NHL Power Rankings Based on Stanley Cup Odds After Nov. 9th: Oilers Are Serious Contender

We're a month into the 2021-22 NHL season, so it's time for the second edition of the official Iain MacMillan NHL Power Rankings.

There are shifts in the power rankings, as teams have both impressed and disappointed me since last week's edition of the article.

I will update these power rankings each week of the NHL season. All odds listed are via WynnBET Sportsbook.

1. Carolina Hurricanes +1200 (-)

The Carolina Hurricanes hold on to the top spot in my power rankings, but now the oddsmakers are finally starting to realize that they're legit. They've moved from +2000 to +1200 at WynnBET to win the Stanley Cup, and have the best goal differential in the NHL at +20.

2. Edmonton Oilers +1200 (+1)

The Edmonton Oilers have leapfrogged the Panthers, and now hold on to the number two spot in the power rankings. They're sitting in first place in the Pacific Division, and Connor McDavid is already the -120 favorite to win the Hart Trophy at WynnBET.

3. Florida Panthers +800 (-1)

The Florida Panthers hold the top spot in the Atlantic Division and they've scored the most goals in the NHL so far with 52. They've only been dropped down to the No. 2 spot due to losing two straight games.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs +1200 (+5)

It wasn't going to take much from the Maple Leafs for me to move them into the top 5 of the power rankings. They rank first in CORSI% and high danger scoring chances. If they can fix their shooting woes, they'll establish themselves as one of the top teams in the NHL.

5. Minnesota Wild +2500 (+7)

I'll be honest, I ranked this team too low in last week's power rankings. To make up for it, I've bumped them up to No. 5. They're riding a three game winning streak and have been a solid team from top to bottom.

6. St. Louis Blues +2500 (+2)

I'm still not much of a believer in the Blues, but at 8-2-1, I have to give them credit. Jordan Binnington has been carrying them this season with a .928 save percentage.

7. Calgary Flames +2500 (-)

The Flames sit second in the Pacific Division behind the Oilers at 7-2-3. They've been fantastic in their own end, allowing the second fewest high danger scoring chances per 60 minutes.

8. Washington Capitals +2500 (-4)

The Washington Capitals have remained steady throughout the season, and their offense is among the best in the NHL with 42 goals. If they can sharpen up their play in their own end, they can be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning +800 (-4)

Hockey fans are waiting for the Lightning to turn the switch on and start dominating their opponents, but they've yet to do that. At 6-3-3, they're sitting in fourth place in the Atlantic. Oddsmakers still believe in them, and to be fair, there's still a lot of hockey left to be played.

10. Boston Bruins +1200 (-)

It's tough to judge the Bruins too much, considering they've only played 10 games so far this season. What they continue to do well is limit high danger scoring chances, ranking first in the NHL in that statistic.

11. New York Rangers +3000 (+2)

The New York Rangers sit second in the Metropolitan Division with a 7-3-3 record, but they have a negative goal differential at -4. We'll see if they can hang on to a winning record.

12. Philadelphia Flyers +3000 (+4)

The Flyers hold a strong 6-2-2 record through their first 10 games, and their success has largely come from being a group of sharpshooters. They take advantage of most of their offensive opportunities, notching a goal on 10.6% of their shots.

13. Colorado Avalanche +550 (-7)

It's tough for me to drop a team as talented as this so far down the power rankings, but this is a punishment for holding a losing record at 4-5-1. Oddsmakers still believe in them, as they remain the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

14. Winnipeg Jets +4000 (-3)

The Jets rank around the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, so that's exactly where they sit on my power rankings. Connor Hellebuyck has yet to play at the level he's capable of.

15. Nashville Predators +10000 (+5)

The Predators haven't done such a great job on either end of the ice, but they keep finding ways to win games. They hold a 6-5-1 record through their first 12 contests.

