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Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
As of today, every Wednesday for the rest of the season the hotstove will release their power rankings for the top-5 teams in hockey.
We're ranking five instead of 10 to make the decisions hard, and ensure some good teams are left off rather than all of us having nine of the same 10 teams every week.
Todd Cordell
1. Anaheim Ducks (8-2-0)
They're getting great goaltending from John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, Corey Perry is scoring like nothing and they're 8-2-0. I'd like to see more from them in possession, but they still earned the No. 1 slot.
2. Los Angeles Kings (6-1-2)
They've allowed 15 goals in nine games, and have the best line in hockey right now in Pearson - Carter - Toffoli. They're allowing too many shots (34.7 per game) but great goaltending has kept them on the right path.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-1)
The Penguins go as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin go. The good news for them is both of those guys are averaging well over a point per game. Patric Hornqvist has been excellent, too, and depth acquisitions such as Steve Downie and Blake Comeau have really paid off.
4. Minnesota Wild (5-3-0)
If it weren't for a terrible 3rd period in New York, they'd be 6-2-0. They've done excellent in possession, have had really good goaltending (New York game aside) and have a plus-13 goal differential in eight games. Impressive.
5. Montreal Canadiens (8-2-0)
Goal differential of plus-1 isn't overly encouraging and their possession numbers are only slightly above average, but their penalty kill has been excellent and so has Carey Price. It's hard to argue with an 8-2-0 record, especially when the blemishes were road losses to Tampa Bay and Edmonton.
Tim Chiasson
1. Anaheim Ducks (8-2-0)
Before losing to the Sharks the Ducks had won seven straight. The loss didn't faze them as they turned around and shutout the Blackhawks 1-0. The Ducks are the best team in hockey right now. They’re getting some fantastic goaltending and have the second best goals for/against differential in the league (+12).
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-3-1)
Other than a blowout loss to Minnesota, the Lightning have been playing some great hockey on both sides of the puck. Montreal may have more points but Tampa is the best team in the Eastern Conference right now, with the Penguins close on their heels. The Lightning have overcome a pile of injuries early on as a testament to their newly acquired depth.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-1)
It’s just another day at the office for the Penguins so far this year. Sid and Geno are on pace for 140+ and 110+ point seasons. Like Tampa, it’s hard to argue against such a dominant offense. Their goals for/against differential of +11 is third best in the league. Most of the East might be irrelevant, but Tampa and Pittsburgh are at the top of the class.
4. Los Angeles (6-1-2)
The Kings only regulation loss this year came after a four-day long ceremony prior to puck drop against the San Jose Sharks. The injury to Kopitar is holding them back from a higher ranking. Every year is a new year so the Kings are going to have to prove, like Tampa, that they can overcome a big injury to a very important player before they move up.
5. Montreal (8-2-0)
Montreal’s record is deceiving, but I still can’t ignore it. With a meager +1 goal for/against differential les Canadiens could easily be 5-5 right now as opposed to 8-2. Carey Price has been holding down the fort for the Habs as they slip through October with a better record than they deserve.
Ryan Wilson
1. Anaheim (8-2-0)
Best record in the best conference with the best goal differential (+12). They are better built than last year's version. Only "wart" on their resume is their middle of the road possession.
2. Los Angeles King (6-1-2)
The scary thing about this team is the fact that they haven't hit their stride from a possession standpoint yet. They will eventually and chances are they end up as #1 on this list. That 70's line is eating up the competition. Their only regulation loss of the year came on opening night to the Sharks. Their loss to the Flyers in overtime came without Kopitar, Gaborik, and Voynov in the lineup. This team is still championship caliber
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-1)
There is a lot to like so far about the Penguins. Their style of play is more conducive for their skilled players, the possession numbers are very good, and the power play is clicking at 40%. The penalty kill has killed off 18 straight as well. This roster is not a finished product either. Beau Bennet should be back in about a week's time and that will bump a non-NHL player like Zach Sill out of the lineup. Penguins will get even better as the year rolls on.
4. Minnesota Wild (5-3-0)
You are probably asking yourself, how the hell are the Wild up here? I am more interested in the process than the results right now and the Wild are a 60% possession team which is terrific. They are also one of two teams that have yet to score on the power play this year (the other being Buffalo, yikes). They will start to score power play goals and it will compliment their already wonderful even strength play.
5. Chicago Blackhawks (5-3-1)
Record isn't great but their possession is top notch. They lost a tough one to Anaheim last night 1-0, but Anaheim is my #1 team in the league right now so that isn't too bad.
Adam French
1. Los Angeles Kings (6-1-2)
It's hard to go wrong in this choice when everything they do seems to be right. Even with the loss of Kopitar they are still strong. That 70's line has been one of the biggest and best surprises of this season. Quick is back in Vezina form. They were/are missing Muzzin and Voynov, basically their 2/3 defenders, yet it hardly seems to matter. No Gaborik. It's scary thinking that they are missing so many major parts. It speaks to the depth and the coaching that they can just shake off losing massive parts of their squad and afford to have the leagues highest paid 3rd line centre. Doughty plays half the game...I could go on, but I think their play speaks for itself most nights.
2. Anaheim Ducks (8-2-0)
The Ducks continue to enjoy elite levels of goaltending, this year by two less experienced goalies, but the constant seems to be, "plug X goalie into Anaheim, X goalie succeeds." Not that either aren't ridiculously promising. Getz-Perry still one of the most dominating duos in the NHL. Kesler brings a legitimacy to their second line they haven't had in a long time. Lindholm, Vatanen and Fowler continue to improve and grow as players. The mixture of youth and experience is really nice on this squad. The negative? Clayton Stoner is not an NHL defenseman.
3. Dallas Stars (4-2-3)
Call this one a little more intrigue. Dallas has the best first line in the NHL right now...or at least the most productive. Benn-Spezza-Seguin is frightening...and then they get on the PP. Brenden Dillon remains one of the most underrated gems in the Western Conference. Lehtonen has been fine, but he has an extra level that he isn't at yet this season. If they had another scoring forward for their second line *cough* Hemsky wtf *cough* they would be an even more dangerous team.
4. Montreal Canadiens (8-2-0)
The Canadiens are close to winning the OctoCup and have shown the ability to win in nearly every way possible. They've grinded out wins, flat out dominated, been outplayed and got by on patience and every other way imaginable. They're flexible and seem to be able to get timely scoring from any and every source...except Eller, Bourque and Moen of course. They're rolling right now and that PAP for Briere's corpse is looking really good.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-3-1)
When Tampa lost their number one defender who was exploding all over the league offensively, things looked a little grim. Yet the power of one of the most dynamic and young forward cores in the NHL, along with competent defending and solid goaltending have kept them in the race. This is a team missing Hedman and Callahan, two major cogs, yet still are performing admirably. Stralman has been excellent, Kucherov flashes brilliance, Palat and Johnson are showing they aren't just rookie sensations anymore and Ben Bishop (while not as brilliant as last season) has been more than serviceable under the circumstances. Love the forward depth and if they can continue to hold their own until Hedman returns, they are a scary team.
Honourable mentions to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and a Rinne-Filled Nashville.
Consensus Rankings
1. Anaheim Ducks (8-2-0)
2. Los Angeles Kings (6-2-1)
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-1)
4. Montreal Canadiens (8-2-0)
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-3-1)
**
Agree or disagree with these rankings? Feel free to share your own in the comments.
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