NHL power rankings: Flyers are hot, but is it too little, too late for playoff spot?
Is there some Eastern Conference bias brewing at Daily Faceoff? No, we here controlling the power rankings aren’t just picking teams playing when we’re awake. We’re seeing the forest for the trees that is the NHL standings this season and giving credit to the East for being a step above the Western Conference, especially the Pacific Division. Nine of the top 12 teams are in the East, as are 11 of the top 16. That’s right, we think 11 East teams should be in the playoffs at the rate the West is playing. It certainly is a “pillow fight,” as per the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid.
Hunter and I navigate through the season with another year of our co-op power rankings. I have my same old system in which I aggregate six stats (points %, 5v5 goal differential, 5v5 xGF/60, 5v5 xGA/60, power play xGF/60, and shorthanded xGA/60, all coming courtesy of Natural Stat Trick) to come up with a list that eliminates my own biases, along with a rule that no team can be above a team that’s more than five points ahead of them in the standings, regardless of where the aggregate places them. Additionally, with teams now beginning to clinch playoff spots, no team who has clinched can finish behind a team who hasn’t. On the other hand, Hunter goes off his own intellect and pure vibes, and together we find a way to combine it and meet in the middle.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 46-13-10, +82
Last Week: 1st (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 1st
Scott: Not that I think the Avalanche are overly invested in the Presidents’ Trophy (at least, I’d imagine they’d rather win the Stanley Cup), but this was an important week in that race. They entered last week with the Stars hot on their tail, and while Colorado dropped the matchup between the two in a shootout, they followed that up with two wins. All in all, a 2-1-1 record on the week isn’t a bad one, and they managed to pull ahead again.
Hunter: Even more impressive when you consider they started the week with a devastating 7-2 loss to the Penguins on home ice. Nathan MacKinnon called out the team’s Trade Deadline acquisitions and how head coach Jared Bednar deployed them, and the team responded positively. Having Gabriel Landeskog back in the lineup doesn’t hurt, either.
2. Dallas Stars
Record: 43-16-11, +50
Last Week: 2nd (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Scott’s Rank: 2nd
Scott: And a lot of the reason the Stars lost ground on the Avalanche was due to their lack of success in the week. In fact, the win over Colorado was Dallas’ only of the week, as they lost 6-3 to the Mammoth, 2-1 in overtime to the Wild and 3-2 to the Golden Knights. This was the Stars’ big chance to pull even with the Avalanche, especially with how hot they were. But hot streaks have to come to an end at some point, and Dallas was finally due. At the very least, they’ve made this Presidents’ Trophy race an interesting one.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 45-19-6, +44
Last Week: 3rd (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: 3rd
Scott: So the Canes might have to start being worried, right? Yes, they’ve won four of their last five games, but they’ve needed a lot of goals to get the job done, because the goaltending has not been where they’ve wanted it to be. Brandon Bussi has only had one game with a .900+ save percentage in his last 10, and that was a 16-save shutout. Meanwhile, Frederik Andersen has only had seven games above .900+ in his 29 games all season.
Bussi has been one of the best stories of the season, but I was in the camp of “the Canes should try to find a stable backup option to Bussi at the deadline.” Even if it was an equally underperforming Sergei Bobrovsky, you still feel much better about the Canes chances if they have some known option as support. Even Pyotr Kochetkov feels like a somewhat stable option, but he’s likely out for the season. I like Carolina as an entire entity, and they may have enough team performance in front of their goaltending to get out of the Metropolitan Division, but if they match up with Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Lightning, it might be game over again. Even weaker teams like the Bruins with Jeremy Swayman and the Islanders with Ilya Sorokin feel like a great foil for them.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 43-21-5, +59
Last Week: 4th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: 4th
Hunter: The Lightning showed signs of rust since after the Olympic break, losing seven of 10 games going into last week. But three straight decisive wins against Western Conference teams put them back on the right path, and we’ll forgive them for the loss against the Flames since it was Andrei Vasilevskiy’s turn to take the night off. Tampa is still behind the Sabres in the Atlantic Division, but no matter whom the Lightning face in the first round, they will be the heavy favorites.
