This is the fifth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we identify each team's most valuable player at the quarter mark of the season.

1. New York Islanders (16-3-2)

Previous rank: 4

Thomas Greiss is out to prove that his success in 2018-19 was no fluke. The German netminder has been lights out for the Islanders once again this season, posting a 9-1-0 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.

2. Washington Capitals (16-4-5)

John Carlson has his eye on the Norris Trophy this season, and it's safe to say he has a pretty good chance thanks to eight goals and 28 assists through 25 games.

Previous rank: 1

3. Boston Bruins (15-3-5)

Previous rank: 3

David Pastrnak's all-world scoring has been mesmerizing, but it's hard to deny Brad Marchand the title of most valuable Bruins player. The veteran forward leads the team in points, even-strength goals, and game-winning goals. He also ranks first among Boston forwards in ice time and is called upon in all situations.

4. Dallas Stars (14-8-2)

Previous rank: 16

Sophomore blue-liner Miro Heiskanen has been a key piece of the Stars' recent turnaround, and he's only getting better. The 20-year-old ranks second on Dallas with 17 points and logs almost 25 minutes per night.

5. St. Louis Blues (14-5-5)

Previous rank: 2

Several forwards have stepped up in the wake of Vladimir Tarasenko's injury, but Alex Pietrangelo has been the Blues' most important player. The 29-year-old captain is on pace for a career-best 64 points and has logged a team-high 24:04 of ice time per game.

6. Edmonton Oilers (16-7-3)

Previous rank: 6

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are the top two scorers in the NHL by a considerable margin, so we have to hand out co-MVP honors to the Oilers' unstoppable duo.

7. Arizona Coyotes (14-8-3)

Previous rank: 18

Darcy Kuemper has emerged as one of the game's best netminders this season following a breakout campaign in 2018-19. The 6-foot-5 puck-stopper boasts a league-best 1.98 goals-against average and his elite play has helped take a young Coyotes squad to the next level.

8. Winnipeg Jets (14-9-1)

Previous rank: 22

Connor Hellebuyck has managed an incredible turnaround so far this year, giving the Jets a real chance to win every night with a .928 save percentage in 19 starts.

9. Colorado Avalanche (13-8-2)

Previous rank: 5

With points in 19 of 23 contests, including a 13-game streak to start the campaign, Nathan MacKinnon has been the pulse of an Avalanche team that keeps on rolling despite the absences of Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (15-8-1)

Previous rank: 20

Dougie Hamilton has been a force for the Hurricanes, leading all NHL defensemen with 10 goals to go with 15 assists in 24 games. The 26-year-old has also paced all Carolina skaters in ice time, and the team has posted a sterling 56.87% expected goals rate with Hamilton on the ice at five-on-five.

11. San Jose Sharks (12-11-1)

Previous rank: 23

Logan Couture has been dynamite in his first season as captain, leading the Sharks back into the playoff picture after a dreadful month of October. The 30-year-old forward has tallied a team-best 24 points, including 14 in November as the Sharks have won eight of 11 contests in the month.

12. Florida Panthers (12-7-5)

Previous rank: 19

Both Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau have been fantastic for the Panthers this year, but the hulking pivot narrowly gets the nod here. Barkov drives the bus for Florida's dominant top line - he's put up 29 points, logged over 20 minutes per night, and won 54% of his draws.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-4)

Previous rank: 9

The Penguins rode Sidney Crosby's point-per-game production to a 10-6-1 record while missing several key pieces. With Crosby out of the lineup, however, Pittsburgh has won just two of six contests and has no victories away from home.

14. Montreal Canadiens (11-7-5)

Previous rank: 8

It's no coincidence that the Canadiens are in contention for a playoff spot with Shea Weber healthy. The veteran rearguard ranks second on the Habs with 18 points and still plays an incredibly sturdy game on the back end at 34 years old.

15. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-7-2)

Previous rank: 13

Thank goodness Nikita Kucherov's recent injury wasn't serious, because the reigning MVP is up to his usual ways, leading the Lightning with 20 points through 19 appearances.

