As the NHL prepares for a reboot on the NHL season, it seems like an appropriate time to reconsider the Stanley Cup favorites.
The NHL has played 473 games this season. That’s 36% of the season.
Here’s my latest Stanley Cup power rankings as we plan to ring in New Year’s Day on Saturday:
1.Tampa Bay Lightning (20-6-4) It still seems like too much to ask for this team to win three in a row, especially given who they lost over the summer. However, you look at the standings and they are right on top. Their 20-6-4 record is even more impressive when you consider that Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov were out with injuries for an extended period. Point is now back. But here’s why they are No. 1: They have the world’s best goalie (Andrei Vasilevskiy), one of the top three defensemen in the game (Victor Hedman), an offense that still averages 3.2 goals per game and the best left side of a defense in the NHL today (Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Mikail Sergachev). We haven’t even mentioned the fact that the Lightning have the equivalent of a master’s degree in postseason winning or that Jon Cooper’s is one of the top three coaches in the game today. And we can guess general manager Julien BriseBois will add another right-shot defenseman and a scorer before the deadline.On top of everything, the Lightning are 10-3-2 on the road.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (21-7-1) Goalie Frederik Andersen has played like he’s the last piece to the Carolina puzzle. (This is where Toronto fans say: “Wait until the playoffs). But whether you do or don’t believe in Andersen, the Hurricanes have taken another step toward being an elite team. They are the NHL’s No. 1 defensive team (2.14) and No. 8 offensive team (3.28). The ‘Canes defense is a playoff style defense. Carolina owner Tom Dundon is aggressive. Look for GM Don Waddell to make a bold trade or two. He has asked around the NHL about another defenseman. 3. Colorado Avalanche (17-8-2) It’s easy to overlook the Avs because they’ve only played 27 games and their season hasn’t gone perfectly. Nathan MacKinnon has only played 17 games and only has three goals. Goalie Darcy Kuemper hasn’t been as impressive as I thought he would be. But if you look at their results, they have won five of their last six. Plus, they have scored a lot of goals this season. They are averaging 4.22 goals per game. Their defense is going to come around and GM oe Sakic might be among the teams inquiring about Marc-Andre Fleury. The Avs are going to push all in this season.
4. Washington Capitals (18-6-7) Alex Ovechkin is playing better than he did when the Capitals last won the Cup. Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeni Kuznetsov are both healthy. Their defense and goaltending is good enough to contend. We aren’t that far removed from the Capitals making a successful playoff run.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-6-4) No matter what the Maple Leafs do in the regular-season, they will have to prove themselves again in the postseason. That’s what happens when you haven’t won a playoff series in 18 years. But the Maple Leafs have been impressive in the regular-season, ranking fourth in goals-against average (2.50) and ninth in scoring (3.27). Their defensive group, while not perfect, seems more competitive than groups from the past. The most impressive aspect of the Maple Leafs has been the goaltending of Jack Campbell (15-5-2, 1.94 goals-against average and .937)
6. Florida Panthers (18-7-4) It wouldn’t take much for me to move the Panthers up to the top three, particularly with Aleksander Barkov back in the lineup. The Panthers sputtered a bit before the Holiday, going 4-5-1 in their last 10. They carry a three-game losing streak out of the break. But this is a well-rounded team that can compete against any team in the NHL.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-8-5) Don’t sleep on the Penguins. Injured Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust are skating with the team, although they haven’t been cleared for contact. Some thought the Penguins would take a step back this season. But that hasn’t happened. Tristan Jarry has bounced back from last season’s poor playoff performance to go 15-5-4. Coach Mike Sullivan has done an exceptional job holding this band together through injury and COVID. The Penguins took a seven-game winning streak into the holiday break. This is an organization that has the formula for playoff success.
8. New York Rangers (19-7-4) If you are looking for a sleeper or dark horse, the Rangers may be your team. They have a younger, hungry defense led by Adam Fox and a dynamic young goalie Igor Shesterkin who can steal games. Their offense is in the middle-of-the-pack, but it has some dangerous performers such as Artemi Panarin. If Rangers young players Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kappo step in the second half of the season, the Rangers could be a force.
9. Minnesota Wild (19-9-2) No team in the Western Conference has a better winning percentage than the Wild. Minnesota ranks second in scoring (3.63) and their defensive play has been adequate. Do they need improved goaltending? This is a confidence team, and right they feel good about themselves.
10. Vegas Golden Knights This team stayed afloat through numerous injuries, and now they are expecting Jack Eichel to join the team, perhaps in February, maybe later. The Golden Knights are fourth in scoring (3.47). The key for the Golden Knights: How good will Robin Lehner be down the stretch? His numbers thus far (3.03 goals-against average and .905 save percentage) have been underwhelming.