NHL Power Rankings Based on Stanley Cup Odds After Dec. 15th: It's Time to Respect the Wild
We're back with the latest edition of the official IMAC NHL Power Rankings.
We're in the final stretch of the 2021 calendar year, so let's take a look at where each NHL team stands.
The numbers in brackets indicated movement since the last edition of the power rankings.
All odds listed are via WynnBET Sportsbook.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs +1000 (-)
Toronto holds the top spot for the third straight edition of the power rankings, and now the sportsbooks are starting to take notice. Their odds to win the Stanley Cup have recently moved from +1200 to +1000 (bet $100 to profit $1,000).
2. Washington Capitals +2000 (-)
I have no reason to move the Capitals away from the number two spot, but for some reason their Stanley Cup odds have dropped from +1500 to +2000. Jump on them now before it's too late.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning +800 (+1)
The Lightning are tied with the Panthers in the standings, but have been the hotter team as of late, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. For that reason, the back-to-back champions have leapfrogged their in-state rival.
4. Minnesota Wild +2000 (+1)
The Wild are 19-8-1 and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They hold the top spot in the Western Conference, and they deserve their due. With their being said, their Stanley Cup odds have fallen to +2000.
5. Florida Panthers +800 (-2)
Every team will hit at least one slump during their season, and that's where the Panthers are at now. They're only 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, but are only two points behind the Maple Leafs with two games in hand.
6. Colorado Avalanche +550 (+3)
The oddsmakers never lost faith in the Avalanche despite their slow start, and now the Stanley Cup favorites have won five straight games and are within striking distance of the Western Conference lead.
7. Carolina Hurricanes +1400 (+1)
They aren't playing their best hockey right now, but they're still only one point back from the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand. The Hurricanes will be a contender all season long.
8. New York Rangers +2500 (-2)
I'm still not a believer in the Rangers and now they've lost two straight games. With that being said, they still have more points than any team in the Western Conference not named the Wild.
9. Anaheim Ducks +5000 (+6)
The Ducks have gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games to reclaim the top spot in the Pacific Division, but their +12 goal differential shows that they aren't quite as good as their record indicates. We'll see if they can hold up.
10. Pittsburgh Penguins +2500 (+3)
It was only a matter of time before the Pittsburgh Penguins got hot. They've won five straight games and are slowly climbing up the Metropolitan Division standings.
11. Nashville Predators +5000 (+5)
I'll give credit to the Predators as they are fantastic in their own end. Their stellar defensive play is winning them games, and now they've put together a streak of five straight.
12. St. Louis Blues +2500 (+2)
The Blues continue to be feisty, going 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. They'd rank even higher if they could win their overtime games, having already lost five.
13. Boston Bruins +1500 (-2)
It's still tough to get a very good feel for the Bruins because they've played fewer games than any other team this season except for the Islanders who had to delay games for a week.
14. Vegas Golden Knights +800 (+3)
We're slowly starting to see some life from the Vegas Golden Knights, having won their last two games. With that being said, I'll be a bit surprised if they crack the top 10 this season. I'm still not sold on this squad being a true contender.
15. Calgary Flames +2000 (-8)
It's been a tough week for teams from Alberta. The Flames have lost four straight games, and have given up the top spot in the Pacific Division.
16. Detroit Red Wings +20000 (+4)
I still don't know how they're doing it, but the Red Wings continue to win games despite being a young team that has mediocre at best statistics. They're 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Oddsmakers still aren't buying in on them.
17. Edmonton Oilers +1200 (-7)
The Oilers have lost six straight games, and their team has been a dumpster fire over the past two weeks. They desperately need starting goaltender, Mike Smith, to return from injury.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets +25000 (+3)
They didn't do anything to deserve this bump to be honest, except for not sucking as much as other teams that I've been forced to rank below them.
19. Winnipeg Jets +4000 (-)
The Jets have lost two straight games and are 4-5-1 in their last 10. They're on the knifes edge of being either a good team or a bad team, and I can't figure out which way they're going to fall.
20. Los Angeles Kings +15000 (+3)
Their underlying stats are still solid, but the Kings are having a lot of trouble putting the puck in the back of the net. I'm not ready to count this team out just quite yet.
21. Vancouver Canucks +30000 (+7)
Don't look now, but the Vancouver Canucks have won five straight games! Despite the streak, they still have a losing record at 13-15-2.
22. San Jose Sharks +15000 (-4)
The Sharks are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a goal differential of -4. I wouldn't be surprised if this team continues to stumble down their division standings.
23. Dallas Stars +3000 (-10)
The Dallas Stars have lost four straight games, and as a result, are the biggest losers in this week's edition of my power rankings. They're proving me right for not believing in them.
24. Seattle Kraken +10000 (-)
The Kraken are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and while they're at the bottom of the Pacific Division, they can still catch up to their divisional opponents. The Pacific is by far the weakest division in the league.
25. Chicago Blackhawks +40000 (-)
The darlings of the offseason have seen their Stanley Cup odds fall off a cliff. On the bright side, they've been much better in their own end under new head coach Derek King.
26. Philadelphia Flyers +20000 (-)
The Flyers were on a type of losing streak that you have nightmares about, but to their credit, they've won three straight.
27. New Jersey Devils +15000 (-5)
The Devils have lost three straight games and are 2-7-1 in their last 10 contests. As punishment, they have fallen down my rankings.
28. Buffalo Sabres +200000 (+1)
The Buffalo Sabres have become the most irrelevant team in the NHL. Sometimes I forget that they exist.
29. Ottawa Senators +100000 (+1)
The Senators have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, but still only have 19 points on the season.
30. Montreal Canadiens +100000 (-3)
They fired their GM and now they've lost seven straight games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division despite having played 30 games this season, four more than the Senators. What a monumental fall from grace.
31. New York Islanders +7500 (-)
The Islanders have run out of excuses and are now just a terrible hockey team. All that money on a brand new arena, only for it to showcase a dumpster fire of a hockey team. They stink out loud and their Stanley Cup odds continue to plummet.
32. Arizona Coyotes +200000 (-)
Five wins. 22 losses. Tough scene in Arizona.