NHL Power Rankings: First Installment (11/14/10)

Welcome to my first installment of the 2010-2011 NHL Power Rankings. Although we're over a month into the season, it's only now that we can truly start to rank teams based on how they look this year. Expect a new installment every two or three weeks.

Why read my power rankings? While it may be a tiresome topic, I feel like I bring a unique approach to my rankings. Rather than simply ranking the teams 1-30, I break them up into six categories:

Cup Favorites: Teams that should surprise no one were they to go all the way. The class of the league.

Cup Contenders: Teams that will surprise many if they go all the way, but shouldn't. Conference powers that are expected to at least make it out of the first round.

Sleepers: Teams that should make the playoffs, and are equipped to pull off a surprising playoff run. Last year, the Philadelphia Flyers dominated this section of my rankings.

Bubble Teams: Teams that may or may not make the playoffs. A bubble team is talented enough to make the playoffs, but is not (or is not playing like) a legitimate threat.

Longshots: Teams that are not likely to make the playoffs. If they get hot, they could squeeze in as a 7 or 8 seed, but are fringe teams at best.

Bottom Feeders: Teams that are nowhere near contention and almost guaranteed a high draft pick. Even early in the season, landing in this category means that the playoffs are very unlikely.

Given this system, my rankings may not exactly reflect how a team has played to this point. A team may be playing over their heads, and land in the Cup Contenders category even though they have more points than a Cup Favorite. A team may be placed in the Sleepers category even if they are barely in playoff position, because, in my opinion, that team has underachieved to this point.

In the end, these rankings are more subjective than many, as there is no formula. But I believe that the only point of this type of writing is to stir up a discussion; formulaic power rankings lull most to sleep. As I'm probably doing right now.

So without further ado, here is the debut of my 2010/11 NHL Power Rankings:

Cup Favorites

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 23: Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings is congratulated by teammates Tomas Holmstrom #96 and Brian Rafalski #28 after Datsyuk scored a third period goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Five of the Western Conference Quart

1. Detroit Red Wings- Right around the top of the West right now, and you know they'll only get better.

2. Philadelphia Flyers- Last year's playoff run was anything but an isolated incident; it was simply one of the league's most talented teams getting healthy and learning how to play together.

3. Washington Capitals- 2008-09 President's Trophy winners, the Sharks, lost in the first round. The next year, they went to the Conference Finals. 2009-10's best regular season team should repeat San Jose's feat, and will most likely not meet a team as good as Chicago in the Eastern Finals.

Cup Contenders

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 12: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Consol Energy Center on November 12, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Penguins defeated the Lightning 5-1. (Photo by Justin

4. Los Angeles Kings- They were able to cruise into the playoffs last year, and gave Vancouver a solid fight. Now, one of the league's youngest and best defensive teams is looking like the favorite to win the pacific division.

5. Vancouver Canucks- Chicago's domination en route to the cup was impressive last year, and Vancouver put up the strongest fight in the west. With the addition of Manny Malhotra and all of Chicago's losses, this team is looking poised to go deep into the playoffs.

6. Montreal Canadiens- Like Philadelphia, last year's playoff run is proving to have been only the beginning. The loss of Jaroslav Halak has not stung this team; Carey Price looks like a budding star and the Habs are 3rd in the East.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins- Sidney Crosby is 23. Evgeni Malkin is 24. Kris Letang is 23. Jordan Staal is 22. This team will live in this category for a decade.

8. San Jose Sharks- The Sharks made a decision that Evgeni Nabokov was not going to able to lead them to a cup. They knew that losing him would mean more regular season losses. But after a slow start, they are in the top eight in the West right now, and as long as they're still there in April, this team is a contender to come out of the west. 

Sleepers

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin #35 of the Edmonton Oilers is faked out of position by Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers who scores on this breakaway during the second period of a hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Novembe

9. New York Rangers- They're in a playoff spot right now, and Marion Gaborik has been out all season. He's back now, and suddenly the Rangers look like a problem out East.

10. Boston Bruins- They are the fourth lowest scoring team in the East, but have allowed 7 fewer goals than anyone else in the conference. People forget that this team nearly swept Philly out of the playoffs last year; the talent is there.

11. Anaheim Ducks- Two years ago, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan led Anaheim into the second round of the playoffs. Two years later, this is the best young line in hockey, and if the Ducks can get back there (they've won six straight), they could certainly make some noise.

12. St. Louis Blues- In a deep, powerful Western Conference, the St. Louis Blues early success may be viewed as unsustainable. But like Anaheim, this team made the playoffs two years ago, and with Jaroslav Halak, they would be dangerous even as a #8 seed.

