Heading into the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, theScore's Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman make their picks for the first round, conference finals, Stanley Cup Final, and Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

The Panthers managed to squeak into the playoffs last season before going on a Stanley Cup Final run. This time, they enter as the top seed in the Atlantic looking to build from last year's success. Our editors expect Florida to get revenge on its in-state rivals after the Lightning swept the Panthers in the second round in 2022, with just one editor thinking Tampa Bay can find some of its former postseason magic.

The Maple Leafs finally made it out of the first round for the first time in nearly two decades in 2023. Now they again meet a team that's caused them so much heartache. The Bruins won all four meetings between the two during the regular season, and the majority of our editors see that trend continuing in the playoffs. However, everyone expects this series to go long.

The Capitals have a date with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers after earning their postseason berth in their final game of the season with a little help from the Flyers. The 23-point differential between Washington and New York is the largest of any of the eight opening-round matchups. Our editors don't forsee the Rangers facing too much of a test.

In a rematch of last season's first round that saw the Hurricanes oust the Islanders in six games, we don't predict much of a difference a year later. As with the other Metro Division series, our editors have made a unanimous selection.

The Stars captured the top spot in the West with one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. For their reward, they get the defending champs as their opening opponent. These two met in last year's Western Conference Final, with Vegas emerging as the victor in six games on the way to its first Stanley Cup win. While our editors feel a close series is likely, the majority expects Dallas to take it this time.

The 2022 Stanley Cup champions were disappointed with their first-round exit to the Kraken last year, but the Avalanche are back looking for their second title in three years. However, the Jets enter the series with home-ice advantage after the second-best regular season in franchise history. Despite a potential Game 7 in Winnipeg, our editors mostly expect an Avalanche victory in a lengthy series.

While the Canucks got off to a blazing start in 2023-24, it's the Predators who come into the postseason red-hot after being written off at the trade deadline. Vancouver and Nashville present the most evenly split matchup of the first round, with four of our seven editors picking the Preds to take the series and everyone predicting it to go at least six games.

The Kings and Oilers meet in the first round for the third consecutive season, and just like the last two years, our editors see Edmonton taking the series. With the history between these two, and the Oilers winning three of the four regular-season games, this series marks the third unanimous selection of the first round.

Most of our editors have the Hurricanes making a return trip this season, with more than half predicting Carolina as the East's representative in the Stanley Cup. Five editors see the Canes' conference final opponent last year, the Panthers, also making it back. However, only two see Florida making it back to the Cup final.

The Stars and Oilers appear to be the most popular picks to reach the West final, with all seven editors selecting Edmonton to emerge from the Pacific Division. Despite that, Dallas has the edge among our editors in actually making the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in five years.

There's no true consensus among our editors on who'll lift Lord Stanley's mug this year, with the Oilers (three), Stars (two), and Hurricanes (two) all receiving multiple votes. A Dallas-Carolina matchup appears to be the favorite to be the Cup final, with each team picked four times to reach the final. However, is this finally the first time since 1993 that a Canadian team wins the Cup?

McDavid and, in perhaps a bit of a surprise, Guentzel are the only two players to be selected by multiple editors to win playoff MVP. While the McDavid (or Draisaitl) selection is a pretty obvious pick if you think Edmonton will win the Cup for the first time since 1990, Guentzel has put up 25 points in 17 games since being dealt from Pittsburgh to Carolina. If the Hurricanes are to win it all, they'll need their deadline acquisition to have a big impact.

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Somehow, we've already reached the end of the regular season. That jarring fact means it's time to look back on the 82-game slate and pick who we think should win the NHL's six major annual awards. So our editors - Kyle Cushman, Mike Dickson, Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman - did exactly that.

We've been ranking four of these (Hart, Norris, Vezina, and Calder) monthly, so just like last year, the votes from the editors responsible for those honors are worth double the standard amount. We denoted those editors using asterisks in the charts.

Aside from the expert votes, the regular point system applies. That's three points for first, two for second, and one for third. Also, remember these are not actual award votes, which would be submitted to the PHWA. We simply created our own hypothetical ballots for this exercise.

Here's how our crew voted:

Jack Adams Award

Tocchet deserves credit for surprisingly guiding his Vancouver Canucks to the Pacific Division title about 16 months after replacing the fired Bruce Boudreau. He inherited a talented squad, but it still greatly exceeded expectations in his first full campaign behind Vancouver's bench.

Brunette has less to work with on the Nashville Predators, so it's no wonder he nearly matched Tocchet in our voting. Brunette and general manager Barry Trotz famously forbade their players from seeing U2 at The Sphere during a February stop in Las Vegas. Nashville went 14-0-2 in 16 games after that and completely turned around its season.

Knoblauch resurrected the Edmonton Oilers upon taking over in mid-November (though he also inherited a good team featuring two of the best players in the league). Montgomery - the reigning winner of this award - kept the Patrice Bergeron-less Boston Bruins competitive.

Selke Trophy

Barkov wins unanimously here in what would be his second Selke triumph in the last four seasons. The Florida Panthers captain is always in the conversation for this honor, as he's been one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL for nearly a decade.

Matthews' defensive game has dramatically improved over the last few seasons, and only Evgeni Malkin had more takeaways than the Toronto Maple Leafs sniper among NHL skaters in 2023-24. Matthews has never been a Selke finalist, but he deserves to be one this time.

Hintz, Suzuki, Kopitar, Staal, and Reinhart round out our downballot votes, and a case can be made for any of them to finish third. Each forward has demonstrated defensive prowess while contributing to varying degrees offensively.

Calder Trophy

This one might've been unanimous had Bedard not missed 14 games with a broken jaw, but Faber deserves praise for playing the final two months with broken ribs. However, it's hard to argue Bedard isn't worthy of claiming the Calder. Despite missing time, the Chicago Blackhawks phenom still led all rookies in goals (22), assists (39), and points (61).

It's also impressive that Faber and Hughes tied for second among the class in points (47) considering they're defensemen, and the Minnesota Wild blue-liner logged nearly 25 minutes per game (24:58) to top all rookie skaters. The New Jersey Devils rearguard helped quarterback his team's power play and recorded over 21 minutes per contest.

Norris Trophy

Luke's brother, Quinn, had himself a season that rightfully earns him first-place votes across the board here. The Canucks defenseman led all NHLers at the position in assists (75), points (92), and even-strength points (54) while tying for 10th among the league's skaters in average ice time (24:41).

Josi topped all blue-liners in goals (23) and shots on goal (268) and ranked third in points (85). That's a commendable campaign for a player who turns 34 on June 1, especially since his analytic figures were also favorable.

Makar - who, like Josi, has won the Norris before - had a very good 2023-24, even by his lofty standards. Considering the dominance of his two aforementioned counterparts, it feels right that our crew collectively tabbed Makar as the third-place finisher.

Vezina Trophy

Everyone in our crew agrees on this one, and with good reason. Hellebuyck is a lock to be a finalist for the fourth time in his career and should take home the hardware for the second time after winning it in 2019-20. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender led all NHL netminders who played at least 28 games in save percentage (.921) while ranking third in games played (60) and second in victories (37).

Hellebuyck also led the league by wide margins in goals saved above expected (32.81) and goals saved above average (29.77) at five-on-five. Demko finished second to the Jets goalie among qualified netminders in save percentage (.918) with just two fewer wins while playing nine fewer games.

Bobrovsky showed few signs of decline at age 35, winning 36 contests in 58 appearances. He posted a .915 save percentage and tied for the league lead with six shutouts.

Hart Trophy

MacKinnon has come up short numerous times in past MVP races, but he's made it abundantly clear that this should be his year. The Colorado Avalanche superstar led all NHL skaters in standings points above replacement, wins above replacement, and goals above replacement this season. His expected goals for and scoring for percentages were superb, and his conventional stats were sublime.

Matthews fell short of 70 goals, but his 69 tallies were the most by an NHLer since Mario Lemieux notched the same number in 1995-96. Given his exceptional offensive exploits and his success on the defensive end, the American center would be a worthy Hart runner-up.

