NHL Power Rankings: 10 Most Disappointing Teams of the Season

This NHL season is nearly at the point of no return—the trade deadline. And while there have been many pleasantly surprising teams, there have been many disappointments too.

Among the pleasant surprises are the Nashville Predators, which sit fifth in the Western Conference, but that shouldn't really be a surprise after so many years of quality play without big-name players.

Then there are the Dallas Stars and Atlanta Thrashers, both of which were the biggest pleasant surprises in their respective conferences as recently as a month ago.

Since then, both have struggled badly (identical 2-7-1 records in their last 10). Atlanta has already fallen out of a playoff spot and Dallas is in a four-way tie for the seventh through 10th slots in the West.

Both teams built up our hopes enough to be considered somewhat disappointing by now, but neither are in the top 10 most disappointing teams of the season.

No. 10: Edmonton Oilers

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

DETROIT - NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Eberle #14 of the Edmonton Oilers and teammate Taylor Hall #4 prepare for a face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on November 11, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/

Entering the season, the Edmonton Oilers had perhaps the most hype of any team in the league due to the debut of a group of highly-touted rookies.

Many people expected the Oilers to struggle this season as the youngsters adjusted to the NHL game, but not many picked them to be dead last in the league.

Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle appear to be hitting their stride now, as Eberle has eight points in his last nine games and Hall just notched his first career hat trick.

The Oilers should climb past the Ottawa Senators before the season ends, but it might be in their best interests to remain low in the standings and get another high draft pick this summer.

No. 9: Buffalo Sabres

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 16: Mike Komisarek #8, Dion Phaneuf #3, Tim Brent #37 and Joey Crabb #46 celebrate Crabb's game winning goal behind Ryan Miller #30 of the Buffalo Sabres the Toronto Maple Leafs at HSBC Arena on February 16, 2011 in Buffalo, New Yo

After Ryan Miller's phenomenal Vezina Trophy-winning season and the Sabres' Northeast Division title, most people thought the Sabres young core was ready to take a step forward.

Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe haven't been as good as the Sabres had hoped, Derek Roy is out for the season and Ryan Miller's goals-against average is up while his save percentage is down.

The Sabres have really missed the shutdown defensive pairing of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman.

Still, the Sabres sit ninth in the Eastern Conference and have a chance at a playoff berth if they can pick up their play.

No. 8: New York Islanders

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 17: Michael Grabner #40 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff during an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at the Nassau Coliseum on February 17, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

A lot of the disappointment surrounding the Islanders this season could be blamed on serious injuries to Mark Streit, Kyle Okposo and Rick DiPietro, but the Isles aren't making excuses.

There have been a few bright spots for the Islanders, like John Tavares taking a step forward (51 points in 56 games) and Michael Grabner making a frantic push for the Calder Trophy, but the wins just weren't there until it was too late.

The Isles are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, but still sit 28th in the league.

No. 7: Toronto Maple Leafs

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL, CANADA - FEBRUARY 12: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens stops the puck on an attempt by Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 12, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens d

Leafs Nation virtually always thinks their team will be good, but after starting the season with a four-game winning streak, the excitement hit a new high and the parade route was being planned.

Then the Leafs crashed back down to reality by losing 11 of the next 12 games.

The Leafs have settled somewhere between those extremes. At seven points back, they still have a chance at the playoffs—albeit a remote one.

From Phil Kessel's extended goal droughts and minus-21 rating to Dion Phaneuf's non-existent offensive play to JS Giguere's ballooned goals-against average and shrinking save percentage, there have been far too many disappointments to offset the pleasant surprises for the Leafs.

Then there's the Nazem Kadri debacle...

No. 6: St. Louis Blues

John Grieshop/Getty Images

COLUMBUS,OH - NOVEMBER 10: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues helps teammate T.J. Oshie #74 of the St. Louis Blues leave the ice after he was injured during the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 10, 2010 at Nationwide Ar

The Blues have been devastated by injuries and inconsistency this season.

Key players such as TJ Oshie, Andy McDonald, David Perron and Jaroslav Halak have all missed substantial time due to injury.

Brad Boyes, Patrik Berglund, Erik Johnson and Jaroslav Halak have all been very underwhelming.

The Blues sit 13th in the Western Conference and have recently pulled the trigger on a couple of big trades, including sending 2006 first-overall pick Erik Johnson to the Colorado Avalanche for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk.

The Blues are still only five points out of a playoff spot, but they have to jump five teams to get in.

No. 5: Colorado Avalanche

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 10: Goaltender Craig Anderson #41 of the Colorado Avalanche saves a shot on goal in the final seconds against the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena on December 10, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After last season's surprising success, the expectations were much higher for the Avalanche this year.

The Avalanche haven't even come close to meeting those expectations, and now they have a much different-looking team.

Then 2009-10 Avs' MVP Craig Anderson got shipped to Ottawa for underachiever Brian Elliot and 2009-10 top goal-scorer Chris Stewart was part of a blockbuster deal with the St. Louis Blues.

Now the rumor mill is abuzz with talks of John-Michael Liles and Paul Stastny leaving Colorado.

The Avs have currently lost 10 in a row and things don't appear to be getting better anytime soon.

No. 4: Los Angeles Kings

Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 20: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings starts a rush from behind the net against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Staples Center on January 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The team that so many people picked as their dark horse to challenge for the Stanley Cup this season is currently just outside the top eight in the Western Conference.

A stretch of two wins in 11 games in January is partly to blame for the Kings struggles this season, but a lack of emotion and desire has been consistent in too many games.

Individually, not many of the Kings players have been bad, but Drew Doughty is the most important one. Doughty had a concussion near the start of the season and it's taken him a long time to look like the Norris Trophy finalist he was last season.

No. 3: Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 09: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks carries the Stanley Cup trophy across the ice in a ceremony before the Blackhawks season home opening game against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on October 9, 2010 in Chicago,

By now everyone knows the story of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup, then being forced to dismantle a large piece of the roster due to cap restrictions.

Not many people thought they'd be as good as last year, but virtually no one expected the Blackhawks to be outside the playoffs looking in.

The Hawks are only two points out of the playoffs at the moment, but they sit in 11th and have to jump at least three teams to get in.

No. 2: Ottawa Senators

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins kicks out a pad save to teammate Brad Marchand #63 while Jason Spezza #19 of the Ottawa Senators tries to get a stick on the puck during a game at Scotiabank Place on February 18, 2011 in Ott

The Ottawa Senators were far from a Cup contender starting the season, but they've been a disappointment to everyone except their hated rivals in Leafs Nation.

The Sens are 29th in the league, only one point ahead of the quickly-improving Edmonton Oilers.

No. 1: New Jersey Devils

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Troy Bodie #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes boards Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 16, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Despite the Devils unbelievable recent hot streak (16-1-2), they are still the biggest disappointment in the league.

The Devils were supposed to be a Cup contender—probably even a favorite—but they were dead last in the league for most of the first half of the season.

Even with their recent run of great play, they'll still be very lucky to even make the playoffs.