NHL Power Rankings For Week 7 Of The 2014-15 Season
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Nearly two months into the NHL season, the picture is getting clearer and clear on which teams are contenders, which teams are mediocre, and which are just throwing the towel in. With the season at its quarter point, here are the power rankings for Week 7 of the 2014-15 season.
30. Edmonton Oilers
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30. Edmonton Oilers
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The losers of four straight have reached rock bottom yet again and appear to be on the verge of a total makeover. Head coach Dallas Eakins is on the hot seat, and many young players such as Jordan Eberle could be shipped out of town in a massive fire sale before 2014 ends.
29. Buffalo Sabres
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29. Buffalo Sabres
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The Sabres are showing signs of life, winning three straight in the middle of one of the biggest snowstorms in recent history. Having said that, this team is still in the midst of a rebuild and will still look to bottom out this season in hopes of getting a top draft pick.
28. Carolina Hurricanes
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28. Carolina Hurricanes
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Much like the Sabres, Carolina is showing signs of life after a moribund start, but is still a ways away from being decent. Look for struggling winger Alex Semin to be on the trading block as his atrocious stats and massive cap hit don’t go well with a team in the middle of a rebuild.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
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27. Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Jackets just can’t get lucky. Their best players are either hurt or going through financial ruin, like Jack Johnson. The preseason pick to be a dark horse in the East is looking more and more like a team that will be picking in the upper echelons of the draft.
26. Colorado Avalanche
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26. Colorado Avalanche
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There’s only so much Patrick Roy can do as this team continues to be beset with poor defensive play and a mounting number of injuries. The team’s win over Carolina was simply one bad team beating another bad team. However, one positive is the play of defenseman Tyson Barrie, who is rounding into a very good offensive defenseman on another otherwise awful blue line.
25. Philadelphia Flyers
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25. Philadelphia Flyers
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GM Ron Hextall’s profanity-laced tirade following the team’s loss to the Rangers Wednesday night epitomizes the Flyers’ season so far. The team will need to get back on track with games against the Islanders and Red Wings before a home-and-home in back-to-back days against that same Rangers team.
24. Arizona Coyotes
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24. Arizona Coyotes
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Different name, same result for the Arizona Coyotes as they still struggle to score on a consistent basis. The team followed up a great win in San Jose with a tough loss in Anaheim, and looks to be headed in the wrong direction. Mike Smith’s atrocious play between the pipes is further hampering the team’s ability to rise in the standings.
23. New Jersey Devils
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23. New Jersey Devils
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The Devils are going completely in the wrong direction and are overplaying starting goalie Cory Schneider. He will need to be stellar in his return to Vancouver as the Devils cannot afford to fall too far behind in the early goings of the season.
22. Washington Capitals
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22. Washington Capitals
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The team’s home loss to Buffalo was atrocious and they’ll need to bounce back against the Islanders and Maple Leafs this week. Alexander Ovechkin is averaging less than a point per game and will need to be better if the team wants to turn this season around.
21. Dallas Stars
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21. Dallas Stars
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The Stars are playing better as of late and also locked up new center Jason Spezza to a four-year extension. Having said that, the Stars will need to be better and show much more consistency if they wish to get back in the Western Conference playoff picture. Games this week against the Oilers, Wild and Avalanche will be great ways to do just that.
20. Florida Panthers
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20. Florida Panthers
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The Panthers are better than many gave them credit for, but they are still young and trying to find their way. This week’s docket of games includes the Wild, Hurricanes and Senators, all similarly young teams that the Panthers should matchup well against.
19. Winnipeg Jets
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19. Winnipeg Jets
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The Jets appear to be coming back to earth after losses to the Red Wings and Blues. This week’s docket includes games against the lowly Blue Jackets and Sabres before a meeting in Boston against the Bruins. The team essentially needs to win two of the three to avoid falling too far behind early.
18. Ottawa Senators
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18. Ottawa Senators
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The team has had some growing pains as of late, but has shown enough promise to not be counted out. Games against veteran squads in Detroit and St. Louis before a Sunshine State road trip with games against youthful Lightning and Panther teams should make for an interesting week for the Senators.
17. New York Rangers
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17. New York Rangers
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The team’s huge win at home against Montreal has them looking more like the team fans saw last season. With Wednesday’s game in Tampa marking Martin St. Louis’ “homecoming,” look for the team to keep up its stellar play. The home-and-home against a hated Flyers team at the end of the week will surely be as intense as fans all expect it to be.
16. San Jose Sharks
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16. San Jose Sharks
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The fact the Sharks are 0-2 against the atrocious Buffalo Sabres says everything about this team’s inconsistencies. Games against the Flames and Ducks this week should give them a chance to see how they stack up against the better teams in the league.
