NHL Power Rankings: Canes on top, plus each team’s best newcomer for 2022-23
The 2022-23 NHL regular season is just 10 days old, but it’s time to assess what all 32 teams have done thus far — for better or worse.
For this week’s Power Rankings, we also identified the best newcomer for every team.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the last edition, published Oct. 10. Points paces are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 0.750
Next seven days: @ CGY (Oct. 22), @ VAN (Oct. 24)
Brent Burns seems tailor-made for the Hurricanes (and not just because he loves a storm surge celebration). The veteran blueliner stepped right into a top-pairing slot with Jaccob Slavin. He can still play over 22 minutes per game, get shots through traffic, play physically and make solid first passes. It’s good energy for the Canes.
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 0.750
Next seven days: vs. CAR (Oct. 22), vs. PIT (Oct. 25)
Nazem Kadri scored his first goal as a Flame by going coast-to-coast through the Oilers and heating up the always fiery Battle of Alberta. That’s one way to say hello. Kadri has been a perfect early fit in Calgary with his balance of talent and tenacity.
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 0.700
Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Oct. 23), vs. COL (Oct. 25), @ NYI (Oct. 26)
Vincent Trocheck can be the Rangers’ jack-of-all-trades: a high-speed, top-line contributor and special-teams stalwart who continuously pushes the pace offensively. It took Trocheck some time to get comfortable in the preseason and build chemistry with new linemates, but the veteran averaged a point per game out of the gate and is noticeably more confident with every game.
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 0.875
Next seven days: @ MTL (Oct. 22), @ OTT (Oct. 24), @ BOS (Oct. 25), vs. WSH (Oct. 27)
Mason Marchment is off to a dynamic start for Dallas that included two goals in his Stars debut — the top-shelf snipe was especially nice — and the big winger has continued to ooze confidence. He’ll earn plenty of ice time at 5-on-5 and can be lethal on the power play, all things Dallas hoped for when Marchment signed his four-year, $18 million deal last summer.
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 0.875
Next seven days: @ CBJ (Oct. 22), @ EDM (Oct. 24), @ CGY (Oct. 25)
Jeff Petry is at his best when, as coach Mike Sullivan says, he’s making the Penguins “harder to play against.” That’s been Petry’s goal early on in navigating his new environment, leaning on his brand of hard-nosed hockey to elevate Pittsburgh’s defense. It hasn’t been perfect, but Petry’s a player his team believes in.
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 0.750
Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 21), vs. NYI (Oct. 23), @ CHI (Oct. 25), @ PHI (Oct. 27)
Matthew Tkachuk has ably transitioned his signature blend of scoring skill, puck-hounding and ability to aggravate right into the Sunshine State. He notched two goals in two games to start the season in tandem with a strong defensive effort and, of course, getting under opponents’ skin. That Tkachuk-ian attitude is just what the Panthers needed.
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 0.700
Next seven days: vs. MIN (Oct. 22), vs. DAL (Oct. 25), vs. DET (Oct. 27)
How much does A.J. Greer love being a Boston Bruin? Enough to celebrate his first goal in black and gold by literally kissing the logo on his chest. Greer scored again in that Bruins home opener and has continued raising the bar on Boston’s third line with physicality and strong defensive habits.
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 0.800
Next seven days: vs. COL (Oct. 22), vs. TOR (Oct. 24), @ SJ (Oct. 25)
Bruce Cassidy is the most notable new face for Vegas, and he has the Golden Knights back up and running. The team appeared to need another fresh voice behind the bench, and Cassidy has supplied it in helping guide the Golden Knights to a 4-1 start. Change can be a good thing.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 0.625
Next seven days: vs. SEA (Oct. 21), @ VGK (Oct. 22), @ NYR (Oct. 25)
Alexandar Georgiev lands here almost by default because the reigning Stanley Cup champions are basically running it back with the same group that took it to the house last season. The major exception, of course, is Georgiev replacing Darcy Kuemper as the team’s starter in net. He’s off to a solid start at 2-0 with a .911 SV% and 2.51 GAA.
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 1.000
Next seven days: @ EDM (Oct. 22), @ WPG (Oct. 24), vs. EDM (Oct. 26), @ NSH (Oct. 27)
Jake Neighbours got a taste of the NHL in nine games last season, and the rookie battled to make St. Louis’ roster out of camp. The 20-year-old is a strong competitor with bite to his game, and he’s showing dynamic offensive potential with a playmaker’s edge. Wherever Neighbours slots in the lineup he’s capable of chipping in.
