NHL Power Rankings: Will Each NHL Team Move Forwards or Backwards in 2012-13?

This slideshow is pretty straightforward:

Is your team moving forwards or backwards?

For some fan bases, your team is moving forwards only because they were so awful last year.

For others, your team is moving backwards only because they’ve set a high standard that they probably won’t meet this season.

Some of you guys are unlucky; your team is just mismanaged and, therefore, awful.

For others, you’ve got something to be excited about after seeing offseason pickups or young players improving.

Anaheim Ducks

Direction: Forwards

Actually, they’re probably not going anywhere.

The Ducks still have their superstars, but their improvements on defense—Sheldon Souray and Bryan Allen are no slugs—are not enough to make them significantly better next season.

This team still needs depth.

Boston Bruins

Direction: Forwards

Forwards not in the rankings, although they’ll probably win their division and get the No. 2 seed again, but they should go farther in the playoffs.

A Stanley Cup should not be out of the question for the Big Bad Bruins.

Buffalo Sabres

Direction: Forwards

This team underachieved last season.

Thomas Vanek, Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino will all improve.

Buffalo will be a playoff team this year.

Calgary Flames

Direction: Backwards

This team is getting older (that’s how time works), ergo they’re going to get worse.

Expect another season where Calgary finishes as a nine or 10 seed.

Carolina Hurricanes

Direction: Forwards

I’m loving the Canes right now.

They went out and got Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin.

Both will be impact players this season.

This team has swag and should be fun to watch this season. Their GM compared Justin Faulk to three great defensemen recently after signing Jeff Skinner to an extension.

Expect this team to snag a late seed (7-8) and make a playoff run.

You heard it here first.

Chicago Blackhawks

Direction: Backwards

Backwards only because they’re pretty well regarded after winning the Cup in 2010.

The Patrick Kane thing hurts and so does the improvement of the Blues, who may take control of the division.

Colorado Avalanche

Direction: Backwards

Well, actually “uncertain” would be a better term here.

If the youth (Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Erik Johnson, specifically) step it up, this will be a great team.

If they don’t, they’ll be junk.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Direction: Backwards

After losing Rick Nash, this team is probably better off in the AHL.

Dallas Stars

Direction: Forwards

Expect a little bit of a leap here.

I’m thinking playoffs here.

Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr will make an instant impact in the locker room.

The concern with this team is not this year (they’ll be good) but how their future looks.

Dallas is getting a little old.

Detroit Red Wings

Direction: Backwards

Backwards, only because this team has been so damn good and now is looking a little old.

They’ve lost Nick Lidstrom; missed out on Parise, Suter and Weber; and are therefore moving in the wrong direction.

Edmonton Oilers

Direction: Forwards

Justin Schultz was a huge pickup, and this young team will improve.

Not sure they’re a playoff team yet, though.

Florida Panthers

Direction: Backwards

Like really, really far back.

Think that scene from Ferris Bueller where they’re trying to take the miles off that car that Cameron’s dad loves.

They’re in reverse and about to crash and burn.

Los Angeles Kings

Direction: Forwards

Well, they can’t go higher, but this team could win back-to-back Cups.

Minnesota Wild

Direction: Forwards

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are going to make this team better.

No doubt.

They’re probably a playoff team this year.

Montreal Canadiens

Direction: Forwards

Forwards, only because they can’t really go backwards.

But in all fairness, it’s easier to improve a team with a defensive philosophy like theirs, but this team could use a little beef.

Nashville Predators

Direction: Backwards

Matching the Shea Weber offer sheet was huge, but losing Ryan Suter hurts.

New Jersey Devils

Direction: Backwards

Losing Zach Parise hurts.

A poor financial situation throws salt in that wound.

New York Islanders

Direction: Forwards

Slightly forward.

Only because they’ve got some young talent (especially John Tavares) that will improve, and they can’t get much worse.

New York Rangers

Direction: Forwards

The Rangers are a Stanley Cup contender.

They just added Rick Nash to a team with two bona fide superstars, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, and a strong young core (especially Derek Stepan and Michael Del Zotto).

Ottawa Senators

Direction: Backwards

With Buffalo, Carolina and Tampa improving, the Ottawa Senators will probably be the odd team out when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs next year.

Philadelphia Flyers

Direction: Backwards

Defensemen in Philadelphia are dropping like flies.

(See what I did there: the team name is the Flyers and dropping like flies is a popular idiom).

GM Paul Holmgren also missed out on Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, Shea Weber and saw Matt Carle leave for Tampa Bay.

Things are not looking too good in Philly, at least for the immediate future.

Phoenix Coyotes

Direction: Backwards

This team has well-documented financial issues and could lose longtime captain Shane Doan.

They’re in trouble.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Direction: Forwards

Forwards, with one large caveat: Sidney Crosby’s health.

If he’s on the ice, this team is a contender.

If he's not, they’re just a solid hockey squad.

San Jose Sharks

Direction: Backwards

Backwards, only because this perennial playoff team is so highly regarded.

The Brad Stuart pickup wasn’t bad, but not enough to help an aging team with only two established stars in their prime (Joe Pavelski and Thornton) and one legitimate young superstar (Logan Couture).

St. Louis Blues

Direction: Forwards

A young core with a proven coach, the Blues are in position to take control of the Central.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Direction: Forwards

People seem to have figured out Guy Boucher, but he’s a smart guy that’s probably got a couple more tricks up his sleeve.

Adding Anders Lindback and Matt Carle doesn’t hurt either.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Direction: Backwards

James van Riemsdyk could be a difference maker, but he’s not enough to convince anyone that this team is going to drastically improve.

Vancouver Canucks

Direction: Forwards

Forwards, with one caveat: It’s become do-or-die time.

This team is a Stanley Cup contender, of course, but is getting older, and they must know that the window is closing on them.

Minnesota got a lot better, and Edmonton and Colorado have young players that have the potential to become superstars.

Washington Capitals

Direction: Forwards

Alex Ovechkin should return to his normal self, or at least come back better, but the Capitals’ reign over the Southeast Division may be coming to a close, with Tampa and Carolina improving.

Winnipeg Jets

Direction: Forwards

It’s a young core that's steadily inching closer to becoming a playoff team.

They’re probably still a year out, though.

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com.

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