upgrade on Jeff Carter down the middle. Kasperi Kapanen is no longer around after they lost him on waivers, which gives them a little extra cap space. Pittsburgh has got to shore this up. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby can't do everything.

19. New York Islanders (31-25-7)

Previous rank: 19

The Bo Horvat trade to pay off. The Islanders already made their big splash by acquiring Horvat, and his importance to the team has increased significantly amid a tight playoff push of late as New York battles some key injuries up front. It's Bo's time to shine.

20. Calgary Flames (27-21-12)

Previous rank: 21

Extra goal-scorers. The Flames certainly aren't the only team that covets scoring depth, but Brad Treliving is on record saying it's his top priority. This one was a bit of a layup.

21. Ottawa Senators (28-26-4)

Previous rank: 23

Long-term help. The Senators are in an awkward spot: too far from the bottom to truly be in the race for Connor Bedard but also too far behind to realistically have a shot at the playoffs. Targeting assets that can help past this season at a reasonable price, such as Dante Fabbro, would be the best use of this year's deadline.

22. Nashville Predators (29-22-6)

Previous rank: 17

Assets. The Predators are barreling toward a rebuild, and with a changing of the guard on the horizon in the front office, they might as well start collecting as many picks and prospects as they can while they have attractive players to ship out.

23. Washington Capitals (29-27-6)

Previous rank: 15

A successful retool. The playoffs are beginning to feel like a long shot for the Capitals, which is hard to fathom given their success over the past decade. Ownership won't tear it down while Alex Ovechkin is around, so management might as well make the most of a lost season while they have a whopping 10 pending UFAs on the roster.

24. St. Louis Blues (26-28-5)

Previous rank: 25

Less tension. The Blues have already traded their unrestricted free agents and lost out on Meier, so what's next? We think St. Louis is in need of a little breather in the aftermath of head coach Craig Berube and Robert Thomas' recent disagreement.

25. Philadelphia Flyers (23-28-10)

Previous rank: 24

A nice haul for JVR. We mentioned a few teams that should wish for some scoring depth. Enter: James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia's most attractive trade chip with a ton of goal-scoring experience.

26. Montreal Canadiens (25-30-4)

Previous rank: 27

A match for Sean Monahan. The Canadiens would certainly have to retain some of the pending unrestricted free agent's $6.375-million cap hit, but they'll hopefully be able to seek out a dance partner in spite of his injury. There are some teams out there that could really use a center.

27. Vancouver Canucks (23-31-5)

Previous rank: 28

As many trades as possible. The Canucks need to commit to a full rebuild if they want a sustainable future centered around Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. The best way to do that is by shipping out as much salary as possible, and Vancouver has several pieces that could fetch quality returns.

28. Arizona Coyotes (20-30-9)

Previous rank: 29

An end to the Chychrun saga. His time with the Coyotes has been considered over for more than a year, yet he's still in the desert. The blue-liner hasn't played since Feb. 10 due to trade-related reasons. Enough is enough.

29. Chicago Blackhawks (21-32-5)

Previous rank: 31

Sell, sell, sell! The Blackhawks are well on their way to sending Kane to the Rangers. They've already ruled out trading Jonathan Toews but can certainly pick up more assets for Max Domi, Sam Lafferty, and Jake McCabe.

30. San Jose Sharks (18-30-12)

Previous rank: 26

Keep it up, Mike Grier. The new Sharks general manager already shipped off Meier and is almost certainly listening to offers for other key players like Karlsson and Logan Couture. The rebuild roars on.

31. Anaheim Ducks (19-34-7)

Previous rank: 30

For someone to take John Klingberg. Though the defenseman has turned it around offensively the past couple of months, the one-year, $7-million prove-it pact he signed with the Ducks isn't going as planned. He may not fetch Anaheim a first-round pick, but there ought to be someone out there who could use him.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-35-6)

Previous rank: 32

Desperate bidder for Vladislav Gavrikov. The Blue Jackets are aiming sky-high with their reported asking price for Gavrikov. With the Bruins out of the mix, Columbus will hope someone cracks under the pressure of the deadline and pays up for the 27-year-old blue-liner.

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the ninth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, we pick one reason to love each team in the league.

1. Boston Bruins (39-8-5)

Previous rank: 1

Everything! OK, OK, no one's perfect, but how could we pick just one thing to love about the Bruins? They've got it going on right now. However, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, we're going to go with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman's post-win hugs.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (34-10-8)

Previous rank: 2

Rod the Bod. No team in the NHL - heck, maybe even in professional sports - embodies the mentality of their coach more than the Hurricanes do with Rod Brind'Amour. They work relentlessly hard and refuse to give their opponents an inch - just like Brind'Amour did during his playing days.

