This is the fifth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2024-25 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.
In this edition, we're giving each team a gift to celebrate the holiday season.
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1. Washington Capitals (21-6-2)
Previous: 2
A healthy Ovi. The Capitals have remained surprisingly stellar even without the injured Alex Ovechkin, but Washington - along with everyone in the hockey world - hopes he'll be back sooner rather than later. The Russian sniper has been doing some skating but still isn't practicing in full.
2. Minnesota Wild (20-7-4)
Previous: 3
Some power-play ideas. The Wild have been excellent this season despite not excelling with the man advantage. Five-on-five play is the best barometer for whether a team is legit - and this one clearly is - but Minnesota is 20th in the league with the extra man at 19.0%.
3. Winnipeg Jets (22-9-1)
Previous: 1
Improved play at evens. Speaking of five-on-five play, the Jets' underlying numbers have been concerning. Winnipeg sits 25th in expected goals for percentage and 24th in scoring chances for percentage in standard situations. The Jets are still a force, but between this and a poor penalty kill, there are some troubling signs.
4. New Jersey Devils (20-10-3-)
Previous: 6
Some respect on Jesper Bratt's name. It's the Swedish winger, not Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, who leads the Devils in points this season. Bratt has 41 in 33 games, and he also tops New Jersey with 28 assists. Playing with Hughes helps, but Bratt remains one of the NHL's most underrated players.
5. Los Angeles Kings (18-9-3)
Previous: 10
Last year's Quinton Byfield. The 22-year-old has struggled to repeat his breakout campaign with just four goals and 13 points through 30 contests. The Kings will become legitimate contenders if Byfield elevates his game in the back half of the season.
6. Edmonton Oilers (18-10-2)
Previous: 14
Scoring help for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Those two freaks have already hit the 40-point mark, and Evan Bouchard ranks third on the team with ... 22. No one else has gotten to 20 points yet. McDavid and Draisaitl are also the only Oilers to hit double-digits in goals. Someone help them.
7. Vegas Golden Knights (20-8-3)
Previous: 5
Bubble wrap for Mark Stone. The Golden Knights are 12-4-1 with Stone in the lineup. Vegas' captain has been superb when available, but he's already spent time on the shelf this season. Stone's health could be the difference between another deep playoff run and an early exit.
8. Carolina Hurricanes (19-10-1)
Previous: 4
A better shooting percentage for Sebastian Aho. The star forward only has eight goals in 30 games while being handcuffed by a 10% clip. For comparison, his shooting percentage has hit at least 16% in each of the previous five seasons. Aho is on pace for just 21 tallies, which would be a career low.
9. Toronto Maple Leafs (19-10-2)
Previous: 7
Literally any depth scoring. It's been status quo for the Maple Leafs, who have leaned on the "Core Four" to produce the vast majority of the team's offense once again. David Kampf, Connor Dewar, and Ryan Reaves have yet to score a goal, while Max Domi, Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg, and Nick Robertson are on pace to tally fewer than 10. An offensive boost in the bottom six would be significant.
10. Dallas Stars (18-11-0)
Previous: 8
Another hot streak for Logan Stankoven. The rookie has just one assist in his last nine games after posting 15 points in his first 18 contests. More production would be a big help to the Stars, who are dealing with Tyler Seguin's absence and Jason Robertson's offensive slump.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-10-2)
Previous: 12
A top-six right-winger. Conor Geekie has done a solid job on the second line with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, but the Lightning would become a much deeper offensive unit if they add a proven forward to the top six.
12. Florida Panthers (18-11-2)
Previous: 9
To get their swagger back. The Panthers have been shut out in back-to-back losses with a date against the Oilers on deck. Head coach Paul Maurice also expressed concerns about his team's defensive play, saying Edmonton will score 15 goals if the Panthers don't clean things up.
13. Vancouver Canucks (15-9-5)
Previous: 11
Direct all presents to Kevin Lankinen. The savior of the Canucks' season was signed in late September. Lankinen stabilized the crease while Thatcher Demko was sidelined and has kept Vancouver in the race. The Canucks would be near the league's basement if Arturs Silovs (.847 save percentage) had been the primary starter in Demko's absence. Lankinen deserves all the love this holiday season.
14. Colorado Avalanche (18-14-0)
Previous: 13
Gifts arrived early. Goaltending was No. 1 on the Avalanche's wish list, and general manager Chris MacFarland got it for his squad early. Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood were acquired in a nine-day span to completely revamp the Avs' goaltending tandem. The early returns are promising: Wedgewood has a .931 save percentage in five games, while Blackwood made 38 saves in his Colorado debut Saturday.
15. Calgary Flames (15-11-5)
Previous: 16
Another highlight-reel tally for Nazem Kadri. The veteran forward has scored an absolutely sick goal in back-to-back games, so why not keep it going? Kadri's still got it.
