S27 Mid-Season Power Rankings - Top 10

We are 45 games into the season so time for my Mid-Season Power Rankings highlighting the top 10 teams in the league (in my opinion) and a preview to the trade deadline.



1) Winnipeg Jets 35-7-3 73 PTS


Winnipeg has the offensive fire power to be at the top of the league mid-way into the season, averaging an absurd 4.64 Goals Per Game (highest in the league). They have the second best GAA average in the league at 2.13. The management has made strong decisions in upgrading their 3rd line depth and it has shown immediate results. @Sitful and @Galleh have the ability to score goals against most top lines in the league and have won 4 of the last 5 games that they have both played in for the third line. Most teams would be lucky to have their top line win 4 of 5. The defense is very strong and complements the scariest first line in lg this season. @l1l Bones l3l and @Gilleh are playoff battle tested and are seeking more time next off-season with the Stanley Cup.


Expect Winnipeg to continue to build their team as the deadline approaches capturing those talent players from not-so-talented teams. Expect them to get a depth defender.


Team Leaders:


Goals – 31 - @GB521

Assists – 35 - @SoY LoS 19

Points – 63 - @GB521





2) Philadelphia Flyers 33-6-6 72 PTS


Philadelphia has had a terrific start to the season but what makes this team dangerous is the ability to win those one goal games (16-2-6). The Flyers have a league-high 10 Overtime wins and winning those close-ones can be an extremely strong identity to build in the playoffs. The defense has been anchored by @Odieeeeee who is a Norris Trophy favorite with 35 PTS. @Hxndry is having career year (one point away from tying career high) and shows no signs of slowing down with 18 PTS in his last 5 games. This team has the veterans and the depth to knock-off any team in the east come playoff time.


Expect Philadelphia to continue to build depth for their wingers as the trade deadline approaches. The acquisition of @Williams x12x shows their need for some depth scoring and expect that search to continue.


Goals – 31 - @Hxndry

Assists – 29 - @Odieeeeee

Points – 57 - @Hxndry




3) Pittsburgh Penguins 34-9-2 70 PTS


Pittsburgh reached the finals last season due to terrific management and strong defense. It seems that the defense is ready to help lead the team to another cup final, averaging a league-best 1.78 GAA. @Bren Dotty, @brandovedo, and @dcshoe have been terrific on the blue line and have shut down teams this season. @PureFiishin leads the team in points despite having played in only 11 games. The team is built behind defense and great centers, a formula that leads to championships. Pittsburgh is only 3 points behind in the Presidents Trophy Race despite being only 6-4-0 in their last 10. @SteveB9211 is having a career year and putting up a strong argument for the vezina trophy. His ability to steal games can be extremely valuable come playoff time.


Expect Penguins to look for another defenseman to add to their lines. They rely on great defensemen.


Goals – 25 - @PureFiishin

Assists – 23 - @Big Tony 16

Points – 46 - @PureFiishin



4) San Jose Sharks 35-8-2 72 PTS


The defending Stanley Cup Champions have a new identity this season, but at least the identity still knows how to win. San Jose will suffer from the removal of star center @Archambault and will continue to look for pieces to fill that large hole. @Hopkins 28 seems like an early favorite to win the Vezina trophy with a 19-4-2 record, 81% save percentage and a 2.3 GAA. Everyone was too quick to say they couldn’t beat Winnipeg last season…


Expect San Jose to look for a center at the trade deadline to replace @Archambault and another LD to build depth at defense.


Goals – 30 - @xTheos l7l

Assists – 23 - @Mole11

Points – 50 - @xTheos l7l




5) Nashville Predators 30-10-5 65 PTS


Nashville has been quick to turn after its slow start to the season. The first line has won 9 of its last 12 games after losing 3 straight to begin the season. The team has switched up lines and is starting to find chemistry in order to compete with the big dogs of the west. They have an elite first pair on defense with @Nraimondi44 and @Nightingale l8l. The nice surprise on the D-core has been mid-season acquisition @Bcrippsx31xTML and rookie @Pont40. This team has the talent to make some noise, don’t let them get hot.


Expect Nashville to continue to look for depth defenders. Breaking up their top D-pair could be helpful for a deep playoff run if they find the right pieces.


Goals – 24 - @ll GURN ll

Assists – 28 - @Tb Toxic

Points – 44 - @Der Panda71





6) Florida Panthers 29-14-2 60 PTS


Florida has been active in the trade market this season and is continuing to build chemistry as the season goes on. All three lines are anchored by terrific centers @Serpe x 13, @SamDelisle9 and @l JLP l. It may be a little early to find out what damage this team can cause. Florida currently rides a 4-game win streak and an Eastern Conference best 19 away wins. This team is a sleeper in the Eastern Conference and seem to defend at the highest level within the division.


Expect Florida to try and maintain some of their bigger names as the trade deadline approaches as chemistry will be a key for them approaching the playoffs.


Goals – 16 - @Basful and @iAMoee

Assists – 26 - @Serpe x 13

Points – 37 - @Serpe x 13



7) New York Rangers 29-13-3 61 PTS


The Rangers seem to be forgotten about in the Metro behind the Flyers and Penguins. But, the fact is they only sit 9 points behind the Penguins and are slowly hanging around. The Rangers are led by their goalie @APsychicTaco who is 16-7-3 this season with a 2.34 GAA. Backup goalie @PitcheRxSwaGx has been very reliable and is heating up as of late. If the Rangers can find goals from players other than their centers, watch out.


