NHL Power Rankings: Each team's midseason MVP
This is the seventh in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.
In this edition, we pick each team's MVP at the halfway point of the season.
1. Winnipeg Jets (28-10-4)Previous rank: 4
Connor Hellebuyck. There's no need to overthink this one. The Jets' No. 1 netminder is amid a brilliant season, owning a .924 save percentage and 18.8 goals saved above average through 31 starts.
2. Vancouver Canucks (29-11-3)Previous rank: 5
Elias Pettersson. Look, this mantle could have gone to five different Canucks, but we're choosing Pettersson. He paces Vancouver in wins above replacement (2.8) and goals above replacement (17.6) while ranking second on the team with 57 points in 43 games.
3. Florida Panthers (27-13-2)Previous rank: 8
Sam Reinhart. The Panthers' scoring leader has 31 goals and 54 points in 42 contests this campaign, and no, we're not talking about Matthew Tkachuk here. Those gaudy numbers belong to Reinhart, who has chosen a great time to have a monster season given his pending UFA status.
4. Boston Bruins (25-8-9)Previous rank: 2
David Pastrnak. The Czech superstar continues to be the Bruins' far and away best offensive piece. Pastrnak's on pace for his fourth 40-goal campaign and looks set to fly past 100 points for the second consecutive season.
5. Edmonton Oilers (23-15-1)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 11
Connor McDavid. The three-time league MVP has erased a slow start and is suddenly pushing for another Art Ross. Since Edmonton's coaching change, McDavid's operating at a 1.8 points-per-game clip.
6. Colorado Avalanche (28-12-3)Previous rank: 7
Nathan MacKinnon. It's hard to believe MacKinnon has never won a Hart Trophy, but he's doing his best to add one to his resume this season. He's second in the league with 69 points - 14 clear of the next most productive Avalanche skater - and is averaging more than 23 minutes per night.
7. New York Rangers (27-13-2)Previous rank: 1
Artemi Panarin. He won't be at the All-Star Game in anticipation of the arrival of his second child, but Panarin's amid a career year. The superb playmaker has transformed his game to become a shooting threat, putting him on pace to sail past his previous career high of 32 goals.
8. Dallas Stars (25-12-5)Previous rank: 3
Roope Hintz. He's not Dallas' leading scorer, but Hintz is doing it all for the Stars this campaign and ranks eighth league-wide in GAR among forwards. His 38 points in 40 games are nothing to sneeze at, either.
9. Carolina Hurricanes (24-13-5)Previous rank: 9
Sebastian Aho. The Finnish star leads the Hurricanes in scoring by 16, with 48 points through 39 contests. Considering Martin Necas' step back in production and Andrei Svechnikov's early-season absence, Carolina would be in a tough spot in the standings if not for Aho's consistent play.
10. Seattle Kraken (19-14-9)
Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 19
Joey Daccord. The Kraken were a MESS for the campaign's first couple of months, at least until Daccord decided to go full sicko mode in late December. The goalie has won each of his last eight appearances and owns a .956 save percentage over that stretch. Seattle keeps winning, and Daccord has been key to its success.
11. Philadelphia Flyers (23-14-6)Previous rank: 13
Sean Couturier. It really can't be overstated how impressive Couturier's return this season has been. Coming off a 663-day absence, Couturier has stepped right back into a top-line center role with Selke-caliber results like it's no problem.
12. Vegas Golden Knights (24-14-5)Previous rank: 10
Alex Pietrangelo. Shea Theodore, Alec Martinez, and Zach Whitecloud have all missed over 15 games this season. Meanwhile, Pietrangelo has been a constant throughout, leading healthy Golden Knights defenders in ice time by nearly four-and-a-half minutes per game.
13. Toronto Maple Leafs (21-12-8)Previous rank: 15
Martin Jones. The Maple Leafs have no shortage of offensive weapons - and yes, Auston Matthews leads the league in goals - but someone has to keep the puck out of the net. His recent back-to-back losses aside, Jones has done just that with a .924 save percentage. Toronto would be in trouble without him.
14. New Jersey Devils (22-15-3)Previous rank: 14
Jack Hughes. He's only one point off the team lead despite missing eight contests due to a couple of injury spells. Jesper Bratt has also been impressive, but Hughes is undoubtedly the heartbeat of New Jersey's offense.
15. Los Angeles Kings (20-11-8)
Toronto Star / Toronto Star / GettyPrevious rank: 6
Cam Talbot. Coming into the season, many viewed the Kings as the league's deepest team at forward and defense and one of the weakest in the crease. However, Talbot's turned back the clock to be a workhorse in the net for L.A. and mitigated at least some concerns over the Kings' goaltending.