McDavid managed to post 100 assists in 2023-24 despite missing six games, and Kucherov did the same. The Tampa Bay Lightning winger led the NHL with 144 points, but he collected 53 of those on the power play, and his above-replacement numbers weren't as strong as his three competitors here. Matthews and McDavid rank second and third, respectively, in all three (SPAR, WAR, and GAR), which illustrates their elite all-around play.

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

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This is the 14th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign and the first for the playoffs. Check back after Round 1 for updated rankings.

In this edition, we rank the 16 postseason teams.

1. New York Rangers (55-23-4)

Previous rank: 1

Yes, we know about the Presidents' Trophy curse. Only eight teams have ever won the Stanley Cup after holding the mantle as the league's best regular-season squad, and we all saw what happened to the Bruins last year. However, putting the Rangers anywhere else just didn't make sense thanks to the sheer amount of star power and depth they have.

2. Dallas Stars (52-21-9)

Previous rank: 2

The Stars are riding high after winning 12 of their last 14 games to claim the top seed in the West. They're one of the NHL's most complete teams, but their chances of success likely live and die with Jake Oettinger. Dallas will need the goalie to be better than he was last spring to win it all.

3. Florida Panthers (52-24-6)

Previous rank: 9

Florida snatched the Atlantic Division crown thanks to a four-game heater to end its schedule. The Panthers fully look the part of a contender with stingy defense, strong goaltending, offensive game-breakers, and a tenacious play style that can drive opponents wild throughout a series.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (52-23-7)

Previous rank: 4

The Hurricanes lost out on a division title but are rightfully overwhelming favorites for their first-round clash against the Islanders. Carolina is an elite defensive team and has benefitted greatly from some late-season roster reinforcements. The club is 15-4-1 since adding Jake Guentzel - who has 25 points in that span - while goaltender Frederik Andersen is 9-1-0 with a .951 save percentage since returning to the crease.

5. Winnipeg Jets (52-24-6)

Previous rank: 8

Life is pretty good right now for the Jets. They're entering the playoffs on an eight-game win streak and finished second in the Central, their highest placement since 2019. Winnipeg's reward? A first-round meeting with the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Avalanche. Luckily for the Jets, they have Connor Hellebuyck, the likely Vezina Trophy winner, between the pipes.

6. Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6)

Previous rank: 6

The Oilers' putrid start to the regular season feels like a lifetime ago, and they've been one of the league's best teams since Kris Knoblauch took over. It's difficult imagining Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl taking a step back from their usual playoff dominance, and Edmonton has a favorable draw in the Pacific Division. If goaltending holds up, this group is tough to beat.

7. Vancouver Canucks (50-23-9)

Previous rank: 7

The Canucks are back in the playoffs sooner than many expected, but they limped to a division title down the stretch with an 8-6-2 record after Thatcher Demko got hurt. If he's fully healthy, Vancouver's certainly a threat in the West, but only having two games under his belt before ramping up to playoff intensity gives us pause.

8. Boston Bruins (47-20-15)

Previous rank: 3

Boston finished this season with 26 fewer points than in 2022-23. That sounds bad, but the Bruins were just freakishly good last year. They still managed to finish with over 100 points this campaign despite the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Boston will undoubtedly be hungry to avenge last spring's upset at the hands of the Panthers.

9. Colorado Avalanche (50-25-7)

Previous rank: 5

After winning the Central for two straight seasons, the Avalanche had to settle for third place this time. Much of that is down to Alexandar Georgiev's occasionally shaky goaltending, which remains their biggest weakness. Colorado might get captain Gabriel Landeskog back, but last time we checked, he isn't a goalie.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8)

Previous rank: 11

The Golden Knights haven't quite looked like themselves for the past few months, but doubting the reigning Stanley Cup champions doesn't feel wise at all. Vegas has been steamrolled by injuries, but if it can get fully healthy with captain Mark Stone back, then it'll certainly pose a problem for a Stars team looking to make a deep run.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (46-26-10)

Previous rank: 10

The Maple Leafs enter the playoffs on a four-game skid, allowing 22 goals over that span. Perhaps Auston Matthews' pursuit of 70 goals was a distraction from the team's overall game, but Toronto will have to tighten up quickly if it's to have any hope of beating a Boston team that convincingly swept the regular-season series.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (45-29-8)

Previous rank: 13

The Lightning don't boast strong even-strength metrics but can swing any game thanks to a top-ranked power play and fifth-ranked penalty kill. Tampa also has arguably the ultimate playoff X-factor in Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Bolts aren't the same team that went to three straight finals but shouldn't be taken too lightly.

13. Nashville Predators (47-30-5)

Previous rank: 14

The Predators don't strike the average fan as a Cup contender, but they've been one of the Western Conference's best teams in 2024. They've accrued the same number of wins (27) as their first-round adversary in the Canucks. Nashville has a supremely talented core, a capable goalie, and strong five-on-five metrics, all of which they'll need to reach Round 2.

14. Los Angeles Kings (44-27-11)

Previous rank: 12

The Kings ran out of steam after a blistering start to the regular season and will have their hands full against the Oilers for the third straight opening round. Maybe the third time's the charm for Los Angeles, but goaltending is a huge question mark, and the talent disparity largely favors Edmonton.

15. New York Islanders (39-27-16)

Previous rank: 16

New York improved slightly under new head coach Patrick Roy, which was enough to finish in third place in the Metropolitan. However, the Islanders are set to meet Carolina in the first round for the second straight year. The Hurricanes took care of business in six games last spring.

16. Washington Capitals (40-31-11)

Previous rank: 18

Look, it's admirable that the Capitals scratched and clawed their way into the postseason, but their time in the playoffs will probably be short-lived. The Rangers pose a daunting challenge for Washington and its minus-37 goal differential.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This is the 13th and final in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings before the playoffs begin.

In this edition, we break down each team's best hope to win an individual award at the end of the season. Note that most awards are legit, but some have been creatively thought up.

1. New York Rangers (53-21-4)

Previous rank: 2

Artemi Panarin (Hart Trophy). The "Bread Man" has been on the fringes of the MVP discussion or better for most of the season. He's not going to win it, and he may not even be a finalist. But Panarin has carried the Blueshirts in 2023-24 with nearly 40 more points than his next-closest teammate.

2. Dallas Stars (49-20-9)

Previous rank: 6

Miro Heiskanen (Norris Trophy). Much like Panarin's quest for the Hart, Heiskanen isn't a favorite to win the Norris, but he's been a down-ballot contender. He's had a stellar season defensively - staking his claim as arguably the best blue-liner in the league in that regard - along with being strong offensively.

3. Boston Bruins (46-17-15)

Previous rank: 7

Jim Montgomery (Jack Adams Award). Nobody has won the award in consecutive years since Jacques Demers from 1987-88, but Montgomery is as deserving as any. He more than likely won't win, but the job "Monty" has done keeping the Bruins a powerhouse after losing Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and others in the offseason is truly remarkable.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (49-22-7)

Previous rank: 3

Frederik Andersen (Bill Masterton Trophy). Andersen was sidelined for four months due to a blood-clot issue but has been outstanding between the pipes since his return, sporting an 8-1-0 record with a .954 save percentage. There may be no better candidate for the NHL's perseverance award.

5. Colorado Avalanche (48-24-6)

Previous rank: 1

Nathan MacKinnon (Hart Trophy). MacKinnon has long been the bridesmaid, but never the bride. That should change this year when the three-time finalist - and two-time runner-up - takes home the award for most valuable player. Others have compelling cases, but we get the feeling voters will skew toward a first-time winner. "Nate Dogg" is more than deserving, too.

6. Edmonton Oilers (47-24-5)

Previous rank: 8

Connor McDavid (Art Ross Trophy). Look, McDavid is always the Oilers' best shot at winning an individual award, and this season is no different. We easily could have put him down for the Hart Trophy, but we've pegged him to win his fourth straight Art Ross Trophy. The superstar leads the league with 120 points in 63 games since Edmonton's coaching change.

7. Vancouver Canucks (47-22-8)

Previous rank: 4

Quinn Hughes (Norris Trophy). Hughes is the favorite to win, leading all defensemen with 86 points. He's also morphed into a true 200-foot player by cleaning up his defensive game. Cale Makar and Roman Josi make strong cases, but expect Hughes to take home his first Norris after a career year.