In Hart Trophy-related news, Saturday’s game between Edmonton and Tampa Bay really felt like a pivotal moment from Nikita Kucherov, who finished the night with two goals and two assists, capping off the week with six goals and six assists for 12 points in just three games. I know we had Nathan MacKinnon pencilled in for most of the season, and Connor McDavid has been a perennial finalist for the last 10 seasons, but Kucherov has really turned it on in March and has nearly 50 more points than his closest teammate in Jake Guentzel (in four fewer games).
Scott: Kucherov even got his first shorthanded goal of his career in that game! I don’t know what’s more surprising: the fact he didn’t have one beforehand, or that he was on the penalty kill to begin with.
Hunter: Yes to both!
5. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 44-20-7, +44
Last Week: 6th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Scott’s Rank: 6th
Scott: At what point do we stop saying the Sabres are “a possible playoff team” like cowards and commit to calling them what they actually are: a playoff team. I’ll admit, their underlying numbers of late have me hesitant to call them a Cup contender, especially after the Trade Deadline with the acquisition of Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley (who could have seen that coming?), but they’re still playing well enough to be a playoff team, especially since they’ve banked the points and don’t seem to be slowing down.
They still aren’t in the clear, but an 11-point gap on the first non-playoff team is still quite safe. The Sabres only need 13 points and two regulation wins to clinch a playoff spot just by their own doing, and that’s not accounting for the teams below them in the standings. Barring a 2013-14 Leafs-esque tailspin, these guys are in the clear.
Hunter: It’s allllllllllways about the Leafs, isn’t it, Scott? I’m kidding, unless …
What’s really impressed me about this Sabres group is that they’re dominating in a lot of these wins. Take a look at some of the victories during their post-Olympic stretch, and they’re winning games 6-2, 5-1, 6-3, 5-0 and 4-1. Here’s a thought: Since Dec. 8, Buffalo is 33-6-3, meaning they’ve earned points in 36 of their last 42 games. We’re beyond them being an anomaly or on a run of luck: they’re a playoff team.
6. Minnesota Wild
Record: 40-19-12, +31
Last Week: 5th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Scott’s Rank: 5th
Scott: I’ve been bearish on the Wild for a good chunk of the season, especially with how little they’ve stepped up their game after acquiring Quinn Hughes. But maybe we’re finally seeing their play evolve recently. Since the Trade Deadline, their 55.97% 5v5 score-adjusted expected goal share is sixth in the league and trending closer to the Avs. It’s only a nine-game sample size, but if there was a time to start playing well, it’s right before the playoffs.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 35-19-16, +22
Last Week: 7th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 7th
Scott’s Rank: 7th
Hunter: Last week’s 7-2 road win over the Avalanche put the Penguins on the map for hockey fans who overlooked their success through the first three quarters of the season. They produced one of the most entertaining periods of hockey in 2025-26 against the Hurricanes, with seven combined goals in the third leading to an overtime win for Carolina. After a shootout win over Winnipeg, Pittsburgh dropped a 5-1 effort in a rematch against the Hurricanes. With Sidney Crosby back in the lineup and Evgeni Malkin drinking from the fountain of youth, the Pens are setting themselves up to be a tough out in round 1.
8. Ottawa Senators
Record: 36-24-9, +21
Last Week: 10th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 8th
Scott’s Rank: 8th
Scott: Yes, Ottawa is still four points out of a playoff spot (with two games in hand, keep in mind). But there’s a lot to like about how they’ve played all season, and they’re finally getting the wins, especially against key opponents like the Islanders last Thursday. If the Sens can get some consistency from Linus Ullmark down the stretch, look out.
Hunter: I say this as someone who openly rooted against the Senators for most of my childhood: I really want to see them make the playoffs. They play the game with the type of discipline and structure coaches love, and they really seem like a tight-knit group that enjoys playing with one another. They also feel like a team that will take their first-round opponent to seven games, which according to Gary Bettman, is the most important factor.
9. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 38-21-10, +16
Last Week: 9th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 9th
Scott’s Rank: 11th
Hunter: Les Canadiens ont remporté deux matchs la semaine dernière, et les- ahem, sorry about that, I’ve been hanging out with my Quebecois relatives too much this week. With wins over the Bruins and Islanders, the Canadiens remain third in the Atlantic Division, although that would mean a first-round matchup against the Lightning. Cole Caufield scored a hat trick in a five-point effort against the Islanders and, earlier in the week, became the first 40-goal scorer for the Habs in more than 30 years. Can he get 50? Je dis oui.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 37-22-11, +13
Last Week: 11th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 10th
Scott’s Rank: 10th
Scott: I’m certainly not a die-hard fan of the Blue Jackets, so I can’t attest to how heartbreaking last season’s run was, and how heartbreaking it will be again if Columbus don’t make it this season. But watching Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Islanders just felt like one of those what-ifs down the road. It’s not that there was a pivotal moment that swung the game, but just not being able to capitalize on a game against another team in the playoff race could be the kind of result they look back on if they fall a point or two short of the race. Still, this team is firing on all cylinders and are a legitimate wagon, so I feel a lot more confident about them cracking the playoffs this year.
11. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 38-24-8, -3
Last Week: 8th (-3)
Hunter’s Rank: 11th
Scott’s Rank: 9th
Hunter: The Red Wings earned two hard-fought wins against the Flames and Canadiens, but despite outplaying the Bruins for large chunks of their game last Saturday — a game I was lucky enough to attend — they lost 4-2 in regulation. John Gibson allowed a softie in the third period, and there were moments you could see starting eight consecutive games was taking a toll on him. Detroit is still just one point back of a Wildcard spot, but they need to go on a heater in the last few weeks to assure themselves a spot in the dance.
12. Boston Bruins
Record: 39-23-8, +17
Last Week: 12th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 12th
Scott’s Rank: 12th
Scott: God fucking damnit, they’re going to do it, aren’t they? This team has played horribly all season and are severely lacking in talent up front beyond David Pastrnak but has been bailed out by Swayman, opportunistic scoring and a lot of overtime games to keep hanging around in this race. And not only will they make the playoffs, but they’ll still end up with a good draft pick again because the Leafs will somehow only get as high as sixth overall. You know it’s happening, so just accept this new era of Bruins success.
Side note, and credit where it’s due: more selling teams need to start targeting teams who are clearly playing unsustainably and will regress next season, and trade for their first-round pick in the following season. The Leafs were a great candidate for that, especially with the looming Mitch Marner situation, and the Bruins robbed them blind for it.
Hunter: Having watched them play Detroit in person last week, two things stood out: 1) Jeremy Swayman has his swagger back, stopping 42 of 44 shots and singlehandedly keeping them in the game for large chunks, and 2) Fraser Minten is veeerrrryyyyy good at hockey. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he made numerous little plays that led to breakouts or snuffed out an offensively flurry in the Boston zone, not to mention he was in the middle of scrums all night. I still can’t believe the Leafs traded him and a first-round pick for Brandon Carlo.
13. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 39-27-4, -7
Last Week: 15th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 13th
Scott’s Rank: 15th
Scott: No, your eyes don’t deceive you, readers. The Ducks are in fact the fourth Western Conference team on this list and couldn’t even crack the top-12. Two non-playoff teams in the East are even ahead of them. That’s the state of things in the NHL right now. While you can give Anaheim flak for being in a weak division, they’re putting distance between themselves and the Golden Knights and Oilers and earning that top spot. That said, it also sets them up for a Mammoth team who is probably better than Vegas and Edmonton, but the Ducks also showed they can hold their own against Utah with a 4-1 win on Friday.
14. Utah Mammoth
Record: 37-28-6, +25
Last Week: 18th (+4)
Hunter’s Rank: 15th
Scott’s Rank: 14th
Hunter: With an overtime win over the Kings over the weekend, the Mammoth won three of four last week and are comfortably sitting in the No. 1 Wildcard spot, setting up a potential first-round matchup with the winner of the lowly Pacific Division. Nick Schmaltz had one goal in his last 13 going into Sunday, but Utah fans will hope his two-goal effort will kickstart some production heading into the final lap of the season.
