NHL Power Rankings

NHL Power Ranking Notes

Here's this week's power rankings from both Michel and the Odds Shark computer after the January 7th set of games from the 2024-25 NHL season.

Michel picks out two teams that saw either the biggest jump or fall in the week-over-week rankings.

Biggest Jump: Montreal Canadiens (24 to 20)

With an 8-2-1 record over their last 10 games, Montreal has climbed out of the Eastern Conference's basement and is only two points out of a Wild Card spot, held by Columbus, and holds a game in hand on the Blue Jackets.

The Habs have scored an excellent 3.8 goals per game in their last 13 outings with Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson starring with both short kings scoring 15 points; Caufield has seven goals and eight assists while Hutson has two goals and 13 helpers.

And look out, Patrik Laine isn't just scoring goals on the power play, he's now been unleashed at even strength with his first 5on5 goal of the season.

Patrik Laine buries his tenth of the season following an unreal passing play 🫡 pic.twitter.com/jEsDtxjHUh

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 15, 2025

The Habs are dangerous now that their long list of offensive talents firing on all cylinders. 

Biggest Fall: Pittsburgh Penguins (15 to 23)

The Pens have now lost six of their last seven games with a pathetic -13 goal differential in those seven games. Sidney Crosby has been excellent as always scoring eight points in his last eight games, but the Pens' scoring efficiencies fall off after that even Evgeni Malkin is slipping with only two points in four games. 

But the Pens' woes aren't only due to poor scoring, poor goaltending has sunk them. Tristan Jarry has gone 0-2-2 in his last five games with a 0.891 save percentage. His poor play has earned him a one-way ticket to the waiver wire and, if not claimed, will spend the rest of the year at the AHL level, remember Jarry was signed to a five-year $26.875 million contract less than a year ago. I bet Kyle Dubas regrets that contract.

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry will be placed on waivers today at 2:00 PM.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 15, 2025

How are our NHL Power Rankings compiled?

These power rankings show our NHL experts' custom rankings and the computer's adjusted power ratings for an objective approach. Ranks are updated each week and are based on a rolling 10-game range. 

NHL power rankings aim to break down all the important stats beyond the win-loss column. We crunch that against a strength-of-schedule number that balances out the rough edges to account for a schedule load with easy matchups.