Photo Credit: Mike Miller/Wikimedia Commons
They’ve been called “the Glenn Healy” of NHL Power Rankings, they’ve been furiously annotated and derided as useless. And now they’re here. Available across the Nation Network: it’s NHL Power Rankings!
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-14-4 | +29 | 54.3% | 1 |
Jonathan Drouin is 19. He has 18 points in 37 career games. At All-Star weekend, he was fractions of a second away from setting the all-time record in the fastest skater competition. In Tampa Bay, he plays depth minutes and is a press box regular.
This team is terrifying.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-15-2 | +37 | 54.4% | 2 |
Dan Carcillo is part of the other half.
“From the Chicago Blackhawks, half our roster.”
— Jocelyn Aspa (@jocelynaspa) January 25, 2015
3. New York Islanders
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-14-1 | +22 | 53.5% | 3 |
John Tavares’ deke collection is so sick that Carey Price did him like Brett Favre did Michael Strahan:
4. Los Angeles Kings
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-15-12 | +3 | 54.5% | 4 |
During a span of defensive dominance that stretched from 2009 to 2013 the Kings lost two of the 139 games they played in which they entered the third period with the lead, according to NyLaKy of the terrific thxbud blog.
This season, Los Angeles has lost seven times in games that they led in the third.
The NHL leader in team Corsi For percentage isn’t dropping too far down these rankings, but it’s probably not ideal that Drew Doughty is playing close to 30 minutes every second night.
5. Anaheim Ducks
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-10-6 | +15 | 51.3% | 5 |
The Anaheim Ducks: mumps free since January 4, 2015.
6. St. Louis Blues
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-13-4 | +37 | 51.2% | 6 |
A good argument for Corsi not being everything: the Blues have lost roughly two percentage points by 5-on-5 shot attempt differential over last season, but they’re also taking two additional shots on goal a game.
Ken Hitchcock has loosened the reigns enough that though the Blues’ overall ability to control proceedings is a tick worse than it has been in the past, their offensive game has improved enough that they’re doing a full shot better by overall shot differential on a per game basis.
They’re a more dangerous team for it, in my estimation.
7. Detroit Red Wings
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27-11-9 | +20 | 54.3% | 8 |
The greatest trick Mike Babcock ever pulled was dominating the flow of play for nearly 50 games with a team that employs, like, three NHL caliber defensemen.
8. Nashville Predators
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-10-5 | +33 | 52.1% | 7 |
Smashvillians are just praying that Pekka Rinne returns soon, and that Mike Ribiero isn’t spotted breaking curfew.
9. Winnipeg Jets
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-14-8 | +18 | 51.6% | 10 |
Ladd’s Little Wheeler: secretly one of the NHL’s best two-way lines, or a sick new brand of tricycle?
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-12-8 | +21 | 51.4% | 9 |
If they can get healthy, new Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford will have legitimately grafted some bottom-six depth onto Pittsburgh’s unparalleled arsenal of offensive firepower.
11. Montreal Canadiens
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-13-3 | +17 | 48.7% | 11 |
Just give the man his Hart Trophy already:
12. New York Rangers
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27-13-4 | +28 | 49.5% | 13 |
Aside from Sidney Crosby, probably no one was more excited about missing out on All-Star weekend than Carl Hagelin:
Trying to catch the perfect wave pic.twitter.com/0MClk5iA97
— Carl Hagelin (@CarlHagelin) January 24, 2015
Even though he could’ve been a fastest skater contender…
13. Washington Capitals
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-13-9 | +17 | 51.5% | 12 |
Alex Ovechkin’s Q-rating won All-Star weekend by such a margin that this tweet was out of date within 12 hours:
*saves for future reference every time I hear something dumb about Alex Ovechkin* https://t.co/JLWafCA3et
— Travis Yost (@TravisHeHateMe) January 23, 2015
But seriously. Now tell me more about that one time he didn’t back check.
