Wild
Minnesota simply forked over a hefty worth to accumulate David Jiricek, a 21-year-old former No. 6 general decide, from Columbus. For no matter motive, Jiricek did not carve out a job for himself with the Blue Jackets, however the Wild are hoping he and Brock Faber can type an elite duo on the blue line for years to come back. If Jiricek hits, this shall be a house run for Wild GM Invoice Guerin. 2 17-4-4
2

Devils
Now in his second full season with the Devils, Timo Meier appears to be hitting his stride. Meier had a irritating 2023-24 marketing campaign, however he has actually turned issues round. His 19 factors in 27 video games, a 57-point tempo, could not bounce off the web page, however Meier has been a lot better than these numbers recommend. His plus-9 aim differential at five-on-five is first on the staff, and that is not fluke. Meier additionally boasts a 57.5% anticipated targets share in these conditions. 2 17-9-2
3

Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews returned to the ice final week after lacking nearly a month of motion, and the Maple Leafs managed to steer the NHL with a 7-2-0 document in that point. A lot of that success was because of the goaltending of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. These two mixed for a .928 save share and seven.19 targets saved above common. 4 16-7-2
4

Capitals
Dylan Strome’s profession excessive in factors is 67, which he hit final season. With 34 factors in 25 video games, he is already over midway to setting a brand new profession excessive with roughly three quarters of the season left to play. Strome has developed into an elite distributor with Washington, and his 26 assists are third within the league. That playmaking means is much more evident on the facility play, the place he is tallied 10 helpers already. 1 17-6-2
5

Stars
Thomas Harley proved himself as a top-four possibility final season, however he has taken his five-on-five recreation to yet one more degree. Harley is tied for first on Dallas with a plus-13 five-on-five aim differential, and the Stars management 65.9% of the anticipated targets in these conditions as effectively. Harley is dominating his minutes proper now, and he could be essentially the most underrated defenseman throughout the league. 3 16-9-0
6

Hurricanes
Due to accidents to Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, the Hurricanes have turned to Spencer Martin so much lately, and that has not gone effectively. Martin ranks 71st out of 72 goaltenders with 7.78 targets allowed above common, and his .762 high-danger save share ranks 56th. With Kochetkov getting wholesome, Carolina’s goalie state of affairs ought to enhance quickly. 5 16-8-1
7

Golden Knights
Noah Hanifin has been unable to get his footing underneath him in Vegas. He is having a reasonably depressing time at five-on-five nowadays, posting a minus-6 aim differential and a 43.6% anticipated targets share. Maybe the largest pink flag is that Hanifin hasn’t been saddled with an anchor as a defensive companion. He is spent a variety of time with Alex Pietrangelo, and that pairing simply hasn’t labored in any respect. 1 17-7-3
8

Canucks
Jake DeBrusk bought off to a painfully gradual begin in a Canucks jersey, however that has modified in an enormous manner recently. DeBrusk has eight targets in his final six video games and now leads the staff with 11 targets on the season. With JT Miller away from the staff attributable to private causes, Vancouver wanted somebody to step up offensively, and DeBrusk has executed simply that. 3 13-7-4
9

Jets
For the primary time this season, the Jets have appeared human over the past week or two. Winnipeg is 1-5-0 in its final six video games, and it has scored 10 targets in that stretch. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nik Ehlers, Nino Niederreiter and Gabe Vilardi have mixed for 3 targets on this mini hunch. That will not proceed, however I do assume there are honest questions concerning the staff’s five-on-five offense basically. 7 18-8-0
10

Panthers
Following a four-game shedding streak, the Panthers closed out November on the very best of excessive notes. Florida took it to the Maple Leafs earlier than sweeping a back-to-back in opposition to the Hurricanes. In these video games, the Panthers outscored their opponents 17-4. If there was any motive in any respect to fret concerning the reigning champs, that is out the window now. — 15-9-2
11

Oilers
Pop quiz: Who’s fourth on the Oilers in targets, behind McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard? I will allow you to run by roughly 20 guesses earlier than telling you it is veteran defenseman Brett Kulak. His 5 targets are one shy of his profession excessive, and whereas that is nice for him, it is in all probability a foul signal for Edmonton’s secondary scoring. 3 13-10-2
12

