NHL Power Rankings: Way-Too-Early edition for 2023-24
The Vegas Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, joining the distinguished list of the NHL’s best.
And now, their title defense begins.
As we await the 2023 NHL draft, along with free agency and trade season, it’s time for the Way-Too-Early edition of the 2023-24 NHL Power Rankings, voted on by the extended ESPN hockey family. Along with the ranking, we present the big things we’re watching this summer for each club, courtesy of Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another, and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the final regular-season edition, published April 7.
Previous ranking: 5
2022-23 finish: Stanley Cup champion
Everything Adin Hill did in the Stanley Cup playoffs reinforces why the Golden Knights — or any team in need of a goaltender — would want his services for 2023-24 and beyond. And if the Golden Knights re-sign Hill, what does that mean for Robin Lehner and the two years he has left on his contract at $5 million annually? — Clark
Previous ranking: 3
2022-23 finish: Second-round loss
After a breakout season, the Devils have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason. They have only five forwards under contract for next season. Among their restricted free agents at forward are Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt; their unrestricted free agents are veterans Erik Haula, Tomas Tatar and Miles Wood. Finally, will the Devils seek an upgrade in goal? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 8
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
How will they manage their cap space? Losing Gabriel Landeskog for what looks like the entire season will see their captain potentially miss two full campaigns, but moving his salary to LTIR does create a temporary solution for a team that has contract questions to answer elsewhere. — Clark
Previous ranking: 6
2022-23 finish: Conference final loss
Being two wins shy of the Stanley Cup Final further proves the Stars are indeed in a championship window. Figuring out how they can take the next step is the focal point of their summer, starting with calls on pending free agents Evgenii Dadonov and Max Domi. — Clark
Previous ranking: 1
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
Boston has a key negotiation looming with RFA Jeremy Swayman. The 24-year-old played in tandem with Linus Ullmark (signed through 2024-25) in a successful 2022-23 regular season that ended in playoff heartbreak. How will the Bruins balance their current and future goaltending situation in critical talks with Swayman’s camp? — Shilton
Previous ranking: 2
2022-23 finish: Conference final loss
Carolina has potential to lose both top goaltenders — Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta — in free agency. How will the Hurricanes handle the mix in net moving forward? Upstart Pyotr Kochetkov likely isn’t ready to be a full-time No. 1 for a competitive team. Carolina has to be eyeing veteran help in that department. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 10
2022-23 finish: Second-round loss
Being in a championship window comes with both advantages and challenges. Now is the time to strike for the Oilers, who must not waste another year of Connor McDavid‘s and Leon Draisaitl‘s primes. Of course, they must improve the roster with less than $6 million in cap space — and breakout defenseman Evan Bouchard needs a new contract. — Clark
Previous ranking: 12
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
Tampa Bay has an aging core, critical free agent decisions ahead and sparse cap space to work with. Basically, it won’t be easy for the Lighting to stay a contender. But can they make it happen? What Tampa does with RFA Tanner Jeannot and UFA Alex Killorn — among others — will determine what direction their ship sails. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 17
2022-23 finish: Stanley Cup finalist
Florida stood pat at the trade deadline and wound up reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Will this offseason be similarly quiet — or do they have another blockbuster deal in store like last summer with the Matthew Tkachuk trade? The Panthers have momentum and strong depth; that’s worth capitalizing on. Can GM Bill Zito identify the missing piece that will allow Florida to run it back — and then some — next season? — Shilton
Previous ranking: 16
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
The Islanders have 20 players under contract for next season. GM Lou Lamoriello would like to bring back Scott Mayfield, Semyon Varlamov, Pierre Engvall and Zach Parise, if the latter chooses not to retire. The only player that seems like he’s on the outs is forward Josh Bailey, who was a playoff scratch. Can this team use its core to create more offense or will it seek goal scoring from elsewhere? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 4
2022-23 finish: Second-round loss
Toronto’s top priority is negotiating an Auston Matthews extension ASAP. Is new GM Brad Treliving up to the task? The Leafs will pull out all the stops to keep Matthews happy and in the fold (it’s no coincidence they targeted Shane Doan as an advisor), but the key is actually getting that new deal over the line. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 7
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
The Rangers fired coach Gerard Gallant after losing to the Devils in the first round and hired Peter Laviolette to spark this star-laden roster. With rentals Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko off to free agency, who will the Rangers target to bolster their offense and get faster? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 19
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
Owen Power is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Buffalo will want to talk extension sooner than later — but what will that look like? Power could go the bridge-deal route, or go long-term for a little less money per season. The Sabres are undeniably on the rise, and Power is part of that. The question is: What price will be right? — Shilton
Previous ranking: 9
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
Even with veteran players hitting free agency, the Wild remain cap-strapped in their attempt to boost a roster that went out in the first round of the playoffs. Especially with starting goalie Filip Gustavsson needing a new contract. — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 11
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
CapFriendly projects the Kings will have a little more than $7.3 million in cap space to improve a team that has the bulk of its roster under contract. Of course, there is a goaltending situation to sort out: Trade acquisition Joonas Korpisalo is a free agent, leaving Pheonix Copley on his lonesome for now. And how does Michigan alum Erik Portillo fit into the plan for this season? — Clark
