Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

We are just past the All-Star break, the unofficial halfway point of the season. So it seems like a great time for our second edition of the power rankings for 2016-17 season.

10. New York Rangers

The Rangers have fallen fast, in both the standings and power rankings. In our last power rankings the Rangers held the top spot and looked like the best team in the NHL. Now they barely squeak into the top 10. In fact the only thing that put them ahead of team's like Ottawa was their massive +36 goal differential. King Henry has gone from a serious Vezina contender to an above average goalie. In fact the Rangers are now a fringe playoff team in the very tough Metropolitan division.

9. Chicago Blackhawks

The Hawks got off to a strong start and were tops in the west earlier this season. Now they are fading back into the pack. Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin are not setting the league on fire like they did last year. The Hawks are a strong team and their Stanley Cup reputation carries them in some ways. Still a team that will rise and fall on this list the rest of the season. The Nashville Predators are hot on their tail and the Minnesota Wild are pulling away, for now.

8. Edmonton Oilers

The surprising Oilers have the 3rd best goal differential in the NHL. This is helped greatly by league leading scorer, Connor McDavid. He is receiving all the well-deserved credit for the Oilers surprising success. In just his second season he has taken the Oilers from the bottom of the standings to a playoff team. Edmonton happens to also be on a hot streak. 7-2-1 in their last ten games has them keeping pace in their division. They are only two points out of first.

7. Montreal Canadiens

It is beginning to look like the Atlantic division belongs to the Canadiens. They already have a nine point lead over second place and the rest of the division looks average at best. Carey Price continues to prove why he was the pre-season favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. The biggest advantage for Montreal comes on home ice, where they are 18-5-3. If they do hold onto first place, it would be hard to knock them out of the playoffs with home ice advantage.

6. Anaheim Ducks

A lot of folks thought this would be a tough year for the aging Ducks. However, they are just one point off the division lead and show no signs of slowing down. A 7-2-1 record in their last ten games has them flying up the Western Conference standings. Maybe the biggest reason for the Ducks success is the faceoff circle. They are 1st in the league, winning 55% of their faceoffs. Both their powerplay and penalty kill rank a respectable 7th in the NHL.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

Tied for 4th in the league in points, but only good enough 3rd place in the division. The Penguins find themselves in a difficult place. For the Penguins to run the Stanley Cup gauntlet again this spring they are going to need to move up in the standings. The key to Pittsburgh's success is leading the NHL in shots/game (34) and goals/game (3.55), The biggest hurdle for this team currently is injuries. Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Connor Sheary have now all missed significant time due to injuries. The good news for the Penguins is the trade block is coming up. Pittsburgh never stays quiet at the deadline and this year they seem to have the biggest bargaining chip, Marc-Andre Fleury.

4. San Jose Sharks

Even though San Jose does not seem to be great in any one particular area, they still stand on top of the Pacific division. The Sharks as usual are simply a well balanced team with great leadership. They are filled with under-rated talent like Vlasic, Boedker and Pavelski. Martin Jones is a very strong goalie. Most of all this team just knows how to win. They rank near the middle of the pack in almost every statistical category. The only area they excel in is goals against per game (2.29), good enough for third in the league.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

The winning streak may be over, but that has not dropped them out of the power rankings. The Blue Jackets still sit at second in the Eastern Conference. A gaudy +48 goal differential shows how dominant they can be. If you ask folks about why the Blue Jackets are so good, they'll probably tell you about goaltending and defense. That is partially true, but it is their offense that has made them so dangerous. They possess the #1 powerplay in the NHL (24.6%) and are third in goals scored per game (3.35). If Columbus can continue this balanced attack, they are a definite Stanley Cup contender.

2. Washington Capitals

The Capitals are back to what they were last season, leading the league in points. The offense is heating up as Alex Ovechkin now sits in second in the league in goals. However, it is all about defense that has got this team back on top. The fewest goals against per game (2.10) and the fourth best penalty kill (84.7) make them a challenging match up. Washington will need to maintain this level of play if they are going to finally advance beyond the second round of the playoffs.

1. Minnesota Wild

I did not think at any point this year I would have Minnesota on top of my power rankings, but here they are. #1 in the NHL in wins (33), losses(11) and goal differential (+54). It is hard to argue with the Wild as the top team. They are not flashy, but they win. Impressively they are creating a gap between them and the rest of their conference. None of this would be possible without Devan Dubnyk. If the season ended today, he would run away with the Vezina trophy. First among goalies in goals against average and save percentage, second in wins and shutouts. He is carrying the Wild to the top of the Western Conference.