Week 17 NHL Power Rankings
Posted January 30, 2012 01:56 PM ESTSince there wasn’t a ton of league action due to the All-Star Game, we tinkered a little bit with last week’s rankings and highlighted a key player on each team who will be counted upon to be a difference-maker down the home stretch.
RSS
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
+2
-5
FOX SPORTS NHL POWER RANKINGS
| RK | Team | RECORD | CHANGE | HIGH/LOW | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rangers |
32-12 -5 | - | 1/23 |
Marian Gaborik: New York’s defense and goaltending have been spectacular, but there’s not a ton of margin for error for the team that has scored only the third-most goals in the division. Gaborik, who has battled injury issues in the past, needs to remain
Marian Gaborik: New York’s defense and goaltending have been spectacular, but there’s not a ton of margin for error for the team that has scored only the third-most goals in the division. Gaborik, who has battled injury issues in the past, needs to remain healthy while maintaining his contribution.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 2 |
Bruins |
32-15 -2 | - | 1/26 |
Milan Lucic: His physicality and ability to gain leverage on opponents and drive to the net sets the tone of the way the Bruins want to play heading toward the playoffs. He is part of the overall package that makes them so difficult to play against.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 3 |
Red Wings |
35-16 -1 | - | 2/20 |
Henrik Zetterberg: The Wings have been winning in spite of Zetterberg’s production slide; he has one goal in his last 19 games. If he regains his touch – and it’s likely he will – Detroit emerges as the team to beat in the West.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 4 |
Blues |
30-13 -7 | - | 4/24 |
T.J. Oshie: Oshie is also a player who has battled injuries in the past that must prove his endurance over an 82-game season. If his creativity can improve St. Louis’ 28th-ranked power play even modestly, the Blues will start picking up some more road win
T.J. Oshie: Oshie is also a player who has battled injuries in the past that must prove his endurance over an 82-game season. If his creativity can improve St. Louis’ 28th-ranked power play even modestly, the Blues will start picking up some more road wins.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 5 |
Canucks |
31-15 -5 | - | 3/18 |
Roberto Luongo: Alain Vigneault handled Luongo’s early-season struggles well and allowed him to play his way out of a funk. As he improved, so have the Canucks; he’s heading in the right direction in advance of the part of the season the Canucks are judge
Roberto Luongo: Alain Vigneault handled Luongo’s early-season struggles well and allowed him to play his way out of a funk. As he improved, so have the Canucks; he’s heading in the right direction in advance of the part of the season the Canucks are judged by.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 6 |
Predators |
31-17 -4 | 2 | 6/20 |
Ryan Ellis: After all of 14 career games? The former Windsor Spitfire has two goals, seven points and a plus-seven rating for a Nashville team that’s 12-2 since he was called up. Each of the Preds’ last six wins have come by at least two goals.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 7 |
Blackhawks |
29-16 -7 | 1 | 2/9 |
Corey Crawford: With a better team in front of him, Crawford hasn’t taken the step forward expected after an encouraging 2010-11 season. If he has saved his best hockey for the second half and the playoffs, Chicago is as good as any team in the league.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 8 |
Flyers |
30-14 -6 | 1 | 3/10 |
Ilya Bryzgalov: Like several other strong teams on this list, the Flyers will need an improvement in net. He seemed to get on a little bit of a roll shortly before the All-Star break and will be the guy the Flyers are going to want to start in the playoff
Ilya Bryzgalov: Like several other strong teams on this list, the Flyers will need an improvement in net. He seemed to get on a little bit of a roll shortly before the All-Star break and will be the guy the Flyers are going to want to start in the playoffs.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 9 |
Penguins |
29-18 -4 | 2 | 1/13 |
Sidney Crosby: As tremendous as Evgeni Malkin has been during their seven-game winning streak, it’s tough to imagine the Pens winning the Cup without Sidney. Get well soon, Sid.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 10 |
Sharks |
29-14 -6 | - | 1/12 |
Joe Thornton: San Jose’s sights are set on the Stanley Cup, and captain Thornton is the conduit of energy and confidence through the locker room.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 11 |
Senators |
27-20 -7 | 4 | 7/30 |
Milan Michalek: Michalek’s goal production has dropped off with each month following an eight-goal October. If he returns to his early-season highs, the Sens’ offense will win them some games.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 12 |
Devils |
28-19 -3 | - | 9/25 |
Zach Parise: We’re less a month away from the trading deadline, and the Devils are a playoff team. Could New Jersey possibly part with the player they stole with the 17th overall selection in 2003?