14. Boston Bruins
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-16-7 | +5 | 52.4% | 14 |
The NHL’s All-Stars decided to sort of recreate the Tyler Seguin for Phil Kessel trade during the All-Star fantasy draft, but that deal isn’t really complete until the Bruins end up with a handful of non-star middle-six forwards.
Bruins haven’t won a Cup without Tyler Seguin since 1972 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 23, 2015
15. Dallas Stars
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21-18-7 | -7 | 50.7% | 15 |
Seguin setting up a Patrice Bergeron goal isn’t that cool:
What’s really cool is having both player under contract through 2019 for a combined cap-hit of $12.25 million.
You may think this note had nothing to do with Dallas, but for All-Star weekend – they’re all Stars.
16. Vancouver Canucks
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-16-3 | +10 | 49.3% | 17 |
Something of a buzzfeed triptych in honour of Vancouver’s third first-liner from the sun:
Forty-five questions later and Vrbata is done. There’s nothing left to say – he even answered in Czech! pic.twitter.com/H69UfUeL5v
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 23, 2015
are we really certain that radim vrbata isn’t an alien, trying his best to fit in and look human but failing but we love him for it
— Schneider’s Teeth (@SchneidersTeeth) January 23, 2015
are we really certain that radim vrbata isn’t an alien, trying his best to fit in and look human but failing but we love him for it
— Schneider’s Teeth (@SchneidersTeeth) January 23, 2015
17. San Jose Sharks
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-17-6 | -1 | 51.2% | 18 |
This looks cute and harmless, but really it’s Brent Burns rather rudely playing with his food:
*ovaries explode* RT @SanJoseSharks: #TeamFoligno‘s secret weapon? #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/RvuRiC7kVA
— SJ (@stace_ofbase) January 24, 2015
18. Florida Panthers
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-14-10 | -15 | 52% | 16 |
The only thing rarer than the Panthers qualifying for the playoffs? A good team in the Eastern Conference missing them. Seems like that’s where this ride is headed though:
(Courtesy: SportsClubStats.com)
19. Calgary Flames
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-19-3 | +11 | 44.4% | 20 |
The Flames have barely been better than 20 in my Power Rankings this season, but that’s because I didn’t realize that Johnny Gaudreau was Azor Ahai.
The most interesting part of my day by far was @johngaudreau03 asking me if he could light his stick on fire. #PlayerSafety
— Patrick Burke (@BurkieYCP) January 25, 2015
20. Minnesota Wild
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-20-6 | -9 | 52.4% | 19 |
It was really nice of the Wild to lend their goalies to the league for the All-Star game.
21. Ottawa Senators
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-18-9 | -2 | 49.6% | 21 |
Rooting for NHL team with coaches that make optimal lineup decisions is good for the Commonwealth.
.@David_Cameron I know Patrick overcommitted there, but please don’t scratch him next game. Thanks coach.
— Bonk’s Mullet (@BonksMullet) January 22, 2015
22. Toronto Maple Leafs
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22-23-3 | -8 | 45.5% | 22 |
When Jonathan Toews called Phil Kessel one of the most coachable players in the league most people thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. Jonathan Toews isn’t programmed to tell jokes.
23. Columbus Blue Jackets
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-22-3 | -29 | 46.3% | 23 |
On second thought, perhaps Stinger should have led their negotiating team against Kurt Overhardt…
“Welcome to Columbus. Enjoy your nightmares.” pic.twitter.com/Xb3bSHtCJw
— Dave Lozo (@DaveLozo) January 22, 2015
24. Colorado Avalanche
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-18-10 | -12 | 44.1% | 24 |
We would never suggest that a professional hockey player is taking full advantage of Colorado’s popular new laws regarding a schedule one controlled substance. We’re not responsible for what this cheeky Chihuahua is implying though:
explain this @GabeLandeskog92 pic.twitter.com/60vUk0R28E
— Gráinne (@wholegrainne) January 22, 2015
25. Philadelphia Flyers
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-22-7 | -16 | 48.9% | 25 |
The Flyers symbiote is particularly strong in Jakub Voracek:
Jakub Voracek is basically just a 40 year old homeless Claude Giroux pic.twitter.com/iLqCjWkcYU
— Dave Kuhn (@dangerrdavie) January 25, 2015
26. Carolina Hurricanes
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-25-5 | -22 | 51.3% | 26 |
The Hurricanes are doing decently well to control games, even if they’re still racking up losses. At least with the likes of Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm proving their mettle, the Hurricanes’ future isn’t entirely bleak.
