NHL Power Rankings: Cup contenders get deeper after trade deadline shuffle
The 11th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings is put together by editors Craig Hagerman, Cory Wilkins, and Sean O'Leary.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-17-3)Previously: 1st
The rich get richer.
The Lightning are still the top team in the league and only improved with the additions of Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller on Monday. McDonagh gives a huge boost to the back end, while the forward group remains elite.
It should be clear sailing as Nikita Kucherov's injury doesn't appear to be serious. - Hagerman
2. Vegas Golden Knights (41-17-5) a-^2Previously: 3rd
The Golden Knights could have very well jumped into first had they been able to land Erik Karlsson. They didn't, but nevertheless, they added Tomas Tatar without subtracting from the current roster, which only helps their chances of doing something truly historic when the playoffs roll around. - Hagerman
3. Nashville Predators (39-14-9) a-1/4Previously: 2nd
The Predators are playing tremendous hockey and reports surfaced this past week that the team also had interest in Karlsson - could you imagine?
Still, the team bolstered its forward depth by acquiring Ryan Hartman. With Pekka Rinne in stellar form and Nashville's defense corps being what it is, the Predators are arguably the team to beat in the West. - Hagerman
4. Winnipeg Jets (37-17-9) a-^2Previously: 5th
Unless the Jets have something to say about that.
The club has been electric of late, and with arguably the biggest surprise deal of the deadline - acquiring Paul Stastny from the Blues - the team has cemented its place as a potential Stanley Cup favorite. - Hagerman
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (39-20-7) a-^2
Previously: 6th
The Maple Leafs didn't get the defensive upgrade they desired, but they did add Tomas Plekanec, giving the club more depth at forward.
Toronto's gone 10-2-2 in February, most recently taking four of a possible six points from the Bruins, Lightning, and Panthers without Auston Matthews at their disposal. The Leafs will look to ride this wave down the stretch. - Hagerman
6. Boston Bruins (38-15-8) a-1/4Previously: 4th
The Bruins are starting to come back to earth after an incredible stretch from late November to early February. The team's posted a 6-4-0 record over their last 10, and appear to be going all-in.
Boston acquired Rick Nash from the Rangers to help bolster the offense. The team will be dangerous, but Patrice Bergeron's fractured foot is certainly concerning. - Hagerman
7. Philadelphia Flyers (34-19-10) a-^2Previously: 16th
Don't look now, but the Flyers are suddenly in the hunt for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
The team played well enough to warrant Ron Hextall acquiring Petr Mrazek from the Red Wings, and Mrazek's gone 3-0-0 with a .948 save percentage for the Flyers. Their top line remains elite, their defense is deceptively good, and with a capable goalie, they could be a dark horse in the East. - Hagerman
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-24-4) a-^2Previously: 10th
The Penguins made their annual "of course they got him" deal when they acquired Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators last week.
Thanks to some help from Vegas, they were able to fit Brassard in under the cap, and now they easily have the most center depth in the league (if they didn't already).
There is no reason to believe Pittsburgh couldn't three-peat as champs. - Hagerman
9. Washington Capitals (36-21-7)Previously: 9th
The Capitals have hit a bit of a bump in the road with just four wins in their last 10, but still hold top spot in the Metro.
The team didn't do much at the deadline aside from adding a couple of depth defensemen, but they still have the talent to compete. However, they have also had that in the past, and we all know how that worked out. - Hagerman
10. Minnesota Wild (36-20-7) a-^2
Previously: 11th
The Wild have quietly climbed up the Western Conference standings.
