NHL Power Rankings Based on Stanley Cup Odds on January 12th: Florida Teams Continue to Dominate
It's been almost a full month since the last edition of the NHL Power Rankings, so it's time to re-visit them and make some changes.
The NHL went on an extended holiday break due to several COVID-19 breakouts, but its back into the swing of things and the playoff picture is becoming more clear with each passing day.
The numbers in brackets indicate movement since the last edition of the power rankings.
All odds listed are via WynnBET Sportsbook.
1. Florida Panthers +850 (+4)
We have a new number one team! The Panthers suffered a slump in December, but they've since re-gained the top spot in the NHL standings. They're technically tied with the Lightning, but Florida has two games in hand.
2. Carolina Hurricanes +1400 (+1)
The Hurricanes are by far the best bet on the board to win the Stanley Cup right now. They're only three points behind the Panthers atop the Eastern Conference, but they have three games in hand. They're 8-1-1 over their last 10 games.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning +750 (-2)
They haven't done anything to deserve dropping two spots, but the Panthers and Hurricanes did enough recently to leapfrog them. They have a very real chance to pull off the three-peat.
4. Colorado Avalanche +550 (+2)
The Avalanche continue to climb the mountain that is my NHL power rankings. They're 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, and had a huge come from behind victory over the Maple Leafs this past weekend.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs +1000 (-3)
I couldn't drop my beloved Maple Leafs too far down the list. It's not their fault they play in the best division in hockey. To be fair, they blew two straight two-goal 3rd period leads in their last two games. They can't allow that to happen moving forward.
6. Nashville Predators +5000 (+1)
The pesky Predators continue to hold on to the top spot in the Central Division. They've won five straight games, are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, and secured a monumental victory over the Avalanche on Tuesday night. Respect.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins +2000 (+3)
The Penguins picked up right where they left off at the holiday break and are now 9-1 in their last 10 games. It's likely only a matter of time before they slide into the second spot in the Metropolitan Division behind the Hurricanes.
8. St. Louis Blues +2500 (+6)
I'm still not a believer in the Blues long term, but they're 7-2-1 and have won two straight games. They're currently tied with the Avalanche in the Central Division, but Colorado holds three games in hand. They'll be in the playoffs, no doubt.
9. New York Rangers +2500 (-1)
Speaking of teams I don't believe in, the New York Rangers are a terrible team statistically, but continue to win games and hang around close to the top of the Metropolitan standings. They're 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, so their facade of being an actual contender is start to slip.
10. Washington Capitals +1500 (-6)
The Capitals were the hottest team in the league in the first half of December, but they're in the middle of a major slide and have lost four-straight games. They'll be in a battle with the Penguins for the No. 2 seed in the Metro for the rest of the season.
11. Vegas Golden Knights +700 (-)
I still don't understand oddsmakers love for this team. Sure, they're in first place in the Pacific, but it's by far the worst division in hockey and the Golden Knights only have 49 points despite playing 39 games.
12. Minnesota Wild +1500 (-3)
The Wild stumbled at the beginning of the restart, but they've strung together two straight wins and are still in the mix in the Central Division.
13. Boston Bruins +1500 (+2)
The Bruins have figured out most of their offensive woes that plagued them at the beginning of the season, and have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games. It's still hard to measure them to the rest of the NHL considering they've only played 32 games.
14. Anaheim Ducks +4000 (-2)
The Ducks enjoyed an unbelievable run to start the year, but it's clear they aren't a serious contender. Credit to them, their decline hasn't been a steep one. They can still hang on to one of the top spots in the terrible Pacific Division.
15. Los Angeles Kings +15000 (+5)
I'm higher on this team than most people are. Their CORSI numbers are among the best in the NHL, but weak goaltending and the inability to find the back of the net has cost them this season. Despite that, they're 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
16. San Jose Sharks +15000 (+6)
The Sharks are benefiting from some other teams in the Pacific Division falling off a cliff, but credit to them, they've won three straight games and have a winning record despite having a -9 goal differential.
17. Winnipeg Jets +4000 (+1)
The Jets are in the middle of a slump, and head coach Paul Maurice resigned over the holiday break as a result. They still have the potential to break out of it and make a push for the playoffs.
18. Dallas Stars +4000 (+1)
The Stars are hanging in there, but they need to string together some wins if they hope to make the postseason.
19. Calgary Flames +2000 (-6)
The Calgary Flames have lost three straight games and they're 3-6-1 in their last 10. Despite having a goal differential of +21, they're barely above .500 at 17-10-6.
20. Vancouver Canucks +10000 (+1)
Shoutout to the Vancouver Canucks. They fired their head coach and turned things around. They're now 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, but still have a long way to go to get back in the playoff hunt.
21. Detroit Red Wings +50000 (-5)
They're still exceeding expectations to an extent, but their Cinderella run to start the season is officially over. They're 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight.
22. Edmonton Oilers +3000 (-5)
Something is going wrong in Edmonton and they need to figure it out FAST or they're going to waste another year of Connor McDavid's prime. They've lost five straight games and are now in sixth place in the weak Pacific Division.
23. Columbus Blue Jackets +30000 (-)
The playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have basically already been decided, and the Blue Jackets are not one of them.
24. Buffalo Sabres +100000 (+4)
The Sabres are on a six game losing streak, and have only moved up this list because of other teams, like the Flyers and Devils, playing some terrible hockey as of late.
25. New York Islanders +10000 (+4)
The COVID issues the Islanders ran into in the first half of the season has caused them to have played the fewest games in the NHL at only 28. They're starting to round the corner, having gone 5-2-3 in their last 10 games. They have so many games left that it's still possible for them to catch the rest of the Metropolitan Division, but they need wins in a hurry.
26. Chicago Blackhawks +50000 (-2)
Holders of the third worst goal differential in the NHL, the Blackhawks season has been a massive disappointment.
27. Seattle Kraken +30000 (-2)
I begrudgingly have to put the Kraken in this spot due to losing six straight games. I still believe in them, as a lot of their statistics are still pretty solid. It's hard to win games with the worst save percentage in the NHL.
28. Philadelphia Flyers +30000 (-2)
The Flyers have a bit more talent than the Devils, but they've lost five straight games and their bad season is only getting worse.
29. New Jersey Devils +30000 (-2)
With a -21 goal differential, the Devils are about to become the worst team in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders are still seven points behind them, but they have eight games in hand.
30. Ottawa Senators +200000 (-)
Third longest odds to win the Cup, and third last on the Power Rankings.
31. Arizona Coyotes +500000 (+1)
Congrats to the Coyotes, they're not in the last spot this week!
32. Montreal Canadiens +300000
I thought there was no chance that any team other than the Coyotes would hold the bottom spot in the power rankings, but the Canadiens organization is officially the biggest dumpster fire in the NHL. They're 1-7-2 in their last 10 games and only have 18 points in 34 games. Yikes.