Previous ranking: 14
2022-23 finish: Second-round loss
There are a few captivating situations to monitor for the Kraken this summer. How will they structure a new deal for Vince Dunn? In general, how will they deploy a projected $20.3 million in cap space to improve the roster? Perhaps most importantly, how can the team get Philipp Grubauer to harness his postseason success into something more consistent? — Clark
Previous ranking: 21
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
It looks like the Senators might have a new owner. Now, Ottawa needs a new plan. Alex DeBrincat isn’t planning to re-sign, which means his rights could be traded away. Continued instability around the Senators future could drive other players — including UFAs — away. Ottawa has a burgeoning young core to support; the faster its other business gets handled, the better. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 15
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
In missing the playoffs by three points, the Flames showed they were close. Could a new coach in Ryan Huska do the trick? Or will new GM Craig Conroy attempt to make roster improvements — despite having a projected $1.25 million in cap space? — Clark
Previous ranking: 24
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Red Wings are desperate to add more scoring. How aggressive is GM Steve Yzerman willing to be to give the team a boost up front? Does he go after someone like Alex DeBrincat in a trade? Target a veteran like Alex Killorn in free agency? It feels like the Red Wings could be on the cusp of contention, but only if Yzerman can pull on the right threads. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 20
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
New head coach Andrew Brunette is expected to crank up the offense in Nashville. Will the Predators seek to play that way with its core, or will new GM Barry Trotz seek to remake this roster? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 18
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
New team president (and interim GM) Kyle Dubas has over $20 million with which to build a new supporting cast around Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin — the Core Three? — while helping to transition the Penguins to whatever comes next after their playing days are done. — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 13
2022-23 finish: First-round loss
Will the Jets decide to run it back in the hopes of making the playoffs, or blow it all up in the hopes for a better future? Arbitration-eligible RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois wants out, and other longtime Jets such as Blake Wheeler could be on the move, too. — Clark
Previous ranking: 22
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Capitals have a new young head coach in Spencer Carbery and some interesting calls to make about veteran players such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson and Anthony Mantha. Expect GM Brian MacLellan to make some bold moves to keep Washington competitive during Alex Ovechkin‘s record chase. — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 23
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
Goaltender will be one of the primary positions to monitor when it comes to what might happen with the Blues. Mainly, can Jordan Binnington find a way to regain the consistency that eluded him in 2022-23? And who could be the best option to work in tandem with him? — Clark
Previous ranking: 25
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
Getting the salary cap situation in order is a top priority for Canucks; as of now, CapFriendly projects the team to be $668,750 OVER the salary cap for 2023-24. Yes, this is a team that missed the playoffs by 12 points. — Clark
Previous ranking: 29
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
Can the Canadiens actually land Pierre-Luc Dubois? It’s clear Dubois won’t be signing a contract extension in Winnipeg. The Montreal native has been tied to his hometown team for months. Will there be a trade? Dubois would be an ideal support for the Canadiens’ talented young cast and would seriously expedite the rebuilding efforts. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 31
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Blue Jackets have been busy already adding players (such as Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov) and coaches (Mike Babcock). How much further is Columbus willing to go to be a playoff contender? Coming off a horrible season, and being aggressive out of the gate this offseason, indicates Columbus is far from finished retooling. — Shilton
Previous ranking: 30
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Blackhawks stripped their roster down to the foundations in an attempt to secure the first overall pick. Now that Connor Bedard is on the way, how hard will GM Kyle Davidson go to surround him with talent this early in his career? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 26
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Keith Jones and Danny Briere regime has already started to shake up the team’s roster. Expect names such as Carter Hart, Scott Laughton and Tony DeAngelo to be among those in the Flyers rumor mill as the makeover continues. — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 27
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
The Coyotes lost out on a new arena in Tempe, lost out on one of the top two overall picks in the draft and lost longtime executive Shane Doan to the Maple Leafs. Could star forward Clayton Keller be what they lose next? — Wyshynski
Previous ranking: 28
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
What will happen on the Erik Karlsson front? The Sharks have a 100-point-scoring defenseman that playoff teams would like to have — with the caveat that Karlsson has four more years on a contract at $11.5 million annually (and a full no-movement clause). — Clark
Previous ranking: 32
2022-23 finish: No playoffs
This will be one of the most important offseasons in recent franchise history. Beyond hiring a teacher in coach Greg Cronin and whatever the Ducks decide to do with the No. 2 pick, there’s also the matter of signing Jamie Drysdale, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras to new contracts. — Clark
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Heather Dinich, Senior College Football Insider
ATLANTA — Following Ohio State‘s fourth straight loss to Michigan, the players had a meeting with coach Ryan Day during which they “really hashed some things out,” quarterback Will Howard said Saturday, a turning point in their season that helped propel the team to Monday’s national championship game against Notre Dame.