15. Minnesota Wild
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15. Minnesota Wild
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The winners of four of their last five, the Wild have a busy schedule this week with games against the Panthers, Kings, Stars and Blues. With the team getting contributions from throughout the lineup, look for them to catapult themselves in the standings with a great week.
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
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14. Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Leafs’ week was filled with drama as their blowout home loss at the hands of the Predators set the stage for a debated over whether they should salute the fans after games. The team has won two straight since then and will be looking to lengthen that win streak against the Penguins and Capitals next week.
13. Chicago Blackhawks
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13. Chicago Blackhawks
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While the Blackhawks haven’t looked like the contenders fans know them to be, it’s still early and things are looking better. The team made a great move in calling up defenseman Adam Clendening, who has looked like a natural with two points through three games. Wednesday’s game against Colorado precedes a California trip against bona fide contenders in Anaheim and Los Angeles.
12. Boston Bruins
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12. Boston Bruins
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Injuries and inconsistencies have plagued this Boston team all year and despite of that, they’re still very much in the thick of things in the East. The team’s recall of prized prospect David Pastrnak for Monday’s game against Pittsburgh shows they’re willing to experiment with youth in the lineup.
11. Detroit Red Wings
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11. Detroit Red Wings
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The Wings are getting productivity throughout their lineup, and that is part of the reason why they’re yet again in the thick of the playoff picture. If veterans such as Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk can stay healthy, this team will be a tough out in the playoffs. Monday’s game against the young, up-and-coming Senators should be a solid test for the Wings.
10. Los Angeles Kings
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10. Los Angeles Kings
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Postseason success and regular season inconsistency are the calling cards of the Los Angeles Kings, who were awful in their loss at Dallas. With games against young, up-and-coming teams in Nashville and Minnesota before a Western Conference Finals rematch against the Blackhawks, the Kings will need to be at their best this week.
9. Calgary Flames
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9. Calgary Flames
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For a team that was expected to be mediocre at best, the Calgary Flames are making prognosticators look awful. That was no more apparent than in their two-goal comeback against the New Jersey Devils, where the Flames really showed their resiliency. If Mark Giordano keeps up his Norris Trophy-level play, the wins will keep coming.
8. New York Islanders
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8. New York Islanders
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The Islanders continue to reel off wins, including three straight against the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, two of the East’s best teams. Second-year center Ryan Strome is playing wise beyond his years and has emerged as the perfect complement to John Tavares, anchoring the team’s second line.
7. Nashville Predators
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7. Nashville Predators
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The upstart Predators are looking more and like contenders and have won six of their last eight games. Tuesday’s game against the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings should be a fantastic measuring stick for the Predators.
6. Vancouver Canucks
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6. Vancouver Canucks
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Vancouver has been one of the surprise teams this season and is showing no signs of slowing down. Cory Schneider’s return to Vancouver with the Devils on Tuesday will be a huge test for the team. Teenage sensation Bo Horvat, who ironically was drafted with the pick acquired in the Schneider deal, has been playing great and should be in discussion for the Calder Trophy this season.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
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5. Pittsburgh Penguins
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After losing back-to-back games against the New York Islanders, the Penguins will be looking to get back on track in Boston Monday night against the rival Bruins. With Sidney Crosby having yet another MVP-caliber performance and Evgeni Malkin rounding into form, this Pittsburgh squad is a formidable force in the Eastern Conference.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
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4. Tampa Bay Lightning
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Despite having some ups and downs in recent weeks, the Lightning are in great shape going into Wednesday’s game against the Rangers, which will be Martin St. Louis’ first time back in Tampa since demanding a trade last season. Look for the Lightning to show their ex-captain what he’s missing. The scariest thing about this team is that Steven Stamkos has 14 goals, and I firmly believe he has yet to play his best hockey this season.
3. St. Louis Blues
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3. St. Louis Blues
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Despite losing defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to injury, this Blues squad is looking like one of the legitimate contenders in a stacked Western Conference. With Brian Elliott playing at the top of his game, look for the Blues to get wins this week against the Senators, Oilers and Wild.
2. Montreal Canadiens
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2. Montreal Canadiens
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This Habs team is showing all the makings of being something special despite their blowout loss to the New York Rangers. Beating elite teams such as the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins in back-to-back games is no easy feat. With two games against the lowly Sabres preceded by four days off, look for the Canadiens to widen their lead in the Eastern Conference.
1. Anaheim Ducks
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1. Anaheim Ducks
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The Ducks just keep on winning. With the episode of the mumps behind them, the team can channel its entire focus on the ice. With the upstart Flames coming to Orange County and a back-to-back against the Blackhawks and Sharks on the docket, the Ducks will need to keep up their stellar play.
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