It’s go time for the 2024-25 NHL season. With the Trade Deadline behind us, there’s only a matter of weeks and roughly 16 to 18 games left for each team before the end of the regular season.
Some seasons, the playoff picture feels pretty locked in place by this point in the schedule, with the contenders and rebuilders separating themselves long before the final stretch. In 2024-25, however, we are far from seeing the full picture right now. Yes, there are a few teams we can safely say will be punching their postseason tickets soon, but only a handful of franchises are well and truly out of the running right now (Hats off to the San Jose Sharks, as they are first-team eliminated from contention).
This means many teams in the middle of the Rankings are a three-game winning or losing streak away from grabbing a Wild Card spot or upping their Divisional positioning as teams around them flounder. This creates some real excitement for the final games of the season, as it feels like almost anything can still happen.
So, with the end of the 2024-25 NHL season in sight, let’s look forward to Week 21 of THW’s Power Rankings!
32. Chicago Blackhawks (Previously: 29)
31. Buffalo Sabres (Previously: 32)
30. San Jose Sharks (Previously: 30)
29. Nashville Predators (Previously: 28)
28. Philadelphia Flyers (Previously: 26)
27. Seattle Kraken (Previously: 27)
26. Anaheim Ducks (Previously: 25)
25. Detroit Red Wings (Previously: 24)
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previously: 31)
23. Boston Bruins (Previously: 23)
22. New York Islanders (Previously: 22)
Right now, the Penguins are one of the most fascinating teams in all professional sports. With an aging core of future Hall of Famers, there’s no doubt that the team can and should be able to win every time they step foot on the ice. Yet, for one reason or another (mainly goaltending), this fringe playoff team is well outside contention.
Despite this, Pittsburgh ripped off a four-game winning streak this week seemingly out of nowhere against mostly quality opponents. Now, it’s possible that their opponents were still adjusting their rosters after the trade deadline, but I think this speaks more to what this team should have been this season, instead of the absolute mess they were through the first 50 to 60 games of the season. It’s too little too late now, but this feels like a glimpse at what could and should have been.
For the other teams at the bottom of the Rankings, the end of the season can’t come soon enough. While the Bruins looked like they may pull off a miracle run to the playoffs for a moment, that momentum has stalled, so they will likely go back to retooling for next season. The same can be said about the Red Wings, whose season has simply died. With a 3-7-0 record in their last 10 games played, the once-emerging team has fallen flat again when they needed it most. Yes, they can still go on a run, but their window is shrinking with every loss.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previously: 15)
20. Utah Hockey Club (Previously: 18)
19. Calgary Flames (Previously: 20)
18. Montreal Canadiens (Previously: 21)
17. Vancouver Canucks (Previously: 17)
16. New Jersey Devils (Previously: 16)
15. Minnesota Wild (Previously: 11)
14. New York Rangers (Previously: 19)
13. St. Louis Blues (Previously: 12)
12. Ottawa Senators (Previously: 13)
Earlier in the season, the Wild were one of the teams to beat. They looked like a true contender between their high-flying offense, stout defensive corps, and one of the best goaltending tandems in the league. However, injuries have shifted expectations for the franchise, especially when Kirill Kaprizov went down about halfway through the season. Despite this setback, many hoped for the best and a swift recovery.
Instead, the worst-case scenario seems to be coming true, as the superstar forward is still out of the lineup, while Minnesota continues to be stuck in neutral offensively. The team is still a playoff contender after their hot start, but if things don’t change fast, they will be an easy first-round matchup for whoever wins the Pacific Division.
As mentioned earlier, the middle of the Rankings has a lot of action right now. The Flames, Blue Jackets, and Hockey Club are seeing their postseason hopes disappear with recent losing streaks, while the Rangers, Blues, and Canucks have all taken strides to put themselves into contention.
I also have to give a shout-out to the Canadiens, who were at one point 32nd on my Rankings this season, yet have maintained a strong pace for months and are right on the edge of the playoffs. I never saw this turnaround happening this season, and while they still have a hill to climb to crack the postseason, they realistically could with a few more strong games. If you haven’t watched them this season, they are at the least a young, fun team worth your viewing time.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previously: 9)
10. Edmonton Oilers (Previously: 8)
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previously: 10)
8. Los Angeles Kings (Previously: 14)
7. Vegas Golden Knights (Previously: 6)
6. Colorado Avalanche (Previously: 5)
5. Florida Panthers (Previously: 1)
4. Washington Capitals (Previously: 3)
3. Dallas Stars (Previously: 2)
2. Carolina Hurricanes (Previously: 7)
1. Winnipeg Jets (Previously: 4)
While the top of the Rankings is a murderer’s row of the best the sport has to offer right now, no team is hotter than the Hurricanes despite so much off-ice drama. Yes, they swung one of the biggest trades in recent memory and no it didn’t work out as planned, but that doesn’t mean it still couldn’t be a success. Logan Stankoven has fit perfectly in their lineup and the team rolled to seven-straight wins. Overall, they are a true Stanley Cup threat that can’t be overlooked.
Really, it’s primarily the Maple Leafs that I’m uncertain about at the top of the Rankings. The team is good, but I’m starting to wonder if they are just good, not great. I really thought they would grab the Atlantic Division following the Four Nations Face-Off, but they have largely wilted in recent weeks. Now they are tied with Tampa for second place in the Atlantic Division, and could easily be on the road for Game 1 of the playoffs. I guess it should be no surprise that this team still remains a mystery to myself and many others
Well, we are officially out of the ‘dog days’ of the NHL season. Every night, big games are taking place across the league that feel like they will decide the fate of seeding, playoff dates, and draft position. Yes, every game matters, but the final 20 have a different weight to them.
Related: 2025 NHL Draft Guide
It’s time to lock in for a few more games. Anything can happen in the coming weeks, which makes this one of the most exciting times of the season. I know I’m excited to see where things go on the ice as we build to the 2025 NHL Playoffs!
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