NHL Power Rankings: Kraken surge into top 5, plus every team’s nationality mix
We’re into a new month of the 2022-23 NHL season, and for the first time ever there’s a World Cup (of soccer) going on simultaneously!
To keep in the international spirit of the big event, this week for the power rankings we’ve broken down the roster of each club in terms of nationalities represented, along with some fun facts for each. Some caveats: A player must have appeared in one game to make the breakdown, and the countries are according to each player’s listing on the NHL’s website (with one exception).
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 most recent edition, published Nov. 18. Points paces are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 86.34%
Next seven days: vs. COL (Dec. 3), vs. VGK (Dec. 5), @ COL (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 12 Americans, 7 Canadians, 6 Czechs, 3 Swedes.
The Bruins might have the second-fewest countries represented in their lineup this season, but Boston does boast the largest concentration of Czech players.
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 81.25%
Next seven days: @ PHI (Dec. 3), vs. CHI (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 9 Canadians, 4 Swedes, 3 Americans; 3 Swiss; 2 Czechs; 1 Belarusian; 1 Finn; 1 Slovakian.
The Devils have dressed the most Swiss players this season, including the NHL’s only Swiss goaltender Akira Schmid.
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 70.00%
Next seven days: @ DET (Dec. 3), @ BOS (Dec. 5), vs. NYR (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 18 Canadians, 4 Americans, 1 Swede.
The Golden Knights hold two unique distinctions, by dressing the most Canadians overall (18, tied with Edmonton) and players from the fewest countries overall (three).
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 66.67%
Next seven days: vs. MIN (Dec. 4), vs. TOR (Dec. 6), vs. OTT (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 8 Canadians, 5 Americans, 5 Finns, 2 Swedes, 2 Czechs, 1 Russian.
The Stars have seen the second-fewest combined total (13) of Canadian- and U.S.-born players on the ice this season, and the highest total of Finnish skaters (not including goaltenders).
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 71.74%
Next seven days: vs. FLA (Dec. 3), vs. MTL (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 13 Canadians, 5 Americans; 4 Swedes, 1 Dane, 1 German, 1 Dutch.
The Kraken lineup is home to the league’s only Netherlands-born skater, in Daniel Sprong, and one of only four Danish players, in Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 70.00%
Next seven days: @ TB (Dec. 3), @ DAL (Dec. 6), vs. LA (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 15 Canadians, 7 Swedes, 4 Americans, 2 Czechs, 1 Russian, 1 Swiss.
The Maple Leafs are one of only two teams (along with New Jersey) that don’t have Canada and the United States as their top-two most represented countries. The Leafs and Devils each have more Swedish than U.S.-born skaters.
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 64.29%
Next seven days: @ BOS (Dec. 3), @ PHI (Dec. 5), vs. BOS (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 14 Canadians, 6 Americans, 3 Czechs, 3 Finns, 3 Russians, 3 Swedes.
The Avalanche currently have the league’s only Swedish captain in Gabriel Landeskog. He ironically doesn’t factor into the breakdown of Colorado’s roster construction yet this season though; the forward has yet to debut after undergoing knee surgery in October.
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 64.58%
Next seven days: @ LA (Dec. 3), @ ANA (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 8 Americans, 7 Canadians, 4 Finns, 2 Czechs, 2 Russians, 1 Dane, 1 Swede.
The Hurricanes are home to the NHL’s only Danish goalie in Frederik Andersen, and one of seven Finnish netminders in Antti Raanta.
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 62.50%
Next seven days: vs. NSH (Dec. 2), vs. CHI (Dec. 4), vs. STL (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 11 Canadians, 7 Americans, 4 Russians, 2 Swedes, 1 Finn.
The Islanders are one of eight teams with a Russian goalie in their lineup, and the only club boasting a Russian netminder 1-2 punch: Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov.
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 69.05%
Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Dec. 2), vs. ANA (Dec. 4), vs. FLA (Dec. 6), @ STL (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 12 Canadians, 9 Americans, 2 Swedes, 2 Finns, 1 Czech, 1 Dane.
The Jets have been powered offensively by Danish-born star Nikolaj Ehlers, who moved to Germany as a child and then played his junior hockey in Switzerland.
