We’re over a week into the 2019-20 NHL season and what do you know — everything has been turned on its head. Well, not exactly. Many of the teams that we all expected to be strong this year have hit the ground running, but — in typical hockey fashion — there are many clubs that have thrown tons of power rankings into a blender in the early going.
With my season-opening power rankings in mind, here’s an overreaction-heavy new set of power rankings.
(Note: These standings are updated through 4:00 p.m. on Saturday)
31. Ottawa Senators (0-3-0): Well, you couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season for the Sens, as Brady Tkachuk lit the lamp just 24 seconds into their opener against Toronto. Fair to say, it’s gone downhill (as expected) after that.
It's gonna be a long season for Tkachuk and Co.
via GIPHY
30. Minnesota Wild (0-3): Let's see — what to make of this 0-3 Wild team? They don't have a crazy owner like the Senators. There are not eroding, with a once-great crop of players present like the Kings have. There's no promising, young savior on the way for at least a couple of seasons — unless Ryan Donato really steps up his game. The Wild are just, kinda ... there. And they're not very good.
Looks like someone dodged a bullet...
via GIPHY
29. Los Angeles Kings (1-2-0): After getting obliterated by the Canucks, 8-2, earlier this week, Drew Doughty was, uh, less than pleased.
https://twitter.com/KevinisInGoal/status/1182174799516168193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1182174799516168193&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsnet.ca%2Fhockey%2Fnhl%2Fdrew-doughty-rips-kings-embarrassing-loss-canucks%2F
Welllllll. I don't know about you, but it seems like the script is going to be flipped when it comes the Kings and how they stack up to the competition they face on a nightly basis this season. And for the foreseeable future.
28. New Jersey Devils (0-2-2): The Devils might have won the offseason, but those moves haven’t translated into on-ice success for this club so far in October. A putrid showing on special teams (0-for-11 on the power play / 46.1% success rate on the PK) has this group struggling out of the gate.
At least Blake Coleman is the leading candidate for "Goal of the Year" just a week into the new season.
https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/1180278880025886721
27: Columbus Blue Jackets (1-3-0): The Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Sergei Bobrovsky this summer, are playing like a club that, well — lost Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Sergei Bobrovsky this summer.
https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1145728700647972865
26. San Jose Sharks (1-4-0): Woooooof. Far and away the most disappointing team out the gate in 2019-20, the Sharks turned to 40-year-old Patrick Marleau in an attempt to give themselves a boost after an 0-4 start. That’s great, but not sure what Marleau is going to do to help a defense and netminder corps that is surrendering over four goals per game.
25. Chicago Blackhawks (0-2-0): The Blackhawks certainly have the firepower to be a threat in whichever matchup they're in this year. But it’s hard to stay afloat when your defense is giving up 4.50 goals per game. That aging D corps is continuing to hold this club back from a quick rebuild.
24. Arizona Coyotes (1-2-0): The good news? Arizona is only surrendering 1.33 goals per game so far this season, and Darcy Kuemper looks quite legit in net. The bad news? Arizona is only averaging 1.67 goals per game.
via GIPHY
23: Vancouver Canucks (1-2-0): At the very least, the Canucks still have a very, very bright future with Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes all in the fold. But they are still a ways away from putting themselves back in playoff contention — for now, at least. And yes, I still hate that Tyler Myers contract.
https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/1182120788071243777
22: New York Islanders (1-3-0): I've said it all summer — I can't buy in on a team that went from the worst defense in 2017-18 (3.57 GA/G) to the best (2.33 GA/G) the following year. So far, they've taken a (predictable) step back.
https://twitter.com/YahooSportsNHL/status/1182822960102625280
21. Dallas Stars (1-3-1): A team that should be one of the favorites out West has not impressed at all so far in 2019-20, especially on defense — which was expected to be a major strength of this club, especially with Miro Heiskanen, John Klingberg and Esa Lindell patrolling the blue line. The Stars also can't expect Roope Hintz to keep shooting 40% for the entire season, right? Right?
via GIPHY
20. Florida Panthers (1-2-1): With Sergei Bobrovsky now in net, this was going to be the year that a very talented Panthers roster finally puts it all together and makes a push in the Atlantic. Well, Florida's No. 1 goalie currently has an .882 save percentage through four games. Not great!
19. Montreal Canadiens (1-1-2): The Habs might be the early candidate for "Game of the Year" — as they erased a 4-1 deficit against Toronto en route to a dramatic shootout victory last week. After that, it's been decidedly "meh". At least they're scoring on the power play (33.33%).
via GIPHY
18. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0): The Pens got off to a hot start, with 12 different players tallying at least one point in a trouncing of the Blue Jackets last Saturday. But Pittsburgh took a major hit when it was announced that Evgeni Malkin will miss a significant amount of time due to injury.
via GIPHY
17. Philadelphia Flyers (2-0-0): So far, so good for the Flyers — who, in a shocking development, actually look dangerous now that they have an answer in net in 21-year-old Carter Hart.
HART SAYS NO pic.twitter.com/zfwJTZHpMz
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) October 10, 2019