NHL Power Rankings: Team Rankings 2022-23

There are only two months remaining in the 2022-23 NHL season, so it’s a good time to update the league’s power rankings.

NHL odds had the injury-ridden Colorado Avalanche (+650) as preseason favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, but they’ve now fallen to second place behind the Boston Bruins (+375). The Toronto Maple Leafs (+900) and Carolina Hurricanes (+950) aren’t far behind.

NHL Power Rankings 2022-23

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 19 appears to be more odd than concerning for the Maple Leafs, who rebounded with a win over the Buffalo Sabres to avoid their first losing streak since mid-January.

With a record of 42-19-9 (as of March 22), Toronto is second in the Atlantic division, only behind the Boston Bruins. The Leafs finished fourth overall in 2021-22, and if they keep up the same intensity, they will be able to beat that this season.

Right winger Mitch Marner recently came off a 23-game point streak and just set a franchise record with a 19-game home point streak, with his stats for the season sitting at 27 goals, 63 assists, 90 points, and 170 shots. Star center Auston Matthews is also having a great year, with 32 goals, 39 assists, 71 points, and 266 shots.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

After 69 games, the Hurricanes are leading the Metropolitan division with a record of 46-15-8. Carolina won the division last season with a 54-20-8 regular-season record, but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the New York Rangers.

Martin Necas (64 points, 210 shots) and Sebastian Aho (58 points, 192 shots) have both had great seasons so far and they seem to only be getting better. The Hurricanes are still 13 points back from the Bruins in the race for playoff seeding, but they definitely appear to be interested in closing that gap.

Don’t count out Carolina for Stanley Cup contention this season.

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins finished 10th overall in 2021-22, and all signs pointed to them having a rough start this season. It didn’t take long for them to prove their detractors wrong, and as of March 22, they’ve clinched a playoff berth and are very comfortably leading the league with a record of 54-11-5.

Right winger David Pastrnak is having himself a hot season, having recorded 48 goals, 45 assists, 93 points, and 333 shots. Brad Marchand (62 points, 159 shots), David Krejci (54 points, 103 shots), and Patrice Bergeron (55 points, 229 shots) aren’t far behind him.