8. Winnipeg Jets (47-24-6)

Previous rank: 10

Connor Hellebuyck (Vezina Trophy). The Jets' workhorse goaltender is primed to win the award for the second time in his career, leading all netminders with 35.9 goals saved above expected. His .920 save percentage is also the best among goalies with at least 30 starts.

9. Florida Panthers (48-24-6)

Previous rank: 5

Aleksander Barkov (Selke Trophy). The Panthers captain leads all NHL centers in defensive goals above replacement, putting him on track to win the award for the second time in his career. With Bergeron out of the picture, Barkov could have a few more Selkes in his future.

10. Toronto Maple Leafs (44-23-9)

Previous rank: 13

Auston Matthews (Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy). Matthews has it locked up for the third time in four years with a staggering 64 goals in 75 games. He has six games left to reach 70 goals, a feat that hasn't been accomplished in over 30 years. If he gets there, he'll have a compelling Hart Trophy case. Matthews could also be a Selke Trophy finalist after killing penalties for the first time in his career.

11. Vegas Golden Knights (42-26-8)

Previous rank: 14

Most Annoying Team Award. At least according to all the other fan bases. The Golden Knights have come under fire for their crafty usage of LTIR, which allowed them to add Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha. Nothing fishy is happening here, if you ask GM Kelly McCrimmon. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

12. Los Angeles Kings (41-25-11)

Previous rank: 11

Jekyll and Hyde Award. It's been a tale of two seasons for the Kings. They lost more games than they won (23-15-10) before firing Todd McLellan on Feb. 2 but have gone 18-10-1 since the coaching change with largely the same roster. The Oilers would probably win this if it were real, but Los Angeles would definitely have a shot at it.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-27-7)

Previous rank: 12

Nikita Kucherov (Art Ross Trophy). Kucherov's poor defensive game should prevent him from making a serious run at the Hart Trophy - especially compared to two-way centers MacKinnon, McDavid, and Matthews - but he has a good shot to take the Art Ross, as he leads the league with 136 points.

14. Nashville Predators (45-29-4)

Previous rank: 9

Gustav Nyquist (Lady Byng Trophy). Josi has a chance at the Norris, but we thought it would be fitting to highlight Nyquist, who would be a good choice for the award that goes to the player who displays sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and high-level playing ability. The 34-year-old shattered his previous career high in points and has only tallied eight penalty minutes.

15. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-30-11)

Previous rank: 25

Sidney Crosby (Mark Messier Leadership Award). Sid likely won't be a Hart finalist, but if he drags the Penguins to the playoffs, he'll get some down-ballot love and could finish fifth. The Penguins captain is also a strong candidate for the Messier, which he previously won in 2009-10. Sid hit the 40-goal mark for the third time on Saturday and recently became the second player in NHL history with 19 straight point-per-game seasons.

16. New York Islanders (35-27-15)

Previous rank: 20

Noah Dobson (Norris Trophy). He won't win, but Dobson is in line for a top-five finish for the league's top defenseman honor. The 24-year-old has been the Islanders' most valuable player, ranking second on the team with 68 points in 77 games.

17. Detroit Red Wings (38-31-8)

Previous rank: 19

Dylan Larkin (Red Wings-Specific Hart Trophy). Detroit's captain doesn't have any hope of winning the actual MVP award, but the Red Wings have shown this season that they really need him in the lineup. They're 34-21-8 with Larkin and 4-10-0 without him in 2023-24. He's healthy now, and that makes a difference for a team fighting for a wild-card spot.

18. Washington Capitals (36-30-11)

Previous rank: 15

Alex Ovechkin (Old Man Strength Award). Ovi's still got it at 38 years old. He's just one goal away from notching 30 for the 18th time in 19 seasons (the lone time he fell short came in the COVID-19-shortened 2021 campaign). Ovechkin needs just 43 tallies to tie Wayne Gretzky's all-time record for a career, and it would be unwise to bet against him.

19. St. Louis Blues (41-32-5)

Previous rank: 17

Joel Hofer (You're Dead To Me Award). Hofer's been a solid streaming option in fantasy this season, boasting comparable numbers to starter Jordan Binnington. But those rightfully expecting him to notch two wins against the atrocious San Jose Sharks in a seven-day span this past week instead got a pair of defeats, which undoubtedly affected numerous fantasy playoff matchups.

20. Minnesota Wild (37-31-9)

Previous rank: 18

Brock Faber (Calder Trophy). The rookie defenseman has been a revelation for the Wild this season, and he's been admirably pushing Connor Bedard for the hardware. Faber ranks third among all first-year players with 43 points in 77 games while averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per contest.

21. Philadelphia Flyers (36-31-11)

Previous rank: 16

John Tortorella (Jack Adams Award). The only reason the skidding Flyers even have a chance at the playoffs is because of the tremendous job Torts has done behind the bench. His hard-nosed demeanor rubs certain people the wrong way, but it's hard to argue with the results. A third Jack Adams win for Tortorella is unlikely, though a top-five finish is in the cards.

22. Buffalo Sabres (37-36-5)

Previous rank: 24

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Exceeded Expectations Award). As a team, the Sabres would be in the mix for the Failed To Meet Expectations Award, if such a thing existed. But Luukkonnen has been one of the lone bright spots for Buffalo this season. He grabbed the reins in goal with surprisingly reliable play, buying Sabres goalie of the future Devon Levi some time to develop in the AHL.

23. New Jersey Devils (37-36-5)

Previous rank: 21

Most Baffling Choices Award. Few teams have left us as befuddled as the Devils this season. Yes, they eventually made the right choices in firing head coach Lindy Ruff and trading for a couple of goaltenders, but those moves happened in March with the Devils largely out of the playoff race. Who knows where New Jersey would be if GM Tom Fitzgerald acted sooner?

24. Seattle Kraken (32-31-13)

Previous rank: 23

Matty Beniers (Sophomore Skid Award). Beniers certainly isn't the first Calder winner to stumble in the following season. The 2021 second overall pick is playing almost a minute more per game in 2023-24 than he did a year ago, but that hasn't helped him build on his hardware-worthy exploits of 2022-23.

25. Arizona Coyotes (33-39-5)

Previous rank: 27

Michael Carcone (Cy Young Award). Carcone's goal-to-assist ratio of 21-to-8 most closely resembles a Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher's win-loss record. The 27-year-old journeyman has been a nice story for the Coyotes, as he only had six goals in 30 career games entering the season.

26. Ottawa Senators (34-39-4)

Previous rank: 29

theScore's Award for Excellence in Drama. The Senators' season hasn't been short on theatrics. They were docked a first-round pick, they fired their GM and head coach, a player was suspended half the season for violating gambling rules, that slap shot happened, and their captain just threw a fit over a post-buzzer empty-netter. It's been messy, OK?

27. Montreal Canadiens (29-36-12)

Previous rank: 26

Juraj Slafkovsky (Most Improved Player Award). Yes, we are stealing this from the NBA, but if the NHL gave out a similar trophy, the 2022 first overall pick would certainly be in contention. Slafkovsky has racked up 16 goals and 45 points in 77 games this season, a vast improvement from the 10 points he managed in his injury-riddled rookie campaign.

28. Calgary Flames (34-37-5)

Previous rank: 22

The "Extreme Makeover" Award. The Flames arguably underwent the most amount of change this season, dealing Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Hanifin. The makeover didn't make them prettier, but they aren't downright awful, either.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (26-40-12)

Previous rank: 28

Most Dysfunctional Franchise Award. Among teams that actually play in NHL-sized arenas, the Blue Jackets would be a shoo-in for this award. Columbus is in line for its second straight last-place finish in the Eastern Conference and has made the playoffs just six times in its 23-season history. This season was full of negative headlines, with the Mike Babcock saga, multiple trade requests, injuries, and a GM firing.

30. Chicago Blackhawks (23-49-5)

Previous rank: 30

Connor Bedard (Calder Trophy). The 2023 first overall pick has come as advertised with 22 goals and 59 points in 63 games in his first NHL season, and he's undoubtedly a front-runner for the hardware despite missing time with a broken jaw. Bedard is already the Blackhawks' main source of offense, and he's only 18.

