January 26, 2025 by Bob Schmidt

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

Washington plateaued a little in this ten-game segment after having gone 8-1-1 in the previous ten, but they are still racking up the wins and have experienced consecutive losses only once so far this season. The Capitals have shown a penchant for stepping up their performance versus the top tier teams. They have a winning percentage of 75% versus teams that are in the top ten at time of play this season, which is tied for the league lead. Alex Ovechkin is healthy and back in the lineup, and his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record has his team playing inspired hockey this season. Washington has a 71% points percentage at the halfway point of this season which is a 16% increase over last season.

The Jets appear to be the real deal this season. They remain one of the top two teams in these rankings, where they have been for all four segments of this season so far. Winnipeg is the only team that has a winning percentage above 60% against all three tiers at time of play (Tier one – 62%, Tier two -64%, Tier three – 75%). Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is not only tracking to win his third Vezina Trophy, but he has very much entered the Hart Trophy conversation as well.

The Golden Knights were the hottest team in this ten-game segment, losing only once. They started this segment off on a season high six-game winning streak. Vegas does an excellent job of not throwing away points in their “should win” games. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has kept his team focussed and diligent in the games versus the tier three teams at time of play and they lead the NHL in that category with an astounding 94% winning percentage. Coupled with the league’s third best winning percentage vs tier one team (63%), the Knights took the biggest leap in this segment.

Dallas closed off this segment on a season high six-game winning streak to retain the number four spot on this list for consecutive segments. The strength of this Stars team remains their defensive game as their 2.48 goals against per game, which is third best in the NHL, would indicate. They’re a team of contrast when it comes to special teams. Dallas is tied for the league lead with an 85% on the penalty kill at the time of this article, while their powerplay is operating at only 17% (27th). How much more dangerous does this Texas team become once they figure out their PP?

The Kings strung together a five-game winning streak during this segment, one shy of their season high streak that they strung together last segment. Like Dallas, the defensive game of Los Angeles has been key to their success. Their 2.45 goals against per game ties them for the league’s best with the Jets at the time of this article. The stronger their opponent, the stronger the Kings play. Their 75% winning percentage vs tier one teams is tied for tops in the NHL with the Capitals.

Of all the teams in the top ten of this list, Florida has played the most games against tier one teams so far at the time of this article. In those fifteen games, they have gone 10-5 for a 67% winning percentage, which is third best in the NHL. Paul Maurice is in his third year as the Panthers head coach, and he has guided his team to the Stanley Cup finals in each of his previous two seasons, ultimately winning the championship last season. The Panthers look determined to win consecutive Stanley Cup championships, something that has only been done twice in the last 25 years.

Edmonton remains one of the hottest teams in the league, and they have been climbing up these rankings with each segment played. They have made the biggest gains of any team since the first segment when they ranked 23rd after ten games. Connor McDavid is most often referred to as the best player in the NHL, and deservedly so; but it has been Leon Draisaitl who has done most of the heavy lifting for the Oilers this season. His name has been mentioned as being in the mix for pretty much all of the major trophies a skater can get at seasons end, including the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward. The high scoring forward has also managed to put up a league leading +26 at the time of this article and has been a force at both ends of the ice.

After briefly falling out of the top ten last segment, Toronto finds themselves back on this list on the strength of two three-game winning streaks in this segment. At the beginning of the season, I predicted a Maple Leafs-Oilers Stanley Cup Finals on the Forever99 podcast with Eric Friesen. At the halfway point of the season, this is still a realistic possibility. Does anyone else get chills thinking about that?

This is the first time this season that Carolina has fallen out of the top three. It was pretty much a win one/lose one segment for the Hurricanes, but they have put together a solid enough season so far to remain in the top ten and be considered a tier one team.  Head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, is in his seventh season with the ‘Canes and his club has only had one season during his tenure where they finished with a points percentage below .600. The 2021 Jack Adams Trophy winner has led his team into the playoffs in all six of his previous seasons as the bench boss and they look poised for another postseason run in 2025, especially after Friday’s blockbuster acquisitions of Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall.

It sure wasn’t a good start to this segment for Minnesota. They endured a season high four game losing streak; but they finished strong by winning five of their last six, three of which came against top tier teams (DAL, WSH, and CAR). It’s even more impressive when you consider that they have been doing this without their star forward, Kirill Kaprizov, and their captain, Jared Spurgeon, who have been out of the lineup due to injuries since December 26th and 30th respectively. Watch out for the Wild when those two cornerstones are back.

Related: NHL Power Rankings: 30-Game Mark