NHL Power Rankings After the 1st Week of the 2025-26 Season
The early stages of an NHL schedule often see seismic shifts in perception, particularly among teams that have overachieved and those that have underachieved.
The first in-season edition of B/R's Power Rankings is indicative of the tumult.
The Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken missed the playoffs last spring and are expected to do so again, but they've started with enough positivity to yield 21-spot jumps that lifted them from 29th and 30th to eighth and ninth, respectively.
It holds true on the flip side, too, where the Tampa Bay Lightning, listed by some as a legit contender for a Stanley Cup, have already tumbled from No. 6 to No. 22 on the heels of a 1-2-1 start during which they've surrendered 16 goals.
B/R's hockey staff got together to vote, assessing 32 points for a first-place ballot all the way down to a single point for a No. 32 nod. Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought of your own in the app comments.
(NOTE: All stats and records are updated through games on Tuesday, Oct. 14.)
32. Buffalo Sabres
1 of 32
Previous Ranking: 24
Overall Record: 1-3-0
The Sabres haven't made the playoffs in a generation, and the team's early performance this season has left a lot to be desired, including losses in their first three games in which they were outscored 10-2.
"Obviously, going 0-3 to start the season is not where you want to be at all," forward Tage Thompson said. "Just got to find a way to get a win here. That's pretty much all it comes down to."
Buffalo managed to find a win on Wednesday night, beating the Senators 8-4.
31. New York Islanders
2 of 32
Previous Ranking: 25
Overall Record: 0-3-0
The good news? No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer looks like the real deal so far, becoming the first Islanders' defenseman to get a point in each of his first three games.
The bad news? New York lost all three games to fall to 0-3-0 for just the second time in the history of the franchise, which runs back to 1972-73.
30. San Jose Sharks
3 of 32
Previous Ranking: 31
Overall Record: 0-1-2
It was a night of debuts around the NHL, and none were higher in profile than that of 18-year-old center Michael Misa, who had 15:06 of ice time in San Jose's 5-1 loss to visiting Carolina on Tuesday.
The Ontario native was selected second overall in the 2025 draft and was a minus-2 against the Hurricanes. He was a healthy scratch for the team's first two games.
29. Calgary Flames
4 of 32
Previous Ranking: 20
Overall Record: 1-4-0
The Flames will file Tuesday's home loss to Vegas in the "one that got away column" after they surrendered four straight goals following the building of a 2-0 lead. It was a third straight loss since the team's opener, which it won in a shootout against Edmonton after trailing 3-0.
"You had a 2-0 lead, you've got to push down harder on their throat, and we pulled back and gave them some life," forward Blake Coleman said. "Good teams with good players will make you pay, and there's no reason for it."
28. Utah Mammoth
5 of 32
Previous Ranking: 19
Overall Record: 2-2-0
The injury bug is biting early at the newly-named Mammoth, who welcomed forward Barrett Hayton back for a game in Chicago on Monday after he'd missed the first two with a lower-body injury.
But Utah will be without defenseman Sean Durzi for about four weeks because of an upper-body injury sustained in a victory at Nashville on Saturday.
27. Ottawa Senators
6 of 32
Previous Ranking: 13
Overall Record: 1-3-0
The early injury news isn't good for the Senators, who'll be without Brady Tkachuk for a prolonged period after he was cross-checked by Nashville's Roman Josi and sustained an injury to his right hand.
Coach Travis Green said Tkachuk would miss "a significant amount of time," which he suggested would be at least "four weeks plus."
26. Vancouver Canucks
7 of 32
Previous Ranking: 17
Overall Record: 1-2-0
Two losses in three early games were not the ideal way to preface a five-game road trip for the Canucks, who've failed to convert on each of seven power-play opportunities so far this season.
Vancouver visits Dallas on Thursday and will continue in Chicago, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Nashville before returning home against Montreal on Oct. 25.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets
8 of 32
Previous Ranking: 21
Overall Record: 1-2-0
A 3-2 loss to New Jersey in the Blue Jackets' 25th anniversary season home opener was already the source of early angst, according to coach Dean Evason.
"It's frustrating. The guys, I'm sure, are frustrated already," he said. "We had a real good opportunity to win this hockey game here (Monday). We just didn't finish. We've got to stay the course with what we're doing and not push too many panic buttons."
24. Los Angeles Kings
9 of 32
Previous Ranking: 12
Overall Record: 1-2-1
It's the 20th and final season for Kings legend Anze Kopitar, and he's off to a successful start, recording assists in each of the team's first four games.
He's the fourth player aged 38 or older in league history to start the season with an assist streak of at least four games, joining Larry Robinson (six games in 1989-90), Teppo Numminen (four in 2008-09), and Jean Beliveau (four in 1970-71).
23. Chicago Blackhawks
10 of 32
Previous Ranking: 32
Overall Record: 2-2-1
A 3-1 victory over visiting Utah was the first in the Blackhawks' reign of first-year coach Jeff Blashill, who won 204 games with Detroit from 2015-22 before he was let go and took over in Chicago on May 22.
