theScore’s NHL Power Rankings for the 2025-26 season continue with our second edition.
This installment identifies one player who needs to step up for each team.
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1. Colorado Avalanche (8-1-5)
Previous rank: 3
Brock Nelson needs to produce more offense.
The Avalanche acquired Nelson in a major trade and then extended his contract. They didn’t make that investment to watch Sam Malinski outscore him. Nelson has managed just three goals and five points through 14 games.
His role in Colorado’s lineup and the talent surrounding him suggest better production is coming. But the Avalanche need it to happen soon.
2. Winnipeg Jets (9-4-0)
Previous rank: 10
Alex Iafallo hasn’t provided enough secondary scoring.
The Jets’ biggest weakness is depth offense beyond their top players. Iafallo ranks as their fifth-highest-paid forward but has contributed just two goals and three assists.
Winnipeg needs more from him to maintain their position in the standings.
3. Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-3)
Previous rank: 2
Brett Howden is struggling in year one of his new contract.
Vegas signed Howden to a five-year, $12.5-million deal expecting consistent two-way play. Instead, he’s managed only two points in eight games while posting a 43.2% expected goals share.
That’s the third-worst mark on the team.
The Golden Knights need the reliable player they thought they were getting.
4. New Jersey Devils (9-4-0)
Previous rank: 9
Ondrej Palat looks like age has caught up with him.
The 34-year-old has one assist in 13 games. He’s no longer effective as a top-nine forward. With two years remaining at a $6-million cap hit, the Devils need to find a way to maximize what the two-time Stanley Cup winner has left.
Father Time catches everyone eventually.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0)
Previous rank: 5
Andrei Svechnikov has been a massive disappointment.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour called out Svechnikov after a terrible start to the season. The Russian winger was moved to the fourth line and didn’t record a point until Game 9.
Without Svechnikov playing like a difference-maker, Carolina’s ceiling remains limited.
The Hurricanes need their talented winger to return to form.
6. Montreal Canadiens (9-3-1)
Previous rank: 14
Sam Montembeault could derail Montreal’s strong start.
The Canadiens sit atop the Atlantic Division as one of the league’s most exciting teams to watch. But Montembeault has posted an .855 save percentage that threatens to undermine their momentum.
Jakub Dobes has been excellent in limited action.
Montembeault’s struggles could cost Montreal if they continue.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5-2)
Previous rank: 6
Oliver Bjorkstrand hasn’t justified Tampa Bay’s investment.
The Lightning traded two first-round picks to acquire Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde at last year’s deadline. Bjorkstrand got injured and missed the playoffs.
Now he’s stuck in a 10-game pointless streak.
Tampa Bay needs production from a player they gave up significant assets to acquire.
8. Utah Mammoth (9-5-0)
Previous rank: 18
Lawson Crouse needs to provide more depth scoring.
Utah’s top six forwards have performed well, but they need secondary offense to become a legitimate threat. Crouse has scored 20 goals three times in his career and ranks as the team’s fifth-highest-paid forward.
He’s managed just four points in 14 games.
The Mammoth need more from their depth players to sustain their success.
9. Detroit Red Wings (9-5-0)
Previous rank: 21
John Gibson hasn’t fixed Detroit’s goaltending issues.
The Red Wings acquired Gibson as their big offseason move to stabilize the position. Instead, he’s posted an .890 save percentage in eight appearances.
Detroit has a playoff-caliber offense. Their netminding hasn’t been good enough yet.
Gibson was supposed to be the solution.
10. Dallas Stars (7-3-3)
Previous rank: 7
Mavrik Bourque isn’t filling the depth role Dallas needs.
The Stars lost veteran depth pieces over the summer and counted on a breakout from their 2020 first-round pick. Bourque has three points in 13 games instead.
Dallas needs him to step up after the departures.
11. Florida Panthers (6-6-1)
Previous rank: 1
Sam Bennett hasn’t stepped up with Aleksander Barkov injured.
The Conn Smythe Trophy winner has two goals and four points while being outscored 10-3 at five-on-five. His struggles could move him closer to the bubble for Team Canada.
Florida needs their playoff hero to rediscover his form.
Bennett’s production must improve with Barkov sidelined.
12. Edmonton Oilers (6-5-4)
Previous rank: 4
Trent Frederic looks like a questionable signing.
Edmonton gave Frederic an eight-year, $30.8-million contract this summer that raised eyebrows around the league. The deal hasn’t paid off yet – Frederic has one goal and no assists in 15 games.
That’s not the production the Oilers expected from such a long-term commitment.
13. Anaheim Ducks (8-3-1)
Previous rank: 24
Pavel Mintyukov still hasn’t taken the next step.
The former top-10 pick is in his third NHL season but hasn’t established himself as a reliable contributor. His average ice time has dropped each year, and his 41.5% expected goals share at five-on-five shows he’s struggling to make a consistent impact.
Anaheim needs more from their young defenseman.
14. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-5-1)
Previous rank: 8
Auston Matthews isn’t playing like the league’s second-highest-paid player.
Twelve points in 14 games isn’t enough from Matthews. More concerning is that Toronto gets outplayed during his minutes on the ice.
That can’t happen with a player of his caliber and contract.
The Maple Leafs need their superstar to elevate his game.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-4-2)
Previous rank: 30
Ville Koivunen could help Pittsburgh sustain their surprising start.