3. New Jersey Devils (34-13-5)

Previous rank: 5

The Ceiling. The Devils are already having an excellent campaign, but with defensemen Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec - two top-five picks - waiting in the wings, it's scary to think about how good this team could be in a few years.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-16-2)

Previous rank: 4

Drafting. A major reason for the Lightning's dynasty has been the ability to hit on draft picks outside the first round: Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn, Ross Colton - the list goes on. Without excellent scouting and player development, the Bolts wouldn't be where they are today.

5. New York Rangers (31-14-8)

Previous rank: 8

Vladimir Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin's relationship. Did you see how the two connected on Tarasenko's goal in his Rangers debut? The ex-Blue also called Panarin "one of (his) best friends." Now, the duo gets to gun for a Stanley Cup together, bolstered by the power of friendship.

6. Edmonton Oilers (30-19-5)

Previous rank: 7

Connor McDavid. We tried to be more creative here, we really did, but there's no way we weren't going to give it to the Oilers superstar, who's going to hit the 100-point mark in February.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (32-14-8)

Previous rank: 3

Ilya Samsonov's smiles. The only thing better than Samsonov's performance in the Maple Leafs' crease this season is his postgame scrums. The affable goaltender has built up a reputation for being a fantastic quote, especially with his catchphrase, "Have some smile."

8. Dallas Stars (30-14-10)

Previous rank: 6

Top-line chemistry. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski have been among the league's best lines since they were put together in 2020. The trio works perfectly for the Stars, elevating each other's strengths to terrorize opposing defenses.

9. Winnipeg Jets (33-19-1)

Previous rank: 12

Rick Bowness. A few eyebrows were raised after the Jets hired the 68-year-old as their head coach this offseason, but he's come in and installed a structure that the team so desperately lacked in past years under Paul Maurice. There are a lot of strong candidates for the Jack Adams, but Bowness should be right up there.

10. Colorado Avalanche (28-19-4)

Previous rank: 9

Speed. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon obviously draw the headlines, but even players lower in Colorado's lineup play with incredible pace, and it makes the Avalanche an absolute joy to watch.

11. Vegas Golden Knights (32-18-4)

Previous rank: 17

Chandler Stephenson. Who would've thought Stephenson would go on to represent the Golden Knights at the All-Star Game when he was acquired for a fifth-round pick in 2019? The 28-year-old's breakout campaign over the past two seasons has been a much-needed boost to a Vegas lineup that seems to consistently be missing a major piece due to injury.

12. Los Angeles Kings (29-18-7)

Previous rank: 14

Pheonix Copley. What a story he's been for the Kings. The 31-year-old goalie had 31 games of NHL experience under his belt prior to the 2022-23 campaign. This season in Los Angeles, he owns a sparkling 16-3-1 record between the pipes.

13. Seattle Kraken (30-18-5)

Previous rank: 10

Depth scoring. The Kraken don't have any superstars, which is expected from a team in its second year, but the contributions from up and down the lineup have them in line to make the playoffs for the first time. Seattle has four players - Jared McCann, Daniel Sprong, Ryan Donato, and Eeli Tolvanen - in the top 15 in five-on-five goals per 60 minutes.

14. Florida Panthers (26-23-6)

Previous rank: 16

Matthew Tkachuk. There's no question the Panthers won Year 1 of last summer's blockbuster deal with the Flames that brought the talented agitator to Sunrise. Tkachuk has 23 more points than Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar combined.

15. Washington Capitals (28-21-6)

Previous rank: 20

Ovi's chase for 892. Ovechkin is turning his pursuit of the all-time goal record into an inevitability. The 37-year-old just won't slow down - he's set to blow past 40 goals for the 13th time in his career. Everything the Capitals do in the near future is in an effort to get their franchise superstar to 892 career goals, and rightfully so.

16. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-17-9)

Previous rank: 18

The gang is still together. There seemed like a legitimate possibility that the Penguins' iconic trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang would be split up this past offseason when the latter two were set to become unrestricted free agents. But that just wouldn't have been right, and it'll be great for the hockey world if they all finish their careers together in the Steel City.

17. Nashville Predators (25-19-6)

Previous rank: 13

Juuse Saros. We hope every member of the Predators buys Saros a bouquet of flowers for Valentine's Day. He ranks fifth among all netminders this season in goals saved above average (16.82) and second in goals saved above expected (28.1).