"The biggest thing I would say is I really, really like this group. I like them as people," he said. "I like them as competitors. I like them as athletes and how they work in what they want. They're a group that wants to have better days than what they've had."
They followed their first win with a resounding 8-3 victory on Wednesday night on TNT vs. the rival Blues. Connor Bedard tallied three assists in the game.
22. Tampa Bay Lightning
11 of 32
Previous Ranking: 6
Overall Record: 1-2-1
All the stars came out for the Lightning at Washington on Tuesday but it wasn't enough to shake the early funk that's yielded just one win in four games.
Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point each scored, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves and Nikita Kucherov climbed within three points of 1,000 for his career with an assist, but the Capitals won the game 3-2 in OT.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
12 of 32
Previous Ranking: 28
Overall Record: 2-2-0
It was a long time coming, but veteran winger Anthony Mantha finally got himself back on the scoresheet in Pittsburgh's Tuesday night game in Anaheim.
The 31-year-old hadn't scored in nearly a full calendar year (Nov. 3, 2024) when he played for Calgary. He tore an ACL in a game two days later and was lost for the rest of the season. He signed with the Penguins as a free agent on July 2.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
13 of 32
Previous Ranking: 26
Overall Record: 1-1-1
The recent death of Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent was on the minds of the Flyers when they hosted Florida and emerged with a 5-2 win, the first in the tenure of coach Rich Tocchet.
Philadelphia players wore a No. 1 patch on their jerseys for the game and a white Parent tribute mask will go to the Flyers' player of the game after victories this season.
19. New York Rangers
14 of 32
Previous Ranking: 18
Overall Record: 2-3-0
Records are one thing. But challenging a mark held by the long defunct Pittsburgh Pirates isn't something the Rangers are feeling so good about.
New York dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Edmonton on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, its third straight home shutout loss to begin the season. It's the second-longest streak to begin a season in NHL history behind the 1928-29 Pittsburgh Pirates.
18. Minnesota Wild
15 of 32
Previous Ranking: 14
Overall Record: 2-2-0
Former first-round pick Matt Boldy (12th overall, 2019) is taking his game to another level already, becoming the first Wild player to score in each of the first four games in any season.
The 24-year-old hasn't scored fewer than 15 goals in any of his four NHL seasons and topped out (so far) at 31 goals in 81 games for Minnesota in 2022-23. His career-high point total (73) came last season via 27 goals and 46 assists.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
16 of 32
Previous Ranking: 7
Overall Record: 2-2-0
Maybe the Maple Leafs can petition the league to avoid Detroit.
Toronto remained unbeaten against every team not nicknamed the Red Wings on Tuesday night, pumping in seven goals in a defeat of visiting Nashville. It was the team's first win since an opening night defeat of Montreal that was followed by losses in a home and home on Saturday and Monday.
16. Detroit Red Wings
17 of 32
Previous Ranking: 22
Overall Record: 3-1-0
There's some unexpected goaltending competition in Detroit, where veteran holdover Cam Talbot made 58 saves on consecutive defeats of Toronto after recent acquisition John Gibson allowed five goals on 13 shots in a 5-1 loss to Montreal.
"They're probably not bringing in (Gibson) not to play so my mindset is just be ready for whatever opportunities I get to play and push each other," Talbot said. "I feel like I can still play at a high level and obviously so can he and that's why we brought him in."
15. Nashville Predators
18 of 32
Previous Ranking: 27
Overall Record: 2-1-1
It's a strong start a season behind schedule for the Predators, who've lost just once in regulation in four games in 2025-26 after their 2024-25 season was doomed from the start after they won just three times in their five 10.
Nashville got five of a possible six points in games against Columbus (W), Utah (OTL) and Ottawa (W) before finally losing in regulation, 7-4, at Toronto on Tuesday. Wingers Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault each have four points in four games.
14. St. Louis Blues
19 of 32
Previous Ranking: 16
Overall Record: 2-2-0
The Blues appear to have struck gold with 2022 first-rounder Jimmy Snuggerud, who scored two goals in a game for the first time in St. Louis' 5-2 win in Vancouver on Monday.
The 21-year-old forward had three goals and seven points in his first 10 NHL games, including a seven-game debut at the end of last season and the first three games in 2024-25. He had two goals and four points in seven playoff games last spring.
13. New Jersey Devils
20 of 32
Previous Ranking: 11
Overall Record: 2-1-0
It was quite a gauntlet for the Devils to run to start the season, in the form of three road games in five nights, including two 2024-25 playoff teams. New Jersey emerged with wins at Tampa Bay and Columbus after a loss at Carolina.
"To come home with four points is good," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "You'd always want six, but we'll take the four and the lessons learned along the way."
12. Anaheim Ducks
21 of 32
Previous Ranking: 23
Overall Record: 2-1-0
Resilience is an encouraging early sign for the Ducks, who've won consecutive games against San Jose and Pittsburgh after trailing by two goals.
