November 9, 2024 by Bob Schmidt

With each NHL team having played at least 10 games this season, I have assembled my first power rankings of the 2024-25 campaign. These ranking are based on each team’s overall record through 10 games, their strength of each team’s schedule during that span and how they fared against the stronger, middling, and weaker teams.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (8-2-0, 16 points)

After going .500 in their first four games, the Carolina Hurricanes finished off the segment on a six-game winning streak. Martin Necas, averaged nearly two points per game (1.80) and the goaltending tandem of Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen have combined for the second-best goals against average in the league at 2.30. Shayne Gostisbehere, who signed with the Hurricanes in the off-season, has been a welcomed addition early on this season. The 11-year veteran has four goals and nine points already to lead all Carolina defenders.

2. Winnipeg Jets (9-1-0, 18 points)

The Winnipeg Jets opened the season with an impressive eight-game winning streak, highlighted by a 6-0 blanking of the defending Western Conference champions Edmonton Oilers on October 9. Winnipeg has simply been outgunning the opposition to date, as they lead the NHL in goals for per game (4.92) and power-play percentage (44.1%). They also went undefeated on the road.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (7-3-0, 14 points)

A couple of three-game winning streaks bookend the first 10-game segment for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. Despite the departure of franchise icon Steve Stamkos in the off-season, the Lightning remain of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league, as four of their seven wins were by three or more goals. The Lightning had six players averaging at least a point per game, led by reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov.

4. Washington Capitals (8-2-0, 16 points)

The Washington Capital strung together winning streaks of five and three in this first 10-game segment. Dylan Strome has picked up right where he left off after his career high 67-point 2023-24 season into 2024-25 by racking up 17 points in the first 10 games. Alex Ovechkin, who is now in his 20th NHL season, appears to have turned back on the clock a decade, as he’s netted seven goals in the first 10 games. Ovechkin is now just 34 goals away from break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894.

5. Minnesota Wild (7-1-2, 16 points)

The Minnesota Wild are a team I’m surprised to see on this list, even in the early stages of the season. It remains to be seen if they can stay in the top 10 for any length of time, but there are certainly some positive signs. Kirill Kaprizov was among the league’s top producers in October, tallying 18 points in the first 10 games. Filip Gustavsson has rebounded nicely from his disappointing 2023-24 season, sitting in the top four in goals against average and save percentage, after finishing 37th and 33rd, respectively, last season.

6. Dallas Stars (7-3-0, 14 points)

The Dallas Stars started strong by winning their first four games, including shutouts on back-to-back nights. On October 12, Jake Oettinger made 34 saves in a 3-0 blanking of the New York Islanders, and then on October 13, backup goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 win against the Seattle Kraken. The Stars have showcased an impressive penalty kill to start the season, having killed off nearly 90% of the power-play opportunities against them, which is good enough to be in the top three in that category.

7. Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-1, 15 points)

The Golden Knights refuse to go away. Despite the key loss of their 2023-24 leading goal scorer and points leader, who also happened to be the Conn Smythe winner the season before that when they won the Stanley Cup, Jonathan Marchessault, the Knights just keep winning. Having a full season of five-time 20-goal and two-time 30-goal scorer, Tomas Hertl, along with the hopes of a healthy Mark Stone, should give Vegas every opportunity to help keep to their winning ways.

8. New York Rangers (7-2-1, 15 points)

Is this the year the New York Rangers finally win the Stanley Cup? They have averaged 51 wins over the past three seasons and made it to the Eastern Conference Final twice during that span. Artemi Panarin has started the season at a nearly goal per game pace with nine markers in the first 10 games. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals against per game (2.18) and rank fourth in goals for per game (4.00) to start the season. Perhaps more impressively, they lead the league in penalty kill efficiency at 92.0%.

9. Florida Panthers (6-3-1, 13 points)

There appears to be no Stanley Cup hangover for the defending champs, as half of their wins in this first 10-game segment were against other top 10 teams in my rankings. Sam Reinhart, coming off his career-best 57 goals campaign, has led the way by scoring eight goals and 17 points in these first 10 games. Reinhart had to carry the load early on, due to injuries to key players like Aleksander Barkov and Mathew Tkachuk. With Barkov and Tkachuk now back in the lineup, Florida will be eager to repeat as champions in 2025.

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-1, 11 points)

No team had a more devastating off-season than the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024. The passing Johnny Gaudreau is an impact that could have easily crippled this already floundering franchise. Instead, first-year Blue Jackets bench boss, Dean Evason, has his team playing inspired hockey. Three of the five wins in this segment were against legitimate Cup contenders, including the Oilers, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did they win those games, but they happened to score six goals in each of them, too.