Expect the Rangers to look for a goal-scoring winger.


Goals – 24 – @Bake703

Assists – 27 - @Bunz McTooT

Points – 44 – @P00Dkcaj



8) Ottawa Senators 29-13-4 60 PTS


I find Ottawa to be one of the more interesting teams on the list. It seems like every time you view the score of their game, it’s a one-goal win. Ottawa leads the league with 18 wins in one goal games. Ottawa has been successful in competing with and defeating the highest levels of competition in the league this season. Whether or not they win the division could be critical in how far they go in the playoffs. @Lehkonen x 62 is building on his 76 points from last season and has won 8 of his last 9 games. @King Inseal has been an anchor on defense and makes their first line compete with any line in the league.


Expect Ottawa to look for upgrades at the RD position to complement their abundance of talent of the left-side of the blue line.


Goals – 29 - @Lehkonen x 62

Assists – 23 - @McFleury

Points – 52 - @Lehkonen x 62



9) Edmonton Oilers 27-16-2 56 PTS


Edmonton has very good depth at the forward position and has gotten good production from all three lines. They are currently one of the hottest teams in the league winning 5 straight games and 8 of their last 10. Edmonton is producing goals at the same rate as division leader San Jose with their great depth at forward. Edmonton needs a defender or two to step-up within the lineup for a real shot of making noise in the playoffs. Edmonton is one of the few teams sitting in a playoff position with a spilt-goalie situation.


Expect Edmonton to entertain possibilities to enhance their blue line. They continue to have all three of their draft picks for next season.


Goals – 22 - @I Sell Lessons

Assists – 21 - @l 17 l

Points – 40 - @l 17 l


10) Chicago Blackhawks 24-18-3 51 PTS


Chicago’s management has been quick to address issues on the blue line throughout the season thus far changing half of their defensemen. Chicago is the only team currently in a playoff position that their leading scorers for both goals and assists have a losing record. The team continues to carry many rookies from last year’s draft. Chicago has struggled as of late with a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games. Availability has been a major issue on the blue line with not one defender being able to play in all 15 games thus far. As availability continues to improve, expect Chicago to start winning more. Chicago is also in search for a reliable backup goalie.


Expect Chicago to establish themselves as either a buyer or a seller within the next week as we approach the draft. Management seems to always be actively improving on the trade market.


Goals – 20 - @Stick

Assists – 24 - @IF0XI

Points – 43 - @Stick



*45 GP as of June 29th.

 

Great write up. But @SteveB9211 has been huge for us and deserves to be mentioned as a part of our success. Futhermore, he should be considered a front runner for the Vezina

 

You are right, I completely agree.

 

Forgot to mention @drally20 being huge for the Philadelphia Fat Fucks
@Hxndry is a scrub tho

 

Arch is back on San Jose.

 

The Rangers are motivated by @Shake703 and @P00Dkcaj. Their RockTalkPod (available on ITunes) is an inspiration for many on this team including @Bake703 and myself.

 

its easy to play G when u face 5 shots a game

 

Shots per game totals:

League Lowest: TheKiller1500 (ARZ)- 10.2

League Highest: JD l23l (ANA)- 16.1

League Average: ~12.5 SPG.

Steve B- 10.3 (T 3rd lowest)
Vague Being- 10.3 (T 3rd lowest)
Pitwinkle (TOR)- 10.4 (5th lowest)
APsychicTaco- 10.6 (T 9th)
Hopkins- 12.9 (17th highest/39th lowest) *over a dozen goalies in the 12.5-13 range

There isn't a lot that can be assumed from these numbers. Nobody has an absurdly low SPG total. Only extreme high numbers (combined with good stats) can even be used as am argument for goalie ability. A 2.5 shot difference per game isn't really usable in my opinion.

Feel free to use the advanced stats tab for goalie if you want to make claims Hopkins. It takes two clicks.

 

im above the league average and he is 3rd lowest. thx for proving my point further

 

The point is that there really isn't much of a difference between the lowest and a majority of the league. SPG is rather irrelevant unless it is at an extreme, which is isn't.

Would spelling this out in alphabet soup letters make it clearer to you?

 

u have won fk all relax m8

 

Oh jeez, great rebuttal there. I know you have to resort to something when you're proven to be incorrect....again.

1st to 39th (you) is within 2.7 shots average. It isn't like any of us are facing low shot totals consistently.

 

how am i incorrect? i have literally almost 50 more shots faced. and my numbers are crazy for how much i have faced.

 

50 more shots spanned out over 25+ games.

We threw 20 shots to your guy's 4 in our 2-1 win over SJS. Shot totals can be all over the place on any given night. That is why EXTREMES indicate when a goalie is facing consistently more shots per game.

 

dude ur fking weird.

 

Another great rebuttal. I was expecting more from someone trying to make their case for a virtual hockey trophy.

 

There are so many variables to consider for vezina. Shots against is one. Sure it's easy facing less shots. But most times when you are on a good team. The shots you face on a good team are usually good scoring chances. Goalies on Pittsburgh, Philly, San Jose and Winnipeg know that. That's why they all have good goalies. Steveb, vague, Hopkins, and drally.
Steveb is doin great this season. Tops in GAA and save percentage. Can't downplay what he is doing. He's consistent. He only has two games where he got scored on 4 times or more.

 

With them all in the running, someone expand this further and show who's leading the advanced stats as well. I'm just curious to see how everyone matches up

 

How did the Blues not make this list?