Weekly NHL Power Rankings: March 8th, 2010

The Olympic Games and the Trade Deadline have come and gone in a flash, leaving us all salivating for playoff hockey.

Although the trade-deadline was rather tame this year, many teams made significant acquisitions, including the Capitals, Coyotes and Penguins.

The Sens have stumbled out of the Top 10 thanks to a rampant flu bug, while the Flyers snuck in thanks to their solid play.

Ovie and Sid’s teams are both rolling right along, recording perfect weeks.



1. Washington Capitals (no movement)
Record: 44-13-8
Last Week: 3-0-0
Just when most thought the league-best Capitals couldn’t get any more potent, they made a splash at the deadline, landing Joe Corvo, Eric Belanger, Scott Walker and Milan Jurcina, while dispensing only a handful of picks and Brian Pothier.

2. San Jose Sharks (+1 spot)
Record: 42-14-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
The “Canada Line” of Heatley, Thornton and Marleau didn’t receive much of a honeymoon after their Gold in Vancouver, as Sharks coach Todd McLellan split them up in the first game back in an attempt to activate the production of other Sharks forwards.

3. Chicago Blackhawks (-1 spot)
Record: 43-17-5
Last Week: 2-2-0
The Hawks weren’t major players at the deadline, though it was expected they might go shopping for a goaltender. The existing goaltending didn’t serve the Hawks well this week, as they lost 5-3 to the lowly Isles and gave up five unanswered goals against Detroit in a 5-4 loss on Sunday.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (+5 spots)
Record: 40-22-4
Last Week: 4-0-0
While Ovechkin has slumped, not recording a goal in 6 straight games, Sidney Crosby has taken advantage and surpassed Ovie for tops in the league with 44 goals. Already surpassing his career high, Sid the Kid is on pace for 55 goals this year.

5. Phoenix Coyotes (+1 spot)
Record: 39-22-5
Last Week: 2-1-0
For the first time in years, the Coyotes were buyers at the deadline. Without making too big of a splash, the Yotes made several smart depth moves, acquiring Wojtek Wolski, Mathieu Schneider, Derek Morris, Lee Stempniak, and Petteri Nokelainen.

6. Vancouver Canucks (+2 spots)
Record: 40-23-2
Last Week: 3-1-0
The Canucks will have to wait until Saturday to make their long-awaited return home to Vancouver. The road hasn’t been that rough though as they have gone 7-5-0 in the first 12 games of the mammoth 14-game trip.

7. New Jersey Devils (-3 spots)
Record: 38-23-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
The Devils failed to bring in a key player at the deadline to solidify their chances for the Cup. It was long rumoured that they would attempt to obtain Maxim Afinogenov from the Thrashers in order to pair him up with fellow Russian Ilya Kovalchuk, but the deal never came to fruition. The Devils settle for Martin Skoula as a depth pickup on defense.

8. Colorado Avalanche (+2 spots)
Record: 37-22-6
Last Week: 2-2-0
The Avs made a bold move in trading away one of their top point-getters in Wojtek Wolski, but with the contributions of players like Matt Duchene and Chris Stewart (who scored a hat-trick on Saturday), Colorado remains poised to compete in the post-season. Peter Mueller was Colorado’s return for Wolski and he’s thus far picked up 4 points in three games.

9. Los Angeles Kings (-2 spots)
Record: 38-22-4
Last Week: 1-2-0
Drew Doughty grew immensely as a player at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. His steady, consistent play had an immeasurable impact on Canada’s success, and the LA Kings hope this success will transfer to his NHL game. He had 3 assists in his first game back from the Olympics.

10. Philadelphia Flyers (+2 spots)
Record: 34-26-4
Last Week: 2-1-1
David Booth made an attempt to exact revenge on Mike Richards for the nasty hit in October that left Booth unconscious. Booth recorded the Gordie Howe Hat-Trick and then-some by adding a goal and 3 assists to go along with the fight.



MIDDLE 10

11. Detroit Red Wings (+4 spots)
Record: 31-22-12
Last Week: 3-1-0
The Wings seem to finally be turning the corner with most of their players healthy again. They hold onto the 8th seed in the West thanks to a strong week with 3 wins over top teams: Colorado, Nashville and Chicago.

12. Ottawa Senators (-7 spots)
Record: 36-25-5
Last Week: 0-2-1
The flu-ridden Sens have fallen off as of late, losing grasp of their Northeast Division lead.

13. Buffalo Sabres (-2 spots)
Record: 35-20-9
Last Week: 2-2-0
Olympic Hockey MVP Ryan Miller must have endured some ribbing, or at least some awkward glances with Sabres coach Lindy Ruff (who was an assistant for Canada in Vancouver) when he returned to Buffalo. Miller was given a standing ovation as a visitor in Pittsburgh, as the American fans commended his effort.