31. Anaheim Ducks (25-48-5)

Previous rank: 31

Cam Fowler (Green Jacket). Masters week is here, so it's only fitting to note that Fowler (minus-37) is in contention for the Green Jacket, awarded to the NHL player with the worst plus-minus rating. It'll most likely go to somebody on our No. 32-ranked team, but we've seen epic comebacks at Augusta before.

32. San Jose Sharks (18-51-8)

Previous rank: 32

Michel Therrien Award. Remember when the former Pittsburgh coach famously said, "I really start to believe their goal is to be the worst defensive squad in the league" about the 2005-06 Penguins? That screams 2023-24 Sharks, who rank last in virtually every important defensive statistic this season and have no chance of winning an individual award.

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This is the 12th in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we're highlighting one eyebrow-raising statistic for each squad.

1. Colorado Avalanche (46-20-5)

Previous rank: 7

Nathan MacKinnon has been absurd on home ice this season. He has 28 goals, 76 points, and is a plus-22 in only 34 appearances at Ball Arena. With a point in every home contest so far, he's got a legitimate shot at reaching Wayne Gretzky's record 40-game home point streak.

2. New York Rangers (47-20-4)

Previous rank: 2

Artemi Panarin is one point away from 100, which will be a first in his career. When the Russian pulls it off - likely in his next game - he'll be the first Ranger to hit the century mark since Jaromir Jagr did it in 2005-06.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (45-20-7)

Previous rank: 6

The Hurricanes have allowed the fewest shots on goal per game (25.9). Carolina's lead is sizeable, too: The team allows nearly two fewer per contest (1.7) than the second-ranked Philadelphia Flyers.

4. Vancouver Canucks (45-18-8)

Previous rank: 3

Vancouver has 98 points with 11 more games to go, which is already a 15-point improvement from last season. Most people expected the Canucks to be better in 2023-24, but did anyone expect them to be this much better?

5. Florida Panthers (46-20-5)

Previous rank: 1

Remember when Matthew Tkachuk only had five goals in the 2023 portion of the season? The Panthers star has 18 since the turn of the calendar and went into Sunday tied for fourth in the league in points over that span.

6. Dallas Stars (44-19-9)

Previous rank: 5

The Stars' once-vaunted defense has declined this season, but it's not as ho-hum as their 13th-ranked goals against per game (entering Sunday's action) would indicate. In fact, the Stars started the day with the league's third-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes, allowing only 2.3 per night through 72 contests.

7. Boston Bruins (41-16-15)

Previous rank: 4

Could the Bruins' surprisingly strong season be a mirage? Sure, Boston's winning plenty of games, but the club is barely driving possession. The Bs sat 15th in the league in expected goals for percentage (50.64) going into Sunday. That doesn't bode well if they want to avoid a second straight first-round upset.

8. Edmonton Oilers (42-23-4)

Previous rank: 9

Connor McDavid is only nine assists away from 100, and he has 13 games to hit the mark. If he pulls it off, he'll be the first player to do it since Wayne Gretzky in 1990-91, and just the fourth player all-time to accomplish the feat alongside the Great One, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr.

9. Nashville Predators (42-25-4)

Previous rank: 11

The Predators have gone 15-0-2 in their last 17 games, a run which has been well-documented. That's a standout stat on its own, but Filip Forsberg has been an animal over that stretch, totaling 14 goals and 25 points. He's four tallies and seven points away from establishing new career highs.

10. Winnipeg Jets (44-22-5)

Previous rank: 8

Gabe Vilardi has played 32 fewer games than Pierre-Luc Dubois this season, but has more goals and trails him in points by only four. That's without factoring in Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and the extra second-round pick that allowed the Jets to go out and get Tyler Toffoli at the deadline. What a home-run deal for Kevin Cheveldayoff.

11. Los Angeles Kings (37-22-11)

Previous rank: 12

In what's been an up-and-down campaign in L.A., Quinton Byfield's breakout remains one of the Kings' most important developments. The 2020 second overall pick has 19 goals and 51 points in 68 games this season - he had just eight goals and 33 points in 99 career contests prior.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-25-7)

Previous rank: 14

The Lightning have picked up at least one point in their last seven games to help solidify their hold on a wild-card spot. Nikita Kucherov has racked up an outlandish 17 points over that span, including back-to-back four-point outings. Gross, dude.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-21-9)

Previous rank: 10

Auston Matthews scored his first empty-net goal of the season on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. Before that, he was on pace to score 70 with every single tally having been scored against a netminder.

14. Vegas Golden Knights (38-25-7)

Previous rank: 13

No Mark Stone, no problem for Jonathan Marchessault. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner is having a career year, but he's really turned up the dial since Stone went down. Marchessault leads Vegas with 10 goals in 14 games since Feb. 21. That's an increase from 0.54 per contest to 0.71.

15. Washington Capitals (35-26-9)

Previous rank: 17

Alex Ovechkin had only eight goals through 43 contests this season, forcing some to question whether he'd actually chase down Gretzky's goal record. With 16 goals in his last 23 outings, Ovechkin has reminded us that he'll inevitably become the NHL's all-time goal king.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (36-27-9)

Previous rank: 16

The fastest player in the NHL this season isn't Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon. It's Owen Tippett. The rapid winger has the highest top speed all season at 24.2 miles per hour, according to NHL Edge.

17. St. Louis Blues (38-30-3)

Previous rank: 22

The Blues are a respectable 25-16-2 under interim bench boss Drew Bannister, and their .605 points percentage since he took over ranks 13th in the league. It's not as stunning as St. Louis' midseason turnaround in 2019, but it's still pretty good.

18. Minnesota Wild (34-28-9)

Previous rank: 20

Brock Faber has been the Wild rookie receiving the most attention this season - and rightfully so - but let's not overlook Marco Rossi. The 22-year-old pivot has 20 goals and 37 points after recording just one assist in 20 previous NHL contests.

19. Detroit Red Wings (36-29-6)

Previous rank: 19

Uh, Patrick Kane's hips seem to be fine. The veteran has 16 goals and 39 points in 40 games after returning from offseason hip resurfacing surgery, a procedure which has not been too kind to NHLers in the past (sending good vibes to Nicklas Backstrom).

20. New York Islanders (30-26-15)

Previous rank: 15

Before the March 8 trade deadline, defenseman Noah Dobson was a point-per-game player with 64 in 62 outings. However, he's mustered just one assist in his last nine contests. It's not what we're used to from the rearguard, who forced his way into the Norris Trophy convo earlier this season.

21. New Jersey Devils (35-33-4)

Previous rank: 23

For a team that's struggled with goaltending all season long, Jake Allen's .923 save percentage across five appearances with the Devils is a breath of fresh air. The veteran struggled in his most recent start against the Senators, but he posted a clip above .940 in each of his four previous games.

22. Calgary Flames (33-32-5)

Previous rank: 21

The Flames' downfall last season was not winning enough one-goal games. They ranked third-last with a .375 win percentage in those situations. Calgary has improved in that regard, but not nearly enough. The club entered Sunday tied for 21st at .458 in 2023-24.

23. Seattle Kraken (28-29-13)

Previous rank: 18

The Kraken were eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend - a disappointing result after reaching the second round in their second season. But their goaltending situation should inspire some hope. Seattle came into Sunday with the fourth-best save percentage at five-on-five in the NHL (.925). Joey Daccord appears to be a real one.

24. Buffalo Sabres (34-33-5)

Previous rank: 24

Rasmus Dahlin has been an absolute workhorse for the Sabres this season. Since Jan. 1, nobody has played more per game. The Swede logged over 30 minutes in three contests, none of which even went to overtime.

25. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-30-10)

Previous rank: 25

Remember when the Penguins acquired Erik Karlsson, making us all think their star-studded power play would be explosive? Well, it's blown up, alright - and not in a good way. Pittsburgh went into Sunday tied with the Flames for the third-worst rate on the man advantage at 14.5%. Jake Guentzel's departure won't likely improve that number down the stretch.

26. Arizona Coyotes (29-37-5)

Previous rank: 27

Connor Ingram's first 30 games this campaign were promising, as he went 17-9-1 with a .919 save percentage. But the wheels have fallen off since then. The Canadian goalie is 2-9-2 with a .884 mark in 13 appearances since Jan. 25, and he allowed at least four goals in six of those contests.

