My dad, the reason I watch hockey, has told me my entire life there are several dates when you look at the NHL standings. Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Valentines Day, and Saint Patrick’s day. Well here we are at Halloween and we get our first look at the new league year. Here are the first power rankings of 2019.
1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Nashville
4. Buffalo
5. Colorado
Boston is by far the league’s best team. David Pastranak is tearing up the league with 24 points, that’s best for second in the league. John Carlson’s hot start has the Capitals soaring. Nashville might be one of the deepest teams in the league and are head to head with Colorado for the best team in the west. Colorado needs to get healthy though as Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog are already on the IR bubble. Jack Eichel finally has a supporting cast in Buffalo but I need to see this team not fall apart down the stretch before I truly buy into them.
6. Edmonton
7. Carolina
8. Islanders
9. Saint Louis
10. Vancouver
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have combined for almost 50 points through just 14 games. That is insane. Add in James Neal who is having a great bounce back year and the Oilers are one of the most interesting teams to track in the NHL in 2019. Do I think they keep this up? No, probably not, do I think they can make the playoffs? Absolutely. The Hurricanes have slowed a bit but look like one of the deeper teams in the league. The Saint Louis Blues have never heard of a Cup hangover. Brayden Schenn is a nine goal scorer and Ryan O’Riely continues to show he is maybe the top two way players in the NHL.
11. Pittsburgh
12. Las Vegas
13. Arizona
14. Florida
15. Montreal
16. Anaheim
17. Tampa Bay
18. Columbus
19. Calgary
20. Toronto
21. Winnipeg
22. Rangers
23. Philadelphia
24. San Jose
25. Dallas
26. Chicago
27. Detroit
28. New Jersey
29. Los Angeles
30. Minnesota
31. Ottowa