Time for the weekly power ranking update. Ranking order will be based on standings/who I think is playing the best hockey in the NHL currently. Topic of discussion will be the trade deadline, which is this coming up Wednesday. The number in parentheses next to their rank is what they were ranked last week.
1 (2). Boston Bruins (93 points) - It was pretty much a tie between San Jose and Boston for the #1 spot this week, but the edge goes to Boston. The return of Michael Ryder has sparked the offense of the Bruins. In their 2 wins over Florida and Anaheim this week, the Bruins scored 6 goals. In their 2 losses against Tampa Bay and Washington, they've scored 3. Their offense is as solid as Tim Thomas,and the loss against Washington shouldn't really change anyone's view as Boston being the powerhouse in the East. Rumor has it they're going after Chris Pronger in Anaheim, and there were even details of a trade being talked about, but Boston has come out and said that the price Anaheim has put on Pronger is currently too high for Boston to be buying.
2 (1). San Jose Sharks (93 points) - The biggest hole in the Sharks team is their ability to play away from home, which can be correlated with how their offense plays on the road. They have not scored more than 2 goals on the 4 game road trip this past week, although they did end up going 2-2-0. Although the GM Doug Wilson claimed that he isn't going to go out of his way to make a move unless there is some sort of injury or suspension to his team, especially with the return of Torrey Mitchell on the horizon, don't be surprised if a lot of bubble teams are asking for Brian Boucher.
3 (3). Detroit Red Wings (90 points) - Right after a 4-1 stomping of San Jose, which was a huge statement in itself to the league, the Nashville Predators come in and unload a humiliating 8-0 thrashing over the Red Wings. Ty Conklin looked to be the goaltender that would save the Red Wings in case the 10 day layoff of Chris Osgood backfired on them, but Osgood made 30 saves against LA in a 2-1 win. Conklin got pulled in the Nashville game, allowing 4 goals on 9 shots, and the supposedly renewed Osgood came in, only to fair slightly better, allowing 4 goals on 14 shots. This game is probably a fluke, although 8-0 is quite a big fluke. It doesn't look like Detroit is looking or needs to make any trades, but they'll have to make a decision about their starting goaltender for the playoffs and like San Jose, they have 2 starter-quality goaltenders when they only need 1.
4 (4). Washington Capitals (85 points) - Same old story with the Capitals. They are beating teams left and right on the shoulders of Alexander Ovechkin and their high powered offense, and Jose Theodore, although nothing spectacular, is making just enough saves to keep Washington in the game and win it. Their only loss this week was a 4-2 defeat to Philadelphia, where they scored the first 2 goals but allowed 4 unanswered in a comeback win by the Flyers. Washington has the worst road record out of all the Eastern Conference leaders, so that's something to look at as well. Washington doesn't need to go out of their way for anyone special, but reports say they're looking for a good puck-moving defenseman. If they could get a top goaltender for cheap, they probably wouldn't overlook a deal in that area either.
5 (5). New Jersey Devils (83 points) - The Devils only had 2 games this week, and the headline news for both of them was that they were the first two games for Martin Broduer since his return from injury. He won both of them, although he wasn't really tested all that much in either the 4-0 shutout against Colorado or 15 save night in a 7-2 win over Florida. The real test will be Sunday afternoon against the Flyers, who actually have one of the scariest offenses in the East. Speaking of scary offenses, normally around this time of the year the Devils would be looking for an offensive spark. This year, they have everything. Their defensemen are still New Jersey defensemen, but their top two lines, led by Zach Parise, are fast, explosive, and can get a goal from any of their 6 forwards. No trades are needed for New Jersey, so if anything they'll probably be seeing if they can trade Kevin Weekes or Scott Clemmensen for third/fourth line leadership and maybe a draft pick.
6 (7). Calgary Flames (80 points) - Two games this week and both were 4-1 wins, over Columbus and Minnesota. Their offense is as dangerous as ever, and Jarome Iginla has been hot this month. What is even more impressive is that they scored 4 goals over Columbus, who has a great goaltender in Steve Mason, and Minnesota, whose entire game plan revolves around defense. Like almost every team in the NHL, they'll probably want to bolster the depth of their defensive lines as much as possible, and reports also say the Flames are looking for a bit more toughness, although they don't want to sacrafice their offense. Which means they'll probably get a fourth line guy for a first or second round draft pick, if they do do anything at all.
7 (8). Philadelphia Flyers (76 points) - It looks like everything is going right for the Flyers at just the right time of the season. They went 2-0-1 this week, with their biggest win over Washington. Their offense is a lot more deadlier than last year, and Martin Biron is finally looking like the goaltender that got them deep in the playoffs. At the rate the Eastern Conference is going, they probably won't be any better than their current 4th place standing, and they might even drop a spot or two, but they will be a team to watch in the East. The Flyers have been looking at Bouwmeester from Florida and Backstrom from Minnesota, but they don't have the cap room to be making any lucrative deals. If the Flyers do end up making some moves by the deadline, they probably won't make any headlines in the process.