16. Anaheim Ducks +30000 (+6)

They still have the second longest odds to win the Stanley Cup, but shoutout to the Ducks who also have the second longest active winning streak in the NHL at five. They also know how to put the puck in the net with the second most goals in the Western Conference.

17. Los Angeles Kings +7500 (+7)

The started their season with a 1-5-1 record, but have since won six straight games, which is the longest active win streak in the NHL. At 7-5-1, I'm not fully convinced it's a totally fraudulent record. They're in the top 10 in the NHL in both CORSI% and High Danger Scoring Chances.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets +20000 (+8)

The biggest movers on the power rankings compared to last week, the Blue Jackets are 7-3-0 but have only played in 10 games this season. While I can't imagine they'll keep this record intact, I'll reward them with a big move up to the No. 17 spot.

19. San Jose Sharks +5000 (-1)

The Sharks haven't done anything significant to justify dropping in the power rankings, but they haven't done anything significant that makes me think they belong in the top 15. They have a chance to make noise in the weak pacific division.

20. Vegas Golden Knights +900 (-5)

Are we sure this team is good? They have a 7-6 record through 13 games, but they're supposed to be dominating a weak Pacific Division. Instead, they find themselves in sixth place. Oddsmakers have dropped their Stanley Cup odds, but they're still fourth on the oddsboard.

21. Detroit Red Wings +20000 (7-5-2)

Maybe I'm not being fair by only ranking them at 21 despite being in second place in the Atlantic Division, but oddsmakers' opinions haven't changed on this team as their Stanley Cup odds remain stagnant despite their impressive start. Expect regression.

22. New York Islanders +1500 (-8)

Ya hate to see it, Islanders fans. Despite being in third place in the NHL in team save percentage, the lack of goal scoring has caused them to be a below average team this season. Sometimes, the modified trap isn't so good, is it?

23. Pittsburgh Penguins +2000 (-6)

Losing to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday was alone enough of a reason to drop them on my power rankings list. They need to find a way to win in overtime, as they've already let four games slip away from them that were tied at the end of regulation.

24. New Jersey Devils +7500 (+3)

They still have a winning record, so that's enough of a reason to bump them up a couple of spots. We'll see in the coming weeks just how good this team actually is.

25. Dallas Stars +4000 (-4)

The Stars still can't put the puck in the net. Only the Coyotes and Canadiens have a lower shooting percentage than the Stars. They don't have the talent to win games without taking advantage of their offensive opportunities.

26. Vancouver Canucks +7500 (-3)

The Canucks are just a bad team all around. Better than terrible, but worse than average. Simply, bad. They're 5-6-2 and sit in second last in the Pacific.

27. Seattle Kraken +5000 (+2)

They're in last place in the worst division in hockey, but every win the Kraken gets is more impressive in my mind considering they're an expansion team. Don't expect them to have an opening season like Vegas did a few years ago, they're built to win in the future, not the present.

28. Buffalo Sabres +20000 (-9)

Remember when the Sabres were 5-0-2? Well, now they've lost five straight games and are right back to where everyone expected they'd be. At least the finally have the Jack Eichel situation behind them by shipping him off to Vegas.

29. Ottawa Senators +25000 (-1)

The owners of the longest active losing streak in the NHL, at five games, should be happy I haven't dropped them down below the Canadiens yet. The Sens have a promising future, but this season is a write off.

30. Montreal Canadiens +12500 (-)

Has there ever been a more fraudulent Stanley Cup run than the Canadiens last season? They stink. Truly.

31. Chicago Blackhawks +20000 (-)

Something positive about the Blackhawks: They're on a two game win streak! Everything else is gross and ugly about this team. We'll see if those offseason moves can start to help them out soon.

32. Arizona Coyotes +50000 (-)

I wouldn't be surprised if this team holds on to the bottom spot on these rankings for the entire NHL season. They are last or close to last in almost every major statistic, and they already have a goal differential of -30. Yikes.