27. Montreal Canadiens (26-32-12)

Previous rank: 26

Since mid-December, Juraj Slafkovsky has 13 goals and 31 points in 40 outings. The 2022 first overall pick has found his groove on the Canadiens' top line and his recent offensive breakout puts him on a trajectory to be a dominant power forward.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (23-36-12)

Previous rank: 28

Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in assists and points this season. But when your leading point producer has only 52 in 71 games, that's not exactly a harbinger of team success.

29. Ottawa Senators (30-36-4)

Previous rank: 30

The Senators have played 30 contests with a save percentage under .880 and are 1-28-1 in those contests. Above that mark, Ottawa is 29-8-3. Those splits are a massive reason why it's another disappointing year for the Senators.

30. Chicago Blackhawks (20-46-5)

Previous rank: 31

Connor Bedard has amassed 55 points in 57 contests this season, while the Blackhawks have scored 156 tallies in 71 games. That means the rookie has factored in on around one-third of Chicago's goals despite missing time with a broken jaw.

31. Anaheim Ducks (24-43-4)

Previous rank: 29

Olen Zellweger wasn't playing a big role when he first came up in January. But things have changed for the 20-year-old defenseman since then. He went into Sunday having averaged over 20 minutes of ice time in his 10 previous outings. The youngster has already worked his way up to the Ducks' top pairing.

32. San Jose Sharks (16-46-8)

Previous rank: 32

There are so many ugly stats associated with the Sharks, but the simplest distillation of their season is their minus-130 goal differential. Even the 31st-ranked Blackhawks aren't in triple digits (minus-99), and the 31-goal gap between them and San Jose is by far the largest among any two clubs in the NHL.

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This is the 11th in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this installment, with the trade deadline now in the books, we look at one player on each team who needs to step up down the stretch.

1. Florida Panthers (44-17-4)

Previous rank: 2

Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers chose to address the forward group rather than the blue line at the deadline, so they'll need their defensemen to step up if they want to reach the Stanley Cup Final again. It begins with Ekblad, who's had a tough season battling injuries. He began the year on LTIR and exited Florida's last game.

2. New York Rangers (41-18-4)

Previous rank: 1

Kaapo Kakko. Many Rangers fans are ready to cut ties with Kakko, but at just 23 years old, it's too early to completely write him off. If the 2019 No. 2 pick could find his confidence down the stretch, it would lengthen New York's lineup nicely.

3. Vancouver Canucks (42-17-7)

Previous rank: 3

Elias Lindholm. It can't possibly feel good for Lindholm to hear the rumors that the Canucks were looking to trade him shortly after acquiring him in an attempt to land Jake Guentzel. However, there'd be no better way for Lindholm to prove his worth to Vancouver by shifting into beast mode ahead of the playoffs.

4. Boston Bruins (38-13-15)

Previous rank: 4

Jake DeBrusk. In a contract year, there should be no shortage of motivation for DeBrusk. He's starting to produce more as of late, and if he's playing with an edge come playoff time, he can be extremely valuable.

5. Dallas Stars (40-17-9)

Previous rank: 5

Jake Oettinger. The Stars have arguably the deepest forward group in the league and a stellar blue line - especially after the addition of Chris Tanev. But they'll only go as far as Oettinger takes them. If his playoff performance is anything like his play this season, then it won't be very far. He's rocking a .900 save percentage and a minus-2.97 goals above expected.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (39-19-6)

Previous rank: 7

One goalie. Frederik Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov, Spencer Martin, or even Antti Raanta - it doesn't matter who, but the Hurricanes need one of their many goaltenders to be "the guy" by the time the postseason rolls around following the team's addition of Guentzel.

7. Colorado Avalanche (40-20-5)

Previous rank: 9

Gabriel Landeskog. Like, as in his recovery. The Avalanche will need their captain at 100% come playoff time to give them the best chance at being the last team standing in the Western Conference. The Knights loaded up, the Stars beefed up their defense, and the Oilers have those two freaks. A healthy Landeskog would give Colorado an extra edge.

8. Winnipeg Jets (40-18-5)

Previous rank: 6

Cole Perfetti. The sophomore struggles have been real for Perfetti of late. He has just two assists in his past 21 games and has been relegated to the fourth line. The 22-year-old rediscovering his form heading into the playoffs would transform Winnipeg's depth up front.

9. Edmonton Oilers (39-21-3)

Previous rank: 10

Darnell Nurse. The Oilers didn't address the blue line at the deadline, so they'll need the internal options to step up. The Ekholm-Bouchard pairing is money, but they need Nurse to be an anchor on the No. 2 pair. Nurse has fared better since being paired with Vincent Desharnais, which is a good sign.

10. Toronto Maple Leafs (37-19-8)

Previous rank: 8

John Tavares. The Maple Leafs captain is producing at the lowest goal and point rate since his rookie season in 2009-10. He has fewer five-on-five points than Max Domi and rookie Matthew Knies. That's simply not good enough from the $11-million center.

11. Nashville Predators (37-25-4)

Previous rank: 16

Cody Glass. The 2017 No. 6 pick was trending in the right direction last season after finally returning to health and was a solid secondary scorer. But this season has gone more like the rest of his career: inconsistent and injury-riddled.

12. Los Angeles Kings (32-20-11)

Previous rank: 15

Pierre-Luc Dubois. The much-maligned forward's first season in L.A. has been lacking in Hollywood glamor: Dubois has mustered just 28 points in 63 games and is a team-worst minus-19. The Kings will need him to step up to make it out of the playoffs' opening round for the first time since 2014.

13. Vegas Golden Knights (34-23-7)

Previous rank: 14

The goalies. Yeah, this is technically two players in Adin Hill and Logan Thompson, but Vegas has lost nine out of its last 12 games and lost ground in the playoff picture. Since the start of that skid on Feb. 12, Hill owns an .881 save percentage, while Thompson is at .882.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-25-6)

Previous rank: 12

Andrei Vasilevskiy. The talented goalie always has a lot on his plate, but he'll be even more vital to the Bolts down the stretch as they attempt to hang on to their playoff spot. Further complicating things is the absence of D-man Mikhail Sergachev, as GM Julien BriseBois was unable to find a suitable replacement. We hope you're well rested, Vasy.

15. New York Islanders (29-20-14)

Previous rank: 25

Anders Lee. The captain isn't quite leading by example amid his least productive season since 2015-16. With a $7-million price tag, that won't cut it if the Islanders want to sneak into the playoffs.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (33-24-8)

Previous rank: 13

The defense. The Flyers lost Sean Walker at the trade deadline, while the likes of Rasmus Ristolainen, Jamie Drysdale, and Nick Seeler are all hurt. Philadelphia will need to ask a lot of its rag-tag blue line heading into the postseason.

17. Washington Capitals (30-23-9)

Previous rank: 23

Alex Ovechkin. Just keep scoring goals, Ovi. The franchise icon has 10 in his last 16 contests, including a six-game streak. Maintaining that level down the stretch is hugely important not only for his chase of Wayne Gretzky but also for the Capitals' pursuit of a wild-card spot.

18. Seattle Kraken (28-24-11)

Previous rank: 21

Matty Beniers. The reigning Calder Trophy winner has taken a notable step back. On pace to score 21 fewer points than in his rookie season, the 21-year-old needs to regain his confidence.

19. Detroit Red Wings (33-25-6)

Previous rank: 11

Alex Lyon. The magic is starting to wear off for Lyon, who owns an .880 save percentage in his last 12 games after rocking a .924 look in his first 20. Ville Husso ain't it, and James Reimer is a true backup at this stage of his career. For the Wings to get into the playoffs, Lyon needs to drag them there - as he did with the Panthers a year ago.

20. Minnesota Wild (31-27-7)

Previous rank: 18

Filip Gustavsson. The Swede had a breakout campaign last year with a whopping .931 save percentage. That's fallen all the way down to .894 in his second year in Minnesota. Top prospect Jesper Wallstedt is knocking on the door and will soon be challenging him for the starting role.