8 (6). Chicago Blackhawks (77 points) - The Blackhawks have been all over the map recently. They had 3 convincing wins last week, only to start a 3 game losing streak this week, two of which were to Western Conference bubble teams with losses to Minnesota and Nashville. Brian Campbell has reportedly been having relationship problems with the coaching staff and front office, so despite having signed a superstar contract, he might get traded if any other team wants to dish out the cash for him. The Blackhawks will probably be looking to add a defensive defenseman, but they'll need some sort of goaltending help, because it doesn't look like Huet is ready to lead this team on a deep playoff run. Veteran leadership is also a hole they're missing in their line-up. They have a lot of young players to bargain with, so it is just a matter of finding the team willing to part with the high-in-demand defenseman.
9 (9). Montreal Canadiens (75 points) - When all things looked bad for the Canadiens, in comes Jaroslav Halak. He went 4-0 this week, with his last two wins coming on back to back nights against the Flyers and the Sharks. Schneider is looking like the deal of the decade, and Kovalev is starting to put up a steady amount of points again. The Canadiens have the talent to cover up any holes they have, so they'll only be dealing with minor deals. Montreal probably wants some help on offense because the team has been underachieving up until recently.
10 (10). Vancouver Canucks (70 points) - They only played 2 games this week, going 1-1-0. But after a horrendous start from his return to injury, Luongo is finally winning games for the Canucks. They have a lot of problems with discipline and scoring on the blue line, so look for some trades to address those issues. The big rumor out of Canada is the potential move of Daniel Sedin, but not Henrik. It is unimagineable to see the twins seperated, and it would probably be death to the fanbase unless they get a guy like Ovechkin for Daniel. But crazier things have happened in sports, so you never know.
11 (13). New York Rangers (72 points) - 3 games for the new coach and the Rangers go 1-1-1. Coach Tortorella finally got the offense he was looking for in a 6-1 shelling over Colorado, but the Avalanche aren't exactly an impressive team to beat. Lundqvist has been solid all season, so the Rangers are just praying he doesn't give up on them in the last 20 or so games of the season. The Rangers may seem like they need a lot of help in a lot of areas, but coaching was probably the biggest problem, because their talent players just weren't buying into the system. The Rangers front office usually doesn't sell players, so if anything happens it will be additions to the roster.
12 (14). Columbus Blue Jackets (68 points) - Columbus doesn't string together long winning streaks, but the difference this season is they bounce back from their losses as well. They were unraveled by Calgary, but came back in a 1-0 win against the Oilers in a match with playoff implications. Steve Mason is the centerpiece for the Jackets's first franchise playoff appearance, and if they're going to get their first franchise playoff series win, it will be on the back of Mason. The past month has been about when the Blue Jackets will get a top-line centerman for Nash and Huselieus. There is always a need for a defenseman in the NHL, but their top priority is a guy to play center.
13 (19). Anaheim Ducks (67 points) - They've put together some wins, but the biggest game of the week was the 6-0 destruction by the hands of the Boston Bruins. They have similar goaltending problems to Detroit, and age is the biggest factor in their forward lines. Anaheim is the center of most of the trade rumors, with names like Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer being whispered around the league. They've acquired Ryan Whitney, which fuels the flames of trades even more. The only question to be answered is when the two will be traded (either Wednesday or this summer), and what will Anaheim get in return for two big name, but old defensemen. Logic says Niedermayer will be traded by the deadline and Pronger over summer, but respect that the front office has for Scott says they'll keep Niedermayer and allow him to retire after this season is over, so Pronger is the one to go by Wednesday (if a team is willing to pay the high pricetag they put on him).
14 (11). Florida Panthers (70 points) - They had a 2-1 win over the Rangers this week, but lost horribly to Boston and New Jersey, which pretty much means the Panthers aren't going past the Conference Semifinals this year. With that said, all signs point to the Panthers being sellers, especially with the high demand for Jay Bouwmeester. But the Florida front office are stating they want to be buyers and not sell their All-Star defenseman, which means if anything is going to happen to Florida by the trade deadline, it will be a move to try and improve their roster for inevitably short playoff run this year.
15 (12). Buffalo Sabres (69 points) - The Sabres went 1-2-1 this week, beating the struggling Rangers but losing to Anaheim, Carolina and the last place Islanders. There is nowhere to go this season for the Sabres than downhill, with Ryan Miller out with an injury. Inconsistancy from their forwards (partially due to injury) is killing them, and they don't exactly have the greatest defensive defensemen in the game either. They may be ranked 15th on this list now, but they'll probably be in the 20's by the end of the season. Thus, they will most likely sell some of their older offensemen and their backup goaltenders for a Brian Boucher-type backup and some defensemen for next year. Prospects and draft picks wouldn't hurt either.
