This week's power rankings are a little late to come out. First of all, the NFL team which I am devoted to happened to win the Superbowl last night and I doubt anyone would have read a hockey post last night anyway. So, now that another football season is behind us, it's time for the stretch run this NHL season. Here's a look at my power rankings for a week, with some very careful and insightful analysis.
1. Detroit Red Wings - The Wings are trying to pretend that Montreal doesn't exist...
2. Nashville Predators - It's early on, but Pekka Rinne is proving the notion that all rich goalies are terrible this season.
3. New York Rangers - The NHL should let the Rangers have two timeouts per game under the condition that John Tortorella can throw two tantrums per game.
4. St. Louis Blues - Ken Hitchcock reportedly had his players bag skate today after they attempted an aggressive forecheck in practice.
5. Vancouver Canucks - Neither Sedin practiced this morning. Clearly, they're being traded tonight.
6. Boston Bruins - They're 33-12-2 against teams not from Raleigh, North Carolina.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins - Evgeni Malkin is all well and good, but the Penguins could really use a second line center...
8. San Jose Sharks - The Sharks are hoping that Couture being picked last in the All-Star draft will fuel an epic season from him next year as Kessel has this year.
9. Chicago Blackhawks - The Hawks don't like Alberta. Luckily for them, they don't have to travel to Alberta once April comes around.
10. New Jersey Devils - Anton Volchenkov is giving Ilya Kovalchuk a run for his money as to who's the best Russian sniper in New Jersey.
11. Philadelphia Flyers - The Flyers doomed the Bruins by overcoming 3-0 deficits in the past. They almost overcame a 6-0 deficit against the Devils. Almost...
12. Toronto Maple Leafs - Remember at the start of the season when James Reimer was the 'early favorite' for Vezina? Well, that guy found his way back to the Leafs lineup over the weekend.
13. Ottawa Senators - That was pretty un-All-Star-like of the Sens to lose 5-0...
14. Los Angeles Kings - Hey, did you hear that joke about how the Kings scored twice in a game? I didn't either...
15. Washington Capitals - Trading Alexander Semin would "change the culture" in D.C., as he's the only struggling Russian winger on the team.
16. Florida Panthers - Kris Versteeg could be traded. Well, not really, but it has been almost six months since he switched teams.
17. Minnesota Wild - Re-signing Nate Prosser definitely guarantees the Wild of a playoff spot.
18. Calgary Flames - Things aren't all bad for Calgary this season. Mike Cammalleri scored his second goal with the Flames this go-around and Jarome Iginla hasn't been traded.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning - The Lightning might be lousy this season, but consider that Steven Stamkos is a career-high +4 this season.
20. Dallas Stars - The Dallas Stars no longer have the 'best player we've never heard of,' because most of us have heard of Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson by now.
21. Colorado Avalanche - The Avs are on the verge of being a playoff team. It all depends on how Peter Forsberg plays whenever he decides to un-retire. Again.
22. Winnipeg Jets - The Jets got a nice one-game boost after getting Dustin Byfuglien back in the lineup.
23. New York Islanders - Islander fans will spend the next two decades trying to convince us that John Tavares is the best player in the world. The thing is, though, pretty soon, they might be right.
24. Phoenix Coyotes - The NHL has been fining lots of players recently. Perhaps they're saving up money for a big Yotes trade??
25. Carolina Hurricanes - The 'Canes are just trying to sneak into the playoffs so they can go 8-0 against the Bruins this season.
26. Anaheim Ducks - Teemu Selanne is 41 years old and leads the Ducks in scoring. Fact: he is awesome.
27. Montreal Canadiens - Scott Gomez almost scored...so there's that.
28. Edmonton Oilers - I'm sure we all figured that Sam Gagner would score eight points in a game before Scott Gomez would score his first of the season.
29. Buffalo Sabres - Sabres fans are desperately hoping that any potential Ryan Miller trade comes with a new head coach.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Jackets responded to their fans protesting their awful play this season by losing 6-0 in San Jose. Impressive.
1. Detroit Red Wings - The Wings are trying to pretend that Montreal doesn't exist...
2. Nashville Predators - It's early on, but Pekka Rinne is proving the notion that all rich goalies are terrible this season.
3. New York Rangers - The NHL should let the Rangers have two timeouts per game under the condition that John Tortorella can throw two tantrums per game.
4. St. Louis Blues - Ken Hitchcock reportedly had his players bag skate today after they attempted an aggressive forecheck in practice.
5. Vancouver Canucks - Neither Sedin practiced this morning. Clearly, they're being traded tonight.
6. Boston Bruins - They're 33-12-2 against teams not from Raleigh, North Carolina.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins - Evgeni Malkin is all well and good, but the Penguins could really use a second line center...
8. San Jose Sharks - The Sharks are hoping that Couture being picked last in the All-Star draft will fuel an epic season from him next year as Kessel has this year.
9. Chicago Blackhawks - The Hawks don't like Alberta. Luckily for them, they don't have to travel to Alberta once April comes around.
10. New Jersey Devils - Anton Volchenkov is giving Ilya Kovalchuk a run for his money as to who's the best Russian sniper in New Jersey.
11. Philadelphia Flyers - The Flyers doomed the Bruins by overcoming 3-0 deficits in the past. They almost overcame a 6-0 deficit against the Devils. Almost...
12. Toronto Maple Leafs - Remember at the start of the season when James Reimer was the 'early favorite' for Vezina? Well, that guy found his way back to the Leafs lineup over the weekend.
13. Ottawa Senators - That was pretty un-All-Star-like of the Sens to lose 5-0...
14. Los Angeles Kings - Hey, did you hear that joke about how the Kings scored twice in a game? I didn't either...
15. Washington Capitals - Trading Alexander Semin would "change the culture" in D.C., as he's the only struggling Russian winger on the team.
16. Florida Panthers - Kris Versteeg could be traded. Well, not really, but it has been almost six months since he switched teams.
17. Minnesota Wild - Re-signing Nate Prosser definitely guarantees the Wild of a playoff spot.
18. Calgary Flames - Things aren't all bad for Calgary this season. Mike Cammalleri scored his second goal with the Flames this go-around and Jarome Iginla hasn't been traded.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning - The Lightning might be lousy this season, but consider that Steven Stamkos is a career-high +4 this season.
20. Dallas Stars - The Dallas Stars no longer have the 'best player we've never heard of,' because most of us have heard of Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson by now.
21. Colorado Avalanche - The Avs are on the verge of being a playoff team. It all depends on how Peter Forsberg plays whenever he decides to un-retire. Again.
22. Winnipeg Jets - The Jets got a nice one-game boost after getting Dustin Byfuglien back in the lineup.
23. New York Islanders - Islander fans will spend the next two decades trying to convince us that John Tavares is the best player in the world. The thing is, though, pretty soon, they might be right.
24. Phoenix Coyotes - The NHL has been fining lots of players recently. Perhaps they're saving up money for a big Yotes trade??
25. Carolina Hurricanes - The 'Canes are just trying to sneak into the playoffs so they can go 8-0 against the Bruins this season.
26. Anaheim Ducks - Teemu Selanne is 41 years old and leads the Ducks in scoring. Fact: he is awesome.
27. Montreal Canadiens - Scott Gomez almost scored...so there's that.
28. Edmonton Oilers - I'm sure we all figured that Sam Gagner would score eight points in a game before Scott Gomez would score his first of the season.
29. Buffalo Sabres - Sabres fans are desperately hoping that any potential Ryan Miller trade comes with a new head coach.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Jackets responded to their fans protesting their awful play this season by losing 6-0 in San Jose. Impressive.