21. Calgary Flames (31-28-5)

Previous rank: 17

Literally everyone. Maybe this is cheating, but if the Flames are going to ride their underdog narrative all the way into the playoffs, they'll need to do it by committee. They've lost Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin, but they're still hanging around in the wild-card race.

22. St. Louis Blues (32-29-3)

Previous rank: 19

Pavel Buchnevich. The Russian winger is having a good season, but he's also a strong candidate to get traded in the summer. A hot end to the campaign would boost his trade value and potentially net the Blues a greater return.

23. New Jersey Devils (31-29-4)

Previous rank: 20

Jake Allen. The Devils' odds of making the playoffs are low, but they aren't zero. Hopes are largely going to rest on Allen's shoulders. No, he isn't Jacob Markstrom, but maybe the veteran Stanley Cup champ can provide some much-needed stability and calm in the crease.

24. Buffalo Sabres (30-30-5)

Previous rank: 26

Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres are without a captain after trading Kyle Okposo to the Panthers. Dahlin can continue building his case as the most logical successor to don the "C" by helping his team close out a disappointing campaign on a high note.

25. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-27-8)

Previous rank: 24

Mike Sullivan. No, not a player, but the seasoned head coach needs to find some way of getting through to every single Penguin not named Sidney Crosby. They look lost, and it'll be up to Sullivan to pull them out of this passionless funk.

26. Montreal Canadiens (24-30-10)

Previous rank: 29

Juraj Slafkovsky. It's been a much better sophomore campaign from the 2022 No. 1 pick, but he still has plenty of room for growth. Continuous improvement from Slafkovsky is vital for Montreal's long-term outlook.

27. Arizona Coyotes (26-34-5)

Previous rank: 27

Logan Cooley. The rookie had some flashy moments early, but overall his freshman campaign has been OK at best. Cooley heating up in the final few weeks would create excitement for the Coyotes amid a rough second half.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (22-32-10)

Previous rank: 28

Johnny Gaudreau. The 30-year-old is scoring at a career-low rate in another lost season in Columbus. Finishing the campaign strong and carrying positive momentum into the summer is important for the Blue Jackets star.

29. Anaheim Ducks (23-38-3)

Previous rank: 30

Trevor Zegras. Between drawn-out contract negotiations, underwhelming play, injury woes, and trade rumors, it's been a messy season for the 22-year-old. He'll want to finish his tumultuous season on a positive note when he returns from a broken ankle.

30. Ottawa Senators (25-33-4)

Previous rank: 22

Joonas Korpisalo. It's been an abysmal season for Korpisalo, who's sporting an .887 save percentage. That's not how anyone hoped the season would go after he inked a five-year, $20-million contract in the summer. Penciled in as one of Ottawa's goalies next season due to the contract, the Sens need Korpisalo to end the year on a high to give him some good mojo going into 2024-25.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (17-43-5)

Previous rank: 32

Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks really don't have much else going on, so it'll be on the 2023 first overall pick and likely Calder Trophy winner to continue providing the entertainment in the Windy City down the stretch. Sorry, kid.

32. San Jose Sharks (16-40-7)

Previous rank: 31

Literally no one. Keep losing! Maybe landing Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick at the 2024 draft will help soften the blow of losing Tomas Hertl. Probably not, though. That guy seems like a gem.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This is the 10th in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we look at each team's biggest trade-deadline need.

1. New York Rangers (39-17-3)

Previous rank: 5

A good forward. Probably two. The Rangers need a top-six right-winger with Blake Wheeler no longer in the picture, and they could use a third-line center following Filip Chytil's injury. Maybe there's a way for New York to satisfy both needs with one trade?

2. Florida Panthers (38-16-4)

Previous rank: 4

A top-nine winger. The Panthers are rolling and have already traded their next two first-round picks, so there isn't a need nor the assets to make a huge splash at the deadline. Florida does have some cap space to work with, so bringing in another solid winger would be worthwhile.

3. Vancouver Canucks (38-16-6)

Previous rank: 2

Another impact forward. The Canucks already made a significant move by bringing in Elias Lindholm, but that shouldn't stop them from remaining active in the forward market. Vancouver is reportedly eyeing Jake Guentzel, so clearly general manager Patrik Allvin feels similarly.

4. Boston Bruins (34-12-13)

Previous rank: 1

Center depth. The Bruins need to strengthen down the middle, and Patrice Bergeron ain't walking through the TD Garden doors. Boston is up against the cap and missed the boat on Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, so GM Don Sweeney will need to get creative.

5. Dallas Stars (35-16-8)

Previous rank: 6

A right-shot defenseman. The Stars' depth in that area was already a concern, but now Jani Hakanpaa and Nils Lundkvist are out with injuries. Dallas needs to fortify its blue line to boost its chances of coming out on top in the Western Conference.

6. Winnipeg Jets (36-15-5)

Previous rank: 9

Depth defense. Most contenders are scanning the thin market for defensive help, and the Jets are no exception. Having already made a move for a center, Winnipeg could benefit from solidifying its bottom pair or bringing in a sturdy seventh option if injuries strike.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (34-18-6)

Previous rank: 7

Insurance in net. Health concerns have kept Frederik Andersen on the sidelines and Antti Raanta has had an abysmal campaign, which has left the crease to Pyotr Kochetkov and waiver claim Spencer Martin. A reunion with someone like Alex Nedeljkovic could ease anxieties.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (33-16-8)

Previous rank: 14

A partner for Morgan Rielly. The Leafs' pairings of T.J. Brodie-Timothy Liljegren and Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe have been rolling, meaning Rielly has had to slot in next to William Lagesson since returning from suspension. GM Brad Treliving should prioritize finding his top blue-liner a right-shot stud to play with.

9. Colorado Avalanche (35-19-5)

Previous rank: 10

A backup goalie. The Avalanche could also use another center, but they need to stop running Alexandar Georgiev into the ground. He leads all goalies in games played (48) and owns a subpar save percentage (.899). Colorado should get him a capable running mate so he's fresh for the spring.

10. Edmonton Oilers (33-20-2)

Previous rank: 3

Top-six winger. There's a substantial drop-off in production from Edmonton's big guns to its depth guys. Ken Holland needs to shop for some reinforcements or hope the incumbents kick it into gear come playoff time.

11. Detroit Red Wings (32-20-6)

Previous rank: 13

A cheap veteran. Detroit is playing with house money en route to its first playoff berth since 2016, so it feels unlikely that Steve Yzerman will mess with the chemistry of his up-and-coming group. That said, if the Red Wings stay in playoff position, it would be sensible to find an experienced veteran - forward or defenseman - who could help the club's youngsters learn what it takes to win.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (32-23-5)

Previous rank: 12

A way to replace Mikhail Sergachev. The Bolts have an enviable amount of cap space at their disposal with the blue-liner on LTIR, but they don't have a ton of assets to take a big swing. Your move, GM Julien BriseBois.

13. Philadelphia Flyers (30-22-7)

Previous rank: 11

Focus on the task at hand. The Flyers are in prime position to make the playoffs in a year no one expected them to. Although they could recoup some strong assets for their players, keeping the band together is the smart play. Philadelphia is tough to play against and has a proven playoff tactician behind the bench. Making the playoffs - maybe even winning a round - would do wonders for Daniel Briere's rebuild.

14. Vegas Golden Knights (32-19-7)

Previous rank: 8

Clarity on Mark Stone's status. If the captain misses the rest of the regular season (again), the Golden Knights would have some extra money to work with at the deadline, allowing them to target some bigger fish. Jake Guentzel looks good in yellow; we bet he'd look good in gold, too.

15. Los Angeles Kings (29-17-10)

Previous rank: 16

Goalie help. Cam Talbot has cooled off considerably after a blazing start to the year, and suddenly the Kings once again find themselves needing stability between the pipes. They have the assets to outbid other contenders seeking goalie help, so they might as well go for it.

16. Nashville Predators (32-25-2)

Previous rank: 21

More future assets. Prospects and draft picks - those are what the Predators need. Already with 11 selections in the 2024 draft, GM Barry Trotz should continue to beef up the cupboards by selling off his handful of intriguing players on cheap, expiring contracts.

