NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, each team’s reason for hope

Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterJan 5, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.

The battle atop the Power Rankings continues again this week, with the New York Rangers ousted by the Boston Bruins.

Beyond the rankings, this week we have identified a reason for hope for all 32 NHL fan bases — whether it’s a current player or group, or perhaps a savior to arrive via the 2024 draft.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors each send in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list here.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Dec. 22. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 70.27%
Next seven days: vs. TB (Jan. 6), @ COL (Jan. 8), @ ARI (Jan. 9), @ VGK (Jan. 11)

Boston has the sort of depth every NHL team wished for this Christmas. In 2024, the Bruins are hopefully going to keep making the most of it. Head coach Jim Montgomery loves adjusting his lineup based on Boston’s matchups, and with skaters like Jakub Lauko and Oskar Steen ready to step in, this gives the Bruins an advantage beyond what their top players (see: David Pastrnak & Co.) bring every night.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 71.62%
Next seven days: @ MTL (Jan. 6), vs. VAN (Jan. 8), @ STL (Jan. 11)

The Rangers will be hard-pressed to top their excellent play in 2023, but they can hope to sustain it. Backup netminder Jonathan Quick performing like the Jonathan Quick of old has been perhaps the Rangers’ greatest surprise (and asset) of the season, and the potential of having both Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil back healthy at some point will only strengthen New York’s case as a genuine Cup contender deep into the new year.

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 67.11%
Next seven days: @ NJ (Jan. 6), @ NYR (Jan. 8), @ NYI (Jan. 9), @ PIT (Jan. 11)

The Canucks have had a captivating season to date and hopes are…

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39241900/nhl-power-rankings-2023-2024-best-teams-standings-hope

Author : Kristen Shilton

Publish date : 2024-01-05 11:14:21

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