It’s hard to criticize anyone on the NHL’s most surprising team, but Koivunen showed promise last season with seven assists in eight games. This year, he has one point in seven appearances despite getting opportunities alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
The Penguins could use more from him.
16. Washington Capitals (7-5-1)
Previous rank: 12
Alex Ovechkin has more to give after last season’s magic.
A slight drop-off after his exceptional 2024-25 campaign was expected. But the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history surely has more in the tank than three goals in 13 games.
Washington needs their captain to find his scoring touch.
17. New York Rangers (6-6-2)
Previous rank: 17
Alexis Lafreniere is off to a disappointing start under new management.
The hope was for a breakout season under head coach Mike Sullivan. Instead, Lafreniere hasn’t scored since the second game of the season.
This is the first year of his seven-year, $52.15-million extension.
The Rangers need much more from him going forward.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets (7-6-0)
Previous rank: 19
Kent Johnson hasn’t followed up his breakout campaign.
The 23-year-old scored 24 goals and 57 points last season but has just two goals and four points this year. He played barely over 12 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Islanders.
Columbus needs him to regain last season’s form.
19. Los Angeles Kings (6-4-4)
Previous rank: 11
Phillip Danault has lost his scoring touch completely.
The veteran center managed 43 points last season but scored only eight goals. This season, he has zero goals and three assists in 14 games.
Even with his defensive contributions, the Kings need offense from a player averaging 16:58 of ice time.
20. Ottawa Senators (6-5-2)
Previous rank: 13
Linus Ullmark must improve his play dramatically.
An .861 save percentage won’t work for Ullmark in the first season of his four-year, $33-million extension. The math is simple here.
Ottawa’s playoff hopes depend on much better goaltending.
21. Seattle Kraken (6-3-4)
Previous rank: 29
Adam Larsson has been a liability in key minutes.
The Kraken get dominated during Larsson’s five-on-five time on ice. He owns a 39.39% expected goals share and has been outscored 14-6 through 13 games.
Seattle needs stronger play from a key top-four defenseman to truly contend for a playoff spot.
22. New York Islanders (6-5-2)
Previous rank: 26
Ilya Sorokin looks nothing like his former self.
What’s happening with Sorokin? He finished in the top eight of Vezina Trophy voting each of the last four seasons. Now he has an .879 save percentage through nine games.
The Islanders need their goaltending to return to elite levels.
23. Buffalo Sabres (5-4-4)
Previous rank: 25
Owen Power hasn’t found his offensive rhythm as expected.
The former first overall pick has five points in 12 games. More importantly, Buffalo gets outplayed when Power is on the ice, recording a 48.8% expected goals share.
The Sabres need more from their young star defenseman.
24. Chicago Blackhawks (6-5-3)
Previous rank: 32
Nick Foligno wears the captaincy for leadership, not production.
Still, zero goals in 11 games represents a tough start for a player who scored at least 15 goals in each of the previous two seasons. Chicago could use some offense from their captain.
25. Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1)
Previous rank: 27
Matvei Michkov has struggled in his second season.
The 20-year-old has one goal in 13 games after leading all rookies in goals last season. Michkov is playing fewer minutes and generating much less offense than in 2024-25.
His fit with head coach Rick Tocchet has presented early issues.
26. Vancouver Canucks (7-8-0)
Previous rank: 23
Jake DeBrusk isn’t providing the scoring Vancouver needs.
After scoring a career-high 28 goals in his first season with the Canucks, DeBrusk has three goals in 15 games this year. That’s not nearly enough for a team that’s struggling to score.
Vancouver needs him to rediscover last season’s form.
27. Boston Bruins (8-7-0)
Previous rank: 20
Jeremy Swayman hasn’t provided the bounce-back Boston desperately needs.
The Bruins needed their number one goaltender to have a strong year to make the playoffs. Instead, Swayman has an .897 save percentage in nine games.
This is concerning long-term, as he’s in year two of an eight-year, $66-million contract.
28. Minnesota Wild (5-6-3)
Previous rank: 15
Jared Spurgeon sits at the center of Minnesota’s struggles.
The captain has been outscored 13-4 at five-on-five – the worst mark in the NHL among players with at least 200 minutes at even strength. That’s a troubling sign for the Wild’s defensive foundation.
29. St. Louis Blues (4-8-2)
Previous rank: 16
Jordan Binnington must right the ship in goal.
Goaltending has been terrible for the Blues across the board. As the number one netminder, it’s on Binnington to fix things.
He has an .859 save percentage in 10 games this season.
30. Nashville Predators (5-6-4)
Previous rank: 28
Steven Stamkos couldn’t have imagined a worse start.
Just two goals and three points in 15 games represent a nightmare beginning for the 35-year-old. On a Nashville team going nowhere, his days as an offensive difference-maker appear to be over.
31. San Jose Sharks (5-6-3)
Previous rank: 31
John Klingberg provides offense but gets crushed defensively.
The Sharks signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year, $4-million deal to generate offense from the blue line. He has five points in eight games but owns a terrible 31.39% expected goals share.
San Jose needs him to be more well-rounded.
32. Calgary Flames (4-9-2)
Previous rank: 22
Dustin Wolf has been the opposite of last year’s savior.
Wolf rescued Calgary’s season a year ago with outstanding play. This season, he’s posted an .895 save percentage in 13 games.
That’s the last thing the Flames wanted after signing him to a seven-year, $52.5-million extension in September.