16 (16). Carolina Hurricanes (69 points) - They are currently 9th place behind Buffalo in the Eastern Conference standings, but they have a much better shot at the playoffs than Buffalo does. But they have below-average goaltending and inconsistant production offensively, which really hinders any chance at getting out of the first round of the playoffs. They have holes everywhere, and not a lot of bargaining chips, so look for Carolina to try and extend their season as long as possible with some moves to help their offense, with the rest of the holes to be filled in the offseason.
17 (17). Pittsburgh Penguins (68 points) - This just isn't the season for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby is visibly upset at Alexander Ovechkin (and now he's injured), and the Penguins are only beating teams with losing records. Fleury has been solid and they added Chris Kunitz with the trade with Anaheim to try and boost their on and off offense, but Kunitz just isn't the type of guy who can turn a franchise around. Malkin is on pace to capture the scoring title, but that would be meaningless, even if the Penguins make the playoffs. They could play the role of buyers or sellers this season, but trading Whitney for Kunitz points to indications that the front office isn't going to try and develop a team; they want to make a run at the cup this year.
18 (15). Dallas Stars (65 points) - Just when it looked like the Stars were back to being a dangerous team in the West, they go back into a losing streak. Marty Turco clearly needs more help, and injuries on their forward lines are killing their offense. But out of all the bubble teams in the West, they have the best shot at stealing a late playoff spot, simply based on their ability. They're going to be buyers this trade deadline, but for the most part it will be short term deals to fill up the holes left by injuries on their forward lines.
19 (20). Minnesota Wild (65 points) - The problem is easy to figure out for Minnesota: they don't have any offense. With the injury to Owen Nolan and Marion Gaborik, the Wild sport the lowest goals total in the NHL. Which isn't surprising, since their team philosophy is defense first. But nobody on their roster has stepped up to take over the offensive reins, and it is starting to hurt them in the last few games of the regular season. Minnesota has great defense and great goaltending, so it isn't too late for them to make a move for some offensive help. The biggest question, though, is Niklas Backstrom. Both Gaborik and Backstrom will be free agents this offseason, and neither have signed an extension yet, so although the Wild can still try and make a playoff run, all signs point to them selling their top two stars and begin the rebuilding stages of their franchise.
20 (21). Nashville Predators (66 points) - Nashville has won their last 4 games over St. Louis, Chicago, Phoenix, and a huge exclamation mark win in an 8-0 spanking of Detroit. Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne are a great goaltending tandem, and Nashville is a physical team. But they lack playmakers outside of Shea Weber, their offensive defenseman. The Predators currently hold the 8th seed in the West, but it isn't hard to tell that they aren't going anywhere this year. There are just too many holes to fill on their forward lines, from the first to the fourth. Expect them to get rid of a lot of their third/fourth line guys, and rumors have started circulating about their captain Jason Arnott.
21 (18). Edmonton Oilers (65 points) - Edmonton is a team with a lot of heart and great leadership, but they just don't have the pieces to win yet. There are a few holes to fill, but Dwayne Roloson has been playing outstanding goaltending recently and some of their younger guys have stepped up to fill the void their main playmakers have created with their offensive slumps. The Oilers are slowly transitioning out of their rebuilding phase, so look for them to add to their rosters by the trade deadline. The big name guy they are looking to get rid of for some more help is Erik Cole, and there are rumors that he might even be sent back to Carolina.
22 (22). Los Angeles Kings (61 points) - The teams above LA just keep on winning, and the window of opportunity to squeeze into the playoffs is shrinking. But the Kings are showing a little of their potential, which is good signs for the future. But it is still all about the future, as their roster is filled with youth. Their captain is 23, most of their defensemen still have a lot of experience to gain, and their goaltender is a rookie. The good news is they finally have a goaltender, so look for the Kings to try and get some more offensive help or a defenseman who can quarterback the power play for either Jonathan Quick or Erik Ersberg, depending on who the Kings want to put their franchise's future on (logic says Ersberg). Other smaller bargaining chips will be anyone who is above the age of 25 on their roster who aren't named Alexander Frolov.
23 (24). St. Louis Blues (64 points) - The Blues have strung together some wins on the shoulders of Chris Mason, but all their star players are guys on the verge of retirement. Their hope for a playoff spot is pretty much non-existant with the way the other bubble teams are playing, and this franchise needs to begin to rebuild. Their biggest selling token is Keith Tkachuk, and there are plenty of teams looking for an extra offensive veteran with playoff experience for the playoffs, so the Blues have a lot of options to work with here.