15. New York Islanders
Record: 40-26-5, +4
Last Week: 14th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 14th
Scott’s Rank: 16th
Scott: I got the chance to talk to and see Matthew Schaefer play in person, and he very much lives up to the hype. I can’t believe I said a year ago that Michael Misa was anywhere close to him in terms of talent. As boring as that 3-1 win over the Leafs was, Schaefer shone when he had the chance to, and he keeps setting rookie records left and right. I also have to respect Patrick Roy locking into playoff mode and running with Sorokin in every game, including a back-to-back over the weekend against the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. Even though he struggled against Montreal, his shutout against Columbus was pivotal in their playoff chase.
Hunter: I also have to respect Roy, but for openly calling out the lack of inconsistency when it comes to how goaltender inference is called in Sunday’s post-game press conference. But I’m sure the league and its officials agree with the Isles’ head coach when he said: “Can we change the subject?”
#Isles HC Patrick Roy wanted no part of the goalie interference call postgame. “Why was Olivier so mad? Because he knew he pushed Anders into the net and he put the puck himself into the net. At first it hit the stick.” 🎥: @IslesMSGN
Scott: I’m sure Pat Verbeek would say otherwise.
16. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 34-23-12, -9
Last Week: 21st (+5)
Hunter’s Rank: 18th
Scott’s Rank: 13th
Hunter: The Flyers won all three of their California road games last week, with Noah Cates scoring in every game, bringing his season total to 15. He’s on pace to set career highs in all offensive categories and break the 40-point mark for the first time. It’s a shame Philadelphia dug such a deep hole between January and the Olympic break, as they’re just five points back of a Wildcard spot.
17. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 35-25-14, +3
Last Week: 13th (-4)
Hunter’s Rank: 16th
Scott’s Rank: 17th
Hunter: Vegas started the week as poorly as they could, with three regulation losses and one goal scored in the process. Too many Golden Knights aren’t producing: Jack Eichel is pointless in his last five games; Mark Stone has just two assists in eight games since the Olympic break, and Tomas Hertl is pointless in his last eight with just one goal in his last 12. The Pacific is a weak division, and while Vegas possess the second-best even-strength expected goals percentage in the last 10 games, they need to score some damn goals.
Scott: Surprisingly, Marner is one of the few Golden Knights actually producing down the stretch, with 12 points in 13 games since the Olympic break. I guess it is only March. But yeah, Vegas hasn’t gotten a save all season, so the lack of scoring certainly hasn’t helped their cause. As talented as they are, and as fun as they’ll be in the playoffs, missing out is what they deserve after this season.
18. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 34-28-9, +1
Last Week: 16th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 17th
Scott’s Rank: 19th
Hunter: The Oilers started the week with a win over the Sharks, but back-to-back regulation losses to the NHL’s Florida-based teams left a sour taste in the city of Edmonton’s mouth. The team also revealed that Leon Draisaitl will miss the rest of the 2025-26 regular season, and judging from reports out of Europe, he could be out for longer than that.
I will credit McDavid for saying what we’re all thinking when it comes to the Pacific Division, calling it a “pillow fight” and that the Oilers are “fortunate to play in this division.” Every season has its “weak division,” but when you consider that none of the Pacific teams would hold a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, this feels like an anomaly.
Scott: Not to worry, once the playoffs start, McDavid will turn on the jets and Draisaitl will play through his injury and they’ll at least make the Western Conference Final again.
19. Washington Capitals
Record: 35-27-9, +12
Last Week: 19th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 19th
Scott’s Rank: 18th
Scott: In a Capitals season filled with regression, goodbyes and disappointment, at least we have Alex Ovechkin still doing well. Ovi scored his 1,000th NHL goal (regular season and playoffs) on Sunday, adding more to his legacy as the best goal-scorer of all time. I’d love to see him stick around long enough to get 1,000 regular-season goals, but if he calls it a career at the end of the season, 1,000 in total is good enough. Soak in every Caps game while you can folks, as we may be watching the last 11 games of Ovi’s career.
20. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 28-25-17, -26
Last Week: 20th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 20th
Scott’s Rank: 21st
Scott: Say what you will about the Kings picking this season of all years to go all-in and take a swing at Artemi Panarin, but he’s done his best. Los Angeles has been a middling 5-6-3 since his arrival, but they’ve seen improvement in their offense, particularly on the power play, where their 25.8% rate is the eighth-best in the league. Panarin has also put up 17 points in 14 games. The Kings are two points outside a playoff spot right now, but they might sneak in if they keep this up.
Hunter: The Kings finally avoiding the Oilers in the first round, just to face one of the Avalanche or Stars in round one, would be the funniest possible outcome.
21. Florida Panthers
Record: 34-32-3, -23
Last Week: 17th (-4)
Hunter’s Rank: 22nd
Scott’s Rank: 20th
Hunter: In another edition of “Hockey is a Funny Sport”: The Panthers lost by three goals to both the Canucks and Flames, two bottom feeders, but defeated the playoff-bound Oilers. I wonder if Paul Maurice told his players before the game: “Let’s just beat them for old time’s sake.”
Scott: I guess A.J. Greer got the Flames and Oilers mixed up then!
22. Nashville Predators
Record: 33-28-9, -23
Last Week: 24th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 21st
Scott’s Rank: 23rd
Hunter: It only took a lost season and three quarters of a season filled with middling play, but the Predators are in a playoff spot with four wins in four games. Filip Forsberg remembered he’s one of the game’s best when he wants to be, finishing the week with four goals and five assists, including the overtime winner against the Blackhawks on Sunday. Dust off the “We Are So Back O’Meter,” because Nashville is SO back.
23. New Jersey Devils
Record: 35-32-2, -22
Last Week: 22nd (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 23rd
Scott’s Rank: 22nd
Hunter: The Devils put up really good efforts last week with wins over the Bruins and Rangers, as well as in a hard-fought 2-1 loss to the Capitals. Despite being among the lower-ranked teams in the East, New Jersey is closer to the league’s mushy middle than the bottom of the barrel. At least Jack Hughes is producing points: In the 12 games since scoring the golden goal for the U.S., he’s recorded six goals and 13 assists for 19 points.
Scott: I wonder how many of the pucks from those 19 points he’s got to keep.
Hunter: Philip Pritchard told me it was never Jack’s puck to own.
24. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 29-29-12, -20
Last Week: 25th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 24th
Scott’s Rank: 24th
Hunter: The Jets dropped three of four games but earned points in three and are still five points back of a Wildcard spot. Jonathan Toews scored twice last week, his first goals in a 20-game span dating back to Jan. 15. It hasn’t been the return some fans hoped for, but you take your pleasures where you can. I’ll be curious to see if he remains with the organization in some capacity.
25. Seattle Kraken
Record: 31-29-9, -17
Last Week: 23rd (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 25th
Scott’s Rank: 26th
Hunter: Last week, I mentioned that the Kraken’s last 11 losses have come in regulation, a stretch that highlighted how many points Seattle left on the table. That streak is now at 14 with three defeats last week. They’re still in the playoff race, but they need wins — or at least losses in overtime or a shootout.
Scott: Hunter, my dear friend, this is the Kraken we’re talking about. Sure, the team wants to make the playoffs, but they need as many regulation losses as they can. If they commit now, they’re just two points away from a bottom-six spot, and six away from second-last!
26. St. Louis Blues
Record: 28-30-11, -44
Last Week: 29th (+3)
Hunter’s Rank: 26th
Scott’s Rank: 25th
Hunter: St. Louis split their two games last week and earned three of four points, but they’re just killing time before the season ends. Dylan Holloway continues to play well since returning from injury, recording seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in his last 12 games. Y’know what? The Oilers could really use secondary scoring like that. If only they drafted players like Holloway. Oh well.
27. San Jose Sharks
Record: 32-30-6, -35
Last Week: 26th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 27th
Scott’s Rank: 27th
Scott: It’s been a tough stretch for the Sharks, as they’ve lost their last four games (all in regulation), and have lost seven of their last nine games. They’re lucky they’re in the Western Conference, because that still keeps them within five points of a playoff spot, but they need to flip a switch fast before their season is over. I hate to put this on the back of a 19-year-old player, but if Macklin Celebrini really wants to cement himself as the Hart candidate, now’s his time.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 29-29-13, -29
Last Week: 27th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 28th
Scott’s Rank: 28th
Scott: The Leafs had as good of a week as they could have by their low standards. They managed to drop all three games and have drawn themselves within two points of sixth last (LOL) and six of the bottom five.