16. New York Islanders (19-13-10)Previous rank: 12
Noah Dobson. The 24-year-old has broken out in a huge way this campaign and is one of the league's most glaring All-Star Game snubs. Dobson is third among defensemen in points (43) and GAR (13.1). He might be the NHL's most underappreciated player.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-15-6)Previous rank: 16
Sidney Crosby. Any other answer at this point would just be a hot take. It's Sid. He has 24 goals in 41 games this season and is on pace for 48 tallies, just three off his career high set in 2009-10. Does Crosby know he's in his 19th NHL campaign?
18. Nashville Predators (24-18-1)Previous rank: 20
Filip Forsberg. Injuries have held Forsberg back in recent seasons, but he's healthy and thriving again. The 29-year-old sniper is up to 22 goals and 48 points through 43 contests, galvanizing a mediocre Predators offense.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (22-17-5)Previous rank: 21
Nikita Kucherov. We had to go with the league's leader in points for this one. The Lightning superstar has posted an outlandish 72 points in 43 games this campaign, and he's rattled off 22 multi-point outings. Gross, dude.
20. Detroit Red Wings (22-16-5)
Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 23
Dylan Larkin. Detroit's captain is producing a point per game, averaging 20 minutes a night, and winning 55% of his draws. The Red Wings face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but Larkin's doing his part.
21. Arizona Coyotes (21-18-2)Previous rank: 17
Connor Ingram. It wasn't that long ago when Ingram was a waiver-claim backup to a coveted starter in Karel Vejmelka. With a league-leading five shutouts, an impressive 15-8-0 record, and a .919 save percentage, Ingram's play over the past calendar year has made him a legitimate NHL starter.
22. Calgary Flames (20-18-5)Previous rank: 28
Blake Coleman. He may not be representing Calgary at the 2024 All-Star Game, but Coleman should be an All-Star in every Flames fan's heart. The 32-year-old veteran leads his team with 19 goals - including four game-winners - and 37 points in 43 games this campaign.
23. Washington Capitals (20-15-6)Previous rank: 22
Charlie Lindgren. Only the Sharks and Blackhawks have scored fewer goals than the Capitals this season. Lindgren's breakout play has helped Washington stay in the wild-card mix despite its lack of offense, as he sports an 8-3-3 record with a .928 save percentage.
24. St. Louis Blues (21-18-2)Previous rank: 24
Robert Thomas. The talented playmaker has become more of a shooter this campaign. Thomas is on pace for over 30 goals and 170-plus shots on net, compared to career-high marks of 20 tallies and 115 shots in 2021-22.
25. Buffalo Sabres (18-21-4)
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 25
Jeff Skinner. There have been plenty of disappointments in Buffalo this season, but Skinner leads the club with 17 goals. It's slim pickings from a Sabres squad that was supposed to compete for a playoff spot.
26. Montreal Canadiens (17-18-7)Previous rank: 27
Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens captain leads the team with 35 points, but his two-way play earns him the midseason MVP label. Suzuki's playing over 21 minutes a night against top competition and is back to putting up elite defensive metrics.
27. Minnesota Wild (17-20-5)Previous rank: 18
Brock Faber. The Wild are in the throes of an up-and-down season, but Faber has undoubtedly been a bright spot. The rookie defenseman leads all first-year players in average ice time (24:45), and he's shown his potential to be a top NHL rearguard for years to come.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-21-9)Previous rank: 26
Adam Fantilli. Columbus' star rookie is second on the Blue Jackets with 25 points despite averaging only 15:51 per game. His development into a full-time player is one of the few bright spots in Ohio this season.
29. Anaheim Ducks (14-27-1)Previous rank: 30
Pat Verbeek. The Ducks general manager went against the grain by drafting Leo Carlsson second overall, a move that looks promising early, and recently landed Cutter Gauthier in a stunning trade. Verbeek has a clear vision for Anaheim's future and hasn't been afraid to shake things up to make it a reality.
30. Ottawa Senators (15-23-0)
Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 29
Michael Andlauer. In another wasted season for the Senators, the fan base has reason for long-term optimism in the team's new owner. His press conference after Pierre Dorion's dismissal was a must-watch and gave fans someone to rally behind during a rough stretch when the team lost a first-round pick and the NHL suspended Shane Pinto.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (12-29-2)Previous rank: 31
Jason Dickinson. The answer here would obviously be Connor Bedard if he weren't hurt, so we'll use this opportunity to shout out Dickinson. The 28-year-old ranks second on the Blackhawks with 14 goals. His previous career high was nine.
32. San Jose Sharks (10-30-3)Previous rank: 32
The fans. The fact that people are still showing up to the SAP Center to support this lowly San Jose team is a marvel. Don't worry, Sharks faithful, this season is halfway over.
(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)
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