Photo: WTOP
With the trade deadline for the 2024-25 NHL season come and gone, teams now know the team they will have for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the race leading up to it. NoVa Caps does their fifth power rankings of the year (⬆️Up, ⬇️Down, ➡️No Change represent spaces moved since power rankings from the holiday break):
LOTTERY CONTENDERS
32. San Jose Sharks
San Jose, who ranks 30th with an average of 2.58 goals-per-game and last with a 3.68 goals-against per game, became the first team eliminated from postseason contention. Macklin Celebrini could be the Calder Trophy favorite with 21 goals and 50 points in 57 games. The team acquired Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and Vincent Desharnais at the trade deadline but lost Fabian Zetterlund, Luke Kunin, Jake Walman, and Nico Sturm. ➡️
31. Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago, whose 2.67 goals-per-game ranks 28th and 3.54 goals-against per game is 30th, has lost five straight in regulation. Ryan Donato has enjoyed a breakout season with 23 goals and 51 points in 67 while Spencer Knight has posted a .909 save percentage and 2.84 goals-against average in six since being acquired from the Florida Panthers in a deal that sent Seth Jones to the Sunshine State. Connor Bedard leads the Blackhawks, who acquired Joe Veleno from the Detroit Red Wings for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith, with 54 points in 69. ⬇️1
30. Nashville Predators
Nashville, who scores a league-worst 2.53 goals-per-game and gives up 3.26 goals-against per game (26th), has lost four straight (0-3-1) and is 8-21-5 away from Bridgestone Arena. Filip Forsberg is the only Predator to hit 60 points this season with 61 in 68 and also has scored 25 goals. The team acquired Michael Bunting from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn, whom they flipped, in addition to dealing Gustav Nyquist to the Minnesota Wild. ⬆️1
29. Buffalo Sabres
Despite having 10 players with at least 10 goals this season and averaging 3.10 goals-per-game (12th), Buffalo sits last in the Eastern Conference and ranks 29th with a 3.52 goals-against per game, 26th with a .179 power-play efficiency, 22nd with a .768 penalty-killing rate, and 29th with an .8996 save percentage. The team traded Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris. ⬇️3
28. Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia, who is currently 26th with a 2.7 goals-per-game average, 28th with a 3.34 goals-against per game average, and 30th with a .141 power play efficiency, has lost eight of their last nine. The Flyers sold off Scott Laughton, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Erik Johnson at the trade deadline. Travis Konecny leads the orange and black with 22 goals and 65 points in 70. ⬇️1
27. Seattle Kraken
Seattle’s four-game point-streak (3-0-1) ended in a 4-0 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. The Kraken ranks 23rd with a 3.20 goals-against per game and 24th with a .186 power-play efficiency. Eeli Tolvanen is the lone Kraken to hit 20 goals this season while the team does not have a 50-point scorer yet. Daniel Sprong, Brandon Tanev, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Yanni Gourde were all gone before the trade deadline. ⬆️2
26. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh, who gives up 3.56 goals-per-game (31st), had their season-long four-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday despite entering the third period up by two. The Penguins acquired Connor Timmins and Conor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs but parted with Bunting, Cody Glass, and Anthony Beauvillier. ⬆️2
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN BUT NOT GOD AWFUL
25. Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim, whose 2.65 goals-per-game is 29th and .13 power-play efficiency ranks 31st, has dropped four of their last five. Frank Vatrano is the lone Duck to hit 20 goals. Anaheim had a quiet trade deadline, sending Brian Dumoulin to the New Jersey Devils. ⬇️3
24. Boston Bruins
Boston, who has lost seven of their last nine, had a fire sale at the trade deadline, parting ways with Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and Trent Frederic. The Bruins rank 27th with a 2.67 goals-per-game and 29th with a .148 power-play efficiency. David Pastrnak leads Boston with 34 goals and 84 points in 70. ⬇️5
23. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit, who has the worst penalty kill (.699 efficiency) but the third-best power play (.283), has split their last four since losing six straight in regulation to fall out of the second wild-card. Lucas Raymond is averaging more than a point-per-game (69 in 68) while Alex DeBrincat leads the Red Wings with 31 goals. ⬇️9
22. Utah Hockey Club
Utah, who is four points out of the second wild-card in the West, has won eight of their previous 13. Dylan Guenther leads the team with 25 goals but Clayton Keller, who is one goal behind him, has at least 22 more points than anyone else on his team with 76 in 68. games. ⬆️1
21. Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has dropped five in a row, including two huge contests at home to the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, and seven of their past eight to fall out of a wild-card spot in the East. The team acquired Luke Kunin at the trade deadline. Zach Werenski ranks second among NHL defensemen with 20 goals while Kirill Marchenko (25-37-62 in 65) and Kent Johnson (21-24-45 in 54) have both enjoyed breakout seasons. The wrist injury to Sean Monahan, who has not played since January 7, has seemed to have caught up to this team but he has started taking contact in practice. ⬇️3
BUBBLE TEAMS
20. New York Rangers
New York has lost three in a row at home since a huge 4-0 win in Columbus on Saturday, including a crushing 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, and is two points out of the second wild-card. Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers, who rank sixth with an .822 penalty-killing rate, with 31 goals and 75 points in 68 outings and is riding an 11-game point-streak. The team shipped out Ryan Lindgren and Reilly Smith and acquired Carson Soucy to cap off a season full of roster turnover. ⬇️3
19. New York Islanders
After losing three straight (0-2-1), the Islanders, who rank 26th with a 2.70 goals-per-game, last with an .124 power-play efficiency, and 30th with a .715 penalty-killing rate, came back from 0-2 third-period deficits to beat the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh in back-to-back games before beating the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. No Islander has hit the 50-point plateau. The team traded Brock Nelson before the trade deadline and sit two points back of the second wild-card spot. ⬆️1
18. Calgary Flames
Calgary has won back-to-back games following a three-game losing-streak, which included a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks in a major game at home, to put themselves even in points percentage for the second wild-card in the West. The Flames, who stood pat at the trade deadline, rank 31st with a 2.57 goals-per-game average and 27th with a .742 penalty-killing rate. ⬆️3
17. Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver, who has the third-best penalty kill (.827), has points in four of their last five (3-1-1) to claw in a tie in terms of points percentage for the final wild-card spot in the West but dropped a crucial 4-3 decision in overtime to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Quinn Hughes leads the team, who cut ties with Soucy, with 50 assists and 66 points in 55 games. ⬇️1
16. St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has won four straight, including a massive 4-3 overtime win over Vancouver on Thursday, and is 13-3-3 since losing four in a row to end January. Jordan Kyrou leads the team with 29 goals and 59 points in 70 games while Dylan Holloway has enjoyed a breakout year with 23 goals and 56 points. The Blues rank 29th with a .726 penalty-killing efficiency. ⬆️9
15. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota, who added Nyquist and Justin Brazeau prior to the trade deadline, has won two straight after dropping four of their previous five (1-3-1). Kirill Kaprizov has not played since January 26 but Matt Boldy has stepped up with 23 goals and 58 points in 69 outings. Minnesota’s .714 penalty-killing percentage is the second-worst league-wide. ⬇️6
14. New Jersey Devils
New Jersey’s 13-16-3 record (.453) since December 28 is tied with Nashville for 26th. Jesper Bratt leads the Devils, who will be without Jack Hughes for the rest of the season and Dougie Hamilton for the remainder of the regular season, with 60 helpers and 80 points. The team, who acquired Glass, Dumoulin, and Sprong at the trade deadline, ranks fourth with a .271 power-play efficiency, .827 penalty-killing rate, and 2.6 goals-against per game average. ⬇️2
LOOKING GOOD
13. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa, who added Fabian Zetterlund at the deadline in addition to trading Norris to Buffalo for Cozens, has dropped two in a row since their six-game winning streak ended. Brady Tkachuk leads the Senators with 27 goals and Tim Stutzle has 49 assists and 69 points. Cozens has three goals and six points in seven games with Ottawa. ⬆️2
12. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal, who did not make any moves around the trade deadline, has points in 11 of their last 12 (8-1-3), including a big 6-3 victory over Ottawa on Tuesday, to vault themselves into the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens, who rank 25th with a 3.25 goals-against per game average, are led by Cole Caufield (33 goals in 68) and Nick Suzuki (21-50-71 in 68). ⬆️12
11. Edmonton Oilers
Since losing five of their first six games out of the 4 Nations Break, Edmonton, who ranks seventh in both goals-per-game (3.25) and power play efficiency (.253), has gone 4-2-1. Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed injury) needs a goal to hit 50 for the fourth time in his NHL career while he (101 points) and Connor McDavid, who left Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets with a lower-body injury, (90) are among the top-four in the Art Ross Trophy race but both are out at least a week. Edmonton acquired Jake Walman and Trent Frederic at the trade deadline. ⬇️7
10. Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles, who brought in Andrei Kuzmenko, has won six of their last seven and ranks third with a 2.54 goals-against per game. Adrian Kempe leads the Kings, who are a league-best 23-3-4 at home, with 28 goals and 55 points in 67 contests. 11 of the team’s final 15 regular-season games are at Crypto.com Arena. ➡️
9. Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay, whose 3.49 goals-per-game rank second, 2.63 goals-against per game and .821 penalty-killing rate are both seventh, and .257 power-play efficiency is good for fifth, has won three straight following a three-game skid. Jake Guentzel leads the Lightning, who acquired Gourde and Bjorkstrand from Seattle, with 33 goals and Nikita Kucherov’s 67 assists trail only Nathan MacKinnon (77) of the Colorado Avalanche and 96 points are upped by just MacKinnon (105) and Draisaitl. ⬆️2
8. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado, who added Nelson, Coyle, and Lindgren, has points in 10 of their last 11 (9-1-1). The team’s 3.33 goals-per-game ranks fifth. In addition to MacKinnon, Cale Makar is seventh with 55 helpers and ninth with 81 points. MacKenzie Blackwood has posted a .919 save percentage and 2.17 goals-against average in 29 games with the Avalanche. ⬆️5
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto, who added Carlo and Laughton, has won three straight after beating Colorado and the New York Rangers on back-to-back nights. The Maple Leafs rank sixth with a .255 power-play efficiency and ninth with a 3.2 goals-per-game average. Mitch Marner leads Toronto with 62 assists and 83 points in 68 games while William Nylander’s 38 goals in 69 are second league wide. Auston Matthews (27-34-61 in 57) is also averaging more than a point-per-game. ➡️
THE CREAM OF THE CROP
6. Florida Panthers
Florida, who lost three of their previous four before beating Columbus 1-0 in overtime on Thursday, and Toronto both have Atlantic Division-leading 42-24-3 records (.630 points percentage) with two games between the rivals remaining in April (4/2 in Toronto, 4/8 in Sunrise). The Panthers, whose 2.67 goals-against per game average is eighth and .244 power-play percentage ranks ninth, will be without Matthew Tkachuk for the rest of the regular season. The team added Seth Jones and Brad Marchand in their bid to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. Sam Reinhart leads the squad with 33 goals and 73 points in 69 games. ⬆️2
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas lost four of their previous five (1-2-2) before blowing Boston out, 5-1, on Thursday but still lead the Pacific Division. Pavel Dorofeyev, who notched a hat trick in that game, hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. The Golden Knights’ .289 power-play percentage is second, 3.32 goals-per-game average ranks sixth, and 2.68 goals-against per game ranks ninth. The team reunited with Original Misfit Reilly Smith in their only move prior to the trade deadline. ⬆️1
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Despite parting with Mikko Rantanen on trade deadline day, Carolina, who leads the league with an .848 penalty-killing rate, has won eight in a row and nine of their last 10 after dropping their first two games out of the 4 Nations Break by a combined score of 10-3. The Hurricanes’ 3.24 goals-per-game ranks eighth and 2.60 goals-against per game fifth but .179 power-play efficiency is 27th. Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with 27 goals, one ahead of Sebastian Aho who leads the team in assists (39) and points (65) in 67. Mark Jankowski has four goals in his first five games as a Hurricane. ⬆️1
3. Dallas Stars
Dallas is 2-2-2 since adding Rantanen, who has two goals and four points with the team, but has the second-best record in the West at 43-21-4 (.662). The Stars’ 3.37 goals-per-game ranks fourth, 2.62 goals-against per game sixth, and .844 penalty-killing rate second. Dallas will be without Miro Heiskanen for at least some of the postseason. Rantanen (29), Jason Robertson (29), Matt Duchene (26), and Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz (25) have each scored 25 goals this season. ➡️
2. Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg, who acquired Tanev and Schenn before the deadline, has won four of their last five but their lone defeat in that span was a 6-2 loss to Vancouver, whom they might see in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Jets, who lead the NHL with both a 2.34 goals-against per game average and .3 power-play efficiency, are led by Kyle Connor (37 goals, 86 points in 70). Mark Schiefele (35 goals) is right behind him. ⬇️1
1. Washington Capitals
Since dropping three straight in regulation for the lone time this season, Washington, who added Beauvillier in their lone move at the trade deadline and became the first team to clinch a postseason berth, has won eight of their past nine. The Capitals’ 3.62 goals-per-game leads the NHL, 2.54 goals-against per game is second, and .826 penalty-killing rate is fifth. Alex Ovechkin is seven goals away from setting the all-time record while Tom Wilson hit 30 goals for the first time. Aliaksei Protas is one away from joining Wilson as the third Capital to eclipse 30 this season. Logan Thompson ranks fifth with a .917 save percentage and fourth with a 2.29 goals-against average in 39 outings. ⬆️1
Previous 2024-25 Power Rankings
Offseason
Quarter Mark
Holiday Break
4 Nations Break
By Harrison Brown