Well, except for one thing. The fact that the Leafs could have gotten the win in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes if they could have got a save from Joseph Woll. Yes, Craig Berube, in a game where you were doubled up in expected goals 4.47-2.08 and saw the high-danger chances go Carolina’s way by a 20-7 edge, and in a season where you’ve allowed almost 200 shots more than the next closest team, your problem is the goaltending.
It’s frustrated me a lot how often Berube shifts the blame from his systems, which have clearly never worked for this team and he’s never adjusted from, and always puts it on his team. Yes, the players have clearly quit, but honestly, if I was playing for him and he was saying stuff like this to the media despite his own failures, I’d quit on him too.
Hunter: There’s a scene in Moneyball when Athletics’ manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tells Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) that he’s managing the team when he interviews for future jobs. That’s where Berube is as a coach, right now. The Woll comment may have been a bridge too far for some, but it’s Berube letting the next team know he’s going to remain a hardass of a coach who “holds players accountable,” regardless of their place in the standings.
Scott: I don’t know, if I was hiring a head coach (or any employee for that matter), I’d be more concerned about how they hold themselves accountable, something Berube hasn’t really shown in his tenure in Toronto.
29. Calgary Flames
Record: 29-34-7, -40
Last Week: 31st (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 29th
Scott’s Rank: 30th
Hunter: There was lots of talk last week about Zayne Parekh’s struggles in his first professional season, and while I’ll concede it hasn’t gone as well as some had hoped, it’s an example of why the NHL should have allowed teams to assign a CHLer under 20 to the AHL this season, instead of waiting until next year. Parekh, coming off a 107-point 2024-25 campaign in the OHL, was too good to go back to junior, but was not yet eligible for a full AHL campaign. Instead, he was outmuscled and looked out of place at the NHL level. Why don’t we let the kid find his footing before we make sweeping generalizations?
Scott: As Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday, the NHL, CHL and AHL are close to an agreement on allowing 19-year-old first-round picks to play in the AHL, so that’s a step in the right direction.
30. New York Rangers
Record: 28-33-9, -26
Last Week: 28th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 30th
Scott’s Rank: 29th
Hunter: Ah, there’s the Rangers we know. After winning four straight games, New York lost four straight last week, three times by three goals. They are now 29th, which is impressive when you consider how bad the West is. J.T. Miller hasn’t scored in 12 games and has four years left with an $8-million cap hit; does anyone look at that and think, “I can fix him”? Oh yeah, the Rangers did. Whoops.
Scott: The Rangers didn’t just say “I can fix him”, they walked into the season saying “we’ve already fixed him,” named him captain and have reaped what they sowed.
31. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 26-31-13, -42
Last Week: 30th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 31st
Scott’s Rank: 31st
Scott: Is there a lot to say about the Blackhawks at this point? They aren’t good but aren’t bad enough to touch the Canucks at this point. Connor Bedard is doing his best to be productive despite his team’s struggles.
That’s all I got. The season can’t end soon enough for them.
32. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 21-40-8, -78
Last Week: 32nd (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 32nd
Scott’s Rank: 32nd
Scott: The Canucks suck, what else is new?
Instead, I’m going to use this blurb to suggest an adjustment to the draft lottery, one which still weighs it in favor of the really bad teams without handing them the first-overall pick. What if the percentages for each position weren’t stagnant, and instead they shifted depending on how many points each team missed by, so a team like Vancouver who is 15 points clear of the next best team still has a larger advantage than the rest, maybe even more than the 12% difference they have from Chicago right now? I wrote an article several years ago for The Leafs Nation which better broke down the math, and I can’t seem to find it, but you get my point. I don’t necessarily want to encourage tanking, but at the same time, the top players should go to teams depleted of talent like Vancouver.
PRESENTED BY STAKE
