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NHL Power Rankings: The Wish List edition

Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports

It's the holiday season, and, as such, the time to give.

And while we can't physically purchase, package, and place gifts under the trees of all 30 NHL teams, we can offer suggestions. Here's what they should be asking for:

1. Dallas Stars
(Last Week: 1)

Dallas doesn't have the league's best record because it's been healthy, but it don't hurt.

Benn, Seguin, Klingberg, Sharp, Spezza, Eakin, Fiddler, and Goligoski - the Stars' top eight scorers - have combined to miss zero games this season. Continuing health and good fortune, that's all this team may need.

2. Washington Capitals
(Last Week: 2)

Christmas was in July, when the Caps landed T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams, who have been nothing short of terrific. So, and we're definitely nitpicking here, how about Alex Ovechkin returns to a point-per-game pace?

3. St. Louis Blues ▲
(Last Week: 7)

Jaden Schwartz will be quite a nice addition coming out of the holidays. The 63-point scorer last season, who led a parade to the training table when he fractured his ankle in late October, is expected back in early January.

4. Los Angeles Kings
(Last Week: 3)

Mike Richards left some cash under the Kings' tree, but GM Dean Lombardi would be wise to stash it in the bank for now. Because while he might be tempted to augment his 24th-ranked offense, that second-ranked defense, on paper, looks like it might require a body.

5. Minnesota Wild
(Last Week: 5)

Improved special teams. The Wild have the best 5-on-5 efficiency in the West (though they do still allow a lot of shots), but have a combined power play plus penalty kill below 100.

6. Chicago Blackhawks ▲
(Last Week: 10)

The Blackhawks need some of that Patrick Kane magic passed on throughout the roster. Jonathan Toews is on pace to post a career-worst 47 points, and Marian Hossa is stuck on two even-strength goals.

7. New York Islanders
(Last Week: 4)

Foresight. Asset management over the next few months is just as important as winning a postseason series for the first time in 22 years.

Well, maybe not quite.

8. Boston Bruins ▲
(Last Week: 11)

Don Sweeney's the gift that keeps on giving, is he not?

9. Detroit Red Wings
(Last Week: 9)

What we can offer won't be as good as what Justin Abdelkader got.

10. Nashville Predators ▲
(Last Week: 13)

For David Poile to pull the trigger. Nashville has both the greatest need, and the most valuable currency: excellent young defensemen.

11. Florida Panthers ▲
(Last Week: 16)

Don't be greedy, now, Panthers fans. You have it all already.

12. New York Rangers
(Last Week: 8)

Henrik Lundqvist may need to return to what was legitimate Hart Trophy form to delay the Rangers' seemingly impending demise.

13. Ottawa Senators ▼
(Last Week: 12)

Offense elsewhere. No team depends more heavily on a small nucleus of players to produce in the attacking end.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning
(Last Week: 14)

A Steven Stamkos contract extension. A healthy roster. Some salary cap relief.*

*not necessarily listed in order of importance

15. Montreal Canadiens
(Last Week: 6)

A life raft. One win in 10 games has the Canadiens, who had an 11-point lead atop the Atlantic Division at the beginning of the month, now three points from fifth.

16. Colorado Avalanche ▲
(Last Week: 19)

A new division. This one is just too tough.

17. San Jose Sharks
(Last Week: 17)

In a 5-3 comeback win over the Kings on the final game before the holiday break, the Sharks already got their wish.

18. New Jersey Devils
(Last Week: 15)

Another Kyle Palmieri-like deal. The former Ducks forward, acquired for two drafts picks, has twice as many goals as Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, and Jakob Silfverberg combined.

19. Calgary Flames ▲
(Last Week: 21)

More rule changes. Like 3-on-3, always.

20. Philadelphia Flyers ▲
(Last Week: 22)

A few unexpected retirements too much to ask?

21. Anaheim Ducks
(Last Week: 20)

The Getzlaf of old. Not sure what's worse: a 1.6 percent shooting percentage, or that in what's been a calamitous individual season, the captain has still accounted for 32 percent of the team's offense.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins
(Last Week: 18)

The option to renege on, like, everything over the last 18 months.

23. Edmonton Oilers
(Last Week: 23)

Something to hang on to. It's important that this team is in important games in the latter half of 2016. And they will, unless they sputter along with the rest of the division before Connor McDavid's return.

24. Arizona Coyotes ▲
(Last Week: 26)

A goalie, you'd think. But that hinges on intention.

25. Carolina Hurricanes
(Last Week: 25)

Eric Staal's cooperation. This isn't to say that they don't have it, but their handling of Staal over the next few months is of paramount importance.

26. Buffalo Sabres ▲
(Last Week: 27)

Focus. Expectations about competing this season after their transformation were always misguided, but there are really good things happening in Buffalo.

27. Toronto Maple Leafs ▲
(Last Week: 28)

A market. Though technically they can't unwrap it until after the holidays. Mike Babcock and co. have done an impressive job building up assets, and while they're competitive nightly, the playoffs aren't really a realistic option.

28. Vancouver Canucks ▲
(Last Week: 29)

More for fans, I guess, but a couch, one that reclines, to kick back and watch the world juniors, and take the mind off things for a little while.

29. Winnipeg Jets
(Last Week: 24)

See Canucks.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets
(Last Week: 30)

See Jets.

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