Lightning
Victor Hedman is making a robust case for a second Norris Trophy. The 33-year-old defenseman is taking part in distinctive hockey — each on the stat sheet and underneath the hood. Hedman has 22 factors in 23 video games, and he has crushed his five-on-five minutes. There have been instances within the final couple years the place it appeared Hedman was on a downward slope, however he is eased these considerations. — 12-9-2
13

Kings
The Kings are simply two factors again of the Pacific Division lead, however there are very critical questions on their offense. A giant a part of that’s the lack of manufacturing from Trevor Moore and Quinton Byfield. These two mixed for 51 targets final season. They’re at present on tempo to mix for 22. That is a steep drop-off, and Los Angeles has to search out extra constant scoring if it needs to be a legit Cup menace within the West. 3 15-8-3
14

Avalanche
Colorado has carried out higher than its 14-12-0 document would point out. The staff’s goaltending has been disastrous with a league-worst .856 save share, which is 15 factors decrease than the Thirty first-ranked staff. The Avs swung a commerce to accumulate veteran backup Scott Wedgewood from the Predators, however I am unsure that is going to be a fast repair. Wedgewood posted an .878 save share in 5 video games with Nashville. 1 14-12-0
15

Flyers
Are the Flyers going to be the staff that defies all logic this yr? They’re doing what the Capitals did final yr by overcoming horrible five-on-five numbers to squeak into the playoffs. Philadelphia has a minus-14 aim differential at full energy, and it has deserved these outcomes. Does that imply the facility play is cooking? Nope. It ranks twenty sixth at 16.0%. If somebody can clarify this to me, let me know. 5 12-10-3
16

Bruins
It could be a coincidence, however Jeremy Swayman has been a lot better because the Bruins made a training change. In his 4 begins, Swayman has stopped 91 of 98 pictures whereas posting 2.88 targets saved above common. If you wish to know the way Boston can climb the standings in a rush, look no additional than a scorching streak from Swayman. 3 14-11-3
17

Rangers
The Rangers had been rolling within the early portion of this season, after which the ground gave manner beneath them out of nowhere. New York is now 1-7-0 in its final eight video games and barely clinging to a playoff spot. On this stretch, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere and Chris Krieder have mixed for 4 targets. Adam Fox hasn’t scored all season. Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Fast have struggled. The vibes could not probably be worse for the Rangers. 8 13-10-1
18

Sabres
The Sabres have been unable to search out consistency for a lot of the season, and that mirrors the efficiency of some key gamers. A kind of gamers, J.J. Peterka, simply ended an eight-game aim drought and had simply two assists in that span. Buffalo would not have the depth to beat prolonged slumps from its greatest forwards, so the staff has to assist Peterka work by this funk. 1 11-12-2
19

Flames
Calgary is 1-3-1 in its final 5 video games, and the 2 most up-to-date losses had been back-to-back defeats in opposition to the Blue Jackets and Penguins. The Flames had been outscored 11-4 in these contests, they usually lack any form of go-to man on offense. That is not essentially shocking, given the state of the roster. I suppose that simply makes it extra spectacular that the staff has managed to hold on this lengthy. 4 13-9-4
20

Blue Jackets
When it comes to each anticipated targets share and precise targets, the Blue Jackets are a fringe top-10 staff. That’s fairly eye-popping, and the staff may really be solidly in a playoff spot if not for abysmal goaltending from Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov. Dean Evason needs to be one of many frontrunners for the Jack Adams Award proper now. 5 11-10-3
21

Blues
If there may be one participant who’s attempting to make a very good first impression on new coach Jim Montgomery, it is Dylan Holloway. He has 4 targets and 7 factors in his final 4 video games, which has helped him heat up after an icy begin. St. Louis wants all the assistance it will possibly rise up entrance, and Holloway is attempting to choose up extra of the slack. 1 12-12-2
22

Penguins
Pittsburgh strung collectively three straight wins final week. That was badly wanted, however the staff additionally wanted Evgeni Malkin to get cooking once more. Malkin went 10 video games with out scoring earlier than discovering the again of the web in opposition to the Panthers on Tuesday, and he had simply 4 assists in that stretch. The Pens can nonetheless flip this factor round, however Malkin must be one of many ones driving the bus. 6 11-12-4
23

