NHL Power Rankings: Ranking the 30 Clubs by Fan Expectations for 2012-13

One of the charms of having seven different champions since the lockout (the one in 2004-05) is that most fanbases go into each new season believing that their team can and will improve.

And, in fact, many teams have made significant leaps in recent years.

The "No TV Chicago Blackhawks" were a moribund franchise that turned things around once they, well, put their games on TV and put a winner on the ice.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues were looking a little sorry after the lockout, but both franchises have recently shared in some playoff success and have rosters full of players that are ready to win now.

And teams like the Florida Panthers and Phoenix Coyotes that play in suburban arenas located in warm-weather areas have generated excitement for the first time since the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run and the Yotes’ move from Winnipeg in the mid-90s.

On the other hand, teams like the Dallas Stars and New York Islanders have fallen on hard times after a history of success (Dallas more recent than Long Island) and are in need of a little rejuvenation.

The following is all 30 teams listed based on fan expectations for next season.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

Expectations: Very Low

There are pieces in Columbus—Artem Anisimov, Derek Dorsett, Brandon Dubinsky, Jack Johnson, etc.—but not enough to make anyone believe this team will ascend the Central Division ranks this season.

It is not unreasonable to fathom that something will happen in the future, but that’s a little ways away.

29. Toronto Maple Leafs

Expectations: Low

Leafs fans will show up and boo.

28. New York Islanders

Expectations: Moderate

The fans that have stuck it out with the Islanders are pretty optimistic people.

They look at a team full of young players—Josh Bailey, Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo and John Tavares—and see a lot of potential.

There appears to be belief without ever going far enough to allow this team to disappoint them in any devastating way.

27. Winnipeg Jets

Expectations: Moderate

This team and the city of Winnipeg is still in the honeymoon phase, and while fans in Winnipeg are happy to have NHL hockey back, they don’t want to have their hopes shattered by a young and flawed team this season.

26. Dallas Stars

Expectations: Moderate

I think fans in Dallas are not going to get all giddy about the Stars until they prove that they can get through an entire season without petering out in the end.

It’s a smart move—this team has broken their hearts quite a bit over the last few seasons.

25. Edmonton Oilers

Expectations: Moderate

Oilers fans will always show up to games and, relocation threats aside (a move to Seattle seems unlikely), they know that they will eventually have a winner in Edmonton.

Fans that follow this team closely this season want a glimpse into the future, but they probably aren’t expecting this team to make a splash just yet.

24. Buffalo Sabres

Expectations: Moderate

Buffalo is a sports town with very loyal fans, but they were let down last year when their highly talented team didn’t play to the level they were capable of.

A couple big wins early in the season and that will all change, however, and everyone will see what this team can do when everything is operational.

23. Detroit Red Wings

Expectations: Moderate

The expectation in Detroit is always that the Red Wings will put a winner on the ice, but after missing out on Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Co. and losing Nick Lidstrom in the offseason, Wings fans know that this team will probably make the playoffs, but is it far from being a leader in the stacked Central Division.

22. Montreal Canadiens

Expectations: High

It’s that old adage that if you’re at the bottom, the only place to go is up.

There are people in Montreal that see a playoff team, even after last year’s fiasco.

21. Anaheim Ducks

Expectations: High

The Ducks have reason to believe that improvement is on the way.

They are loaded with superstars like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Cam Fowler and Teemu Selanne.

The problem for Anaheim is that the depth behind those players isn’t great.

If a couple of those guys make the most of the time they are on the ice, this team could surprise a couple people this season.

20. Nashville Predators

Expectations: High

The collective feeling of hockey fans in Nashville is:

It’s only one player.

Ryan Suter and Shea Weber were a great tandem, and the former will be dearly missed, but this team seems to find a gem (or 10) every year in their minor league system.

Keeping Weber in town after a big offer from Philly was paramount to keeping a growing fanbase on board with this team.

19. Tampa Bay Lightning

Expectations: High

The Bolts took a step backward last season, but their fans know that this roster is stacked with good players—both young (Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos) and old (Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier)—and the team is led by a genius coach in Guy Boucher.

18. Colorado Avalanche

Expectations: High

Colorado’s roster is brimming with young talent still in search of their potential.