16. Vancouver Canucks (12-8-4)

Previous rank: 14

Elias Pettersson is playing like a league MVP candidate, so it's a no-brainer that he's been the most valuable Canuck. Last year's Calder Trophy winner sits 11th in NHL scoring with 29 points through 24 games.

17. Philadelphia Flyers (11-7-5)

Previous rank: 11

After being rewarded with a six-year, $33-million contract in September, Travis Konecny has not disappointed. The Ontario native leads the Flyers with 23 points in as many games, and he's kept the club afloat despite slow starts from some of his typically productive teammates.

18. Toronto Maple Leafs (11-10-4)

Previous rank: 12

Auston Matthews was already the Maple Leafs' MVP front-runner before Mike Babcock was fired, but Toronto's superstar looks reinvigorated under his new coach. Matthews has posted three points in two games with Sheldon Keefe at the helm, putting himself on pace for 52 goals and 98 points.

19. Ottawa Senators (11-11-1)

Previous rank: 24

Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been a pleasant story for a Senators team that had low expectations for this season. Pageau has already surpassed his 2018-19 point total by seven in 16 fewer games, and he also leads Ottawa in both goals and points.

20. Vegas Golden Knights (11-10-4)

Previous rank: 15

Mark Stone leads all Golden Knights forwards in ice time and has paced the club with 10 goals. He's one of the best two-way forwards in hockey, and his first full year in Sin City has been impressive, to say the least.

21. Chicago Blackhawks (9-9-5)

Previous rank: 28

The Blackhawks will remain competitive as long as Patrick Kane is in town. The 2016 Hart Trophy winner is off to another all-world campaign with 30 points in 23 outings. Consistent as always, Kane is riding a 12-game point streak, amassing 21 in that span.

22. Nashville Predators (10-9-3)

Previous rank: 7

Roman Josi has more than proved he's worth the big-ticket extension he signed earlier this season. The Norris Trophy contender leads the Predators with 22 points in 22 games.

23. New York Rangers (10-9-2)

Previous rank: 25

The Rangers paid Artemi Panarin to play like an MVP candidate, and, so far, so good. The Russian marksman has recorded a team-best 12 goals and 27 points through his first 21 contests in the Big Apple.

24. Minnesota Wild (9-11-3)

Previous rank: 27

The ageless Eric Staal continues to produce at 35 years old. He leads the struggling Wild with 17 points thus far.

25. Columbus Blue Jackets (9-9-4)

Previous rank: 26

Pierre-Luc Dubois has done his best to pick up the slack after the Blue Jackets lost several key offensive pieces to free agency in the offseason. His 10 goals and 17 points are both team highs, as the 21-year-old continues to develop in his third NHL season.

26. Calgary Flames (11-12-3)

Previous rank: 10

Calgary is tumbling down the standings, but Matthew Tkachuk is developing into the team's heart and soul. Tkachuk has struggled to produce during the Flames' offensive drought, but he still leads the club with 20 points.

27. Buffalo Sabres (11-9-3)

Previous rank: 21

Where would Buffalo be without Jack Eichel? The Sabres captain is on pace to shatter career bests in both goals and points, and he's been the club's heartbeat through thick and thin.

28. Los Angeles Kings (9-13-1)

Previous rank: 30

Anze Kopitar has been the Kings' best player for years, which doesn't appear set to change anytime soon. Los Angeles ranks 28th in goals scored this season, but Kopitar has maintained a point-per-game pace through 23 contests.

29. Anaheim Ducks (10-11-3)

Previous rank: 17

His play has wavered somewhat in recent games, but a locked-in John Gibson gives the Ducks a chance to win every single night against any opponent.

30. New Jersey Devils (8-10-4)

Previous rank: 29

A tumultuous start for the Devils hasn't slowed down leading scorer Taylor Hall, who's up to 20 points in 22 games. Unfortunately, for New Jersey, its MVP will be a free agent in the offseason, and the club isn't doing a great job of convincing him to stick around.

31. Detroit Red Wings (7-16-3)

Previous rank: 31

Anthony Mantha has rediscovered the touch that made him one of the deadliest scorers in the history of junior hockey. The 6-foot-5 forward has potted 12 tallies in 26 games this season, putting him on pace for a career-best 38-goal campaign.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Former NHLer and NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk joins this week's show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• Getting traded in 1990 during his son's birth
• Being a Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador
• Connections to Chicago, identifying as a 'Hawk
• Feeling cathartic, deciding to write a book

...and more!