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 58.33%
Next seven days: vs. STL (Dec. 3), vs. CBJ (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 10 Americans, 9 Canadians, 3 Swedes, 1 Czech, 1 Finn, 1 Latvian, 1 Russian.
The Penguins’ large contingency of U.S.-born players includes Jake Guentzel, who is one of only four Nebraska-native skaters to ever appear in the NHL.
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 54.17%
Next seven days: vs. MTL (Dec. 3), vs. WSH (Dec. 5), vs. ARI (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 18 Canadians, 3 Americans, 2 Swedes, 2 Finns, 1 Russian, 1 German.
The Oilers have a small presence of U.S.-born skaters, yet two of the three — Kailer Yamamoto and Derek Ryan — share a hometown of Spokane, Washington.
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 63.04%
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Dec. 3), vs. DET (Dec. 6), vs. NSH (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 12 Canadians, 6 Americans, 4 Russians, 1 French, 1 Latvian, 1 Slovakian, 1 Swede.
The Lightning are represented by the league’s only player French skater, in Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and have one of three Latvian players, in Rudolfs Balcers.
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 57.69%
Next seven days: vs. CAR (Dec. 3), @ OTT (Dec. 6), @ TOR (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 9 Canadians, 8 Americans, 6 Swedes, 1 Finn, 1 Slovakian, 1 Swiss.
The Kings have some diverse backgrounds in their lineup, including Arthur Kaliyev‘s: he was born in Uzbekistan before moving to the United States at age 2 and now represents the U.S. internationally.
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 61.36%
Next seven days: vs. VGK (Dec. 3), @ CBJ (Dec. 4), @ TB (Dec. 6), @ FLA (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 8 Canadians, 6 Americans, 6 Swedes, 4 Czechs, 2 Finns, 1 Swiss, 1 German.
The Red Wings’ top-pairing defenseman (and reigning Calder Trophy winner) Moritz Seider in currently the NHL’s only German blueliner.
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 54.55%
Next seven days: vs. ANA (Dec. 3), @ DAL (Dec. 4), @ CGY (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 15 Canadians, 7 Americans, 3 Swedes, 1 Austrian, 1 Norwegian, 1 Russian.
The Wild may not lead the league in greatest number of countries represented, but Minnesota does lay claim to the NHL’s only Austrian player in Marco Rossi and sole Norwegian skater in Mats Zuccarello.
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 54.17%
Next seven days: vs. OTT (Dec. 2), vs. CHI (Dec. 3), vs. STL (Dec. 5), @ VGK (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 9 Americans, 7 Canadians, 3 Russians, 2 Czechs, 1 Finn, 1 Slovakian, 1 Swede.
The Rangers have iced the largest number of U.S.-born defensemen in the NHL thus far (five), including Jacob Trouba (one of only four U.S.-born captains in the league).
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 50.00%
Next seven days: vs. WSH (Dec. 3), vs. ARI (Dec. 5), vs. MIN (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 7 Americans, 4 Swedes, 1 Slovakian, 1 Russian, 1 Czech.
The Flames have one of the NHL’s six Slovakian players, forward Adam Ruzicka.
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 54.17%
Next seven days: @ SEA (Dec. 3), @ WPG (Dec. 6), vs. DET (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 4 Americans, 4 Finns, 3 Swedes, 1 Czech, 1 Latvian, 1 Russian.
The Panthers are the only team so far to dress the same number of U.S.-born skaters as Finnish, accounting for the second-highest representations of any country on their roster.
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 47.83%
Next seven days: @ PIT (Dec. 3), @ NYR (Dec. 5), @ NYI (Dec. 6), vs. WPG (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 7 Americans, 5 Russians, 1 Australian, 1 Finn, 1 German, 1 Swede.
The Blues have dressed more Russian players (five) than any team this season, and have the league’s lone Australian player (Nathan Walker) in the mix as well.
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 54.55%
Next seven days: @ NYI (Dec. 2), @ TB (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 6 Americans, 5 Finns, 2 Swiss, 2 Swedes, 1 Russian.
The Predators are tied with the Stars for the most Finnish players represented, but Nashville is the only club with a goalie tandem (of Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen) who both hail from the nation.
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 48.00%
Next seven days: @ CGY (Dec. 3), @ EDM (Dec. 5), @ PHI (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 10 Americans, 9 Canadians, 4 Russians, 2 Swedes, 1 Belarusian, 1 Dane, 1 Slovakian.
