2 weeks away from the Thanksgiving Holiday and its getting really interesting in the NHL. Remember when the Edmonton Oilers had goaltending issues? Well the media seems to still believe that’s the case, but such is life when you pay reporters to spew BS. The Devils Pansies are in the news again, for weird reasons. They look good but love to step on rakes in the process. Anaheim is back to scoring goals like crazy. Cuttah is him! Its amazing to be an NHL fan baby!
#16 Anaheim Ducks (10-7-1, 21 Points)
Previously Unranked
Cutter is the reason the Ducks find their way on this list. The Ducks have really managed to solidify their game at least for now. They were on the positive end of a weird night in Edmonton, and Cutter finds himself with 3 hatties in 5 games. What an unreal bit of scoring from the young man. This team still needs to figure it out defensively but they are outscoring their problems again!
#15 Nashville Predators (8-4-5, 21 points)
Previously Unranked
Don’t look now but the Predators are on a run. Goaltending and special teams can do a lot for a group but in a division that seems more open than I gave it credit for, and the fact that the bottom of the Pacific is so bad, the Predators find their way to keep their playoff hopes alive. Par for the course it seems for this scrappy team. I do wonder if it won’t matter and Stammer will be on his way out via a trade this season.
#14 Florida Panthers (9-7-2, 20 Points)
Previously #7
Bad week for the Panthers. The depth of the Panthers isn’t what we remember from the 2024/25 Cup Years. I know your best all around player in Barkov is out, but you can’t rely on the Chucky brothers for everything. It just won’t work. They are so damn good defensively but its not enough.
#13 New York Rangers (10-7-1, 21 Points)
Previously Unranked
The Rangers managed to turn away from their terrible string of games and beat up teams below them in the standings. Hey it’s a start and Dylan Garand had a good string of quality starts which really helps improve the confidence level after a string of tough games. The Rangers are hanging in there.
#12 Utah Mammoth (10-7-1, 21 Points)
Unchanged
The Mammoth are so good 5 on5. They just know how to manage the puck and pressure you when they don’t have it and its quite obvious when you watch them play. Logan Cooley looks great as well as Dylan Guenther. This is a team that is impacted too negatively from their lack of goaltending. They needed to address this when Helly was available.
#11 Ottawa Senators (11-6-1, 23 Points)
Previously #14
Ottawa continues to surprise me given who they lost in the off season. Good week with 2 wins. They are a team that relies on the goaltending too much and I have my reservations about that but look where they are ranked, they aren’t a top 10 team. That being said, they are a solid team that have a chance with the likes of Panthers and Sabres being too up and down for me.
#10 Dallas Stars (10-5-2, 22 points)
Previously #9
Are the Dallas Stars and their Avalanche counterparts just underwhelming to you? Is the Central Division a little underwhelming outside what’s happening in Minny? The depth seems very limited as outside the top 4 forwards, the offense has been meager. Maybe they are focusing on actually getting to the Stanley Cup Final but depth has been an issue in their playoff runs and its low key a blemish now.
#9 Colorado Avalanche (10-6-2, 22 Points)
Previously #5
The Avs allowed a TD against the Blue Jackets of all teams this week. Sure they took care of business for the most part elsewhere it just seems like they aren’t the team we are used to seeing even at this point in the season. They are just negative in the expected goal share. They are generating a decent amount of offense but getting a quite high shooting percentage 5on5. You wonder if that regression to the average more, how will this team look?
#8 Vegas Golden Knights (12-5-2, 26 Points)
Previously #10
Strong run for the Knights, grabbing points in all games this week with of those wins. Knights have managed to drive the play most nights. They are also seeing much needed contribution from Tomas Hertl, who’s been awful quiet until this past week. 9 goals on the season is not to shabby.
#7 Montreal Canadiens (11-3-3, 25 Points)
Previously #6
Habs continue to bank big points. The Habs might be turning into the team I thought they grew out of, the team that relies on goaltending far too much. I know I said I would give more credit to goalies as goalies are part of the roster, but you also need to reciprocate your efforts. The Habs gave up 4 goals in under 2 minutes to the listless Jets and then again almost against the Leafs. This is the Jets and Leafs we are talking about. Fowler had been amazing for the entire game and was left out to dry. You cannot do that to your goaltender; it doesn’t end up well over time.
#6 Edmonton Oilers (12-3-3, 27 Points)
Previously #4
Pretty mediocre week for the Oil who go 1-1-1. They managed to take the mighty Devils Pansies to a shootout before dropping that game. Had a very weird against against the Ducks, but as we know, good teams don’t lose 3 in a row and looked back to form against the Canucks. Oilers host a couple Metro teams before heading to Toronto on Saturday Night Hockey (fka Hockey Night in Canada but we can’t have nice things anymore). The interesting situation is the Jake Walman situation…Is his time in Edmonton limited or will they find a way to unlock this very important piece of the puzzle?
#5 Tampa Bay Lightning (11-4-2, 24 Points)
Previously #8
Despite the cloud that is the Kucherov situation, the Bolts don’t seem to care about it. They have been one of the better teams in the Conference. Lost in a back to back to game at the end but prior had banked 2 wins in a row. It is quite cool to see this team shake off the noise so well.
#4 Boston Bruins (13-4-1, 27 Points)
Previously #9
This team has the offense from an elite top line, the goaltending to take the distance, and the depth is starting to really emerge. I am willing to admit when I am wrong, the Bruins are legit. Some of the shooting percentage from depth players might be elevated and unsustainable, but what if its not?
#3 Minnesota Wild (12-3-4, 28 Points)
Previously #2
The Wild are a fun team to watch boy. The top line is getting most of the work done but a wild stat I see is that the “bottom” 9 forwards have outscored opponents 16-0. 200 minutes of play and not a single goal against. That is what you want to see from your depth players. If your lines can’t generate a crap ton of offense, you better manage the puck better than anyone you face and the Wild depth have, in spades.
#2 New Jersey Devils Pansies (13-5-0, 26 Points)
Previously #3
The Devils run is fantastic. The Devils PR/GM team are cowards. What a way to prove you all don’t know crap about the high-level athlete. Complete lack of respect for the game and for Connor Hellebuyck frankly. Unless the Team is actually covering for the cowardice that is Connor Hellebuyck, but I would bet my next paycheck that isn’t the case. The team really screwed the pooch on this one and karma has a wicked way of showing up…for those that don’t know, Connor Hellebuyck will be sitting out on Tuesday as the Devils head to Winnipeg. We found out about this 2 days in advance and for reasons of “a reduction in expected win probability.” Kindly f**k off.
#1 Carolina Hurricanes (14-3-2, 30 points)
Unchanged (probably forever)
The Carolina Hurricanes might be better than that Avalanche team from last year…time will tell. What else do I even say anymore? This team is boring almost.