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Arizona Coyotes president of hockey operations and general manager John Chayka joins this week's show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• Signing an extension with Arizona, sticking to the plan
• Rick Tocchet's pedigree as an NHL head coach
• Ivey Sports Leadership Conference details
• Advice to those with NHL front-office ambitions

...and more!

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the fourth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we identify each team's biggest disappointment so far this season.

1. Washington Capitals (13-2-3)

Previous rank: 4

It's tough to nitpick the NHL's first-place squad as it rides a six-game winning streak, but Braden Holtby's .898 save percentage through 13 starts for the Capitals certainly isn't ideal.

2. St. Louis Blues (12-3-3)

Previous rank: 12

The reigning champs are on a major heater, winning nine of their last 10. Despite the Blues' record, though, seven regulation wins on the season is a bit concerning.

3. Boston Bruins (11-3-3)

Previous rank: 1

Losing to the lowly Red Wings last week had to be pretty disappointing for the Bruins, who boast two of the NHL's top four scorers, the best power play, and the top goaltending duo.

4. New York Islanders (12-3-1)

Previous rank: 6

The Islanders have fully committed to Barry Trotz's style of play and earned at least a point in 12 consecutive games - including 11 wins - as a result. Things are nearly perfect on the Island at the moment, but 2014 fifth overall pick Michael Dal Colle still hasn't found his NHL groove. Despite a regular dose of minutes, the 23-year-old has mustered just three points in 15 games this season.

5. Colorado Avalanche (10-5-2)

Previous rank: 2

A recent spell of unfortunate injuries to key players is just about the only disappointing development for the high-flying Avalanche so far in 2019-20. Despite being hit hard by the injury bug, Colorado doesn't seem intent on slowing down.

6. Edmonton Oilers (12-5-2)

Previous rank: 5

After a career-high 22 goals last season, forward Alex Chiasson has registered just a single tally thus far. He's not the most important piece of the Oilers puzzle, but an uptick in production would take a major load off the shoulders of Edmonton's big guns.

7. Nashville Predators (9-5-3)

Previous rank: 8

Kyle Turris appears to be regressing into something of a non-factor for the Predators. The veteran pivot is on pace for only 38 points this year while logging 13:50 per contest - his lowest average ice time since his age-21 season.

8. Montreal Canadiens (9-5-3)

Previous rank: 20

The Canadiens have performed well to this point, but a 29th-ranked penalty kill is a big disappointment for a team that's made significant improvements on the power play this year.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (10-6-1)

Previous rank: 15

Alex Galchenyuk, the main return in the Phil Kessel trade, has yet to record a goal. He's missed time due to injury, to be fair, but the Penguins would warmly welcome an offensive outburst any time now.

10. Calgary Flames (10-7-3)

Previous rank: 17

This past summer's Alberta netminder swap has not gone as well for Cam Talbot as it has for Mike Smith. The Flames' backup is 1-3-0 with an .899 save percentage in five appearances.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (10-5-2)

Previous rank: 16

Travis Konecny's emergence as a top-line scorer has helped mask sluggish starts from perennial point producers Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The veteran forwards have combined for just five even-strength goals through the Flyers' first 17 games.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs (9-6-4)

Previous rank: 14

The Maple Leafs have too much skill to look so perplexed on the power play. Toronto has just five goals in its last 41 opportunities with the man advantage, operating at a subpar 18.2% rate on the season.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-5-2)

Previous rank: 13

After a historic 128-point campaign for the Lightning in 2018-19, Nikita Kucherov hasn't been himself to begin the year. It's still early, but the reigning Hart Trophy winner is on pace for his lowest goal total since his rookie season.

14. Vancouver Canucks (9-6-3)

Previous rank: 10

Offseason signing Micheal Ferland has struggled to find his game with the Canucks. After inking a four-year, $14-million pact with Vancouver in July, Ferland has one goal in 12 contests and ranks second-last on the team in average ice time.