Kraken
The Kraken are beginning to slip, they usually want extra from Chandler Stephenson, one in every of their massive free agent signings within the offseason. He bought $42 million final summer time, and his first season in a Seattle jersey has been a wrestle. Stephenson simply snapped a 17-game aim drought, and his 40.0% five-on-five anticipated targets share is the worst on the staff. Stephenson has to search out himself quickly or the Kraken will slip out of the playoff image. 5 12-13-1
24

Hockey Membership
You would not comprehend it from trying on the standings, however Utah ranks eighth in five-on-five anticipated targets share (53.0%) and ninth in precise targets share (54.4%). All of that’s encouraging, however particular groups are a part of what’s dragging the staff down. Utah’s energy play ranks twenty fourth (16.9%), and the penalty kill ranks twenty third (76.6%). That undoes all the great work Utah does at full energy. 3 10-11-4
25

Islanders
The Isles are as soon as once more languishing away on the incorrect aspect of the Jap Convention playoff bubble, however at the very least Ilya Sorokin is holding his staff within the combine. He is having one other robust yr with 6.48 targets saved above common (ninth) and a .915 save share (seventeenth). If New York can ever assist out Sorokin with some extra run help, it ought to be capable of attain the postseason. 4 9-10-7
26

Geese
Troy Terry had 5 targets in Anaheim’s first 9 video games of the season. He is had one aim within the final 14. That is dangerous, however so is the truth that Terry has skilled that form of drought, and he is nonetheless tied for the staff lead in targets. The Geese have an excessive amount of younger expertise to be this ineffective offensively, and it makes you ponder whether adjustments may very well be on the way in which in Anaheim if issues do not enhance. — 10-11-3
27

Senators
Ottawa’s goaltenders have allowed a mixed to permit 8.23 targets above common. That’s in all probability not what the Senators had in thoughts once they acquired Linus Ulmark from the Bruins within the offseason. It is not even like Ottawa has been that leaky on protection. The staff is tied for fifth within the NHL with 2.27 xGA/60 at five-on-five. The Senators merely don’t get saves proper now. 4 10-12-2
28

Crimson Wings
No Crimson Wings defenseman will get extra ice-time at five-on-five than Ben Chiarot. To be frank, I am unsure why that hasn’t modified. Detroit has been getting hammered with Chiarot within the recreation, to the tune of a 38.5% anticipated targets share and minus-12 aim differential. At this level, the Wings would in all probability simply be higher served taking part in the younger weapons on the blue line. 4 10-11-4
29

Sharks
Macklin Celebrini resides as much as the hype after which some. The No. 1 general decide has wasted no time getting adjusted to NHL hockey. With an help in San Jose’s time beyond regulation win over the Capitals on Tuesday night time, Celebrini now has eight factors in his final 5 video games. It is not shocking that Celebrini’s underlying numbers want some work, however his playmaking means can’t be denied. 3 10-13-5
30

Canadiens
After coping with a long-term damage to start the season, Patrik Laine made his Canadiens debut on Tuesday night time, and he discovered the again of the web in entrance of the house crowd. Laine has been by so much in his profession, and he is a simple participant to root for. On prime of that, he ought to make this Montreal offense slightly extra enjoyable to observe. — 9-13-3
31

Predators
I deliver up Nashville’s five-on-five play typically, but it surely simply retains getting worse and worse. The Predators have 29 targets with each groups at full energy, and that is lifeless final by a full seven targets. Their minus-23 aim differential can be the worst mark within the league, behind the Penguins and Canadiens. Calling this offense anemic could be an understatement. — 7-13-6
32

Blackhawks
Outdoors of Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks have an actual lack of thrilling younger expertise on the NHL degree. Lukas Reichel continues to wrestle. Nolan Allen has gotten crushed at five-on-five. Wyatt Kaiser has been high quality relative to his fellow defensemen. Chicago has a deep prospect pool, and it’ll solely get deeper after the 2025 draft, however this rebuild has extra work to do than I assumed coming into the season. 3 8-16-2