The Capitals’ lineup is home to forward Aliaksei Protas, one of only two Belarusian players in the NHL.
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 54.35%
Next seven days: @ EDM (Dec. 3), @ VAN (Dec. 5), @ SEA (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 17 Canadians, 5 Americans, 1 Finn, 1 Slovakian, 1 Russian.
The Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky No. 1 at the 2022 draft, making him the first Slovakian to ever go first overall.
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 43.75%
Next seven days: vs. ARI (Dec. 3), vs. MTL (Dec. 5), @ SJ (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 12 Canadians, 10 Americans, 4 Swedes, 3 Russians.
The Canucks have a strong foundation of American players and a unique netminder in Thatcher Demko, the only San Diego-born goalie in league history.
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 38.46%
Next seven days: @ OTT (Dec. 3), @ BUF (Dec. 4), vs. VAN (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 12 Canadians, 5 Americans, 2 Czechs, 2 Swedes, 2 Russians, 1 Finn, 1 German, 1 Swiss.
The Sharks are tied with the Devils for most countries represented this season (nine). San Jose is also the only team to boast both a German (Nico Sturm) and Swiss player (Timo Meier).
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 38.64%
Next seven days: @ NYR (Dec. 2), vs. SJ (Dec. 3), vs. LA (Dec. 6), @ DAL (Dec. 8)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 9 Americans, 4 Swedes, 2 Russians, 1 Finn, 1 German.
The Senators are the only team this season to have dressed two Swedish goalies, in Anton Forsberg and Magnus Hellberg.
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 43.75%
Next seven days: vs. SJ (Dec. 4), @ CBJ (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 10 Canadians, 9 Americans, 4 Swedes, 2 Finns, 1 Russian, 1 Latvian, 1 German.
The Sabres have had plenty of Canadians through their ranks, but none quite like Dylan Cozens, one of only three NHLers to ever come out of the Yukon Territory.
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 38.10%
Next seven days: @ WPG (Dec. 2), vs. DET (Dec. 4), @ PIT (Dec. 6), vs. BUF (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 11 Canadians, 9 Americans, 4 Swedes, 3 Russians, 2 Czechs, 2 Finns, 1 Latvian.
The Blue Jackets haven’t had the widest swath of countries accounted for, but Columbus has dressed the highest total number of players overall through the early goings of this season (32).
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 43.75%
Next seven days: vs. NJ (Dec. 3), vs. COL (Dec. 5), vs. WSH (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 12 Americans, 10 Canadians, 2 Swedes, 2 Russians, 1 Finn, 1 Czech.
The Flyers have seen the second most American players through their lineup this season, and have one of the league’s winningest U.S.-born coaches behind the bench in John Tortorella.
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 36.36%
Next seven days: @ NYR (Dec. 3), @ NYI (Dec. 4), @ NJ (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 13 Americans, 11 Canadians, 2 Swedes, 1 Swiss, 1 Czech.
The Blackhawks are tied (with multiple teams) for the second fewest countries represented in their ranks, but Chicago has dressed the largest number of U.S. players (13).
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 40.48%
Next seven days: @ VAN (Dec. 3), @ CGY (Dec. 5), @ EDM (Dec. 7)
Roster breakdown: 14 Canadians, 6 Americans, 2 Finns, 1 Czech, 1 Swiss, 1 Swede.
The Coyotes’ lineup wields one of the NHL’s six Czech goaltenders, in Karel Vejmelka.
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 29.17%
Next seven days: @ MIN (Dec. 3), @ WPG (Dec. 4), vs. CAR (Dec. 6)
Roster breakdown: 13 Canadians, 8 Americans, 3 Swedes, 1 Russian, 1 Finn, 1 Slovakian.
The Ducks’ John Gibson is distinguished for being the only Pittsburgh-native goaltender in NHL history.
CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker had the fans on their feet, roaring and pumping their fists as he rounded the bases after hitting the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning. His screaming line drive cleared the right-field wall with plenty of room to spare.
The Chicago Cubs went from giving up 10 runs in the eighth to scoring six in the bottom half and beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-11 on Friday in one of the wildest games on record.