15. Vegas Golden Knights (9-7-3)

Previous rank: 11

For a team that's traditionally benefited from a raucous crowd at T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights have been somewhat disappointing on home ice with just three regulation wins in nine contests.

16. Dallas Stars (8-8-2)

Previous rank: 24

Joe Pavelski is on pace for 14 goals this season, which is not what the Stars paid for when they handed the veteran a three-year, $21-million deal in free agency this summer.

17. Anaheim Ducks (9-8-1)

Previous rank: 18

The Ducks' four power-play goals this season are tied for last in the league - and only one more than they've scored shorthanded.

18. Arizona Coyotes (9-6-2)

Previous rank: 9

Phil Kessel has picked up his play of late, but the Coyotes' prized offseason acquisition still sits seventh on the team with just three goals through 17 games.

19. Florida Panthers (7-4-5)

Previous rank: 19

The Panthers boast one of the league's top offenses - which is very fortunate considering newcomer Sergei Bobrovsky's underwhelming performance in goal. The Russian netminder has started to find his form, but an ugly October has him posting career-worst numbers so far this season.

20. Carolina Hurricanes (9-7-1)

Previous rank: 7

The Hurricanes have the talent to keep up with the league's elite, but inconsistency has been their Achilles' heel. Carolina began the season with five straight wins before losing four of its next five. After rebounding with three consecutive victories, the club currently rides a four-game slide.

21. Buffalo Sabres (9-6-2)

Previous rank: 3

Nobody expected Jimmy Vesey to set the league ablaze in Buffalo, but the Sabres' newcomer is yet to score a goal this season and has just two assists over 14 games.

22. Winnipeg Jets (10-7-1)

Previous rank: 21

Jets captain Blake Wheeler has mustered only 10 points in 18 games for a 45-point pace over 82 contests. That would represent about half his production from each of the last two seasons after back-to-back 91-point campaigns. Regression might be setting in for the 33-year-old.

23. San Jose Sharks (7-10-1)

Previous rank: 23

Though the Sharks have won three straight games, goaltending has been their biggest concern. Martin Jones played well in Saturday's win, but he's been inconsistent overall, posting an .888 save percentage on the year and allowing four or more goals in seven of his 13 starts this season.

24. Ottawa Senators (6-9-1)

Previous rank: 30

Expectations were quite low for the rebuilding Senators entering this season, so there haven't been many true disappointments in Ottawa. But Craig Anderson has all but lost the No. 1 goaltending job to Anders Nilsson after authoring a subpar .897 save percentage and only two wins in eight starts.

25. New York Rangers (7-6-2)

Previous rank: 26

The Rangers have allowed the second-most shots on goal per game in the NHL and rank top 10 in most goals allowed per contest. The serviceable play of goalies Henrik Lundqvist and Aleksandar Georgiev has masked the team's defensive woes.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (6-8-3)

Previous rank: 22

Defense was supposed to be the Blue Jackets' focus this season with Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, and Co. holding down the fort after the offseason exodus of star forwards and a franchise goalie. Yet Columbus is outside the top 10 in shots allowed and ranks bottom 10 in goals against.

27. Minnesota Wild (6-10-1)

Previous rank: 27

Devan Dubnyk was looking to bounce back after posting a .913 save percentage in 2018-19 - a career-worst over a full season. But the Wild's veteran netminder has authored a paltry .887 mark across 11 appearances in 2019-20, and backup Alex Stalock has outperformed him while playing only two fewer games.

28. Chicago Blackhawks (6-7-4)

Previous rank: 28

Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook has looked a shadow of his former self early this season. He's posted a lone goal and no assists in 15 contests with the Blackhawks, serving as a healthy scratch for only the second and third times in his 15-year career.

29. New Jersey Devils (5-7-4)

Previous rank: 29

Expectations were high for Nikita Gusev, the 2018-19 KHL MVP whom the Devils landed in a trade with the Golden Knights. The Russian sniper hasn't exactly exploded out of the gate, though, scoring four goals in 13 games with only one marker in his last six contests.

30. Los Angeles Kings (5-11-1)

Previous rank: 25

Even head coach Todd McLellan agrees the Kings' veterans deserve plenty of blame. Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Ilya Kovalchuk are among the experienced Los Angeles players who have underachieved to this point.