24 (27). Ottowa Senators (56 points) - Their offense has finally begun to look like the Senators of old, but they still lack consistant goaltending and defense, which means they aren't making the playoffs. The hole they dug themselves in the first half of the season was too big to climb out of anyways, but the fact that their offensive stars are starting to produce means that there is hope for next year. The Senators have already added to their team with Comrie and Campoli, who have both been very productive in their first few games with the Senators. This trade deadline is all about short term signings for playoff runs or salary cap space for long term rebuilding, so the Senators will obviously try to sell some of their players to get cap space for the rebuilding they should've done two years ago.
25 (26). Toronto Maple Leafs (62 points) - Teams are firing coaches over losses to Toronto, which gives you an idea of how bad this team is. All fingers are pointed at Nik Antropov to be traded at the deadline, as he is a pretty strong offensive weapon for any team. Their star defenseman, Tomas Kaberle, has been injured for a while, and his contract is about to expire, so the Maple Leafs will try to get rid of him as well. They have a lot of good players to sell, and Toronto is still under the salary cap, so there is plenty of room and opportunities to completely rebuild this franchise in just one offseason. But it all starts with selling at the trade deadline.
26 (23). Phoenix Coyotes (59 points) - The Coyotes now are like the Kings were two years ago when they acquired Anze Kopitar. The Coyotes have a future, especially now that the mess in goaltending is settled down, but it all starts with building around Shane Doan. But this trade deadline for the Coyotes is all about looking towards the next two or three years, so look for a complete roster change to be done by the start of next season. With a guy like Gretzky coaching, the first move will probably be for some offensive help for Doan.
27 (29). Atlanta Thrashers (52 points) - Ilya Kovalchuk and the Thrashers first line have exploded offensively the past two weeks, but obviously it won't mean anything because they aren't making the playoffs unless they win every single one of their remaining games. The Thrashers have youth in Bryan Little and Todd White to work around, and they have old veterans who can still score like Slava Kozlov to potentially trade at the deadline. But the biggest trade rumor is around Kari Lehtonen, their goaltender, who has reportedly been sought after by several teams. The deadline and the offseason are going to be building a franchise around Kovalchuk, so the Thrashers are probably not going to make any big moves until summer.
28 (28). Tampa Bay Lightning (52 points) - Stamkos, Lecavalier, and St. Louis are the futures of the franchise. The Lightning need goaltending, defensive defensemen, and depth, but all those holes won't be solved by the deadline. Although teams are pouring offers for Lecavalier and St. Louis, the Lightning management has come out publicly to say their superstars are not for sale. They have other offensive weapons to use as trading tools such as Malone and Prospal, so there is still possibility for a big move or two to be made by the Lightning by Wednesday.
29 (25). Colorado Avalanche (57 points) - Their season ended with Sakic and Statsny went down. 3 games have passed since Statsny returned from injury, but he has only recorded 1 assist on the power play, so the answer to their woes obviously wasn't with the young centerman. Coloardo has a lot of young offensive talent, but absolutely no goaltending. Look for the Avalanche to seek out some defensive prospects or draft picks at the deadline, as they don't want to get rid of any of their young rising stars. The goaltending problem needs to be fixed during the summer, or else the Avalanche aren't going anywhere for the next few years.
30 (30). New York Islanders (45 points) - The Islanders are trying to build a franchise around DiPietro, but his constant injury problems are making that hard for them. Still, the Islanders probably have the best young talent in the league, so it will take a year or two more before they become a threat to make it to the playoffs again. Talks have revolved around Bill Guerin, and it looks more and more like he is going to move again, but he is the only real veteran leadership this team has so it will depend on whether he wants to sacrafice his last few years of his career to rebuild a franchise or if the front office will trade him for some more draft picks or prospects. Maybe the Islanders can sell DiPietro and try and draft a new goaltender.
Some final thoughts: The biggest question of the trade deadline is which team is willing to be ripped off for Chris Pronger? Every GM knows the price is set really high by Anaheim, but there are still teams calling in to see if they can get a deal in. The team least likely to do anything is San Jose, but I won't be surprised at all if they want to add a last minute addition to their team, although Chris Neil isn't the answer. In my opinion, Minnesota should try and keep either Backstrom or Gaborik, and trade the other that they don't resign. If they lose both of them, it will be a complete rebuilding of the franchise next year, and they still have a good shot at the playoffs with one of those two in the mix. Surprisingly, Boston is very active during the trade deadline, whereas Washington hasn't been making the news. There is a huge window of opportunity for a bubble team to make a blockbuster deal this year, but I think the big trade of the year will be involved with one of the six conference leaders in the NHL.