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 13 |
Kings |
25-17 -10 | 1 | 6/22 |
Drew Doughty: Doughty’s defense has been fine, but he is yet to replicate his dynamite second NHL season. Los Angeles could use more points from defensemen, and now that he has 45 games under his belt after missing training camp and some early-season cont
Drew Doughty: Doughty’s defense has been fine, but he is yet to replicate his dynamite second NHL season. Los Angeles could use more points from defensemen, and now that he has 45 games under his belt after missing training camp and some early-season contests, he should be in line for a better second half.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 14 |
Avalanche |
26-25 -2 | 1 | 6/26 |
Matt Duchene: If he gets going after returning from a knee injury, the Avs’ offense could get really interesting. This is a team that can potentially steal a playoff series as a low seed.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 15 |
Capitals |
26-20 -4 | - | 1/17 |
Alex Ovechkin: It always seems to be about Alex, doesn’t it? With injuries to Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green, Washington’s best players have to perform like their best players every single night. It starts with their captain.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 16 |
Maple Leafs |
26-19 -6 | 1 | 7/21 |
Phil Kessel: Kessel did a lot of damage in the first half, but can he become a consistent threat in February and beyond? If the Leafs are to end their playoff drought, it will be because Kessel had something to say about it.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 17 |
Panthers |
24-15 -11 | 1 | 10/19 |
Brian Campbell: The All-Star has produced 35 points – 20 of which have come on Florida’s top-10 power play. That and his 26.5 minutes of ice time make him the most important player on Florida’s roster.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 18 |
Flames |
23-22 -6 | - | 18/27 |
Michael Cammalleri: Cammalleri is only 29 years old and still has plenty of points to put up on the scoreboard. They might not come with the defensive-minded, grinding Flames, but if they do, Calgary could go on a bit of a run.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 19 |
Stars |
26-22 -2 | 1 | 2/21 |
Jamie Benn: Benn has been playing with loads of confidence all season for a banging Stars team that looks to be among the teams right on the cusp of a playoff berth. He’ll better his goal output in the second half and hopefully revive Dallas’ power play.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 20 |
Ducks |
19-24 -7 | 1 | 11/30 |
Ryan Getzlaf: Anaheim’s captain has two goals in his last 21 games and hasn’t been at his best this season. He can be even better than the 2-7–9, plus-3 he put up during the Ducks’ 8-1-1 January.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 21 |
Wild |
25-19 -7 | 2 | 1/25 |
Devin Setoguchi: Setoguchi has been more eager to shoot the puck after returning from a knee injury that kept him out most of December. The Wild are in serious need of scoring depth and he’s a player who has a history of being able to contribute.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 22 |
Coyotes |
22-21 -8 | 2 | 10/27 |
Martin Hanzal: Radim Vrbata has been excellent and Mike Smith has stood on his head at times, but the Coyotes missed Hanzal’s size, hands and ability to clear space. Phoenix was just 3-6-4 in his 13-game absence after taking a stick to the face.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 23 |
Jets |
24-23 -6 | 1 | 16/30 |
Blake Wheeler: With Evander Kane’s uncertainty going forward due to a concussion, the Jets’ leading scorer is going to need to step up. He’s always been a guy that can get you 35-40 points; can he raise his ceiling with the added ice time?
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 24 |
Canadiens |
19-23 -9 | 1 | 18/28 |
P.K. Subban: Subban has been OK, but is certainly more than capable of putting up three assists and an even rating over his last 12 games. He was benched during the second period of Wednesday’s win at Detroit.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 25 |
Lightning |
22-23 -5 | 1 | 10/28 |
GM Steve Yzerman: The Lightning’s goaltending depth needs to be replenished, and they’ll look to address that before the trading deadline.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 26 |
Islanders |
21-22 -7 | 5 | 14/30 |
Kyle Okposo: John Tavares has been hot, but Okposo’s January has been his best month in the NHL. He has points in 10 of 13 games, though the Isles’ offense remains inconsistent.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 27 |
Sabres |
21-24 -6 | - | 1/27 |
Tyler Myers: One way to engineer something positive in Buffalo would be to get Myers going again. After nearly a week to rest his wrist, the former Calder Trophy winner will look for a fresh start when play resumes Tuesday in Montreal.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 28 |
Oilers |
20-26 -5 | - | 6/28 |
Taylor Hall: The Oilers haven’t generated a ton of offense five-on-five, and 10 of Hall’s 16 goals have come with the man advantage. His speed and strength should make him a solid even-strength player and he is capable of a breakout second half.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 29 |
Hurricanes |
19-25 -9 | - | 21/30 |
Justin Faulk: After an uneven start to his NHL career, the versatile 19-year-old defenseman and NCAA champion got on track in January, posting a plus-eight. Carolina needs all the help it can get defensively, and his development is paramount to the team’s
Justin Faulk: After an uneven start to his NHL career, the versatile 19-year-old defenseman and NCAA champion got on track in January, posting a plus-eight. Carolina needs all the help it can get defensively, and his development is paramount to the team’s success going forward.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
| 30 |
Blue Jackets |
13-32 -6 | - | 27/30 |
Ryan Johansen: There’s skill and play-making ability oozing from the 19-year-old center. Nine goals in his first 42 games isn’t anything to be ashamed of. He’s had an encouraging first season.
Team:
Home
|
Stats
|
Fantasy
|
Schedule
|
Gear
|
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.
ADD A COMMENT
PREV
PREV
NEXT
NEXT
ADD A COMMENT
PREV
NEXT
Advertisement