18. Buffalo Sabres (26-21-4)

Previous rank: 11

All-out offense. The Sabres have blossomed into one of the league's most fun up-and-coming teams. Buffalo ranks second in goals per game thanks in large part to human highlight reel Tage Thompson - you just never know what the 6-foot-6 dangler will do next.

19. New York Islanders (27-23-6)

Previous rank: 22

Bo Horvat. Duh. The newcomer has three goals and four points in his first four games with the Islanders. Talk about making an instant impact!

20. Minnesota Wild (28-20-4)

Previous rank: 15

Kaprizov and Zuccarello's chemistry. Few duos have clicked the way Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello have over the past two years. Kaprizov has emerged as the most potent player in Wild franchise history, while Zuccarello has enjoyed the best seasons of his career in his mid-30s.

21. Calgary Flames (25-18-10)

Previous rank: 19

Darryl Sutter's press conferences. Things haven't gone exactly as planned for the Flames this season, but we can always count on their head coach's dry humor to give us a laugh whenever he speaks to the media.

22. Detroit Red Wings (23-20-8)

Previous rank: 23

Dylan Larkin. Let's appreciate how cool it is that Larkin, a native of Waterford, Michigan, and an alumni of the University of Michigan, is the captain and star player of the Red Wings as he paces the club with 48 points in 50 games. Those hometown factors have to be considered when the pending UFA decides whether to re-sign or test the open market.

23. Ottawa Senators (24-24-3)

Previous rank: 21

Tim Stutzle. In yet another disappointing campaign for the Senators, Stutzle's breakout as a point-per-game forward has been a much-needed bright spot.

24. Philadelphia Flyers (22-23-10)

Previous rank: 24

Carter Hart. The Philadelphia netminder has bounced back in a big way this season and is one of the main reasons the Flyers aren't far worse than they are.

25. St. Louis Blues (24-25-3)

Previous rank: 26

Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. It's the end of an era in St. Louis, with Vladimir Tarasenko getting traded and Ryan O'Reilly possibly next. At least Blues fans can take solace knowing they have their two phenom forwards locked up for the next eight years.

26. San Jose Sharks (17-26-11)

Previous rank: 25

Erik Karlsson's resurgence. It looked like Karlsson's $11.5-million contract was going to be an anchor on the Sharks' cap after three years of declining play and injury troubles. Instead, the 32-year-old has turned back the clock to lead defensemen with 73 points and the entire league in even-strength scoring.

27. Montreal Canadiens (22-27-4)

Previous rank: 28

Arber Xhekaj. Whether it's his improbable rapid rise from an undrafted free agent to an NHL regular, the many nicknames the Canadiens fan base has given him, or his throwback enforcer-esque style, it's hard not to love Xhekaj. Well, unless you're one of his opponents.

28. Vancouver Canucks (21-28-4)

Previous rank: 27

Unpredictability. You just never know what's going to happen during a Canucks game. Blown leads and multi-goal comebacks have been run-of-the-mill occurrences in Vancouver this season. If you love high-event hockey, look no further - the Canucks lead the NHL in combined goals for and against.

29. Arizona Coyotes (17-28-8)

Previous rank: 30

Mullett Arena. Is it strange that the Coyotes are playing in a college rink? Of course. But the sooner you embrace the oddity that is Mullett Arena, the better. There's simply no fan experience quite like it in the NHL.

30. Anaheim Ducks (17-31-6)

Previous rank: 29

Mason McTavish's texts. According to projected 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard, the Ducks rookie has been shooting him a message every time Anaheim loses a game. The pair helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2022 World Junior Championship, and the Ducks are well in the race to acquire Bedard's services.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (16-30-5)

Previous rank: 31

Commitment to tanking. There's really not much to love about the Blackhawks, but we have to applaud management's ability to assemble the worst roster possible in hopes of drafting first overall.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets (16-33-4)

Previous rank: 32

That their season is almost, mercifully over. The Blue Jackets only have to suffer through 29 more games before they can turn the page on their injury-riddled campaign. The end of the season will also bring about answers for Columbus: Will it all have been worth it to land Bedard?

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the eighth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we pick the player having the best season on each team that won't be participating in this week's All-Star Game.