17. Calgary Flames (28-25-5)

Previous rank: 18

For contenders to pay up. A whole bunch of Stanley Cup hopefuls could use someone on the Flames to aid their pursuit of glory, from Noah Hanifin to Chris Tanev to Jacob Markstrom. Offers would need to be substantial for Calgary to justify blowing up a team that's still hanging around in the wild-card race.

18. Minnesota Wild (28-24-6)

Previous rank: 26

Right-side defense. The Wild are steadily creeping into the wild-card race, and the club appears to have bought in on pushing for the playoffs rather than selling. Minnesota's biggest area of need is a right shot on the blue line behind star rookie Brock Faber.

19. St. Louis Blues (30-25-2)

Previous rank: 15

A major offer for Pavel Buchnevich. The Blues were on the playoff bubble this time last year and sold off significant assets. They could go the same route again but have fewer shiny pieces to offer. Buchnevich is far and away St. Louis' best, and if someone wants to pay a steep price for the talented winger, let them.

20. New Jersey Devils (29-25-4)

Previous rank: 17

Jacob Markstrom. There's no beating around the bush here: Goaltending has been the Devils' biggest weakness, and the guy who could solve the problem seems to be available for the right price.

21. Seattle Kraken (24-22-11)

Previous rank: 22

Value for pending UFAs. The Kraken must be careful not to fall in love with the group that made the playoffs last season. Amid a step back, cashing in on players like Jordan Eberle and Alex Wennberg, rather than inking them to deals further into their 30s, is necessary this year.

22. Ottawa Senators (25-27-3)

Previous rank: 24

Business partners. The Senators are reportedly looking to buy and sell, as they're suddenly playing well in what appears to be a lost season. Making as many deals as possible might be what the franchise needs.

23. Washington Capitals (26-21-9)

Previous rank: 23

Draft picks. Washington's a long shot to make the playoffs but has a handful of useful pending UFAs. Snagging as many draft picks as possible to revamp a depleted farm system should be priority No. 1.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-21-8)

Previous rank: 20

A bangin' package for Guentzel. The pending UFA is the Penguins' biggest asset at the deadline, and GM Kyle Dubas has expressed a desire for his team to get younger. Go reel in some top-notch prospects.

25. New York Islanders (23-20-14)

Previous rank: 19

Get younger. Whether it's moving some aging players off the roster, adding younger talent, or both, the third-oldest team in the league needs to get its average age down.

26. Buffalo Sabres (27-27-4)

Previous rank: 27

An extension for Casey Mittelstadt. Buffalo's been a major disappointment this season, but quieting rumors of trading its leading scorer would be a small victory.

27. Arizona Coyotes (23-29-5)

Previous rank: 25

A young NHL defender. The Coyotes have an outrageous number of second and third-round picks in the coming drafts. Arizona doesn't need more picks, so GM Bill Armstrong should be aggressive and pursue any young players who become available, particularly on the back end.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-28-10)

Previous rank: 29

A contender to take Elvis Merzlikins. The Blue Jackets netminder is one of the bigger names on the goalie trade block but has a cumbersome contract and mediocre stats. Ending the trade saga would be a positive step forward for a franchise stuck in the mud.

29. Montreal Canadiens (22-28-8)

Previous rank: 28

A solution to the goalie problem. The Canadiens have been carrying three netminders - Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Cayden Primeau - all season. GM Kent Hughes is more or less comfortable continuing that way if the right offer doesn't come, but that isn't ideal.

30. Anaheim Ducks (20-35-3)

Previous rank: 30

A first-rounder. Centers are a hot commodity this time of year, and the Ducks have a good one to sell in Adam Henrique. Anaheim should be able to finagle a first-round pick for him based on trades involving pivots so far.

31. San Jose Sharks (15-36-5)

Previous rank: 31

Middle-round picks. It may come as a surprise that the Sharks only have two selections from Rounds 3-6 in the upcoming draft. Being able to take more swings in the middle of the draft will be key for a team so far away from contending.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (15-39-5)

Previous rank: 32

Destinations for all UFAs. Chicago has six pending UFAs on its roster and a major rebuild in the years ahead. The Blackhawks already have 26 picks in the next three drafts and might as well keep piling them up.

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Details on every deal made since the start of the season up to the trade deadline on Friday, March 8.

Feb. 2

Monahan heads to Jets for pair of picks

Note: Montreal receives the 2027 3rd-round pick if Winnipeg wins the 2024 Stanley Cup.

Jan. 31

Canucks acquire Lindholm in blockbuster with Flames

Notes: The 4th-round pick will become a 3rd-round pick if the Canucks make the conference finals. If Vancouver fails to make the conference finals, the Flames will get the better of the 4th-round picks the Canucks currently own.

Jan. 25

Penguins, Wild make minor deal

Jan. 11

Sabres send Cederqvist to Montreal

Jan. 8

Ducks swap Drysdale for rights to Gauthier

Jan. 6

Blackhawks add forward depth

Dec. 15

Kraken acquire Tatar

Canucks ship Studnicka to San Jose

Dec. 8

Bortuzzo heads to Long Island

Dec. 6

Sabres add Robinson

Note: Columbus only gets the pick if Robinson plays at least 45 games during the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Nov. 30

Zadorov dealt to Vancouver for pair of picks

Note: Flames receive the 5th-round pick the Canucks acquired in the Beauvillier trade. It will be the best of the Blackhawks' 5th-round picks.

Nov. 28

Blackhawks bring in Beauvillier

Note: The Canucks will get the best of the Blackhawks' 5th-round picks.

Nov. 26

Devils, Islanders make minor deal

Nov. 8

Lightning send Bogosian to Minnesota

Addison shipped to San Jose

Oct. 17

Penguins, Canucks swap duo

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This is the ninth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we pick one thing to love about each team.

1. Boston Bruins (32-11-9)

Previous rank: 3

Resilience. Despite losing franchise icons Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement - and a whole slew of other players to free agency/trades - Boston remains in first place in the Eastern Conference. It's hard not to appreciate the "Bruins way" - where success seems guaranteed even when the leadership torch is passed down to the next generation of players.

2. Vancouver Canucks (35-12-6)

Previous rank: 2

Rick Tocchet. The Canucks have looked like a completely different team during the head coach's first full season at the helm. Virtually every player has stepped up, but Tocchet has been the steady hand guiding Vancouver to the top of the standings.

3. Edmonton Oilers (30-17-1)

Previous rank: 1

Stuart Skinner. There's a lot to love about the Oilers now that things are going well for them, but we're going to spotlight the man between the pipes. His 21 wins since the coaching change in November are tied for the most in the league over that span.

4. Florida Panthers (33-15-4)

Previous rank: 4

Sam Reinhart's goal binge. We love to see a previously unheralded star pop off during a contract year. Reinhart's on a 61-goal pace and is due to cash in soon.

5. New York Rangers (33-16-3)

Previous rank: 8

Jonathan Quick's revival. If the NHL had a Comeback Player of the Year award (it should), Quick would likely be the leading candidate. After multiple down seasons, he looks like the goalie who led the Los Angeles Kings to two Stanley Cups again. At 38 and on an $850,000 contract, this was unexpected but needed given Igor Shesterkin's struggles.

6. Dallas Stars (32-14-6)

Previous rank: 7

Thomas Harley. The 22-year-old rearguard is having quite the breakthrough season. He's tied for the league lead with three overtime winners - two of which came in back-to-back games - and he's also earned some playing time on the top pair next to Miro Heiskanen.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (30-16-5)

Previous rank: 9

Those Whalers throwbacks. Some people don't like the Hurricanes dressing up as the team they used to be, but the threads they wore over the weekend were gorgeous.

8. Vegas Golden Knights (31-15-6)

Previous rank: 10

Adin Hill. He hasn't lost a game since returning from injury and makes Vegas a different team when he's between the pipes. Is Hill now the best option for Canada's international squads?

9. Winnipeg Jets (31-14-5)

Previous rank: 5

Goaltending. In the offseason, Laurent Brossoit said he wanted to form the league's strongest tandem with Connor Hellebuyck. Four months into the campaign, they're certainly up there (albeit with Hellebuyck shouldering the brunt of the work). Winnipeg boasts the NHL's best save percentage (.941) at five-on-five.