16. Utah Hockey Club (14-11-5)
Previous: 23
A serious playoff push. Don't look now, but Utah is heating up. The newest NHL team is 7-2-2 in its last 11 games and playing fun hockey led by young guns Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley. Who needs a deadline pickup when Sean Durzi and John Marino are scheduled to return from injury in the back half? Utah contending for a spot in the postseason would be great to see in its first season.
17. Boston Bruins (16-13-3)
Previous: 17
A darkness retreat for Jeremy Swayman. Sure, he was strong with a .950 save percentage against the Canucks on Saturday, but he still owns an .888 clip on the season after signing an eight-year, $66-million extension. Swayman also ranks dead last in goals saved above expected (minus-10.89). He could use the mental reset.
18. Ottawa Senators (15-13-2)
Previous: 29
A D partner for Jake Sanderson. The Senators have been crushed in Sanderson's five-on-five minutes when he's been paired with Travis Hamonic. The underlying numbers are strong in a smaller sample with Artem Zub, so the solution may be internal, but Ottawa desperately needs to get Sanderson away from Hamonic.
19. Philadelphia Flyers (14-13-4)
Previous: 15
Anything Matvei Michkov wants. The Russian rookie has injected fresh life into Philadelphia, ranking second on the team in both goals (11) and points (27) in 29 games. The Flyers never wanted Michkov to come in and be their savior, but he's at least been plenty of fun.
20. New York Rangers (15-14-1)
Previous: 19
A lifeboat. The ship is sinking quickly in New York. Everything that can go wrong is going wrong. It's still salvageable, but the Rangers need to turn things around soon before too much damage has been done - in the standings and the locker room.
21. Seattle Kraken (15-15-2)
Previous: 26
More minutes for Shane Wright. The 20-year-old has found his groove in the NHL. Wright has six goals and 12 points in his last 11 contests while playing 14:10 per game. An increased role amid his hot streak would be a nice reward.
22. New York Islanders (12-13-7)
Previous: 24
A haul in exchange for Brock Nelson. The Islanders employ one of the oldest rosters in the NHL and have numerous aging players signed to term. Acquiring prospects and draft picks for Nelson should be New York's move rather than extending the 33-year-old or letting him walk in free agency.
23. St. Louis Blues (15-14-3)
Previous: 21
A time machine for Robert Thomas. The Blues forward has been bonkers with 17 points in 13 games since he missed 12 outings with a broken ankle. Just imagine where he'd be if he never got hurt at all.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-14-5)
Previous: 22
One last playoff run for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. This one's a big ask, but if anyone deserves it, it's that trio. If the Penguins can't push back into the playoffs this season, it probably won't happen again with all three on the roster.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-14-5)
Previous: 20
A spa day for Zach Werenski. The defenseman must be tired after putting up 10 goals and 31 points in 31 games while leading the league in average ice time (26:15). Let the man rest.
26. Detroit Red Wings (12-14-4)
Previous: 25
A new head coach. The Red Wings have been leapfrogged by the Senators and have a measly minus-16 goal differential. Detroit has scored the fifth-fewest goals per game and has been significantly outplayed at even strength all season. The upcoming stretch against the Flyers, Canadiens (twice in a back-to-back), and Blues before the holiday break could decide Derek Lalonde's immediate future.
27. Anaheim Ducks (11-14-4)
Previous: 28
Another physically imposing defenseman, apparently. Having Radko Gudas wasn't enough, as Anaheim went and grabbed Jacob Trouba from the Rangers. Is Jeremy Lauzon available?
28. Montreal Canadiens (11-16-3)
Previous: 30
A fast-forward button. The Canadiens are still very bad, but there's reason for hope, especially given the way Lane Hutson has impressed as a rookie. If they could just accelerate their rebuild with the push of a button, they'd be all set.
29. San Jose Sharks (11-17-5)
Previous: 27
A season to match their holiday videos. The Sharks don't have much going for them aside from Macklin Celebrini resuming his Calder Trophy chase. But even when they flounder in the standings, San Jose always throws together a dynamite celebration of the holidays. This year was no different. Now the Sharks just need to turn their music video prowess into on-ice success.
30. Nashville Predators (8-17-6)
Previous: 31
Another canceled trip to Vegas' Sphere. Hey, it worked wonders for them last season. The Predators have fallen on their faces over the first two months of 2024-25 after a big offseason gave them high hopes. Time to arrange and then immediately postpone an excursion to a certain concert venue in Nevada.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (10-19-2)
Previous: 32
Some help for Connor Bedard. Several Blackhawks have scored at least as many goals as Chicago's sophomore star this season, but Bedard has five more assists and nine more points than anyone else on the team. The Blackhawks summoned promising youngster Frank Nazar over the weekend, but Bedard needs a better supporting cast as a whole.
32. Buffalo Sabres (11-16-4)
Previous: 18
A muzzle for Kevyn Adams. The general manager lamented earlier in December that Buffalo has trouble attracting free agents because it doesn't have palm trees, then noted winning is the cure. Well, the Sabres lost their 10th straight game Sunday - by far the longest active skid in the league. Adams may not have many press conferences left at this rate.
(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)