14. Nashville Predators (-1 spot)
Record: 35-25-5
Last Week: 2-2-0
Shea Weber and Ryan Suter were bitter enemies last Sunday, and teammates two days later. The cornerstones of Nashville’s defense will be counted on heavily as the Preds attempt to make the playoffs again after a one year absence. They added Denis Grebeshkov and Dustin Boyd to help that cause.

15. Boston Bruins (+3 spots)
Record: 29-24-11
Last Week: 2-2-0
Boston could not pull the trigger at the deadline and acquire the scorer they so desperately need. They don’t have a single 20-goal scorer, as Marco Sturm leads the team with 19.

16. Calgary Flames (+1 spot)
Record: 32-24-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
Recently acquired Matt Stajan received a 4-year extension at 3.5 million per year — a deal which has been laughed at around the league. Despite the league-wide perception of Stajan though, he sits second on team scoring and is Jarome Iginla’s new setup man for the time being.

17. Anaheim Ducks (-3 spots)
Record: 30-27-8
Last Week: 0-2-1
Jonas Hiller has done fine as the unchallenged #1 in Anaheim since J.S. Giguere was traded. He has gone 6-4-0 with two shutouts.

18. Montreal Canadiens (+2 spots)
Record: 32-29-6
Last Week: 3-1-0
Montreal scored an improbable comeback against the Ducks on Sunday night, scoring two goals in the last two minutes to send it to overtime, and then later winning it in a shootout. Maxim Lapierre was suspended four games for this cheapshot on Scott Nichol earlier in the week.

19. St. Louis Blues (+3 spots)
Record: 30-26-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
The names of Brad Boyes, Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk and others were swirling in trade talks but the Blues didn’t sell off major veteran pieces as some expected they would.

20. Minnesota Wild (-1 spot)
Record: 31-28-5
Last Week: 1-1-1
Minnesota’s lack of deadline day dealing came as no surprise, as they acquired Cam Barker a few weeks ago. The Wild will have a tough road to make the playoffs, as four teams sit between them and 8th place.



BOTTOM 10

21. Atlanta Thrashers (+3 spots)
Record: 28-26-10
Last Week: 2-2-0
Nik Antropov has taken hold of a leadership role in Atlanta, recording 12 points in his last 8 games and is +20 on the year. (This feat is even more amazing considering that none of his teammates are even at +10).

22. Carolina Hurricanes (+3 spots)
Record: 27-31-7
Last Week: 3-1-0
The Hurricanes gutted their team by trading almost suspected rental player they would, except for Ray Whitney. He survived the deadline, while others such as Joe Corvo, Aaron Ward, Andrew Alberts and Scott Walker were shipped out.

23. Dallas Stars (-7 spots)
Record: 28-24-12
Last Week: 0-3-0
Can someone please wake up the Dallas Stars and tell them the season has resumed? 5-1, 6-1 and 6-3 losses last week put the Stars 6 points back of a playoff spot.

24. Tampa Bay Lightning (-3 spots)
Record: 27-26-11
Last Week: 1-2-0
20-year-old Steven Stamkos recorded his 40th goal of the season this week. His future looks incredibly bright, considering Sidney Crosby had his first 40-goal campaign this year — in his 5th season. Stamkos for Team Canada 2014? You bet.

25. New York Rangers (-2 spots)
Record: 29-28-9
Last Week: 1-1-2
The Hart Trophy talk for Marian Gaborik has trailed off due to the poor play of the Rangers, but Gabs has single-handedly kept the Blueshirts out of the botttom-five of the NHL thanks to his productive season.

26. Florida Panthers (+2 spots)
Record: 26-28-10
Last Week: 2-1-0
The trade deadline came and went without any of the major moves suspected out of Florida occurring. Dennis Seidenberg and Jordan Leopold were moved to playoff clubs as was expected.

27. New York Islanders (no movement)
Record: 26-31-8
Last Week: 1-2-0
Carolina’s strong play has pushed the Islanders into the 14th spot and an almost-guaranteed lottery selection at this year’s draft. Oddly, New York did not trade either Dwayne Roloson or Martin Biron, leaving them with three capable starters on their roster.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (-2 spots)
Record: 25-29-11
Last Week: 0-1-1
Columbus shipped Raffi “Red Bull” Torres to Buffalo for Nathan Paetsch and a 2nd-round pick. A fair return for Torres, who has spent most of his career as a second and third liner and his having one of his betters years in ‘09-’10.

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (no movement)
Record: 20-33-12
Last Week: 1-2-1
Two key signs that a dramatic change is occurring in Toronto. First, Tomas Kaberle is the only player remaining from the 2007-2008 team. Second, the AHL-affiliate Toronto Marlies are older on average than the Leafs.

30. Edmonton Oilers (no movement)
Record: 21-38-6
Last Week: 2-2-0
The Oil’s terrible season had a small bright spot on Sunday, as they defeated the Devils 2-0. Edmonton was involved in making one of the most surprising and significant deals of deadline day, swapping Lubomir Visnovsky for 27-year-old Ryan Whitney.

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