NHL Power Rankings

By E. Spencer Kyte
Love Of Sports Correspondent

So we caught a little flack with our first instalment of these Power Rankings last week. And by we, I mean me.

Like I said in the comments section of last week’s piece, the initial rankings are always a little predictable, since no one has really played enough games to show if they’re opening week is a sign of things to come or just a little late start on the season. Case in point: The Anaheim Ducks.

This time last week, they looked like they might not win a game seeing as their top line had collected the same amount of goals as me. Seven days later, they’re on a five game winning streak and are the highest climbers in this week’s instalment.

Now that that is out of the way, what’s say we get to the Top 10?

NHL Power Rankings

1. Minnesota Wild (6-0-1)

Much like the Tennessee Titans should top everyone’s NFL Power Poll since they’re the only remaining undefeated team, the Wild earn top billing on the strength of the zero in their regulation loss column. Yes they start fast every season as of late and always play solid defensive hockey. But what they never used to do was score consistently and that isn’t the case so far this season, as Mikko Koivu sits in the Top 5 in points with a league leading 12 assists.

2. Detroit Red Wings (7-1-1)

Here is the scary thing about the Wings: even though they’re winning games right now, they still aren’t hitting on all cylinders. It took a brutal give away from Denis Gauthier for Detroit to get to a shootout against Los Angeles on Monday night. But like all championship teams must do, they’re winning close games and are well on their way to a ninth straight 100-point campaign.

3. Buffalo Sabres (6-1-2)

They collected their first loss in regulation last night against a fired up Ottawa Senators squad that needed a strong performance. The Sabres are showing the kind of spark that teams don’t usually acquire until later in the season, with Adam Mair chasing down players in the hallway after games. Ryan Miller has looked outstanding so far as well.

4. New York Rangers (9-2-1)

You can’t place the team with the most wins and most points in the league much further down the list than this. Sure they’ve played more games than everyone else, but no one would be using that as an excuse if they were playing poorly. The kids (Dubinsky, Callahan, Girardi) and the new additions (Zherdev, Voros, Naslund) have provided consistent offense in front of the always excellent Henrick Lundqvist and if it keeps up, the Rangers will be in the thick of things all season long.

5. San Jose Sharks (7-2-0)

I thought Brian Boucher was dead! Not really, but where has this career resurrection come from? Granted it’s only two games, but anytime you go 2-0-0 with a pair of shutouts, you get my attention and that of every other team around the league.

6. Montreal Canadiens (5-1-1)

They’ve allowed the second fewest goals in the league thus far, but they have to be worried that 1/3 of their goals have come from two players, Alex Tanguay (5) and Saku Koivu (4). Paging Alex Kovalev ... Alex Kovalev to the score sheet please!

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-2)

Last season’s second fiddles should get a round of applause for how well they’ve been playing thus far. Remember, they’re missing their top two defensemen and underwent some changes up front that everyone was wary of before the season began. So far, Miro Satan looks like he’s working out OK, doesn’t he?

8. New Jersey Devils (5-2-1)

Martin Brodeur is the best goalie ever ... Martin Brodeur is the best goalie ever ... Martin Brodeur is the best goalie ever…

9. Anaheim Ducks (5-5-0)

This team has the makeup to be very dangerous all season long. They might be the best blend of youth, veterans, skill and grit in the league. Everything hinges on the play of Jean-Sebastian Giguere between the pipes; if he’s strong all season, the Ducks will once again be mighty.

10. Chicago Blackhawks (3-3-3)

Yep, I’ve got the Blackhawks in my Top 10. Making the move to Joel Quenneville was the right decision, as much as it made Patrick Kane cry. Despite dropping a shootout to the Red Wings and losing a close 3-2 contest to the Wild on Monday, those tough games are only going to help this team. Patrick Sharp riding a seven game goal scoring streak doesn’t hurt either. I guess last year wasn’t a fluke after all.

The Rest

11. Edmonton Oilers
12. St. Louis Blues
13. Colorado Avalanche
14. Calgary Flames
15. Boston Bruins
16. Carolina Hurricanes
17. Ottawa Senators
18. Washington Capitals
19. Philadelphia Flyers
20. Dallas Stars
21. Vancouver Canucks
22. Phoenix Coyotes
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
24. Nashville Predators
25. Florida Panthers
26. Los Angeles Kings
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
28. Columbus Blue Jackets
29. Atlanta Thrashers
30. New York Islanders

(E. Spencer Kyte’s Power Rankings can be read in this same spot each and every Thursday.)