Two weeks after our 2024 Resolution Edition Power Rankings, we’re back with another!
1 – Winnipeg Jets (29-10-4)
As of January 18th, the Winnipeg Jets are first place in the entire league and 17-2-2 in their last nineteen games. Their play all year has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, but all they do is continue to win. With Connor Hellebuyck playing as well as he is, it’s hard to see this team falling too hard in the standings any time soon. On top of that, star forward Kyle Connor is back, and the impact he’ll make on the scoresheet should be immediate.
2 – Vancouver Canucks (29-11-4)
With a league-high five players going to the All-Star game, it’s no wonder Vancouver remains 2nd in our Power Rankings. Elias Pettersson has been terrific to start 2024, collecting ten goals and five assists in eight games, while the Canucks are 6-1-1 in the New Year. Like Winnipeg, this team continues to silence the doubters and simply win games. With Vegas falling off recently, their lead in the Pacific Division is up to seven points as of January 18th. That’s the biggest difference between first and second out of any of the four divisions.
3 – Boston Bruins (26-8-9)
They’ve been miserable in games that go past regulation, but if you can’t force the Bruins into extra time, you’re likely taking a loss. The B’s have come away with zero points in just eight of 43 games this season thanks to a stellar defensive group and two great goaltenders. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are also still getting the job done up front, and if this team adds another piece to the forward group before the deadline, they’ll only be more dangerous heading into the postseason.
4 – Colorado Avalanche (29-13-3)
Despite worrisome depth at forward, the Avs are another team that just continues to win. No forwards in the NHL get more ice time than Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and with Valeri Nichushkin gone for the foreseeable future, the team will rely even more on their two superstars up front. Of course, having Cale Makar on defence helps as well. At this point, the biggest question surrounding this team is sustainability. Mackinnon is the MVP frontrunner for a reason right now, but will he burn out before the playoffs? If he does, Colorado won’t go far.
5 – Florida Panthers (27-13-4)
Sam Reinhart is on an absolute tear right now. As of January 18th, Florida’s winger has scored a goal in eight straight games and trails only Auston Matthews in goal scoring this season. Oh, and Matthew Tkachuk has fifteen points in eight games to start 2024. The Panthers clearly have the star power to hang with the best, and after last year’s run to the Cup Finals, they’ve got the experience to go on another run as well. As their top players heat up, the wins are coming in quickly, too. The team is 9-1-2 in their last twelve games.
6 – Edmonton Oilers (24-15-1)
No team is hotter than the Edmonton Oilers right now, and it’s about time we started giving them the respect they deserve in our Power Rankings. After a tough start to the season, Stuart Skinner has been terrific during the team’s current 11-game win streak, which has allowed the Oilers to win games in a variety of ways. McDavid and Draisaitl have been good, but the depth scorers are playing a much larger role now as well. Edmonton seems to be all the way back, and the question now is just how high they can go.
7 – New York Rangers (28-13-2)
New York is just 4-5-1 in their last ten games, but it’s not time for any panic button just yet. For a team like the Rangers, it’s all about getting into the right position for the postseason. As of January 18th, the team is in first place in the Metro Division with a four-point edge over Philadelphia. Of course, you’d love to see them widen that gap once again and ultimately, I think they will. Carolina could become a problem if they stay hot, but for now, the Rangers are still top dogs in the division. What more can you ask for?
8 – Dallas Stars (26-12-5)
Dallas may be the third best team in their division, but they still deserve this spot in our Power Rankings. The Stars are 9-4-1 in their last fourteen games and are just as good as they’ve been for the past few seasons. They don’t have any players lighting up the league with exceptional stats, but the consistent team effort has led to just twelve regulation losses in 43 games. The Central Division falls off quickly, but right now, the Division’s top three is easily the strongest in the NHL.
9 – Carolina Hurricanes (24-14-5)
The Canes haven’t been quite as good as many people thought they’d be this year, but there’s still plenty of time for this team to get hot – and it seems that’s what they’re starting to do. In their last eleven games, Carolina is 8-2-1 and has scored at least four goals seven times. The team is very similar to the one we’ve seen fall short in the postseason the last few years, but experience like that means something. Expect to see this team make a good second-half push for New York’s spot at the top of the Metro.
10 – Philadelphia Flyers (24-14-6)
There may not be a more surprising team on this list than the Philadelphia Flyers. Once again, John Tortorella has a team that many thought would be a bottom-feeder in the middle of the playoff picture, and I don’t think they’ll be going away anytime soon. The team won’t blow opponents out in high-scoring, offensive affairs, but instead, they’ll grind it out and simply outwork teams. Only Travis Konecny has reached 40 points for the team this season, but that’s all Torts has needed. Philly’s also been awesome on the road, with a record of 14-6-4 away from home.