The two teams combined for 21 runs in the seventh and eighth innings, with the Cubs scoring 11 runs and the D-backs plating 10. It was the first nine-inning game in MLB history in which both teams scored 10 or more runs from the seventh inning on, and the third game overall, according to ESPN Research.
“That’s kind of baseball,” Tucker said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs in this game, especially with how many games we play.”
There haven’t been many games like this, though.
The Cubs are just the seventh team in at least the past 125 seasons to allow 10 or more runs in an inning and win. They are also the fifth team to give up 10 or more runs and score six or more in the same inning.
The 16 combined runs in the eighth were the most in an inning at Wrigley Field, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“If you’ve seen that one, you’ve been around for a while,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said with a laugh. “It was crazy. You know, we gave up 10 runs in an inning and we won. So it was a wild game, but we kept going, and, you know, there’s 27 outs in a game and this kind of proves it, and you’re just happy to get out with a win.”
On a warm day with the ball carrying, Carson Kelly homered twice. Ian Happ belted a grand slam and Seiya Suzuki went deep, helping the Cubs open a weekend series on a winning note.
“You’ve seen it early — having some tough losses, coming back winning the next day,” Happ said. “Losing the first game of the series, winning the series. Little things like that. Today’s a great example of professional hitters going out there and continuing to have really good at-bats.”
The way things transpired in the final two innings was something to see.
Kelly hit a two-run homer in the second against Corbin Burnes, and Happ came through with his grand slam against Ryne Nelson as part of a five-run seventh. But just when it looked as if the Cubs were in control with a 7-1 lead, things took a wild turn in the eighth.
Eugenio Suarez cut it to 7-5 with a grand slam against Porter Hodge, Geraldo Perdomo singled in a run and Randal Grichuk put Arizona on top by one with a two-run double. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a three-run homer, making it 11-7.
The crowd of more than 39,000 let the Cubs hear it, but their team regrouped in the bottom half. Bryce Jarvis hit Nico Hoerner leading off and walked Pete Crow-Armstrong before Kelly drove a three-run homer to center. Tucker, the Cubs’ prized offseason addition, came through after Happ singled with one out. Suzuki followed with his drive against Joe Mantiply to give the Cubs a 13-11 lead.
Arizona, which had won five straight, became just the third team over the past 50 seasons to lose a game in which it had a 10-run inning at any point, according to ESPN Research.
“You just got to stay locked in,” Kelly said. “Obviously, you don’t want to … give up 10 in an inning. Obviously, you don’t want to do that. I think the biggest thing is coming back, regrouping and continuing to fight.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount, the result of his actions during Thursday night’s win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Chisholm was ejected in the seventh inning by plate umpire John Bacon for arguing after a called third strike on a full-count pitch from Mason Montgomery that appeared low.
Minutes later, he posted on his X account, “Not even f—ing close!!!!!” then deleted the post.
“I didn’t think before I had anything that I said was ejectable but after probably,” Chisholm said after the game. “I’m a competitor, so when I go out there and I feel like I’m right and you’re saying something to me that I think doesn’t make sense, I’m going to get fired up and be upset.
“I lost my emotions. I lost my cool. I got to be better than that. … I’m definitely mad at myself for losing my cool.”
Michael Hill, the league’s senior vice president for on-field operations, said Friday’s discipline was for Chisholm’s “conduct, including his violation of Major League Baseball’s Social Media Policy for Major League Players.”
MLB regulations ban the use of electronic devices during games. The social media policy prohibits “displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a major league umpire.”
Chisholm did appeal the decision, allowing him to play in Friday night’s 1-0 win against the Rays. He started at second base and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani is away from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the birth of the two-way superstar’s first child.
Manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers’ series opener Friday night against the Rangers that Ohtani was with his wife and going on MLB’s paternity list.
“He and Mamiko are expecting at some point. That’s all I know,” Roberts said. “I don’t know when he’s going to come back and I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby, but obviously they’re together in anticipation.”
The 30-year-old Ohtani posted on his Instagram account in late December that he and his 28-year-old wife, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan, were expecting a baby in 2025.
“Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!” said the Dec. 28 post that included a photo showing the couple’s beloved dog, Decoy, as well as a pink ruffled onesie along with baby shoes and a sonogram that was covered by a baby emoji.
Ohtani can miss up to three games while on paternity leave. The Dodgers have a three-game series in Texas before an off day Monday, then play the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.
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