USA TODAY Sports’ NHL points projections saw pretty much the status quo from the 2024-25 playoff field.
The Utah Mammoth would replace the St. Louis Blues in the West and the Columbus Blue Jackets would replace the Montreal Canadiens in the East.
But in the early going – emphasis on early – the changeover is potentially more drastic. The Mammoth are looking great. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks are better than expected. The Blues and Minnesota Wild aren’t.
Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings (change from preseason rankings are in parentheses):
1. Colorado Avalanche (+7)
Martin Necas is off to a strong start and received an eight-year, $92 million contract extension. The Avalanche ended the Devils’ eight-game winning streak and downed the Golden Knights before falling to the Sharks.
2. Winnipeg Jets (+4)
Mark Scheifele has passed Blake Wheeler as the franchise’s all-time point leader and is the NHL’s top scorer this season. The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners are starting strong again.
3. Montreal Canadiens (+17)
Cole Caufield, who wasn’t part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, is putting himself in the mix for the U.S. Olympic team with 10 goals in his first 12 games.
4. Vegas Golden Knights (-2)
Jack Eichel is putting up MVP-worthy numbers, helping the Golden Knights through some injuries, including to Mark Stone. The oft-injured Stone is week-to-week.
5. New Jersey Devils (+6)
Jack Hughes is healthy and has 10 goals. He helped the Devils win eight in a row, though the team is in a 1-3 slide.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (+22)
They’re the biggest surprise of the early season. Sidney Crosby remains ageless, and Evgeni Malkin is joining him in that category with 18 points in 13 games at age 39. They’ll have to cope without injured Rickard Rakell.
7. Utah Mammoth (+8)
Utah put together a seven-game winning streak this season after introducing their new mascot. They’re a deeper team that’s coming together. Logan Cooley received an eight-year extension.
8. Detroit Red Wings (+17)
The YzerPlan seems to be working this season. General manager Steve Yzerman has brought in many pieces over the seasons, but the key is that captain Dylan Larkin is on pace for his best season.
9. Carolina Hurricanes (-4)
The Hurricanes won their first five games without a point from free agent signee Nikolaj Ehlers. Injuries on the blue line have dropped them a little and Ehlers is still seeking his first goal with Carolina.
10. Anaheim Ducks (+12)
GM Pat Verbeek hired coach Joel Quenneville to make a push toward a playoff spot. They were leading the Pacific Division on Nov. 2.
11. Dallas Stars (-10)
They opened 3-0 before the injuries start piling up. Jamie Benn (collapsed lung) hasn’t played all season, and Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene have missed time. Still, they have points in their past six games.
12. Edmonton Oilers (-9)
Connor McDavid went the first six games without a goal and Evan Bouchard went the same number of games without a point. But they have picked it up, including Bouchard’s overtime goal on Nov. 1.
13. Tampa Bay Lightning (-7)
The Lightning’s 1-4-2 start was one of the season’s big puzzles. But the team has turned it around with five wins in a row.
14. Seattle Kraken (+15)
The Kraken, who have made the playoffs once in their history, were sitting in a wild-card spot on Nov. 2.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (+2)
The Blue Jackets were sitting in a wild-card spot on Nov. 2. They’ll need to improve on their special teams to stay there.
16. New York Rangers (+3)
Maybe the Rangers need to spend the rest of the season on the road. They’re 6-1-1 away from Madison Square Garden and 0-4-1 at home, scoring one goal in their first four games there.
17. Florida Panthers (-13)
The Panthers are above .500, not bad considering the major injuries they’re going through.
18. Washington Capitals (-9)
Alex Ovechkin needed three goals entering the season to reach 900. He still hasn’t reached it after 12 games and has a 7.4 shooting percentage.
19. New York Islanders (+4)
Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 18, picked up a point in his first six NHL games and was named rookie of the month for October. He’s off to a good start for the November award with a two-goal game on Nov. 2.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs (-10)
Mitch Marner left in free agency and William Nylander has missed time with injury. That’s a lot of offense to make up.
21. Buffalo Sabres (+3)
Sabres fans were chanting for general manager Kevyn Adams’ firing after an 0-3 start. Those chants have vanished now that they’re over .500.
22. Philadelphia Flyers (+5)
GM Daniel Briere’s offseason moves are paying off. Trevor Zegras is leading the team in scoring and Dan Vladar has been the better of the two netminders.
23. Chicago Blackhawks (+9)
The Blackhawks are more competitive this season. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar make them fun to watch and goalie Spencer Knight is doing his part while being kept very busy.
24. Los Angeles Kings (-11)
Captain Anze Kopitar’s final NHL season isn’t off to a good start. He missed four games with a foot injury and is still seeking his first goal.
25. Ottawa Senators (-11)
26. Boston Bruins (-2)
Which team are they? The one that opened 3-0? The one that lost six in a row? Or the one that has won its last three?
27. Vancouver Canucks (-9)
Kiefer Sherwood is among the leaders in hits again this season. The big difference: The pending free agent also has scored nine goals.
28. Nashville Predators (+2)
Defenseman Roman Josi, who suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 23, has been placed on injured reserve.
29. Minnesota Wild (-17)
The Kirill Kaprizov-led power play has been in the top five. But the Wild are at or near the bottom in penalty killing and 5-on-5 play.
30. San Jose Sharks (+1)
No sophomore slump for Macklin Celebrini, who’s among the NHL’s top scorers. After a rough start, the Sharks have won three of their last five games.
31. St. Louis Blues (-15)
The Blues have been plagued by poor goaltending numbers and injuries to Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours.
32. Calgary Flames (-11)
The Flames are the NHL’s most disappointing team. After missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker, they didn’t do too much to address their scoring woes. They’re last in goal per game and are in the hunt for better draft lottery odds in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes.