27. Arizona Coyotes
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-25-5 | -51 | 48.8% | 27 |
The Coyotes’ goal differential quietly dropped behind Edmonton’s in the short week prior to the All-Star break.
Hockey fans desperate for trading season to start are waiting on you, Don Maloney.
28. New Jersey Devils
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-25-5 | -27 | 48.5% | 28 |
And you should see their coaching staff!
Hodgepodge. @TGfireandice Devs’ lines: Henrique-Gomez-Bernier; Elias-Zajac-Havlat; Zubrus-Cammalleri-Ryder; Whitney-Sestito/Josefson-Tootoo.
— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) January 19, 2015
29. Edmonton Oilers
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-26-9 | -49 | 49% | 29 |
The Oilers have only been outscored by one goal since adding Derek Roy in late-December. What a difference having more than two credible NHL centremen can make.
30. Buffalo Sabres
| Record | Goal Differential | Corsi For Percentage | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-30-3 | -78 | 37.6% | 30 |
No team is taking fewer shots per game, and no team is permitting more. We’re running out of ways to describe their unprecedented ineptitude.
(Corsi For percentage data courtesy hockeyanalysis)
How can a team that has won 20 of 47 games be ranked 4th? Apparently fancy stats are more meaningful than actual results.
I’m guessing because last year they finished 6th and won the cup, and three years ago they finished 8th and won the cup.
They’re having regular season struggles this year just like they did last year and just like they did in 2012, but they’re still one of the safest bets to win the cup.
If you want to predict future results (also known as “roughly estimating team talent”, or “power rankings”), it’s very well documented that “fancy stats” (also known as basic mathematical operations with regards to shot attempts) are a much stronger measure than wins/losses.
Minnesota Wild, 2010-2011. December 11th they were 1st in the NHL, 20-7-3. Their “fancy stats” were utterly atrocious – comparable with the last place Oilers. Want to guess how their season ended? 1 point out of the draft lottery.
If you want a power rankings to mimic the standings… just look at the standings. The Kings are a far better team than their record suggests, and with 2 cup wins in the last 3 years, you shouldn’t even NEED fancy stats to realize that.
Power Standings!
Dubious first FN entry. LA Kings at #4 is just plain silly. Sutter hockey is Corsi friendly by nature. In the playoffs when the refs stop enforcing the rules, Sutter hockey is king. Maybe that’s what your rankings imply. I’ll stick with the standings and goal differential as my guide.
is this list was done by WILL WHEATON? Even hollywood can not be that stupid.
I fully acknowledge that these are not the “power standings,” however, I don’t understand how a team that is only +3, is not even in a playoff spot, and has gone 2-3-5 in their last 10, could possibly be there. Ahead of the Ducks no less!
What a load of crap. Sounds like Royal Half propaganda to me
LA Kings propaganda, brought to you by a Canucks fan living in Toronto!
Touché.
However, I stand by my point
How in the hell is LA ranked so high? BRUTAL.
Agree 100%! They just put Richards on waivers trying to get rid of him…..
They aren’t that good right now.
People really care about power rankings!
HOW DARE YOU PLACE THE OILERS SO HIGH IN YOUR RANKINGS? IF THIS COSTS US McDAVID YOU’LL PAY DEARLY
Have fun with WJC loser Jack Eichel, Wanye.