1. Boston Bruins (38-7-5)

Previous rank: 1

Patrice Bergeron. Remarkably, the Bruins captain has only attended three All-Star Games in his 19-season career. The front-runner for a record-extending sixth Selke Trophy, the 37-year-old continues to elude Father Time.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (32-9-8)

Previous rank: 2

Sebastian Aho. Though Martin Necas has his own case because he leads the Hurricanes with 45 points, we're giving the edge to Aho because he's put up similar numbers despite playing in seven fewer games. The dynamic forward has 21 goals - tied with Necas for the most on the team - and 44 points in 42 contests.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (31-12-8)

Previous rank: 4

William Nylander. Of course, it's tough to imagine an All-Star Game without Mitch Marner and the now-injured Auston Matthews, but come on. Nylander paces the Maple Leafs with 28 goals, and his 59 points in 51 games are tied with Marner for the most on the team. The Swede has never been named an All-Star, and now would've been the perfect time.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-1)

Previous rank: 5

Brayden Point. He's flown under the radar to rank in the top 10 in goals league-wide this season with 29. Already surpassing his 2021-22 goal total in 18 fewer games, the 26-year-old continues to be a vital cog in the Lightning machine that doesn't get nearly enough attention.

5. New Jersey Devils (32-13-4)

Previous rank: 7

Dougie Hamilton. The high-flying Devils have plenty of exciting candidates, but their star defenseman gets the nod here. Hamilton has really settled in during his second season in New Jersey and ranks fifth among all blue-liners with 46 points in 49 games.

6. Dallas Stars (28-13-10)

Previous rank: 9

Jake Oettinger. The Central Division had some terrific goalie options to send to South Florida, but Oettinger is a legitimate Vezina Trophy candidate this season with a 21-7-7 record and .923 save percentage.

7. Edmonton Oilers (28-18-4)

Previous rank: 14

Zach Hyman. It's going to be nearly impossible for a third Oilers forward to make the All-Star Game as long as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in town. That being said, Hyman is deserving of some recognition for his stellar campaign. The 30-year-old has already blown past his career high in points and is just one back from matching his high mark in goals.

8. New York Rangers (27-14-8)

Previous rank: 8

Mika Zibanejad. With three players making the roster (Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin), the Rangers certainly aren't hurting for representation at February's festivities. However, Zibanejad easily could have joined them, seeing that he leads his team with 22 goals.

9. Colorado Avalanche (27-18-3)

Previous rank: 16

Artturi Lehkonen. The Avalanche are well-represented with three All-Stars, so options here are limited. We're far from a world where Lehkonen deserves to go to the marquee event, but he deserves some credit in this exercise, considering he's second on the team in goals and fourth in points.

10. Seattle Kraken (29-15-5)

Previous rank: 6

Andre Burakovsky. It was the right call to elect the younger, more marketable star in Matty Beniers, but our candidate leads the surprising Kraken with 39 points on the year.

11. Buffalo Sabres (26-19-4)

Previous rank: 19

Rasmus Dahlin. This one's easy. The Sabres blue-liner ranks second among all NHL rearguards in goals (14) and points (55) while averaging just over 26 minutes of ice time a night. If that wasn't enough, there are no defensemen on the Atlantic Division's All-Star roster. For shame.

12. Winnipeg Jets (31-19-1)

Previous rank: 3

Kyle Connor. The perennially overlooked star leads the Jets in scoring with 57 points through 51 contests and is one of six players to have scored 200 goals since 2017-18. He's also attended only one All-Star Game in his career.

13. Nashville Predators (24-18-6)

Previous rank: 22

Roman Josi. The Predators are one of two teams without a skater at the All-Star Game (Vegas is the other), but their captain could easily be making the trip to Florida this weekend. The high-octane blue-liner is tied for the team lead in scoring with 41 points and is one of nine players averaging over 25 minutes this season.

14. Los Angeles Kings (28-18-6)

Previous rank: 12

Anze Kopitar. Kevin Fiala has a 12-point advantage on the Kings' scoring list this season, so it's difficult to find another truly deserving candidate here. We'll go with the captain, who has shown he's still got it with 40 points at 35 years old.

15. Minnesota Wild (27-17-4)

Previous rank: 11

Mats Zuccarello. Did you see his overtime winner against the Flyers?! That's All-Star material right there. The 35-year-old ranks second on the Wild with 19 goals and 48 points, behind Minnesota's sole representative, Kirill Kaprizov.

16. Florida Panthers (24-22-6)

Previous rank: 21

Carter Verhaeghe. The All-Star Game hosts added Aleksander Barkov as a second representative to replace Matthews. Even with two forwards at the event, the Panthers' leading goal-scorer won't be participating: Verhaeghe paces the team with 26 tallies.

17. Vegas Golden Knights (29-18-4)

Previous rank: 10

Jack Eichel. If not for missing 13 games due to injury, there's a solid chance he would be participating in the All-Star Game. The Golden Knights star has 15 goals and 34 points in 38 games, unsurprisingly operating as his team's most dynamic offensive presence.