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: @ WSH (Oct. 22), vs. TB (Oct. 25), vs. WPG (Oct. 27)
Kevin Fiala is delivering on the scoresheet for Los Angeles. The Kings went all-in on trading for — and then extending — Fiala to boost their forward depth, and so far it’s paying off. The winger popped in a goal and two assists against his former team, the Minnesota Wild, and has showcased good chemistry with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 0.600
Next seven days: @ WPG (Oct. 22), @ VGK (Oct. 24), @ SJ (Oct. 27)
Calle Jarnkrok has been a solid addition to the Leafs’ third line. He’s durable and versatile, a low-maintenance linemate who makes players around him better. Jarnkrok can contribute just about anywhere, including on the scoresheet, and he has looked like a nice under-the-radar pickup by Toronto.
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 0.750
Next seven days: @ NSH (Oct. 22), vs. SJ (Oct. 23), vs. FLA (Oct. 27)
John Tortorella gets the nod here because in all honesty no one is having the impact on the Flyers that he is. Philadelphia’s new coach is brutally frank, and that attitude is what will continue to define the atmosphere around this team. If anything, Tortorella seems to have the Flyers believing in themselves — even if no one else did.
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: @ TB (Oct. 22), @ FLA (Oct. 23), vs. NYR (Oct. 26)
Robin Salo rounded up a pair of goals in his second game of the season and has been a steady performer on the Islanders’ blue line. The rookie came into this season with 21 games previously under his belt, and early on Salo looks increasingly ready to become a full-time NHL skater.
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 0.417
Next seven days: vs. PHI (Oct. 22), vs. STL (Oct. 27)
Nino Niederreiter started hot in Music City with four goals in his first four games. Nashville previously lacked depth scoring, and Niederreiter is providing the solution there with timely offensive contributions while creating chances and helping drive play for his linemates.
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 0.833
Next seven days: @ CHI (Oct. 21), vs. ANA (Oct. 23), vs. NJ (Oct. 25), @ BOS (Oct. 27)
Ville Husso opened his tenure as Detroit’s starter with a 29-save shutout. That memorable debut is just the beginning of Husso’s potential with the Red Wings, who have desperately needed stability between the pipes. Looks like Husso — in tandem with Alex Nedeljkovic — is primed to provide it.
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 0.750
Next seven days: @ VAN (Oct. 22), @ SEA (Oct. 25), vs. MTL (Oct. 27)
Eric Comrie already made history in Buffalo as the first goaltender to register an assist — this one on an Alex Tuch goal — in his Sabres debut. The former Winnipeg Jet has been solid for the Sabres so far, with good technique and some big-time saves. Buffalo needs all that and more while finding its bearings this season.
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 0.400
Next seven days: vs. LA (Oct. 22), @ NJ (Oct. 24), @ DAL (Oct. 27)
Dylan Strome just wanted to be wanted. His early play with the Capitals shows that Strome still has much to offer. He’s a skilled skater and passer with good instincts and transitions up the ice quickly. That looks to fit with what Washington needs most as it weathers the start of this season without the likes of Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson.
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Oct. 22), vs. STL (Oct. 24), @ LA (Oct. 27)
Sam Gagner joining the Jets on a one-year deal in September was widely under-discussed. No matter, Gagner has done the necessary talking on the ice early in the season. He’s a hardworking grinder who has been a perfect fit on Winnipeg’s fourth line and second power play unit.
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: vs. STL (Oct. 22), vs. PIT (Oct. 24), @ STL (Oct. 26), @ CHI (Oct. 27)
Dylan Holloway turned an excellent training camp and preseason into an opening night roster spot to make his NHL debut in Edmonton’s top six. That’s impressive enough. Holloway has worked hard finding his way and will continue learning on the job — and through a few turnovers — to ideally become a consistent piece of the Oilers’ lineup.
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 0.600
Next seven days: vs. DAL (Oct. 22), vs. MIN (Oct. 25), @ BUF (Oct. 27)
Arber Xhekaj was a great story before he stepped onto NHL ice. The undrafted blueliner made a bruising debut with the Canadiens on opening night, and also tallied an assist. Xhekaj has been noticeable ever since and continues to show why Montreal found a place for him in the lineup.
