NHL Power Rankings: Rating the Organizational Strength of Each NHL Franchise

Having talent and depth at all levels of your organization is crucial to maintaining a winning franchise in the NHL.

You must have solid talent at the minor league, junior and international levels to be able to fill holes on your NHL roster without needing to spend huge money on free agents.

Let's rank the organizational depth and talent of every NHL team.

30) San Jose Sharks

Other than some solid goaltending prospects such as Alex Stalock, the San Jose Sharks don't have much talent throughout the organization.

This is not an ideal situation for a franchise whose NHL is primarily veterans at the end of or past their prime.

Best Prospects: G Alex Stalock, D Taylor Doherty

29) Vancouver Canucks

When your team regularly makes a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's hard to build a ton of talent through the draft since your picks are typically at the bottom of the first round.

With Cody Hodgson sent to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal at the trade deadline, the Canucks' forward depth took a hit, but 2011 first-round pick Nicklas Jensen still projects to be a fine NHL player with his high-end skills.

Best Prospects: RW Nicklas Jensen, G Eddie Lack

28) Winnipeg Jets

Most of the Winnipeg Jets' best young players are already at the NHL level, however there is little high-end talent in the organization.

Former first-round pick Mark Scheifele is the only player with star potential throughout the Jets system.

Best Prospects: C Mark Scheifele, LW, Carl Klingberg

27) Washington Capitals

By drafting in the low part of the first round for the last several seasons, the Washington Capitals have few elite talents other than KHL star Evgeny Kuznetsov. The team has promoted many of its better young players to the NHL level because of the injuries suffered over the past few seasons.

Best Prospects: RW Evgeny Kuznetsov, G Braden Holtby

26) Calgary Flames

While the Calgary Flames will likely enter a rebuilding mode soon, they can take comfort in the fact that their organization has a number of solid offensive prospects like Sven Baertschi.

The lack of quality defenseman, however, is a concern that must be addressed in the near future.

Best Prospects: LW Sven Baertschi, RW Greg Nemisz

25) Tampa Bay Lightning

Many of the top talents the Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired over the past few years have made the jump to the NHL level right away or within a small amount of time, such as Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. 

The team does have some nice forward prospects yet to come to the NHL, but the blue-line talent is subpar.

Best Prospects: C Vladislav Namestnikov, C Brett Connolly

24) Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have some talented wingers in their organization but they don't have the elite forward prospects that will help the team in the near future. The team does have some talented defensemen ready to come to the NHL level soon, such as Nathan Beaulieu.

Best Prospects: D Nathan Beaulieu, C Louis Leblanc

23) Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have very few talented prospects at any level of their organization since many of them are now at the NHL level, such as Sean Couturier. The 2012 NHL Draft will be important for the Flyers as they attempt to restock their organization with talent.

Best Prospects: C Brayden Schenn, C Sean Couturier

22) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have some nice defensive and goaltending depth throughout the organization, while the forward depth is slowly improving. With so much offensive talent on the NHL roster, it will be tough for young prospects to earn a permanent place with the Penguins.

Best Prospects: RW Beau Bennett, D Simon Despres

21) Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars have developed some very good talent in the NHL level with Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn, and they have also done a nice job developing several defensemen who will be an important part of the team's future.

Goaltender Jack Campbell has starred for Team USA at the international level and could be a star NHL goalie very soon.

Best Prospects: G Jack Campbell, D Philip Larsen

20) Phoenix Coyotes

The Phoenix Coyotes have some awesome talent and depth on the blue line throughout the organization, with prospects like Brandon Gormley having the potential to be No. 1-pairing defensemen.

David Rundblad, acquired in the Kyle Turris trade with the Ottawa Senators, is also a top blue prospect.

However, the team does not have the talent needed to replace aging forwards Shane Doan and Ray Whitney when they retire or leave the franchise in the near future.

Best Prospects: D Brandon Gormley, D David Rundblad

19) Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have some great depth on the blue line at the NHL level, and the same is true throughout the organization. The Avalanche would be wise to address the need for more high-end offensive talent in the next few drafts.

Best Prospects: D Duncan Siemens, D Stefan Elliott

18) New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils still have some nice blue-line depth, even with Adam Larsson now permanently at the NHL level. The Devils still need to develop some more offensive talent, especially at center.

However, the future is bright for the Devils, especially on defense.

Best Prospects: D Jon Merrill, D Alexander Urbom

17) Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are one of the teams of the future, and by looking at the great offensive talent throughout the organization, it's not hard to imagine why.

Finnish forward Mikael Granlund has superstar potential and is an elite goal scorer with exceptional speed.

Best Prospects: C Mikael Granlund, C Charlie Coyle

16) Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have little talent at the AHL level, but have some talent at the junior level with elite defensive prospect Dougie Hamilton.

Hamilton has been a point-per-game player in the OHL this season and is a force at both ends of the ice. He will be at the NHL level next season and is an important part of the Bruins' future.

Best Prospects: D Dougie Hamilton, RW Jared Knight

15) Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have some very talented forwards throughout their organization, including young center Cody Hodgson, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on trade deadline day.