Chris Kreider's power-play goal was the game-winner against the Penguins with just 1:27 left in regulation. Anaheim has scored 10 regulation goals in its last two games after being held to one goal on 36 shots in an opening loss to Seattle.
11. Winnipeg Jets
22 of 32
Previous Ranking: 9
Overall Record: 2-1-1
Winnipeg's landing of three-time Cup champion forward Jonathan Toews after a prolonged, health-related hiatus was one of the league's biggest offseason stories.
The 37-year-old registered his first point of the season with an assist on Nino Niederreiter's goal in the Jets' 5-2 win at the New York Islanders on Monday. It was the 512th assist of the center's career, which began with Chicago in 2007-08.
10. Vegas Golden Knights
23 of 32
Previous Ranking: 2
Overall Record: 2-0-2
The good news is that backup goalie Akira Schmid came on in relief and stopped all 19 shots he faced in a 4-2 defeat of Calgary on Tuesday. The bad news is that he entered the game after Adin Hill in the first period with a lower-body injury whose severity is not yet clear.
"I don't know where Adin will end up right now in terms of he's obviously got a lower-body injury," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I don't know how serious it'll be."
9. Seattle Kraken
24 of 32
Previous Ranking: 30
Overall Record: 2-0-1
Goalie Joey Daccord started the season looking like a No. 1 goalie for the Kraken, stopping 61 of 63 shots (.968 save percentage) in consecutive victories over visiting Anaheim and Vegas.
The 29-year-old native of Boston established career highs in both starts (55) and victories (27) with Seattle last season. He'd made 61 starts across parts of five seasons after he was a seventh-round pick of Ottawa in 2015.
8. Boston Bruins
25 of 32
Previous Ranking: 29
Overall Record: 3-1-0
A home loss to Tampa Bay wasn't ideal but it was the first L of the season for the Bruins after three straight wins and it allowed center Pavel Zacha to continue a red-hot start to his 2025-26.
The 28-year-old Czech has five points in his first four games and became the third Boston player since 2019-20 with at least four assists through four games, joining David Pastrnak (five in 2022-23) and Connor Clifton (four in 2022-23).
7. Washington Capitals
26 of 32
Previous Ranking: 10
Overall Record: 3-1-0
The Capitals were a picture of resilience on Tuesday against visiting Tampa Bay, rallying from a pair of one-goal deficits before Jakob Chychrun scored in OT for Washington's third win in four games.
They did it without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who missed the game after suffering a lower-body injury against the New York Rangers on Sunday. He left the ice in the third period and coach Spencer Carbery labeled him day to day.
6. Montreal Canadiens
27 of 32
Previous Ranking: 15
Overall Record: 3-1-0
Goalie Sam Montembeault continued a successful start to the 2025-26 season for the Canadiens, stopping 22 shots for the second straight time in a 5-4 win against Seattle on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old made 22 saves three days earlier in a victory at Chicago. He's coming off a 2024-25 season in which he made 60 starts and won a career-high 31 victories.
5. Edmonton Oilers
28 of 32
Previous Ranking: 5
Overall Record: 2-0-1
Just when it seemed safe for the vultures to start circling goalie Stuart Skinner, the embattled goalie stopped 30 shots in backstopping the Oilers to a 2-0 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Skinner allowed straight three regulation goals after Edmonton had led, 3-0, in its season opener on Oct. 8. and he's coming off an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in which he allowed 19 goals in five starts against Florida.
4. Florida Panthers
29 of 32
Previous Ranking: 8
Overall Record: 3-2-0
Injuries might be finally catching up to the defending champions, who lost Wednesday night on TNT in Detroit.
Already without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers will be without defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for five months after surgery for an upper-body injury.
3. Colorado Avalanche
30 of 32
Previous Ranking: 3
Overall Record: 3-0-1
Getting goals from forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar is nothing new. And the Avalanche winning when it happens isn't either.
Colorado's 3-1 triumph at Buffalo on Monday both kept the team unbeaten in regulation this season and lifted it to 35-3-3 all-time when MacKinnon and Makar score in the same game.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
31 of 32
Previous Ranking: 4
Overall Record: 3-0-0
Tuesday was a night that undrafted 27-year-old Brandon Bussi will never forget, considering the New York native not only made his NHL debut but won it in sturdy fashion while stopping 16 of 17 shots in a 5-1 triumph at San Jose.
Bussi had spent time in the Boston and Florida organizations and was on the AHL's All-Rookie Team in 2023 before making his way to Carolina when he was waived by the Panthers and claimed by Carolina.
1. Dallas Stars
32 of 32
Previous Ranking: 1
Overall Record: 3-0-0
There's something about playing the Wild that clearly appeals to Jake Oettinger. The Minnesota native stopped 39 shots in a 5-2 win on Tuesday that raised his career mark against his home-state team to 8-0-3.
"It's always fun. We've seen them a lot. I feel like they don't like us very much," he said. "Every time we play them, it feels like the playoffs. They're physical, they're big, they're tough. It feels like a playoff game, so it's always fun playing them."
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