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 0.250
Next seven days: @ FLA (Oct. 21), vs. NYI (Oct. 22), @ LA (Oct. 25), @ ANA (Oct. 26)
Vladislav Namestnikov has technically played for Tampa before, from 2013-14 to 2017-18, but the Lightning might need him now more than ever. Namestnikov has been part of Tampa Bay’s revamped third line and shown some good early returns. What the veteran lacks in flash he can make up for in reliability and consistency, two things Tampa could use.
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: vs. ARI (Oct. 22), vs. DAL (Oct. 24), vs. MIN (Oct. 27)
Jake Sanderson has fit beautifully onto Ottawa’s back end, and looks poised to retain a top-four role. The rookie plays a confident game, can control pace of play and isn’t afraid to take calculated chances. The Senators have to be feeding off that energy.
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 0.400
Next seven days: vs. PIT (Oct. 22), @ NYR (Oct. 23), vs. ARI (Oct. 25)
Johnny Gaudreau is an elite talent who can drive Columbus’ offense — and the Blue Jackets will need their new acquisition to do that as Patrik Laine is sidelined three to four weeks with an elbow sprain. Gaudreau is still settling onto his top-line perch while giving Columbus over 21 minutes per game with good returns on the scoresheet.
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 0.250
Next seven days: @ BOS (Oct. 22), @ MTL (Oct. 25), @ OTT (Oct. 27)
Sam Steel is one of Minnesota’s only new faces this season, and he has not been lost in the crowd. Checking in on the Wild’s third or fourth line, the 24-year-old has been reliable defensively and added some offense (including a critical game-tying goal) to be a viable option within the team’s bottom-six group.
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 0.500
Next seven days: vs. SJ (Oct. 22), vs. WSH (Oct. 24), @ DET (Oct. 25)
Alexander Holtz isn’t completely new to the Devils — he played nine games for them last season — but the rookie is eyeing a bigger role this season. The 20-year-old already notched his first career goal and could be a versatile piece in New Jersey’s bottom six as coach Lindy Ruff has already shuffled him throughout New Jersey’s lineup.
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 0.300
Next seven days: @ DET (Oct. 23), vs. TB (Oct. 26)
Ryan Strome announced himself with Anaheim in a three-point debut to fuel the Ducks’ comeback win over Seattle. That’s the impact Anaheim hoped its new top-line center would have when Strome inked a five-year, $25 million free agent contract last summer.
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 0.200
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Oct. 22), vs. CAR (Oct. 24), @ SEA (Oct. 27)
Andrei Kuzmenko has a shot just like Alex Ovechkin — or so says his coach, Bruce Boudreau. The 26-year-old rookie did score in his NHL debut and has exhibited some early chemistry with center Elias Pettersson. While Kuzmenko is still adjusting from the KHL game, there’s an assuredness and ease to him that suggests he’ll be fine.
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 0.333
Next seven days: vs. DET (Oct. 21), vs. SEA (Oct. 23), vs. FLA (Oct. 25), vs. EDM (Oct. 27)
Jason Dickinson wanted a fresh start in Chicago and in his debut game (a 5-2 win over the Red Sharks) had a goal and two assists. Dickinson barely had any notice he’d be suiting up, but it didn’t matter as the 27-year-old played on instinct and clicked with his new club.
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 0.400
Next seven days: @ COL (Oct. 21), @ CHI (Oct. 23), vs. BUF (Oct. 25), vs. VAN (Oct. 27)
Matty Beniers is the present and future of this Kraken squad. The 19-year-old is already centering Seattle’s top line, and his rookie season is off to a good start offensively with four points in five games.
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 0.250
Next seven days: @ OTT (Oct. 22), @ CBJ (Oct. 25)
Dylan Guenther might not be a fixture all season with Arizona, but the 19-year-old is making the most of his moment. Playing a second-line role, Guenther tallied an assist in his NHL debut and appears composed and confident beyond his years. That’s an excellent start.
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 0.167
Next seven days: @ NJ (Oct. 22), @ PHI (Oct. 23), vs. VGK (Oct. 25), vs. TOR (Oct. 27)
Luke Kunin went straight to a top-line role for the Sharks as a complement to Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. San Jose grabbed Kunin from Nashville in a summertime trade to maximize its scoring potential and Kunin has tried to oblige with a pair of points in his first five games. Like the rest of San Jose’s lineup, there’s more Kunin can offer, too.
