March 1, 2025 by Bob Schmidt

Now that each team has played 50 games, I have assembled my version of a power rankings chart. I created this chart based only on each team’s first 50 games, their overall record in those 40 games, the strength of each team’s schedule in those 50 games, and how they fared against the stronger, mid tier, and weaker teams.

1. Washington Capitals

50-game record: 34-11-5, 73 Pts

Games 41-50: 8-1-1, 17 Pts

Previous ranking: 1

The Capitals retain the number one spot for the third consecutive segment, and they did it in emphatic fashion with a season-high six-game winning streak during this stretch. Six of their 10 games during this segment came on the road and impressively, they only lost one of those. Washington has a league-leading 77% points percentage against top-10 teams at time of play, having won 10 of the 13 games against them. They truly are a team that plays their best when the competition is the toughest.

2. Winnipeg Jets

50-game record: 33-14-3, 69 Pts

Games 41-50: 6-3-1, 13 Pts

Previous ranking: 2

For as long as the Capitals have been the number one team on this list, the Jets have been at number two. Winnipeg is operating at, what would be, a franchise best .713 points percentage at the time of this article. Their previous best was a .695 in 2017-18. First year Jets coach Scott Arniel has undoubtedly shown that he can consistently guide this team to wins in the regular season. It remains to be seen if he can do the same in the playoffs where the Jets have bowed out in the first round in each of the last two seasons.

3. Dallas Stars

50-game record: 32-17-1, 65 Pts

Games 41-50: 6-4-0, 12 Pts

Previous ranking: 4

The Stars are the only other team, besides the Capitals, that has a points percentage of at least 61% against each tier. Tier one (teams ranked first to tenth at time of play) – 63%, tier two (teams ranked 11th-20th) – 61%, and tier three (teams ranked 21st – 32nd) – 69%. Team defense has been the greatest strength of the Stars this season as they have the third best goals against per game and the second best penalty kill in the league. The recent acquisitions of Mikael Granlund, a two-way forward with extensive penalty kill experience, and defenceman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks, should only strengthen an already strong defensive team.

4. Edmonton Oilers

50-game record: 32-15-3, 65 Pts

Games 41-50: 7-3-0, 14 Pts

Previous ranking: 7

The Oilers have had quite the journey up the standings this season. It’s been a steady climb for this team as their segment standings show, ranking 23-18-10-7-4 in the five segments of the season so far. Their 19-spot leap from the beginning of the season is the largest of any team. The Oilers have the best winning percentage in the NHL versus the tier two teams at time of play, having won 16 of the 20 games for an 80%. Surprisingly, they have the worst winning percentage of the teams on this top ten list versus the tier one teams at time of play, winning five of the 13 games for a 38%.

5. Carolina Hurricanes

50-game record: 29-16-4, 62 Pts

Games 41-50: 6-2-2, 14 Pts

Previous ranking: 9

General Manager Eric Tulsky has declared his team to be all in this season as his trade for Mikko Rantanen, arguably a top ten forward in the NHL, from the Colorado Avalanche would suggest. The Hurricanes have seemingly been on the precipice of being a serious Stanley Cup contender for the past six seasons and have reached the Eastern Conference Final series twice in that time. It is their hopes that the additions of Rantanen, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado, and former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks will help pull Carolina to the top of the mountain.

6. Vegas Golden Knights

50-game record: 31-15-4, 66 Pts

Games 41-50: 3-6-1, 7 Pts

Previous ranking: 3

This was a rough segment for the Golden Knights, one which saw them endure a season-worst four-game losing skid. That’s quite the turnabout after coming off a segment in which they only once. Fortunately, for Vegas, the success they had in their first 40 games was enough to keep them in the top ten despite this rough stretch. The Knights are strong at ensuring that they don’t leave points on the table versus teams that are well below them. Their 76% points percentage against tier three teams is the second-best in the NHL.

7. Florida Panthers

50-game record: 29-18-3, 61 Pts

Games 41-50: 5-4-1, 11 Pts

Previous ranking: 6

Florida plateaued a little this segment but remain in the top 10 for the fifth consecutive segment. In fact, the Panthers are one of five teams that have stayed in the top ten of this list all season so far. The other four being the Capitals, Jets, Stars, and Hurricanes. Florida is strong against tier one and tier three teams but struggle against those in the middle of the pack. Their 40% points percentage versus tier two teams at time of play is the lowest of the teams in this top 10.

8. Los Angeles Kings

50-game record: 27-17-6, 60 Pts

Games 41-50: 3-6-1, 7 Pts

Previous ranking: 5

The Kings are another top team that had a rough go this segment. Just like Vegas, Los Angeles endured their longest losing streak this stretch, dropping four straight contests, which was part of a seven-game run in which they won only once. This is a team who truly plays to the level of their competition. The Kings are one game below .500 versus tier two and tier three teams but their 69% win rate versus tier one teams is the second best in the NHL. L.A. seems to thrive against stiffer competition.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs

50-game record: 30-18-2, 62 Pts

Games 41-50: 5-5-0, 10 Pts

Previous ranking: 8

The Maple Leafs are the third, and final, Canadian team to crack the top 10, following the Jets and the Oilers. Toronto had quite the symmetrical segment, bookending it with consecutive wins and consecutive losses and having a three-game losing skid followed by a three-game winning streak in the middle of it. The recent returns from injuries of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Max Pacioretty, not to mention the upcoming return of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who was having a career season before his injury, could see the Leafs push their way up the Eastern Conference standings and be a real force in the playoffs this year.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

50-game record: 27-20-2, 56 Pts

Games 41-50: 5-5-0, 10 Pts

Previous ranking: 12

After a brief drop down last segment, Tampa returns to the top ten, which is where they have been for most of the season. The loss of last season’s Captain and, unarguably, one of the franchise’s greatest players of all-time, Steven Stamkos, has not affected this Lightning squad as much as most pundits thought it would. It helps to have four guys in the lineup with over 20 goals already in Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, and Jake Guentzel, soon to be five with Anthony Cirelli currently at 19 at the time of this article, to help lessen the impact of no Stamkos.