NHL Power Rankings: 10 Teams With The Best Shot at The Stanley Cup

Almost any team that makes the playoffs can upset anyone else—just look at the Montreal Canadiens last year. They beat two of the Cup favorites in the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.

This season is building up towards what might be the best playoffs ever. There are no free passes come playoffs this year.

That being said, there are still favorites. Here are the top 10 teams most likely to win the Stanley Cup.

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No. 10: Los Angeles Kings

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 19: Goalie Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings makes a save against the New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game at the Nassau Coliseum on February 19, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul

The Los Angeles Kings seem to have almost everything it takes to win the Stanley Cup—depth at forward and on defense, a great two-way center, a star defenseman and great goaltending.

For some reason, they haven't managed to put it all together very well yet, but the Kings are 6-1-3 in their last 10, and are starting to look like the team they should be.

No. 9: Chicago Blackhawks

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CHICAGO - OCTOBER 27: Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks get a hug from teammate Patrick Kane #88 as he celebrates a 3rd period goal against the Los Angeles Kings while Jonathan Toews skates to join them at the United Center on October 27, 2010 i

After winning the Stanley Cup last season, the Blackhawks were forced to ship out many of their supporting players due to salary cap issues.

They haven't performed as well as expected this year and they're still two points out of a playoff position, but any team with a core of Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Bolland, Keith and Seabrook is definitely a threat to defend their title.

No. 8: Pittsburgh Penguins

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks to pass against the Washington Capitals during the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at Heinz Field on January 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Washington won 3-1. (Pho

Realistically, the Penguins are on this list assuming that Sidney Crosby recovers from his concussion in time to come back for the playoffs.

Even with Crosby out indefinitely and Evgeni Malkin out for the season, the Penguins have shown incredible depth and resiliency while maintaining their place in the standings.

The Pens have a great goalie, very solid defense, the best penalty kill in the league and surprising scoring depth that was recently bolstered by acquiring James Neal.

If Crosby comes back, the Penguins are still a threat to win the Cup.

No. 7: San Jose Sharks

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NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 11: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks skates during an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils on February 11, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

The San Jose Sharks have been perennial Cup contenders ever since acquiring Joe Thornton in 2003.

This year has seen somewhat of a changing of the guard, as Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau haven't been the Sharks' best players consistently.

An argument could be made that rookie Logan Couture has been the Sharks best player this year.

The changes might be good for the Sharks as they've fallen short in the playoffs year after year.

No. 6: Washington Capitals

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SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks in the first period during an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on February 17, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Th

Much like the Sharks, the Capitals best players have seriously underperformed this season.

Alex Ovechkin, two-time Hart and Rocket Richard and three-time Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay winner, isn't even in the top 20 in the league in goals.

The Caps are still a very good team and if they can shed their quickly building playoff-choker reputation, the Caps can go far this year.

No. 5: Tampa Bay Lightning

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 11: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates during NHL action on December 11, 2010 against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

With Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, we knew the Lightning could score. The question was whether or not they could defend.

They've gone a long way toward addressing that by acquiring Eric Brewer and Dwayne Roloson.

Now the Lightning are definite threats to win the Cup.

No. 4: Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - FEBRUARY 12: Brothers Daniel Sedin #22 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks talk during a break in in NHL action against the Calgary Flames on February 12, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo

The NHL-leading Canucks are contenders this year, but their injury-riddled defense and their past playoff performances scare me away from putting them as the favorites.

Every Vancouver fan vividly remembers that the Canucks lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 in the second round each of the last two seasons.

Those games were eerily similar too, with Roberto Luongo falling apart and the Blackhawks taking advantage.

This year, the Canucks offense is potent with two of the top three in the league in both goals and points, but they're missing five of their regular defensemen to injury right now.

No. 3: Detroit Red Wings

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DETROIT - APRIL 20: Matthew Lombardi #15 of the Phoenix Coyotes battles for the puck with Nicklas Lidstrom #5 and Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on A

As long as the Red Wings have Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, they'll never be counted out of a discussion of Cup contenders.

The Wings place ahead of the Canucks because of one key factor—they know how to win.

The question mark for the Wings is goaltending, but their defense is so good that they should be able to overcome it.

No. 2: Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Danny Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates Brian Boucher #33, Mike Richards #18 and Simon Gagne #12 in Game Six of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Wachovia Center on

After being just two wins away from a Stanley Cup championship last season, the Flyers seem to have improved their lineup this year.

They lead the Eastern Conference and have the best depth at forward of any team in the league.

The question mark for the Flyers is goaltending. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky has been good in the regular season, but he is very much unproven. Brian Boucher has also been good in the regular season, but his playoff history is inconsistent.

If the Flyers get quality goaltending, they have as good a chance as anyone to win the Cup.

No. 1: Boston Bruins

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OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Tomas Kaberle #12 of the Boston Bruins controls the puck at the blueline during a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on February 18, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

On paper, the Bruins don't have any glaring weaknesses or even serious question marks.

Their goaltending is the best in the league, by far, bar none.

Their defense is very good both ways, and was bolstered by the addition of Tomas Kaberle last week.

Offensively, the Bruins scoring is very balanced. They have nine players with 30 or more points, which is the most in the league.

All around, the Bruins are the most complete team in the league and that's why they have the best shot at the Stanley Cup this season.

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