Wild Surge as NHL Power Rankings Shuffle Heading Into the Holiday Stretch
So, let me walk you through what’s been happening around the NHL this week, because the latest power rankings came out, and they’re packed with storylines that feel a lot like Thanksgiving dinner — every team has its own “side dish” that brings something extra to the table.
At the very top, the Colorado Avalanche continue to hold steady. Their season has been rolling almost effortlessly, and Sam Malinski has been one of the pleasant surprises. He was expected to be a solid everyday defenseman, but his offensive numbers have taken a big jump. He’s playing like someone who belongs in the league’s top tier of blue-liners, outperforming expectations and helping Colorado stay dominant.
Right behind them, the Dallas Stars are climbing again, with Miro Heiskanen having what looks like a Norris-level campaign. He and Esa Lindell have become a powerful defensive duo, eating up tough minutes and still controlling play. The stability they bring has been a major reason why Dallas continues to look like a real contender.
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Tampa Bay, sitting third, is hanging on despite a battered defense. J.J. Moser has stepped forward as the unexpected glue holding things together. His defensive impact has been felt everywhere, keeping the Lightning competitive while they deal with injuries and lineup shuffling.
Carolina slots in at fourth, leaning heavily on K’Andre Miller, who appears to be returning to peak form. With Jaccob Slavin unavailable, Miller has taken on extra responsibility, and his strong two-way play has kept the Hurricanes afloat in tight games.
But the biggest leap of the week belongs to the Minnesota Wild. After starting outside the top 20, they’ve exploded into the fifth spot. The unexpected spark has been Marcus Johansson, who at age 35 is suddenly producing at nearly a point-per-game pace. He wasn’t projected to be a major scoring threat, but he’s become one of the Wild’s most reliable contributors and a big reason their season has flipped in the right direction.
Other teams are seeing quieter breakout performances too — Anaheim’s Troy Terry is scoring at a near–100-point pace, New Jersey’s Brett Pesce is proving how much stability one defenseman can offer, and Washington’s Matt Roy has bounced back after a shaky debut season with the Capitals.
Not everyone is feeling festive, though. Down the rankings, struggles are piling up for teams like the Predators, Flames, and Blues. Some squads are relying on depth players to carry the load, and others are scrambling just to stay competitive as injuries and underperforming stars drag things down.
But overall, this week’s rankings remind us that every team has at least one bright spot — even if the rest of the meal isn’t quite cooked yet.
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