NHL Power Rankings See Hurricanes and Oilers Vault to Top Spots

They sure grow up fast, don't they?

Hockey fans spent months longing for the NHL season to start, and now the early-season storylines are taking shape.

The B/R hockey staff is in midseason form after cranking out another installment of Power Rankings heading toward the third full week of the 2026-27 schedule.

Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought in the app comments.

Statistics through games of Monday, Oct. 12.

ANA | BOS | BUF | CAR | CBJ | CGY | CHI | COL | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA | LAK | MIN | MTL | NJD | NSH | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SEA | SJS | STL | TBL | TOR | Utah Mammoth | VAN | VGK | WPG | WSH

32. Calgary Flames

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Ryan Huska

Last Week: 32

The Flames started 0-5-0 for the first time in franchise history, scoring just eight goals along the way, but coach Ryan Huska preached patience. "We've slowly been getting better and that's the most important thing," he said.

31. Philadelphia Flyers

Last Week: 30

A 4-1 loss to Carolina on Sunday made it seven straight games in which the Flyers were held to two or fewer goals. Philadelphia was 21st in the league with 240 goals in 2025-26. The record for fewest goals in an 84-game season is 201, in 1993-94.

30. Chicago Blackhawks

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Jeff Blashill

Last Week: 31

The Blackhawks won at Carolina on Saturday and continued a turnaround after a 0-3-0 road start in which they were outscored, 15-5. "I have no idea when it's going to be, but this group's going to win," coach Jeff Blashill said, "100 percent."

29. Vancouver Canucks

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Alexis Lafreniere (13) of the New York Rangers scores during Sunday's third period against Vancouver

Last Week: 19

Early optimism evolved into familiar pessimism for the Canucks, who began the season with two wins in three games before losing four straight in which they were outscored, 20-7. They'll return home from a six-game road trip on Oct. 20.

28. Los Angeles Kings

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Mats Zuccarello

Last Week: 28

It's already been a tough start for the Kings and it didn't help when forwards Mats Zuccarello and Alex Turcotte were placed on injured reserve. "We're competitors in here. We hate losing, and we want to win," goalie Darcy Kuemper said.

27. Detroit Red Wings

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Dylan Larkin

Last Week: 29

Coach Todd McLellan is taking a collective leadership tack for the Red Wings, amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding ex-captain Dylan Larkin. "There's a lot of different people in different leadership roles in our team right now," he said.

26. New Jersey Devils

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Jack Hughes is stopped by Ottawa's Linus Ullmark

Last Week: 27

Depth of skill hasn't translated to goals for the Devils just yet in 2026-27. New Jersey scored three or fewer goals in three of its first five games, including a shutout by the New York Islanders and one goal in a home loss to Ottawa.

25. New York Islanders

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Pete DeBoer

Last Week: 18

A home loss to streaking Tampa Bay wasn't ideal, but it gave coach Pete DeBoer a better idea of where his team stands. "It was a good measuring stick game for us," he said. "We passed quite a few of the tests in my mind of how we have to play."

24. Columbus Blue Jackets

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Last Week: 21

The Blue Jackets went to a shootout to defeat Pittsburgh, then led, 2-0, in St. Louis a day later before the tanks ran dry in a 5-3 loss. "The thought process got away from us," coach Rick Bowness said, "and the intensity necessary left us."

23. Buffalo Sabres

Last Week: 23

It didn't sound super serious at the outset but it's never good news when one of your best players, in this case defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, leaves a game and doesn't accompany the team on a road trip. "Day to day," coach Lindy Ruff said.

22. St. Louis Blues

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Jimmy Snuggerud is congratulated after scoring against Columbus

Last Week: 22

The Blues skidded in Colorado and Chicago, losing 6-1 and 4-2, but rebounded in a raucous home win against Columbus. "Our fans support every single home game ... these past three days they've been absolutely humming," Jimmy Snuggerud said.

21. Montreal Canadiens

Last Week: 9

An iffy start for Jakub Dobes (1-1-1, .857 save percentage) opened the door for AHL call-up Jacob Fowler, who stopped 30 shots to blank Detroit on Saturday. He is the fifth Montreal goalie to have multiple NHL shutouts at age 21 or younger.

20. Florida Panthers

Last Week: 15

It took him until game six, but Brady Tkachuk finally got a point in a Panthers sweater when he assisted on Sam Reinhart's goal in the second period of a Monday loss at Buffalo. He had seven hits and three shots in 16:32 of ice time.

19. Dallas Stars

Last Week: 25

The Stars scored 11 goals in their first five games and just one on the power play, and it won't help that forward Matt Duchene is now expected to miss three months after surgery to repair a core injury that he dealt with in training camp.