They've ripped off five straight wins on the back of Eric Staal, who's posted 12 points in those games. They didn't make any significant upgrades at the deadline but, like the Maple Leafs, could look to ride the hot hand. - Hagerman
11. Anaheim Ducks (31-21-12) a-^2Previously: 12th
The Ducks are built to win in the playoffs and reinforced that quality Monday by picking up gritty veteran Jason Chimera from the Islanders. A healthy John Gibson is key to an extended postseason run. - Wilkins
12. Dallas Stars (36-23-4) a-1/4Previously: 8th
No action out of Dallas prior to the trade deadline could come back to haunt a club in the thick of the playoff race. Still, the Stars may be satisfied with the addition to their lineup from earlier in February - the return of injured blue-liner Marc Methot. - Wilkins
13. Calgary Flames (32-23-9) a-^2Previously: 14th
Despite starter Mike Smith being on the shelf, the Flames have held their own, turning to rookie netminder David Rittich. Finding offense down the stretch is needed to secure a playoff berth. - Wilkins
14. New Jersey Devils (33-22-8) a-^2Previously: 20th
Kudos to Devils general manager Ray Shero, who made a pair of savvy deadline additions in Michael Grabner and Patrick Maroon at a low price. - Wilkins
15. San Jose Sharks (34-21-9)
Previously: 15th
It's no secret the Sharks need offense, and GM Doug Wilson got one of the best bargains of the deadline in acquiring Evander Kane from the Sabres to round out his forward group. - Wilkins
16. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-26-5) a-^2Previously: 18th
The Blue Jackets weren't big-game hunters at the deadline, but made some under-the-radar tweaks in trading for Thomas Vanek, Ian Cole, and Mark Letestu. Time will tell if that's enough to help Columbus return to the playoffs. - Wilkins
17. Los Angeles Kings (35-24-5) a-1/4Previously: 13th
The Kings were relatively quiet at the deadline, but the team's biggest pickup is likely a healthy Jeff Carter. The veteran scorer missed 55 games with an ankle injury before returning to the lineup Saturday. - Wilkins
18. St. Louis Blues (34-26-4) a-1/4Previously: 7th
For the second straight deadline, the Blues shipped out a pending unrestricted free agent they didn't plan to re-sign in Stastny. It's good asset management, but risky for a team in the playoff hunt. - Wilkins
19. Florida Panthers (29-25-6) a-^2Previously: 24th
Panthers GM Dale Tallon balked at the deadline prices - the team was reportedly in the mix for blue-liner McDonagh. In the end, it was a quiet deadline in South Florida, meaning the Panthers will need to look within if they are to climb into a playoff position. - Wilkins
20. New York Islanders (29-27-7) a-1/4
Previously: 19th
Earlier this month, Islanders GM Garth Snow stated he's comfortable with the tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. He wasn't bluffing after all - he didn't add a netminder at the deadline, meaning the Islanders will look to the duo to carry them to the postseason. - Wilkins
21. Carolina Hurricanes (27-25-11)Previously: 21st
It's been a problem all season, but ranking 30th in save percentage isn't going to get the Hurricanes anywhere, no matter how many good pieces they have up front or on the blue line. - O'Leary
22. Colorado Avalanche (33-24-5) a-1/4Previously: 17th
Since the conclusion of Colorado's 10-game winning streak Jan. 23, the Avs rank 26th in the NHL with just 36 goals in 16 games. Combine that with Semyon Varlamov's .892 road save percentage and the Avalanche's odds in the Western Conference wild-card race are slim. - O'Leary
23. Detroit Red Wings (26-26-10) a-^2Previously: 26th
It was a confusing deadline for the Red Wings, as the club failed to deal Mike Green but somehow managed to pull a first-, second-, and third-round pick for Tomas Tatar and his 28 points. - O'Leary
24. Edmonton Oilers (27-32-4) a-^2Previously: 25th
There's been lots of finger-pointing throughout Edmonton's disastrous season, but it feels the production of Leon Draisaitl hasn't gotten any attention. The 22-year-old has 57 points - 51 of them at even strength - in 59 games.
See? It's not all bad, Oilers fans. - O'Leary
25. Chicago Blackhawks (27-28-8) a-1/4
Previously: 23rd
After last season's first-round sweep, Chicago appeared to hit rock bottom. However, with just three wins in their last 10 games, it turns out things can be much worse.
The Blackhawks will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and it will be interesting to monitor how the club plans to fix things during its longest offseason in a decade. - O'Leary
26. Montreal Canadiens (23-29-10) a-^2Previously: 27th
No Shea Weber for the rest of the season and no Carey Price for the foreseeable future. It appears the Habs are fallin' for Dahlin. - O'Leary
27. Arizona Coyotes (18-34-10) a-^2Previously: 31st
Congratulations to the Coyotes, who come in ranked higher than 28th for the second time this season.
On the strength of Antti Raanta, Arizona has actually won a handful of games recently - which, in the grand scheme of things, may not be a positive when it comes to draft-lottery positioning. - O'Leary
28. New York Rangers (27-30-6) a-1/4Previously: 22nd
The Rangers' brass promised some changes, and delivered, hauling in a ton of assets for Grabner, Nash, and McDonagh. It will take a while to see if the accrued picks and prospects pan out, but on the surface, it looks like New York did all right. - O'Leary
29. Ottawa Senators (21-31-10) a-1/4Previously: 28th
Boy, a Karlsson trade would have been fun. Let's revisit this topic in the offseason. - O'Leary
30. Vancouver Canucks (24-32-7) a-1/4Previously: 29th
While most of the basement-dwellers made a point to go out and acquire future assets by dealing expendable contracts, the Canucks figured re-signing Erik Gudbranson for three more seasons was a good idea. - O'Leary
31. Buffalo Sabres (19-33-11) a-1/4Previously: 30th
The Sabres had better hope Kane is interested in staying with the Sharks, because if the most valuable asset Buffalo acquires for one of the biggest names on this year's trade board is a second-round pick, that deal will be considered nothing but a failure. - O'Leary
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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