“It was really a truth-telling time,” Howard said at the College Football Playoff media day. “The facts were laid out there. People were challenged. Everyone including myself had to look in the mirror a little bit and say, ‘What can I do better? How can we fix this thing?’ The thing that we clung to was we still have this opportunity out in front of us to right all these wrongs and go play for a national championship and here we are. We’re right where we wanted to be. A lot of people wrote us off, but we really just believed in ourselves.”
The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points against Michigan, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Research. Since then, they have reeled off three straight playoff wins — against Tennessee, Big Ten champion Oregon and SEC runner-up Texas.
Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said the team has shown its resiliency over the past few weeks, but had a choice to make.
“They talked through it,” Kelly said. “I think they understood what was presented, what’s ahead of us. I think that’s a big point. When you look at the game against Michigan, it could be one of two things: It could be your tombstone, or it could be a stepping stone, and Ryan and our players turned it into a stepping stone.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said the 13-10 loss to Michigan made the team closer. After the first loss of the season to Oregon, Knowles said, “There were a lot of fingers being pointed at the defense. And the second one, it was kind of the other way.”
“I made a point to say to our guys, ‘Remember what that felt like the first time? You need to go out of your way to pick up your brothers on offense,'” Knowles said. “In a way they did, and it kind of really merged us.”
The Buckeyes are making their sixth national championship game appearance (national championship games began with the inception of the BCS in the 1998 season), but haven’t won one since the 2014 season. Ohio State is 2-3 in national championship games. The Buckeyes are trying to win their first national title under Day, who faced heavy backlash and questions about his job security following the loss to Michigan.
“Every year you learn and you grow,” he said, “trying to be self-aware enough to surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth, hoping to get better, and that’s really all you can do.
“When you go through great moments, you really grab on to the people who are around you, and it’s the same thing when you go through difficult moments,” Day said. “That’s why you build relationships.”
Ohio State has a 6-2 lead in the all-time series and has won six straight. Notre Dame’s last win over Ohio State came in 1936. Knowles said Day never allowed any of the criticism to impact his work or effect the staff.
“It’s not something we talk about because we just try to put our heads down and work,” Knowles said. “But in the end, brothers in arms, you’re happy he is being seen for the quality of person and coach that he is because he does a great job and he cares about the players and is in tune with what’s going on with the staff. The only thing you can do to help is win, so I’m glad we have done that.”
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Paolo Uggetti, ESPN
ATLANTA — After being limited to one catch in Ohio State‘s Cotton Bowl semifinal victory over Texas, freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith gave a warning Saturday in advance of the Buckeyes’ national championship matchup against Notre Dame.
“If you are going to play man [to-man defense] against Ohio State, be ready,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to put on a show.”
Smith, who repeatedly pointed out during his media day availability that the Irish play man-to-man defense “80%” of the time, acknowledged that he relishes when defenses try to stop him with only one defender.
“What [the Irish do] they do very, very well. So for them to change up what they do, would be kind of silly,” Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline told ESPN. “They’re really, really good players, great players on the outside. And we’re really great players on the outside, too. It’s what you want in a game of this magnitude.”
Following Smith’s best game of the season against Oregon in the Rose Bowl (187 yards and two touchdowns), Texas’ secondary sold out to stop Smith, whose only catch in the Buckeyes’ win was for 3 yards.
“You watch the film — they doubled, tripled me,” Smith said. “It’s frustrating, but being a decoy helped us win the game.”
In his first year at Ohio State, Smith has been a supernova, catching 71 passes for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. Heading into this game, he’s averaging 17.3 yards per catch.
“He’s one of the most talented dudes I’ve been around … you always want to try to get him the ball,” quarterback Will Howard said. “But he can also take out two or three guys at a time [as a decoy], and sometimes that’s a good thing.”
Smith’s performance in the Cotton Bowl was by far his least productive of the season, but it helped to open up opportunities for other skill players such as Carnell Tate (seven catches for 87 yards) and Quinshon Judkins (two receiving touchdowns).
Whether the Irish try to go away from their usual playing style in order to limit Smith or stick to their scheme remains to be seen. Although Smith noted that Notre Dame’s secondary might be the best they have faced all season, he is ready for the challenge.
“If I’ve got to be a decoy in this game, I’ll be a decoy,” Smith said. “All I want to do is win.”
Also, Ohio State star DE JT Tuimoloau, who rolled his ankle against Texas, talked about his health and the injury.
“I feel really good. I feel really good. One thing, our strength coach says you can’t do too much of taking care of your body, so I’m overloaded on take care of everything.”
Tuimoloau said he’s been somewhat limited in practice to nurse the ankle back.
“Me and Coach Day bumped heads; I want to get out there, he wants me to rest, so we met somewhere in the middle.”
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