18. Nashville Predators

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Jonathan Marchessault

Last Week: 24

The Predators frittered away a lead, gave up a late goal, and lost in a shootout to Ottawa. "It's been a little common in the past few games," forward Jonathan Marchessault said. "We kind of lay off the gas a little bit and let teams back in."

17. San Jose Sharks

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Darnell Nurse

Last Week: 13

Darnell Nurse played 798 games for Edmonton but he'd never played in the Oilers' rink as a visitor until Saturday's 3-1 loss. "It was odd. Never been through that before, but preparation is no different," he said. "Just go out there and play."

16. Pittsburgh Penguins

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Dan Muse

Last Week: 10

Ending a three-game slide (0-2-1) with a shootout win against a tough Dallas team after allowing a late tying goal provided a significant moment for coach Dan Muse. "This was way better," he said. "For me, it's an exciting step for us to take."

15. Toronto Maple Leafs

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Last Week: 26

Take a breath, Toronto fans. Gavin McKenna might be ready for the NHL after all. The top overall pick was pointless in his first three games but had a goal and three assists in his next three. "Every game he is taking steps," coach Jim Hiller said.

14. Washington Capitals

Last Week: 17

Alex Ovechkin scored on his 190th goalie when he beat the Kraken's Joey Daccord, but the Capitals saw a brief two-game win streak halted by Seattle. Washington won three of its first four games in which it scored at least three goals.

13. Colorado Avalanche

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Jared Bednar

Last Week: 1

A Saturday loss to Toronto was just the second of the season and first at home for Colorado, but coach Jared Bednar was not having it. "You got the team doing it right," he said, "and you got a couple guys that weren't there for us (Saturday)."

12. Boston Bruins

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Charlie McAvoy

Last Week: 20

The Bruins finished their six-game early-season purgatory without defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who was suspended for a slash on Buffalo forward Zach Benson in the playoffs. Boston was held to one goal twice, but scored 18 in the other four.

11. Winnipeg Jets

Last Week: 7

Just when it seemed the Jets had started well enough to deflect the Connor Hellebuyck drama, it's back. NHL Insider David Pagnotta suggested the goalie could return to the team if a long-discussed trade doesn't happen soon.

10. Utah Mammoth

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Nick Schmaltz

Last Week: 8

Listing the league's premier goal-scorers? It'll probably be a while before you get to Nick Schmaltz. Still, the 30-year-old did score 33 times last season and had six goals in four of Utah's first games in 2026-27, setting a pace for 67 in 84 games.

9. Seattle Kraken

Last Week: 14

Break up the Kraken! Seattle had six goals dumped on it by Vegas in an Oct. 6 home loss but took to the road for a five-game trip that opened with 11 goals scored in consecutive games at Detroit (6-3) and Washington (5-3).

8. New York Rangers

Last Week: 5

It was bad enough when Igor Shesterkin left Friday's game. It got far worse when it was announced he was done for the season—leaving the New York net (thanks to a lingering injury to backup Joonas Korpisalo) to 24-year-old Dylan Garand, who entered 2026-27 having made three career starts.

7. Anaheim Ducks

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Mikael Granlund (64) celebrates a goal

Last Week: 4

The Ducks' 4-2 win at Calgary lifted them to 4-1-0 for the fifth time in franchise history, following similar starts in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2019-20. Anaheim started 3-0-2 on the way to the franchise's lone Stanley Cup in 2006-07.

6. Minnesota Wild

Last Week: 2

Quinn Hughes proved his worth to the Wild with points in six straight games to open the season, the sixth-longest season-opening streak in league history by an American-born defenseman. He had 76 points in 2025-26.

5. Vegas Golden Knights

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Last Week: 12

The Golden Knights split their first two of the season but had reeled off four straight wins (and allowed just eight goals) before the early streak ended when they lost 4-2 on Monday at Minnesota. Jack Eichel has 12 points in six games.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning

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Brandon Hagel is defended by Simon Holmstrom of the New York Islanders

Last Week: 11

There's championship muscle memory in the Tampa Bay locker room, but early success helps indoctrinate the new guys, too. "You want to be able to build some confidence within the team," forward Brandon Hagel said, "within the group."

3. Ottawa Senators

Last Week: 3

It wasn't a reach to suggest Linus Ullmark's play would be a key factor for the Tkachuk-less Senators this season and the 33-year-old Swede responded with a great start, winning his first five appearances while allowing just six goals.

2. Edmonton Oilers

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Mike Babcock

Last Week: 6

Having the league's top scorers in northern Alberta isn't a novelty, but raise your hand if you had the Oilers, under Mike Babcock, as the last team in the NHL without a regulation loss. Edmonton was 2-2-1 through five games last season.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

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Jordan Staal

Last Week: 16

Reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jordan Staal will miss at least a month as the Hurricanes chase a repeat after tearing a calf during warmups for a Sunday game in Philadelphia. Staal had 12 points in 19 playoff games in Carolina's cup run.