31. Detroit Red Wings (6-12-1)

Previous rank: 31

Andreas Athanasiou was looking to build on the career-high 30 goals he netted across 76 contests last season. Instead, he's taken a significant step backward in the scoring department, burying only two markers over 17 games with the Red Wings.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

This week, former NHL forward Nail Yakupov joins the show to discuss a wide range of topics including:

• Failing to meet lofty expectations as a first overall pick
• Why Ralph Krueger is such a good NHL coach
• Pavel Datsyuk's unrivaled competitiveness
• Evolution of the Kontinental Hockey League

...and more!

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Former NHL defenseman Bryan Berard joins this week's episode to discuss a wide range of topics:

• Bryan's new book, "Relentless"
• Growing up with ex-NHLer Brian Boucher
• Testing positive for steroids and owning it
• A financial adviser's betrayal

...and more!

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

This week, longtime hockey executive and lawyer Trevor Whiffen joined the show to discuss a wide range of topics:

• Scotty Bowman and the NHL Coaches' Association
• Brian Burke and the PrimeTime sports conference
• Don Cherry and the Mississauga IceDogs
• Hunter brothers and the London Knights

... and more!

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the second edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we jump to way-too-early conclusions after the first two weeks of the new campaign.

1. Colorado Avalanche (4-0-0)

Previous rank: 9

Quarterbacking a loaded power play, Cale Makar will break the rookie record for points by a defenseman (80) set by Mark Howe in 1979-80. Makar already has five points in four games - four of which have come with the man advantage.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-0)

Previous rank: 10

Step aside, Devils, Rangers, and Panthers: The Hurricanes, despite not making an earth-shattering move this summer, were the winners of the offseason. Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel brought much-needed scoring depth, Jake Gardiner and Joel Edmundson helped solidify a sturdy back end, and James Reimer may steal Petr Mrazek's starting gig between the pipes.

3. Boston Bruins (4-1-0)

Previous rank: 2

Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak, the best one-two goalie punch in the league, have alternated starts thus far - a trend that will continue for the entire season, with each netminder starting exactly 41 games.

4. Edmonton Oilers (5-0-0)

Previous rank: 25

James Neal, whose seven goals in five games match his total from all of last season, will not only enjoy a bounce-back year, but he'll also surpass his career high of 40 goals and help the Oilers return to the playoffs.

5. Buffalo Sabres (4-0-1)

Previous rank: 24

Personnel was never the main issue in Buffalo. New head coach Ralph Krueger is the right man to lead the charge in Western New York, and he'll capture the Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year.

6. Washington Capitals (3-1-2)

Previous rank: 11

In what will be his last season with the Capitals, Braden Holtby will be relegated to backup duties behind Ilya Samsonov, the club's goalie of the future and the present.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning (2-2-1)

Previous rank: 1

Brayden Point, who missed the Lightning's first three games, is the straw that stirs the drink. Even with Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman on the roster, Point is the club's most complete player.

8. Vegas Golden Knights (4-2-0)

Previous rank: 5

Two-way star Mark Stone, who's on pace for a career year offensively, will not only win the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, but he'll also garner serious Hart Trophy consideration.

9. St. Louis Blues (3-1-1)

Previous rank: 3

The Blues are as tough to play against as any team in the league. Last season's title wasn't just a second-half miracle. They're legit, and they will enjoy another deep playoff run.

10. Toronto Maple Leafs (3-2-1)

Previous rank: 6

William Nylander has come out of the gate playing the best of hockey of his career, and he'll finish the season with more points than teammate Mitch Marner.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (2-0-1)

Previous rank: 20

Not only have the Flyers found a legitimate No. 1 goalie in Carter Hart, but the 21-year-old will be the youngest netminder to win the Vezina Trophy since Tom Barrasso did it as an 18-year-old in 1983-84 (Jim Carey won in his age-21 campaign in 1995-96, but he'd turned 22 by season's end).

12. Nashville Predators (3-2-0)

Previous rank: 8

After the addition of Matt Duchene, combined with the decline of Pekka Rinne, the Predators will finish with a top-five offense for the second time in franchise history, but they'll end up in the bottom half of the league in goals against for the first time since 2013-14.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2-0)

Previous rank: 14

A healthy Kris Letang is more important to the Penguins than a healthy Evgeni Malkin. The next month or so will provide the evidence.

