NHL Power Rankings: Reason for hope for all 32 teams

The NHL's vacation interruption can't travel soon capable for immoderate teams, portion different clubs look to person deed a caller stride arsenic wintertime officially begins. How acold did the New Jersey Devils autumn this week? Which Eastern Conference squad surged up 7 spots?

We fertile each 32 teams here, and connection a crushed for optimism for each instrumentality base.

How we rank: A sheet of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against 1 different -- taking into relationship crippled results, injuries and upcoming docket -- and those results are tabulated to nutrient the database featured here.

Note: Previous ranking for each squad refers to the astir caller edition, published Dec. 16. Points paces are done Thursday's games.

1. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 84.38%
Next 7 days: @ NJ (Dec. 23), @ OTT (Dec. 27), @ NJ (Dec. 28)

The Bruins' unparalleled consistency has had them lording implicit the NHL standings since Week 1. Boston seldom turns successful a atrocious performance, and if that continues to beryllium the norm, past the lone anticipation these Bruins tin person near is of a agelong playoff run.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 72.73%
Next 7 days: vs. PHI (Dec. 23), vs. CHI (Dec. 27)

The Hurricanes are surging lately with an incomparable full-team onslaught that shows nary signs of slowing. Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis look rejuvenated. Jordan Staal is having a moment. Carolina's defence is terrific. When the Hurricanes bring it each unneurotic similar this, it's intolerable not to person precocious hopes for what's to come.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 70.59%
Next 7 days: @ STL (Dec. 27), @ ARI (Dec. 29)

The Leafs mislaid 3 of their apical 4 defensemen ... and peeled disconnected a 10-game constituent streak? That's resiliency. Now TJ Brodie is back, and Morgan Rielly has resumed skating, putting Toronto person to an perfect lineup. If the Leafs could thrive portion undermanned, however hopeful is their aboriginal with a afloat complement of skaters?

4. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 69.70%
Next 7 days: vs. BOS (Dec. 23), vs. BOS (Dec. 28)

The Devils person their wellness (mostly). That hasn't ever been the case. New Jersey has been slumping successful December, but arsenic agelong arsenic their champion players stay disposable there's ample anticipation for a lengthy rebound up by a radical that proved conscionable weeks agone it knows however to triumph successful bunches.

5. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 65.15%
Next 7 days: @ WSH (Dec. 23), vs. MIN (Dec. 27), vs. VAN (Dec. 29)

The Jets are recently dealing with immoderate cardinal injuries, truthful what a beacon of anticipation to cognize that Nikolaj Ehlers -- retired since mid-October -- is backmost connected the crystal pursuing sports hernia surgery, and connected way to beryllium disposable aboriginal adjacent month. Winnipeg's next-man-up mentality conscionable has to clasp retired a small longer.

6. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 67.14%
Next 7 days: vs. STL (Dec. 23), @ LA (Dec. 27), @ ANA (Dec. 28)

The Golden Knights are exceptionally bully connected the road. As in, they've mislaid 2 games successful regularisation each play extracurricular the desert. Not lone does Vegas person a back-half docket loaded with distant opportunities, but there's besides anticipation it tin transmission that aforesaid vigor into its ain gathering -- and unafraid its spot arsenic 1 of the league's apical contenders.

7. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 64.71%
Next 7 days: vs. MTL (Dec. 23), @ NSH (Dec. 27), @ MIN (Dec. 29)

The Stars went from relying heavy connected goaltender Jake Oettinger to being 1 of the league's astir ascendant violative squads acknowledgment to a swell of young talents led by Jason Robertson. When the Stars tin motorboat a balanced, tiered attack, determination is anticipation they'll bushed anyone successful their path.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 65.15%
Next 7 days: @ NYI (Dec. 27), vs. DET (Dec. 28)

The Penguins are a amended squad with Jason Zucker, and they were hopeful a caller wounded wouldn't clasp him retired for long. Zucker returned adjacent sooner than expected, and was backmost to being a superior violative factor, elevating Evgeni Malkin's line. The healthier Pittsburgh stays, the higher its hopes tin climb.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 64.06%
Next 7 days: vs. MTL (Dec. 28), s. NYR (Dec. 29)

The Lightning lacked assurance aboriginal this season, but that section is hopefully closed. Tampa Bay is being led by a red-hot Nikita Kucherov -- who's 4th successful league scoring -- and a rejuvenated Andrei Vasilevskiy. When the Lightning's stars travel out, they're hard to stop.

10. Seattle Kraken

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 62.50%
Next 7 days: vs. CGY (Dec. 28)

The Kraken don't get capable recognition for the top-10 discourtesy they've been honing. Seattle's anticipation of a first-time playoff berth rests with the likes of phenom Matty Beniers, accordant Jared McCann and multifaceted Jordan Eberle. A large tally to commencement this play should hopefully acceptable the Kraken up good for much second-half success.

11. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 60.61%
Next 7 days: @ WPG (Dec. 27), vs. DAL (Dec. 29)

The Wild person extent to spare these days, and it has paid disconnected successful W's. Whether it's Kirill Kaprizov producing different highlight-reel goal, Filip Gustavsson emerging with large saves, oregon Ryan Reaves mounting a tone, Minnesota's hopes of being a large subordinate successful the West look stronger than ever.

12. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 61.43%
Next 7 days: vs. WSH (Dec. 27), @ TB (Dec. 29)

New York has regained its mojo, and not a infinitesimal excessively soon. The Rangers person to anticipation the melodramatic turnaround of precocious -- which included a seven-game triumph streak -- means their hardest conflict of the play has travel and gone. Being a ascendant Beast of the East is backmost connected the array for good.

13. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 61.29%
Next 7 days: @ NSH (Dec. 23), @ ARI (Dec. 27), vs. LA (Dec. 29)

The Avalanche person Cale Makar, a multihyphenate, award-winning, top-five NHL defenseman with a bosom truthful axenic helium really declined a powerfulness play this week implicit a phantom hook from Mathew Barzal. What much could you anticipation for successful the (now probable) Lady Byng front-runner?

14. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 59.72%
Next 7 days: @ ARI (Dec. 23), vs. VGK (Dec. 27), @ COL (Dec. 29)

The Kings person bully crushed to anticipation Pheonix Copley tin crook things astir successful net. While Jonathan Quick is having a hard season, Copley has played good successful December (with a 5-1-0 grounds truthful far) and gives L.A. a large accidental each night. If Copley tin enactment Quick successful uncovering his signifier post-holiday break, that's adjacent better.

15. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 57.14%
Next 7 days: vs. WPG (Dec. 23), @ NYR (Dec. 27), vs. OTT (Dec. 29)

The Capitals of precocious look much akin to the Capitals of old, with a extent of onslaught that hopefully keeps giving opponents fits. Erik Gustafsson's chapeau trick, Nic Dowd's vocation night, Charlie Lindgren stepping up and Alex Ovechkin breaking records; you sanction it, Washington has had it going on.

16. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 55.88%
Next 7 days: vs. FLA (Dec. 23), vs. PIT (Dec. 27), vs. CBJ (Dec. 29)

The Islanders aren't a prolific scoring bunch, truthful their champion anticipation for semipermanent occurrence has rested heavy connected their goaltending. And with bully reason. Ilya Sorokin has been coagulated each season. Semyon Varlamov has played good (when healthy). If Sorokin tin clasp the fort present that Varlamov is sidelined by an injury, New York volition hopefully person clip to get its violative enactment successful line.

17. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 55.88%
Next 7 days: vs. VAN (Dec. 23), @ CGY (Dec. 27)

The Oilers person Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid starring the league successful offense. Again. Some things seldom alteration and anticipation volition ever outpouring eternal successful Edmonton erstwhile those 2 crook it up.

18. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 53.13%
Next 7 days: @ CBJ (Dec. 27), vs. DET (Dec. 29)

The Sabres conscionable enactment unneurotic their archetypal four-game triumph streak of the season, during which Tage Thompson scored 5 goals and 9 points. Buffalo's emerging prima is apical 5 successful league scoring this season, and everything the Sabres could anticipation to physique astir for years to come.

19. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 54.41%
Next 7 days: @ ANA (Dec. 23), vs. EDM (Dec. 27), @ SEA (Dec. 28)

The Flames are benefitting from the champion of Elias Lindholm lately, arsenic helium has kept their discourtesy propped up done a challenging stretch. Every squad needs that subordinate who tin assistance them retired of a funk, and there's anticipation Lindholm's continued excellence tin beryllium a catalyst for sustained success.

20. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 50.00%
Next 7 days: @ NYI (Dec. 23), vs. MTL (Dec. 29)

The Panthers swung for the fences successful acquiring Matthew Tkachuk, and Tkachuk has delivered regular dynamic performances. Florida has to judge that the full squad volition yet provender disconnected that energy. Speaking of bully omens, the Panthers got fortunate that Aleksander Barkov's caller wounded won't support him sidelined for long.

21. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 54.69%
Next 7 days: @ PIT (Dec. 28), @ BUF (Dec. 29)

The Red Wings are mired successful a unsmooth stretch, but reinforcements are connected the mode via Jakub Vrana and a hopefully reignited Dylan Larkin and Filip Hronek. Coach Derek Lalonde said Vrana -- who has appeared successful 2 games this play -- brings goals, and that's what Detroit needs. He'll beryllium the Red Wings' hopeful changeable successful the arm.

22. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 51.61%
Next 7 days: vs. COL (Dec. 23), vs. DAL (Dec. 27)

The Predators' hopes of a brighter violative aboriginal person been bolstered by Cody Glass' enactment with Nino Niederreiter and Tanner Jeannot. That portion (mostly) unopen down Edmonton's apical skaters earlier this week, and earned affirmative reinforcement from manager Jon Hynes. Can the remainder of Nashville's skaters travel the Glass line's lead?

23. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 50.00%
Next 7 days: @ VGK (Dec. 23), vs. TOR (Dec. 27), vs. CHI (Dec. 29)

The Blues person been waiting for Jordan Kyrou to find a rhythm, and there's crushed to anticipation that has yet happened. Kyrou netted his archetypal vocation chapeau instrumentality this week to headdress disconnected a four-game, 10-point tally that highlighted the champion aspects of his violative game. St. Louis needs much of those contributions and has to anticipation Kyrou's upper-body wounded won't beryllium a semipermanent issue.

24. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 50.00%
Next 7 days: @ DAL (Dec. 23), @ TB (Dec. 28), @ FLA (Dec. 29)

The Canadiens are gaining invaluable learning acquisition successful a play that has gone amended than expected. The franchise's aboriginal hopes hinge connected its young stars, and the information Montreal has won important games, and been capable to support up with the competition, volition hopefully wage dividends present and good into the team's future.

25. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 46.97%
Next 7 days: vs. BOS (Dec. 27), @ WSH (Dec. 29)

The Senators person crushed to anticipation Josh Norris will, successful fact, instrumentality to the lineup this play pursuing a enarthrosis wounded -- and possibly sooner than later. Coach DJ Smith said Norris volition beryllium reevaluated aft the vacation break, and if Norris gains clearance that's a monolithic upgrade for the Senators' second-half hopes.

26. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 42.65%
Next 7 days: @ CAR (Dec. 23), @ SJ (Dec. 29)

The Flyers are jam-packed with young talent, from Cutter Gauthier to Tyson Foerster to Olle Lycksell and, of course, Cam York (who's presently successful the NHL lineup). Philadelphia volition privation a bully changeable astatine the Connor Bedard/Adam Fantilli sweepstakes, too, but there's plentifulness of anticipation disposable already successful its system.

27. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 48.44%
Next 7 days: @ EDM (Dec. 23), vs. SJ (Dec. 27), @ WPG (Dec. 29)

The Canucks boast a bona fide prima successful Elias Pettersson. Vancouver connected the full has been done conscionable astir each script -- affirmative and antagonistic -- this season, and thing should marque the squad consciousness much hopeful than however Pettersson is breaking through.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 34.38%
Next 7 days: @ CHI (Dec. 23), vs. BUF (Dec. 27), @ NYI (Dec. 29)

The Blue Jackets person mislaid conscionable astir each large subordinate to an wounded this play except Johnny Gaudreau. As agelong arsenic Gaudreau and his game-changing imaginable are available, Columbus has thing astir which to consciousness hopeful.

29. Arizona Coyotes

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 40.32%
Next 7 days: vs. LA (Dec. 23), vs. COL (Dec. 27), vs. TOR (Dec. 29)

The Coyotes could hopefully person a caller state-of-the-art installation to play successful by the clip they're acceptable to truly marque immoderate sound connected the ice. Look good, consciousness good, each good. Sometimes patience is simply a virtue.

30. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 40.00%
Next 7 days: @ VAN (Dec. 27), vs. PHI (Dec. 29)

The Sharks could person a top-tier commercialized enactment successful Erik Karlsson who could spark a woody netting 1 oregon 2 important players oregon picks successful return. That would springiness San Jose anticipation for a speedy turnaround from what has been a frustrating play to date.

31. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 29.03%
Next 7 days: vs. CBJ (Dec. 23), @ CAR (Dec. 27), @ STL (Dec. 29)

The Blackhawks (and their fans) should beryllium glued to the World Junior tournament, arsenic Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli and much marque their lawsuit to beryllium this year's No. 1 wide pick. Chicago has to anticipation it has the wrong way connected deciding who that volition be.

32. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 30.88%
Next 7 days: vs. CGY (Dec. 23), vs. VGK (Dec. 28)

The Ducks mightiness anticipation to beryllium successful the premix for that apical prime successful this year's draft, wherever they tin prime Connor Bedard and perchance brace him with Mason McTavish -- and those 2 tin recreate the chemistry they've had internationally with Team Canada. Dream big!