18. Pittsburgh Penguins (24-16-9)

Previous rank: 15

Evgeni Malkin. Geno sits behind only Sidney Crosby in scoring on the Penguins this season and is cruising along at over a point per game at 36 years old. It's hard to fathom that Malkin has only been to two All-Star Games since 2009.

19. Calgary Flames (24-17-9)

Previous rank: 13

Elias Lindholm. The Swedish sniper leads the Flames with 45 points on the season, seven clear of Calgary's representative, Nazem Kadri. Lindholm's lethal release would have been a treat to watch in the accuracy shooting contest.

20. Washington Capitals (26-20-6)

Previous rank: 17

Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Capitals don't have a ton of viable options beyond Alex Ovechkin, so we defaulted to their second-most productive player. Still, an All-Star forward with six goals? Not ideal.

21. Ottawa Senators (23-23-3)

Previous rank: 25

Tim Stutzle. The 21-year-old tops the Senators with 20 goals in 45 games while leading all Ottawa forwards in average ice time (20:39). The 2020 third overall pick is well on his way to having a career campaign - and he's just downright fun to watch.

22. New York Islanders (25-22-5)

Previous rank: 18

Mathew Barzal. With all due respect to Brock Nelson, who's having a great season in his own right, how many hockey fans prefer to watch the unsung winger over one of the league's most exciting talents? Barzal has three fewer points on the year but has dazzled before in the fastest skater event and has the perfect style of play for the three-on-three tournament.

23. Detroit Red Wings (21-19-8)

Previous rank: 23

Filip Hronek. He's on pace to easily surpass his career high with 33 points in 48 games. After mediocre underlying numbers in his first four seasons, the 25-year-old leads the Red Wings in goals above replacement this campaign.

24. Philadelphia Flyers (21-21-9)

Previous rank: 24

Travis Konecny. As the Flyers' leader in goals and points, the fact that he was passed over in favor of Kevin Hayes was one of the more peculiar All-Star Game choices. Konecny finding form as a point-per-game forward has been one of the few bright spots in what has largely been a year to forget for Philadelphia.

25. San Jose Sharks (15-25-11)

Previous rank: 28

Timo Meier. There's no doubt that Erik Karlsson was the right choice to represent the Sharks at the All-Star Game, but Meier has been no slouch on the slumping Pacific Division squad this season, either. The 26-year-old has 28 goals on the season so far, tied with Nylander for the 12th most in the league.

26. St. Louis Blues (23-24-3)

Previous rank: 20

Jordan Kyrou. Vladimir Tarasenko has the name value but was a peculiar choice to rep the Blues. Kyrou leads St. Louis with 47 points and is the reigning fastest skater champion.

27. Vancouver Canucks (20-26-3)

Previous rank: 26

Quinn Hughes. Things might be going atrociously for the Canucks this season, but they've still got two players going to the All-Star Game in Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson. Hughes had a case of his own, though. He's one of five defensemen to produce at a point-per-game rate this season, with five goals and 40 assists in 45 contests.

28. Montreal Canadiens (20-26-4)

Previous rank: 27

Kirby Dach. The Canadiens' offseason acquisition has set new career highs in goals, assists, and points through 50 contests. He's emerged as the best in a slim list of options from the Habs with Cole Caufield's season-ending injury.

29. Anaheim Ducks (16-29-5)

Previous rank: 30

Trevor Zegras. He has the same amount of points as Troy Terry and produced one of the most memorable moments in All-Star Weekend history last year with an otherworldly shootout move. His skills deserve to be showcased.

30. Arizona Coyotes (16-28-6)

Previous rank: 31

Karel Vejmelka. Being a goaltender for the Coyotes can't be an easy job, but the 26-year-old has performed more than admirably with a .907 save percentage. What's more, he ranks 12th among all netminders in goals saved above expected (12.99) and 23rd in goals saved above average (3.61) at all strengths. Not bad at all.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (15-29-4)

Previous rank: 32

Max Domi. He isn't the flashiest name on the Blackhawks' roster, but he's certainly been a bright light on a struggling team. He tops Chicago with 35 points in 48 games - one ahead of Patrick Kane - and is tied with Taylor Raddysh for the team lead with 14 goals.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-32-3)

Previous rank: 29

Kirill Marchenko. Look, the Blue Jackets are a mess this season. It would have been easy for us to write "Patrik Laine" here and call it a day, but we chose the rookie instead. He has 13 goals (somehow, no assists) and is only one tally behind Laine and Boone Jenner for the team lead despite playing fewer games. Keep shooting that puck!

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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