NHL Power Rankings: #25 to #21
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
#25: Vancouver Canucks
ADDITIONS:
LOSSES:
- Brad Richardson
- Shawn Matthias
- Eddie Lack
- Zack Kassian
- Kevin Bieksa
TRENDING: Downwards
I’m really confused as to what the Canucks are trying to do. Yes, they made the NHL playoffs just a few months ago. However, they sort of lucked their way in. Changes were needed, and the changes that were needed if Vancouver wanted to contend in the NHL this season have yet to be made. I honestly don’t think they’ve improved themselves with any move so far this off-season. They’ve lost four pretty good players and gained (maybe) one. Their window is closing quickly with few young players in the future.
#24: Philadelphia Flyers
ADDITIONS:
LOSSES:
- Blair Jones
- Carlo Colaiacovo
- Nicklas Grossmann
- Contract of Chris Pronger
TRENDING: Upwards
The Flyers have not done much so far this off-season, but they have definitely improved their club. They’ve managed to get rid of the contract of Pronger and Grossmann. Those were two of their awful contracts. They still have a long way to go as far as ridding themselves of some of the worst contracts in the NHL. That said, I won’t count out a team led by Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds. That would be silly. Steve Mason, if he stays healthy, could be the kind of goaltender who can carry the Flyers to the playoffs despite their flaws.
#23: Colorado Avalanche
ADDITIONS:
LOSSES:
- Ryan O’Reilly
Quite the off-season for the Avalanche. However, I don’t think any of their additions are going to make a huge impact next season in the NHL. Comeau did well last season with the Penguins, but only when he was paired with Evgeni Malkin. Beauchemin brings a veteran presence, but how much does he have left in his tank? The likely answer: not much. Grigorenko and Zadorov will both be great in the future and Zadorov should fill in nicely on their blue line. However, he’ll need to be eased in. Soderberg must prove that he is more than just a bottom six center. Hard to see them advancing too high in the Central Division.
#22: Edmonton Oilers
ADDITIONS:
- Griffin Reinhart
- Connor McDavid
- Cam Talbot
- Eric Gryba
- Lauri Korpikoski
- Mark Letestu
- Andrej Sekera
LOSSES:
TRENDING: Upwards
NOTE: It’s at this point that I’m considering teams to be contenders.
The Oilers are the “weakest” of the bunch, namely because there are so many new parts. They’ve vastly improved, arguably more than any other team in the NHL, but they have questions. Their blue line should be better, but can they be good enough to survive in the Western Conference? How good exactly is Cam Talbot? Was he just a surfer riding the huge PDO wave of the Rangers, or is he something more? Something special is brewing in Edmonton. We’ll have to see precisely how long it takes to brew.
#21: Florida Panthers
ADDITIONS:
- Reilly Smith
- Contract of Marc Savard
LOSSES:
TRENDING: Upwards
I really like the Florida Panthers. This team is going to be really awesome in a few years. However, that year is probably not this year. I will not rule out a playoff run because they have way too much talent for me to rule them out of a playoff spot in the NHL. However, a playoff run will require their younger players to continue to develop ahead of schedule like they have. I think they will develop, but will it be enough? They are a few pieces away, they have a deep farm system and they have cap space. That’s a pretty nice place to be in. If you aren’t rooting for the Jaromir Jagr – Aleksander Barkov – Jonathan Huberdeau line that was so much fun to watch last season, we can’t be friends.
Next: #20 to #16