NHL Power Rankings Based on Stanley Cup Odds: Hurricanes Sit in Top Spot as Final Undefeated Team

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

Don't worry, I won't let my Toronto Maple Leafs fandom impact the rankings (too much), especially given their subpar start to the season. For now, I will put away the Leafs jersey and put on my sports bettors hat.

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

1. Carolina Hurricanes (8-0-0) +2000

Somehow, some way, the Carolina Hurricanes are still listed with +2000 odds at WynnBET despite starting their season with a perfect 8-0 record. They've been my dark horse pick the past few seasons to win the Stanley Cup, but I'm starting to think they no longer qualify as a dark horse. The final undefeated team in the league deserves the top spot in my power rankings.

2. Florida Panthers (8-0-1) +800

I'll admit, I didn't believe the hype behind the Panthers, but I've been immediately proven wrong. The oddsmakers are WynnBET have given them the second shortest odds to win the Cup after their hot start.

3. Edmonton Oilers (7-1-0) +1200

Now tied with the Maple Leafs for the Canadian team with the shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup, Connor McDavid might just drag this team kicking and screaming to the finals. If only they had some level of competence in their own end the ice...

4. Washington Capitals (5-1-3) +2500

The Capitals need to stop losing in overtime, but they sure know how to put the puck in the net. Alexander Ovechkin is still a killer with the puck on his stick.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (5-3-1) +800

A little bit of a Stanley Cup hangover plagued the Lightning at the beginning of the season, but they'll be in contention to win their third straight Cup come spring time.

6. Colorado Avalanche (4-4-0) +550

They're still deserving of being betting favorites to win the Cup despite the slow start, but the Avs seem like they're beginning to turn things around. They'll be back atop the Central Division before too long.

7. Calgary Flames (6-1-2) +2500

The battle of Alberta is going to be fun this season, but I don't think the Flames will be able to keep up with the Oilers when it's all said and done. Jakob Markstrom is an early Vezina Trophy candidate with a 1.56 GAAA and a .947 SV% through his first seven starts.

8. St. Louis Blues (6-1-0) +2500

I will begrudgingly slide the Blues in here due to their early record, but their underlying stats, like high danger scoring chances, don't show a promising sign for their future. I expect regression from the 2019 Stanley Cup champions.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (5-4-1) +1200

I think No. 9 on the list is a fair spot for my Maple Leafs. If the boys could put the puck in the net, they'd be ranked a lot higher. They rank 27th in shooting percentage through their first nine games.

10. Boston Bruins (4-3-0) +1200

I'm willing to give this team the benefit of the doubt considering they're one of only three teams who have only played seven games so far this season. Their offense has been lackluster thus far, but I'm sure they'll turn it around.

11. Winnipeg Jets (5-2-2) +4000

I'm only ranking them this high because they are still finding ways to win games even though Connor Hellebuyck has got off to a horrid start to the season. If they can keep up this level of play once Hellebuyck turns things around between the pipes, they'll be better than people expected.

12. Minnesota Wild (6-3) +2500

One of the least notable NHL teams, they're about as average as average can get. But with a 6-3 record, sliding them in at No. 12 makes perfect sense.

13. New York Rangers (6-2-2) +3000

Igor Shesterkin might just carry this team to the NHL playoffs. With a 1.85 GAA and a .943 SV% through his first eight starts, the 25-year old is proving to be the best young goalie in the league.

14. New York Islanders (3-2-2) +1500

Much like the Bruins, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt having only played seven games. In true Islanders fashion, they continue to play a style of hockey that will put any sane person to sleep. Averaging 2.39 goals for and 2.39 goals against per game is as on brand as it gets.

15. Vegas Golden Knights (4-5-0) +1500

Given their history, I won't drop the Golden Knights down any further on the list, but they need to fix their defense in a hurry. You won't find success in the NHL while giving up the second most high dangers scoring chances per game.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (5-2-1) +3000

The Flyers confuse me every season because their underlying stats are far from impressive, but they continue to put the puck in the net at a high rate. They rank fourth in shooting percentage through their first eight games. I guess it pays to have sharpshooters.

17. Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-2) +2000

They got off to a hot start to their season with a win over the defending champs on opening night, but they've now dropped three straight. They'll turn things around before too long.

18. San Jose Sharks (6-3-1) +5000

A winning record through their first nine games and they're giving up the third fewest high dangers scoring chances per game. We'll see if they can keep it up.

19. Buffalo Sabres (5-3-1) +20000

There's no way that they keep this up, but I'll give credit where credit is due. The Sabres have a winning record with a goal differential of +6 through their first nine games. Not bad, Buffalo. Not bad.

20. Nashville Predators (5-4-0) +10000

Through their first nine games, they've been average in most facets of the game. Juuse Saros, much like Shesterkin of the Rangers, is a promising young goalie who could drag this team to the playoffs.

21. Dallas Stars (3-4-2) +4000

The Stars can't find the back of the net. Second last in the NHL in shooting percentage as of writing these rankings. They're a talented enough team that they'll turn things around.

22. Anaheim Ducks (4-4-3) +30000

Now we start with the truly bad teams. The Ducks are only this high on the list for their goal-scoring ability so far this season. I doubt it will last long.

23. Vancouver Canucks (4-5-1) +7500

I don't have anything significant to say about the Canucks. They don't do anything really well, but they aren't terrible at anything either. They need to find some sort of spark.

24. Los Angeles Kings (3-5-1) +7500

The Kings, statistically, are actually performing much better than people expected. They rank third in the NHL in CORSI%, but that doesn't matter much when you're bottom 10 in both shooting and save percentage.

25. Detroit Red Wings (4-4-2) +20000

I love the moves that Steve Yzerman has made with this team, and they're looking decent in the early goings. With that being said, they're still a few years away from being a playoff team.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (5-3-0) +30000

It's a shame having to rank a team that has a winning record this low on the list, but things will come crashing down for the Blue Jackets sooner rather than later. They rank 28th in the NHL in CORSI%.

27. New Jersey Devils (4-3-1) +7500

The Devils might actually be a decent goalie away from being a respectable franchise this season. It's too bad that their choices are between Jonathan Bernier and Scott Wedgewood.

28. Ottawa Senators (3-5-1) +25000

Much like the Red Wings, the Senators are a young team with a plethora of good prospects, but they don't have the makings of a team that can win now. Shout out Drake Batherson, who leads the team in points. He grew up the next town over from me.

29. Seattle Kraken (3-6-1) +5000

They're a brand new franchise, so I won't chirp them too much. Philipp Grubauer (.896 SV%) better pick things up if they want any kind of shot at the postseason.

30. Montreal Canadiens (3-8-0) +12500

It brings me great pleasure to be able to rank this team 30th in the NHL. Their postseason success last year was thanks to Carey Price, but with him currently sidelined, they have nothing to offer.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (1-7-2) +20000

The Blackhawks are a disgrace of a franchise both on and off the ice. Their disgusting play has somehow been outdone by their sickening front office. The only nice thing I can possibly say about this team is that at least they finally won a game.

32. Arizona Coyotes (0-9-1) +50000

The Coyotes are yet to win a game, they're last on the odds list to win the Stanley Cup, and they're last in goal differential at -29 (!!). You can hardly call this team an NHL team right now.