14. Winnipeg Jets (4-3-0)

Previous rank: 16

Though they have offensive firepower, the Jets don't boast a formidable enough blue line to make the postseason.

15. Calgary Flames (2-3-1)

Previous rank: 7

David Rittich has started five of Calgary's first six games, but it'll be Cam Talbot who eventually runs away with the No. 1 gig.

16. Anaheim Ducks (4-1-0)

Previous rank: 28

John Gibson is the best goalie in the league, and it isn't close. With a new voice behind the bench in Dallas Eakins, the Ducks shouldn't be slept on as a playoff contender.

17. Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0)

Previous rank: 23

Jacob Markstrom's stellar play in the crease has jolted the Canucks to begin the campaign. With the talented Thatcher Demko playing second fiddle, Vancouver's goaltending tandem looks like it has enough game to propel it to the playoffs.

18. Montreal Canadiens (2-1-2)

Previous rank: 17

Jonathan Drouin has finally arrived in Montreal. The 24-year-old forward has six points in five contests and will keep the club in the wild-card race while becoming the first Canadiens player to eclipse the 80-point mark this decade.

19. San Jose Sharks (2-4-0)

Previous rank: 4

Martin Jones is not who we thought he was. The 29-year-old puck-stopper has carried his subpar play from last season into 2019-20 with 13 goals against and an .887 save percentage through four starts. San Jose won't get the goaltending it needs to separate from the pack and will find itself in a tight playoff race all season.

20. New York Rangers (2-1-0)

Previous rank: 19

Despite adding Artemi Panarin and Kappo Kakko this offseason, Mika Zibanejad is the best and most important player on the Rangers. The Swedish center already has eight points in three games this season and should be named the franchise's next captain.

21. Detroit Red Wings (3-2-0)

Previous rank: 30

Anthony Mantha's goal-scoring ability has finally translated from junior to the NHL level. Come March, the Red Wings will likely be near the bottom of the standings, but Mantha's name will still be bandied about when discussing the "Rocket" Richard Trophy race.

22. New York Islanders (2-3-0)

Previous rank: 18

The Islanders have only mustered 11 goals in five contests and haven't received the same all-world goaltending that helped them to 47 wins last season. Inking netminder Semyon Varlamov for $20 million over four years was a mistake, and New York will end the year closer to a lottery position than a postseason berth.

23. Florida Panthers (1-2-2)

Previous rank: 13

It's happening again. The Panthers are off to another slow start as their record falls to 7-12-6 in October since 2017. In an Atlantic Division that offers little room for error, the Panthers will once again miss the postseason by a sliver.

24. Los Angeles Kings (2-3-0)

Previous rank: 29

It's been a nightmare between the pipes for Jonathan Quick. The veteran has allowed 19 goals on 92 shots through three starts. Jack Campbell has a pair of wins despite posting mediocre numbers and will earn more starts than Quick this season.

25. Columbus Blue Jackets (2-3-0)

Previous rank: 27

Sergei Bobrovsky's departure could set the Blue Jackets back years. Joonas Korpisalo has been subpar as the starting netminder and youngster Elvis Merzlikins was shelled for seven goals in his NHL debut.

26. Arizona Coyotes (1-2-1)

Previous rank: 22

The Coyotes still can't find the back of the net and Phil Kessel has not come as advertised. The perennial goal-scorer has yet to find twine through his first four games with the club, and his lack of production will lead to the demise of Arizona's playoff aspirations.

27. Dallas Stars (1-4-1)

Previous rank: 12

The Stars' top talents are past their prime. Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, Tyler Seguin, and Alex Radulov have combined for four goals in six games, and the club's offensive deficiencies will hinder its playoff chances in a competitive Central Division.

28. Ottawa Senators (1-3-0)

Previous rank: 31

The Senators' victory over the Lightning shows that they're to be taken seriously on a nightly basis. Maybe Ottawa isn't the worst team in the Eastern Conference after all?

