Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Let’s tackle the midseason update of our rankings, where the top five seems to be undergoing some seismic shifts. Last week’s acknowledgment of the next five teams was meant to bring stability, but it only stirred the pot further. Interestingly, a team that wasn’t even in the expanded top 10 is now dominating. Frankly, I’m a bit perplexed about how to proceed.

As we navigate through this uncertainty, let’s take a moment to reflect on simpler times with our midseason review of the rankings.

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Bonus Observations on This Year’s Rankings So Far:

5. Lack of Consistency in the Top Five: Surprisingly, no team has maintained a spot in the top five throughout the season. Even preseason favorites like Boston and Colorado have had their moments of absence, with other teams rotating in and out. Dallas, my preseason pick for the Cup, held a spot for the longest stretch, nine weeks, but even that was relatively short-lived.

4. Contrastingly Steady Bottom Five: In stark contrast, three teams – the Sharks, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets – have consistently occupied the bottom five spots all season. The Ducks briefly escaped in November, but otherwise, they’ve been mainstays. The fifth spot has seen some turnover, with the Senators holding it for the past seven weeks until today.

3. No Team on Both Lists Yet: So far, we’ve avoided the embarrassment of having a team appear on both the top and bottom lists. While the NHL is known for its unpredictability, such wild swings would be quite embarrassing. Last year’s Devils experienced this, starting in the bottom five before emerging as contenders.

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

2. Eight Teams Yet to Make an Appearance: Only eight teams have yet to grace either list. This number is relatively low compared to previous seasons. However, there’s still time for one of these teams to break into the rankings. Notably, teams like the Islanders and Capitals have been absent from both lists for a while.

1. Diversity at the Top: Five different teams – the Stars, Knights, Rangers, Avalanche, and Bruins – have held the top spot at various points. This contrasts with the bottom five, where the Sharks and Blackhawks have been trading places. The fluctuation at the top suggests that we may see more changes in the leadership position.

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Weekend NHL rankings: Some familiar teams rejoin the Top and Bottom 5

Now, onto this week’s rankings, where the top remains uncertain, while familiar faces return to the bottom.

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