Bubble Teams

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COLUMBUS,OH - NOVEMBER 12: Kevin Porter #12 of the Colorado Avalanche checks Derek Dorsett #15 of the Columbus Blue Jackets to the ice while chasing after a loose puck during the second period on November 12, 2010 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning- Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis are good enough to carry a team into the post-season, even a team with a defense as shaky as Tampa Bay's.

14. Colorado Avalanche- This young team fought their way into the playoffs last year, and is looking to move up in the Western Conference's power-structure. An injury to Craig Anderson, however, has put that on hold--at least for now.

15. Phoenix Coyotes- After a 100+ point season last year, Phoenix looked like the next big thing in the West. Three straight wins has gotten them to 7-10, but this team's window of dominance may have been slammed shut by Detroit last April.

16. Ottawa Senators- A strange bunch. They have won more since losing Dany Heatley, but haven't replaced his production. Putting up points while being outscored worked last year for them, and is working again this year...so far.

17. Chicago Blackhawks- After winning the Stanley Cup behind a 22-year old Conn Smythe Trophy winner, a 21-year old superstar and the deepest supporting cast in hockey, 2009-10 looked like the beginning of a dynasty- until the supporting cast disappeared. Chicago ran into cap problems, and lost more key players than any other team in hockey. They claim they "kept the core intact"- but it wasn't just Toews, Kane, Kieth, and Seabrook who made this team dominant.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets- No one would have expected Columbus to be ahead of San Jose and Chicago right now- especially with Rick Nash underachieving. They have simply won games by winning faceoffs, out-shooting opponents, and holding leads. If they're superstar picks it up, they could be the surprise team of the season.

19. Nashville Predators- Nashville made the playoffs last year through solid defense and a multitude of offensive contributors. They have been injured a lot early this year, and without stars to carry them, injuries are hard to overcome. If they remain in the mix solely depends on how quickly they get healthy.

20. Atlanta Thrashers- Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien have come into Atlanta and are leading the team in points. They were 8th and 10th in Chicago last year, respectively. And there's your problem, Atlanta. These guys are not offensively dominant enough to power a team that allows over 36 shots a night into the playoffs.

Longshots

Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Brandon Segal #24 of the Dallas Stars breaks in with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center on November 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

21. Dallas Stars- A 4-1 start, Dallas has fallen to 13th in the West. Brendan Morrow has just three points in the last four weeks, and the hot start for Dallas looks a little fluky right now. You can count Dallas out for sure if they don't somehow fix their penalty kill, which is operating at less than 74% efficiency.

22. Buffalo Sabres- As last year's low-seeded playoff surprises continue to thrive this year, Buffalo, a playoff choker, has continued to struggle in 2010-11. Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers appear to be the main culprits for the drop-off, but a 28th-ranked power play and mediocrity in the face-off circle illustrate more team-wide issues.

23. Carolina Hurricanes- Carolina was a much improved team late last season, and Eric Staal is a stud. But 39% on face-offs means that no matter how well Cam Ward plays this year, he's going to see too many shots to win a lot of games.

24. Minnesota Wild- Minnesota is dead last in the West in 5-on-5 ratio (0.70), and is in contention only because of an insanely hot power play (#1 in the NHL) and an equally hot Niklas Backstrom. If one of these two things cools off, Minnesota is toast.

25. Calgary Flames- Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla are two of the best players in the league, and Calgary would be wise to trade them for some young talent. This team is nowhere near being a contender, and won't get there without taking a step back.

26. Florida Panthers- Florida is actually playing very well this season. They are winning draws, holding leads, and playing solid defense, both 5-on-5 and on the PK. They are outscoring their opponents, yet still find themselves in 12th place.

Bottom Feeders

Harry How/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Bruno Gervais #8 of the New York Islanders skates back ahead of teammate James Wisniewski #20 and Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on November 10, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty

27. Toronto Maple Leafs- Like Dallas, Toronto got off to a great start, and has fallen to 13th place since. Unlike Dallas, Toronto has absolutely no chance of making the playoffs. The worst special teams in the league, hands down.

28. New Jersey Devils- The Flyers made the playoffs by winning a shootout last year. New Jersey dominated the league for 82 games. Philly beat them in a convincing five game series, and is now second in the East. New Jersey is being outscored by -23 goals this year. It's hard to believe that with their roster they won't be there in the end, but they look as bad as anyone right now.

29. Edmonton Oilers- Although they are one goal worse than New Jersey (-24), this has been a positive start for Edmonton. They have some of the best young players in the league, and another high draft pick wouldn't hurt them.

30. New York Islanders- The Islanders have played 12 of 17 on the road so far, and it'd be nice to think that's a big reason they're 5-on-5 ratio is 0.41.