It’s fitting that the team captain, Gabriel Landeskog, is 19 years old, and many of the core players in Denver aren’t much older than he is.

If this team begins firing on all cylinders, they will be really dangerous.

17. Calgary Flames

Expectations: High

Fans in Calgary believe that their team can win and are justified in that belief.

The team has an established goaltender in Miikka Kiprusoff, an outstanding leader in Jarome Iginla and a lot of players in their prime—Michael Cammalleri, Roman Cervenka, Jiri Hudler, Anton Babchuk and Jay Bouwmeester. All of these factors should make an impact this season.

16. San Jose Sharks

Expectations: High

After two trips to the Western Conference finals, last year was a bit of a downer for Sharks fans.

Although the typically steady franchise is showing signs of a little leakage, San Jose remains a dangerous team.

15. Ottawa Senators

Expectations: High

After making the playoffs and giving the Rangers a scare in the first round, people in Ottawa believe their team can go a little farther in the postseason this year.

14. Minnesota Wild

Expectations: High

The Zach Parise and Ryan Suter acquisitions made the Wild relevant overnight.

Fans in Minnesota know that it might take a year to work out all the kinks with the new squad, but they at least want to see the playoffs this year.

13. Carolina Hurricanes

Expectations: High

Instead of shedding and rebuilding, the Hurricanes kept guys like Tim Gleason around, paid Jeff Skinner, have guys with Stanley Cup rings (Eric Staal, Cam Ward) and brought over Jordan Staal.

The combination of all those moves has Canes fans believing that their team can win.

12. Florida Panthers

Expectations: High

After making the playoffs and giving the Eastern Conference champion Devils a run for their money, the Cats have fans believing their team can win.

With a couple of under-25 guys on the roster—Shawn Matthias, Peter Mueller, Keaton Ellerby—and more youth preparing at the junior, college or minor league levels, there is reason to believe that this franchise is turning itself around.

11. Phoenix Coyotes

Expectations: High

After a division championship and run to the Western Conference finals, the Coyotes have their fans believing.

This club has gone to the playoffs three times in a row and has arguably one of the best coaches in the league, so there is justification for their feelings.

10. Washington Capitals

Expectations: Very High

After beating a damn good Bruins team in the first round, Capitals fans remain hopeful that their team can finally break through and get to the finals this season.

9. St. Louis Blues

Expectations: Very High

The Baby Blues finally played up to their potential last season and even took the Central Division away from the Hawks and Wings.

Hype for the Blues in St. Louis hasn’t been this high since the last time the NHL locked out.

8. Philadelphia Flyers

Expectations: Very High

Injuries aside, fans in Philly see a team that defeated the crosstown rival Penguins in the playoffs last season and is building a contender around a young core in the post-Richards, Carter and JVR era.

7. New Jersey Devils

Expectations: Very High

Devils fans know this franchise puts Stanley Cup winners on the ice, and they were so close last year.

With the emergence of Adam Henrique, there is a belief in New Jersey that this team can get back to the finals and finish the job sans Zach Parise.

6. Vancouver Canucks

Expectations: Very High

This team was so damn close two seasons ago.

That memory is still searing in the brains of Canucks fans and there is only one cure—more cowbell!

I mean, a Stanley Cup victory.

They know that this team is talented enough to win it all this season.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

Expectations: Very High

Pittsburgh is a big-time sports town that loves their winners.

The Stanley Cup victory is still fresh in their memory and they know that their roster, when healthy, is one of the best in the league.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

Expectations: Very High

This team has endured some major cap casualties since winning the Stanley Cup, but it seems to have found a core that it likes and it's moving forward with it.

That tandem in net—Ray Emery and Corey Crawford—is a little sketchy, though.

3. Boston Bruins

Expectations: Very High

This is a team that isn’t far removed from a championship and has a strong core that has remained intact.

The B’s have to capitalize on these prime years before their best players grow old and the rest of the division catches up to them.

2. New York Rangers

Expectations: Very High

Let’s just say that anything short of a Stanley Cup will be a disappointment for the Blueshirts this season.

1. Los Angeles Kings

Expectations: Very High

After winning the Stanley Cup last season and avoiding a lot of salary shedding, this is a team that has their fans believing they can repeat.

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com and contributes to Hockey’s Future and Stadium Journey.

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