10. Colorado Avalanche (32-17-4)

Previous rank: 6

The three Ms. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen form arguably the NHL's best trio. MacKinnon and Makar in particular are two of the most electric players to watch in the entire league, making the Avs must-see TV.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (28-19-6)

Previous rank: 13

The underdog story. Nobody gave the Flyers much of a chance entering the season, but John Tortorella has his team sitting third in the Metro while playing an up-tempo, tenacious game that's entertaining to watch and embodies his personality, as well as the city's.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-20-5)

Previous rank: 12

Nikita Kucherov's in-season effort. Much can be said about the Lightning star irritating droves of fans by mailing in his performance at the Skills Competition, but when the hockey really counts, Kucherov is appointment viewing.

13. Detroit Red Wings (27-18-6)

Previous rank: 14

Looking playoff-ready. Detroit is firmly in the Eastern Conference race with 31 games to go, which is a welcome sight for one of the league's best markets after seven consecutive seasons near the bottom of the standings.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs (26-16-8)

Previous rank: 11

Auston Matthews' health. Yep, the two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner's hand looks OK to us. Matthews has already surpassed his goal total from last season to lead the league with a whopping 42 tallies in 49 games. His pursuit of 70 is alive and well.

15. St. Louis Blues (28-21-1)

Previous rank: 17

Robert Thomas' bounce back. The Blues forward caught a lot of flak during a down 2022-23 season but has responded with his first career All-Star nomination. He's also the only St. Louis player averaging at least one point per game.

16. Los Angeles Kings (24-15-10)

Previous rank: 16

Jim Hiller. OK, it's the smallest sample size imaginable, but the Kings shut out the extremely dangerous Oilers during his debut behind the bench on Saturday. Boy, was Los Angeles in sore need of a win exactly like that.

17. New Jersey Devils (25-21-4)

Previous rank: 15

Young defensemen. Luke Hughes (20) and Simon Nemec (19) are playing major minutes as NHL rookies and thriving. The Devils haven't quite met expectations this season, but their future is in excellent hands.

18. Calgary Flames (25-22-5)

Previous rank: 25

MacKenzie Weegar. Thanks to his first career hat trick Saturday, Weegar now leads all defensemen with 15 goals - including 14 at even strength - in 52 contests. You absolutely love to see it from the 2013 seventh-rounder.

19. New York Islanders (22-18-12)

Previous rank: 20

Patrick Roy. The NHL is a better league with Roy in it. While the Islanders haven't necessarily taken off since making the coaching change, the Hall of Fame goaltender's fiery competitiveness behind the bench instantly makes the club that much more likeable.

20. Pittsburgh Penguins (23-19-7)

Previous rank: 19

Sidney Crosby. Duh. Was there really another option here? The 36-year-old is on pace for around 47 goals and 87 (ha) points this season. He's a freak of nature. Next.

21. Nashville Predators (27-23-2)

Previous rank: 21

Hope for middle-aged people. Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist are enjoying major bounce-back seasons - and some of the best of their careers - at ages 33 and 34, respectively. It's a great message for the common person: If you work hard and put yourself in the right environment, it's never too late to find success.

22. Seattle Kraken (21-20-10)

Previous rank: 18

Joey Daccord. The Kraken goaltender became an easy player to root for after picking up his first NHL win with the Senators in 2021 when he gave a heartfelt postgame interview. It's great to see him thrive with a season that will warrant some down-ballot Vezina Trophy consideration.

23. Washington Capitals (23-20-8)

Previous rank: 23

Alex Ovechkin. After a slow start to the campaign, the Russian Machine is starting to gain some steam. With goals in five straight games, Ovi's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record is still alive and well.

24. Ottawa Senators (21-25-2)

Previous rank: 26

Empty-net slap shots. Ridly Greig stirred the pot in a major way with his howitzer into a yawning cage against the Maple Leafs, and while opinions on Morgan Rielly's reaction may vary, almost all hockey fans can agree that rivalries make the sport better.

25. Arizona Coyotes (23-23-4)

Previous rank: 24

The future. It's been another tough season in the desert. The team has come down to earth after a hot start, and there's once again no shortage of off-ice distractions. But the future remains bright. There's lots of young talent on the team - and more coming through the system. Hopefully, there'll be some clarity on the team's home soon (Salt Lake City, perhaps?).

26. Minnesota Wild (23-23-5)

Previous rank: 28

Marc-Andre Fleury. Let's be real - everybody loves the Flower. In what could very well be his last NHL season, fans should continue to appreciate Fleury while he's still active.

27. Buffalo Sabres (22-25-4)

Previous rank: 22

Unexpected trade deadline influence. Sabres fans may dislike this, but objectively, we love that Buffalo could be a sneaky team to watch this trade season. Playoffs are a write-off by now - a big disappointment for a group taking its time to advance - and the Sabres have a glut of players on expiring contracts to potentially sell.

28. Montreal Canadiens (21-23-8)

Previous rank: 27

Juraj Slafkovsky's growing confidence. The 2022 first overall pick is starting to put things together in the big leagues. He's already set new career highs in every offensive category, while six of his 10 goals and 11 of his 24 points this season have come in 2024.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (16-25-10)

Previous rank: 29

Adam Fantilli. The Blue Jackets don't have much to be chipper about in what's been another disappointing season, but the 2023 No. 3 pick has the makings of a future superstar that the organization has so desperately needed since Rick Nash's departure.

30. Anaheim Ducks (18-31-2)

Previous rank: 30

Frank Vatrano. Anaheim's All-Star simply loves putting the puck in the net. He's on pace for 35 tallies this season on a Ducks team that ranks 29th in goals per game.

31. San Jose Sharks (14-32-5)

Previous rank: 31

The uniforms. There's not a lot to love about the Sharks these days. The losses are piling up, but at least they look good doing it. With the addition of a new black alternate jersey, San Jose's uniform trio is elite. Now, if only they'd stop wearing their teal helmets with their white threads.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (14-35-3)

Previous rank: 32

Their patience with Connor Bedard's recovery. Everyone wants to see the 2023 first overall pick back in action - and Bedard is clearly itching to return himself - but the Blackhawks aren't rushing things. That's the right thing to do for the 18-year-old as he works his way back from jaw surgery.

(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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The NHL's best and brightest are set to take part in the league's annual All-Star showcase beginning Thursday in Toronto.

Here's all you need to know about the Feb. 1-4 festivities, on and off the ice:

Thursday, Feb. 1: All-Stars touch down 🛬

The party is jam-packed to kick things off (watch on Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN/ESPN+ in the United States, all times ET):

• Red carpet: 3:30-5 p.m.
• All-Star player draft: 6 p.m.
• PWHL 3-on-3 showcase: 8 p.m.
• Award: NHL Alumni Man of the Year
• In honor: Celebrating the 1967 Maple Leafs

Friday, Feb. 2: All-Star Skills 🎯

New format. Twelve All-Stars. Eight events. For $1 million. Tune in at 7 p.m.

Round 1:

• Fastest skater
• Hardest shot
• Stickhandling
• One-timers
• Passing challenge
• Accuracy shooting

Round 2: The top eight after Round 1 will advance to a one-on-one challenge, with the goalie of their choice.

Final: The top six will compete in an obstacle course to determine the most skilled All-Star.

Check out full skills competition details here.

Saturday Feb. 3: All-Star Game 🌟

The tournament begins at 3 p.m. Four divisional squads, 11 All-Stars a side, and one will be crowned champion.

Check out the NHL News section for Saturday's tourney results and all the All-Star headlines.

Feb. 1-4: Fan Fair 🤩

Want more hockey? The NHL and Toronto have you covered, with downtown's Metro Toronto Convention Centre's south building being transformed into a magical, 300,000 square-foot hockey heaven. There'll be NHL Hall of Famers and alumni hanging around, along with Gritty and his mascot brethren, plus interactive games, and much more.

Make sure your phone is fully charged: you're going to need your camera to take a selfie with the Stanley Cup, and when you run into a couple of All-Stars.

Fan Fair schedule 📅

• Feb. 1: 2-9 p.m.

• Feb. 2: 1-10 p.m.

• Feb. 3: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Feb. 4: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Check out the NHL's website for more on Fan Fair, including a full schedule of events across the four-day bonanza.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.