Talent on the blue line is an area of need for the Sabres in this year's draft.

Best Prospects: C Cody Hodgson, LW Joel Armia

14) Columbus Blue Jackets

With all the struggles between the pipes that the Columbus Blue Jackets have had throughout their history, it's a little concerning that the team has little depth or talent at the position in their organization.

However, there are some talented blue-line prospects like David Savard, who projects to be a solid NHL player.

Best Prospects: D David Savard, LW Matt Calvert

13) Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings don't have a ton of elite talent on the blue line throughout their organization, but their talent pool is stocked with talented wings such as Gustav Nyquist.

Teemu Pulkkinen is another top forward prospect with enormous potential and a fantastic shot.

However, defenseman Brendan Smith projects to be a very good NHL player with his physical style of play and impressive defensive skills.

Best Prospects: D Brendan Smith, LW Gustav Nyquist

12) New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have made a strong effort over the last few years to develop young talent and not go after too many high-priced free agents.

This strategy has paid off, as winger Chris Kreider and defenseman Ryan McDonagh look like future NHL stars. Goaltending, however, is an area of weakness throughout the organization.

Best Prospects: LW Chris Kreider, D Tim Erixon

11) Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes have struggled mightily this season but help is on the way, as the team has some tremendous depth and talent at the defenseman position.

Ryan Murphy will be a fine NHL blueliner and could join the Hurricanes for good next season. Playmaking center prospect Zac Dalpe could also play a permanent role in Carolina next year.

Best Prospects: C Zac Dalpe, D Ryan Murphy

10) Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has done a nice job of building some talent and depth throughout the organization, and has shown the patience needed to watch them develop rather than trade some top prospects for a superstar.

Joe Colborne is just one of the many talented offensive prospects that Maple Leafs fans should be excited about.

Best Prospects: C Nazem Kadri, C Joe Colborne

9) Chicago Blackhawks

What the Chicago Blackhawks lack in elite talent throughout their organization, they make up for with tremendous depth at every position. The Blackhawks have enough depth to be able to plug holes in their NHL roster when injuries create a void that needs to be filled.

Best Prospects: LW Jeremy Morin, C Marcus Kruger

8) Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have some immense offensive talents such as Emerson Etem, but they lack the quality blue-line depth and talent the franchise really needs. The Ducks should make stocking their defensive depth a priority at the draft in June.

Etem could be a legitimate star with his goal-scoring ability and tremendous skating ability.

Best Prospects: RW Emerson Etem, RW Kyle Palmieri

7) Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have done a very good job of drafting top talent, and because of this, their organization is loaded with some great depth.

They have some nice defensive depth to use in the event that star defensemen Shea Weber and/or Ryan Suter leave in the summer through free agency.

Best Prospects: D Jonathon Blum, LW Taylor Beck

6) Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have some talented forward prospects who should be reliable goal scorers at the NHL level, such as winger Tyler Toffoli, who is dominating the OHL right now.

However, depth and talent on the blue line is a concern for the Kings moving forward.

Best Prospects: RW Tyler Toffoli, C Andrei Loktionov

5) St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are going to be a force in the Western Conference for many years thanks to their fantastic offensive talent throughout the organization.

Russian winger Vladimir Tarasenko projects to be a superstar talent and is a phenomenal goal scorer. He also has experience as a captain, making him a valuable leader.

The only issue with the Blues is that they don't have a top-tier goaltender ready to take over the starting job in the future, but thankfully, goaltending is the least of the Blues' problems right now at the NHL level.

Best Prospects: RW Vladimir Tarasenko, C Jaden Schwartz

4) Edmonton Oilers

After adding some tremendous offensive players such as Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the NHL level the last few years, expect the Edmonton Oilers to add some talented blueliners to the mix, such as Oscar Klefbom.

Best Prospects: D Oscar Klefbom, D Jeff Petry

3) New York Islanders

The New York Islanders already have some tremendous young talent on offense at the NHL level with players like John Tavares, and you can expect more of the same when top prospects Ryan Strome and Nino Niederreiter secure a permanent place on the roster.

However, blueline talent remains an area the team needs to address in the coming drafts.

Best Prospects: LW Nino Niederreiter, C Ryan Strome

2) Ottawa Senators

With Erik Karlsson becoming an elite defenseman this season, the Ottawa Senators could become even stronger when top prospects such as forward Mika Zibanejad.

The acquisition of former St. Louis Blues goaltender Ben Bishop has also given the franchise better depth and talent at the goaltending position. Young goalie Robin Lehner also has a ton of potential.

Best Prospects: C Mika Zibanejad, D Jared Cowen

1) Florida Panthers

After finishing near the bottom of the league standings for most of the last decade, the Florida Panthers have had a number of high draft picks.

Several of those picks are immense talents who could be superstar players at the NHL level in the future, such as Jonathan Huberdeau, who is a goal-scoring center that also has spectacular passing skills.

Jacob Markstrom is also one of the better goaltending prospects in hockey, and could be the full-time starter between the pipes as early as next season.

Expect the Panthers to remain a playoff contender for many more seasons.

Best Prospects: C Jonathan Huberdeau, G Jacob Markstrom