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Andrea Adelson
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Notre Dame had one last chance to beat Miami, 1:04 left on the clock, redshirt freshman CJ Carr charged with driving the Irish down the field.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal surveyed the field from the opposite sideline. He had a feeling his stalwart defensive ends, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, would come through and take advantage of the tired Irish offensive line.
Sure enough, Mesidor and Bain came up with sacks on back-to-back plays to end the game, sealing the No. 10 Hurricanes’ raucous 27-24 victory over No. 6 Notre Dame on Sunday night.
“You know the old saying, these are heavyweight bouts, and rounds 11 through 15 are going to separate the winners and the guys that don’t win it,” Cristobal said. “So we knew it was going to somehow, some way, get to this, and we just felt that if we were tired, that they were going to be more tired. And that was a chance at ‘whatever it takes mentality,’ and going to get it done.”
Perhaps even more gratifying was watching the Miami defense make the plays to seal a game. Last season, the Hurricanes lost a chance to play in the ACC championship game after blowing a 21-0 lead to Syracuse to end the regular season. Cristobal made staff changes, bringing in new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to revamp not just the scheme but the attitude with which Miami played.
Injuries hampered Mesidor and Bain last season. But leading into the matchup with Notre Dame, both talked about feeling healthy and ready to play well in the new aggressive scheme that would allow them to make plays.
“We go through the two-minute drill every single day in the hot sun,” Mesidor said. “When the lights are up, and it’s cool outside, and when the moment is right, we’re going to get after it.”
He then referenced their uniform numbers. Mesidor wears No. 3 and Bain wears No. 4.
“Three and four all day,” Mesidor said.
“All day!” Bain said in response. “Best in the nation.”
Both players said it did not go unnoticed that Notre Dame was the favorite in the game. Bain showed his cellphone lock screen during his postgame news conference, with a screen grab of an article that, he said, had negative things to say about him.
Perhaps that provided a little extra motivation. But it seemed renewing a rivalry with the Irish was motivation enough. Scores of former players and coaches, including Jimmy Johnson, Michael Irvin, Devin Hester and Ray Lewis, stood on the sideline in one of the most anticipated home season openers in recent memory.
Carson Beck made his debut for the Hurricanes, after transferring from Georgia, and helped get his team in position for the game-winning score after Notre Dame erased a two-touchdown lead and tied the game at 24 with 3:21 remaining.
Miami had dominated up front for a majority of the game, but after scoring on the opening drive of the third quarter, the play calling turned conservative, and the Hurricanes mustered 15 yards on their ensuing four drives.
Beck said he told his teammates when they got the ball back they were going to go down the field and score. He opened the drive with a completion to CJ Daniels, who wowed earlier in the game with a one-handed leaping 20-yard touchdown catch to give Miami the lead at halftime. From there, Miami handed off to CharMar Brown, who got the Hurricanes into field goal range.
That set up transfer kicker Carter Davis to line up for a 47-yard field goal attempt. Davis beat out two other kickers to win the starting job but had spent the bulk of his career as a kickoff specialist. Headed into Sunday night, he had gone 4-of-11 in his career on field goal attempts.
Beck said he was nervous as he saw Davis line up. Davis said he went through his mental checklist, trying not to let the sold-out crowd get to him.
“Once I looked up at it and I saw it was in, I’d say my heartbeat skipped, plus accelerated, because I was just so excited for it,” Davis said.
Beck finished 20-of-31 for 205 yards with two touchdowns. Carr, making his first career start, made some gutty plays throughout the course of the game — including a diving 7-yard run to tie the game up. But with the game on the line, he was unable to even get an opportunity for a score, thanks to the Miami defense.
Notre Dame has now lost seven straight road games to Miami.
“Tonight wasn’t good enough out of me, specifically. We’ve got to get better,” Carr said.
Coach Marcus Freeman said, “Every goal we have is ahead of us,” but added that the Irish have to play better on the offensive and defensive lines. The Irish had one sack and struggled to get after Beck.
“You’re not going to be really successful on defense if you can’t get pressure on the quarterback with four-man rushes,” Freeman said.
Miami did that, particularly at the end of the game, when it stepped the pressure up on Carr. The result was its first win over an AP Top 10 opponent since beating No. 3 Notre Dame 41-8 in 2017.
“It’s just an unbelievable night for so many people that poured so much into this,” Cristobal said. “Just grateful to be in this opportunity and really hungry and driven [for] the next one.”
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