29. Chicago Blackhawks (0-2-1)

Previous rank: 21

The Blackhawks made an assertive effort to bolster their defensive depth this summer, but they're winless through three games and have allowed 12 goals. Chicago looks poised to be the league's most entertaining non-playoff team once again.

30. New Jersey Devils (0-3-2)

Previous rank: 15

After an exciting summer, the new-look Devils are the league's biggest disappointment. Is John Hynes the right man for the job? A new voice behind the bench could serve the club well.

31. Minnesota Wild (0-4-0)

Previous rank: 26

The Wild can't keep the puck out of their net and lack the firepower up front to keep games balanced. Mats Zuccarello's five-year, $30-million deal is the worst signing of the offseason and Devan Dubnyk's best days are in the rearview. General manager Bill Guerin will be a big-time seller at the trade deadline.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

This week, ex-NHL winger Mike Cammalleri joins the show to discuss a wide range of topics:

• Why he's helping to create a CBD-infused sports drink
• Origins of BioSteel, a popular supplements company
• Why 5-foot-9 forwards like Mike fit well in the modern NHL
• The story behind a mid-game trade from Montreal to Calgary
• Playing with Iginla, Giordano, Kopitar, McDavid, etc.

...and more!

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Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

10. Victor Hedman, Lightning

You can't discuss who the league's top defenseman is without almost immediately mentioning Hedman. The 6-foot-6 Swede is dominant at both ends of the ice and ranks third among NHL defensemen in points (236) over the past four seasons. Hedman has finished in the top three in Norris Trophy voting in three consecutive campaigns, including his win in 2018.

9. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins

Malkin can take over games like no other player in the NHL - when he wants to. The problem is that when he doesn't want to, he can hurt his team, which was the case for much of last season. The two-time Art Ross winner could easily bounce back this season if he's up for it. He at least sounds motivated, and that should scare opponents.

8. Erik Karlsson, Sharks

The highest-rated defenseman in our top 100, Karlsson was significantly hampered by injury last season and still managed to record 45 points in 53 games plus 16 more points in the playoffs. When healthy, the smooth-skating Shark is arguably the best offensive-minded blue-liner in the game and a perennial Norris Trophy contender.

7. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

Injuries have slowed Matthews over the last couple of seasons, but he's been ultra-productive when healthy, posting more than half a goal per game and over a point per contest in 2018-19. He's among the NHL's best snipers and brightest stars at 22 years old.

6. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

One of the league's most electrifying players is geared up for another season of "Showtime" in Chicago. The 30-year-old Kane showed why he's one of the most elite players in the game with a career-best 44-goal, 110-point season in 2018-19. Sitting at 938 career points, Kane will become the youngest American-born player to join the 1,000-point club if he can do it this season.

5. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

You know a player is special when his Hockey Reference page is covered in bold print, signaling a league leader. Ovechkin has won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy eight times and has led the NHL in shots 11 times. Even if he doesn't catch Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record, the Great Eight should be considered the best pure goal-scorer in hockey history based on era-adjusted stats.

4. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche

After four decent but not great seasons to begin his career, MacKinnon emerged at age 22 as one of the best players in hockey during the 2017-18 season. Since then, the former first overall pick has notched 196 points in 156 games and enters the season as a Hart Trophy favorite.

3. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

Sure, he plays on a stacked team, but Kucherov was a worthy Hart winner in June after leading the NHL in points and assists. The dynamic Russian forward's production has increased in all five campaigns since his rookie year in 2013-14, and while it might be hard to top 128 points, he's one of only a handful of players in the league who could conceivably do it.

2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

Crosby proved last season that he's got plenty left in the tank with his first 100-point campaign since 2013-14. He may no longer be the consensus top talent in the league, but he's still arguably the most important face of the game. It will be a privilege to watch him add to his legacy in the back half of his career as the Penguins look to stay near the top of a competitive Metropolitan Division.

1. Connor McDavid, Oilers

For the second straight season, McDavid is our consensus No. 1 overall player, and rightly so. Nobody's more dominant than 97. He's the most explosive skater the game has ever seen, and the things he can do with the puck on his stick while at top gear are simply remarkable. Watching McDavid play hockey is a treat, and we should never take it for granted.

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