NHL Power Rankings Revisited

First, vampire movies need to stop. This can not be stressed enough.

Next, you'll see some adjustments in the tiers. Things change, deal with it.

The Favorite

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Name another team playing in their class right now. And Malkin and Crosby haven't even gotten started yet.

Powerhouses

2. Colorado Avalanche
3. Calgary Flames
4. New York Rangers

New York slips after losing in a blowout to the Sharks, but clearly not by much. Colorado has demonstrated a most admirable resiliency this season and is looking like the early favorite of the West. Calgary has overcome its two bad losses to re-establish control.

Contenders

5. Buffalo Sabres
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. Washington Capitals
10. San Jose Sharks
11. Phoenix Coyotes

These teams showed they can compete with the best in the past week, and despite glaring weaknesses for all, their strengths are often enough to overcome them. I had no idea where to put the Sharks, but their big win over the Rangers convinced me to stick them as number 10.

Too Early to Call Contenders

12. Atlanta Thrashers
13. Edmonton Oilers

Have their schedules been easy or are they just lucky? Perhaps they're legit. I think not. But for now, they're as hard as anyone to beat.

Achilles' Heel

14. Los Angeles Kings
15. Philadelphia Flyers
16. Dallas Stars
17. St. Louis Blues
18. New Jersey Devils
19. Anaheim Ducks
20. Detroit Red Wings

Just when you think these guys are playoff material for sure, they go and collapse on you. I feel so wrong about the Kings it's not funny. Good to see the Flyers and Red Wings ranked so low, though.

Injuries Aren't the Only Problem

21. Vancouver Canucks
22. Boston Bruins

Hard divisions, star players out, and a general lack of heart despite early season predictions of success? Bad formula if you ask me.

Flash in the Pan

23. Tampa Bay Lightning
24. Carolina Hurricanes

Barring a real hot stretch like last season, these teams are going to be Eastern Conference bottom dwellers.

Power Outage

25. Montreal Canadiens
26. Florida Panthers
27. Nashville Predators

Scoring has become an issue for these clubs, and more disturbingly, the defenses haven't been good either.

Time Is Running Out

28. Minnesota Wild
29. New York Islanders

If they don't get some wins soon, they're going to fade very fast. Minnesota has a better chance, they've only played one home game thus far. They're 1-0-0 there.

A New Low

30. Toronto Maple Leafs

Yes, they're as bad as they look.

Send disagreements to the comments section, where I can tell you you're wrong.

- Matt