Archive · as published October 4, 2026

NHL Power RankingsOctober 4, 2026

The season projection blended with results so far, weighted by games played. Early on the roster projection dominates; by mid-season the record carries most of the weight.

#	Team	Rating	Proj W	W-L	Goal diff/gm	L10
1	Colorado AvalancheCOL	+2.00	50.2	1-0	+5.0	100%
2	Carolina HurricanesCAR	+1.44	48.6	1-1	-1.0	50%
3	Minnesota WildMIN	+1.10	46.4	2-0	+2.5	100%
4	Edmonton OilersEDM	+1.07	46.3	2-0	+2.0	100%
5	Florida PanthersFLA	+0.98	46.4	0-1	-1.0	0%
6	Tampa Bay LightningTBL	+0.94	46.3	1-1	-1.0	50%
7	Vegas Golden KnightsVGK	+0.91	46.1	0-1	-1.0	0%
8	Washington CapitalsWSH	+0.72	45.2	1-1	+0.5	50%
9	Utah MammothUTA	+0.69	44.4	2-0	+4.5	100%
10	Montréal CanadiensMTL	+0.58	44.7	0-1	-1.0	0%
11	Dallas StarsDAL	+0.54	45.0	0-2	-2.5	0%
12	San Jose SharksSJS	+0.41	43.4	2-0	+1.0	100%
13	Buffalo SabresBUF	+0.34	43.6	1-1	-1.0	50%
14	Anaheim DucksANA	+0.33	43.2	1-0	+1.0	100%
15	Ottawa SenatorsOTT	+0.26	42.9	1-0	+1.0	100%
16	New Jersey DevilsNJD	+0.18	43.0	1-1	-2.5	50%
17	Pittsburgh PenguinsPIT	-0.11	41.3	1-0	+1.0	100%
18	Columbus Blue JacketsCBJ	-0.22	41.0	1-1	0.0	50%
19	Toronto Maple LeafsTOR	-0.24	41.2	0-1	-1.0	0%
20	Los Angeles KingsLAK	-0.26	41.1	0-1	-1.0	0%
21	Boston BruinsBOS	-0.26	40.9	1-1	-1.0	50%
22	New York IslandersNYI	-0.37	40.0	1-0	+6.0	100%
23	New York RangersNYR	-0.46	39.3	2-0	+3.0	100%
24	Philadelphia FlyersPHI	-0.50	40.2	0-2	-1.0	0%
25	St. Louis BluesSTL	-0.63	39.2	1-1	-0.5	50%
26	Nashville PredatorsNSH	-0.67	39.0	1-1	-0.5	50%
27	Detroit Red WingsDET	-0.90	38.4	0-1	-2.0	0%
28	Winnipeg JetsWPG	-1.01	37.9	0-1	-1.0	0%
29	Seattle KrakenSEA	-1.08	37.0	1-1	+1.5	50%
30	Vancouver CanucksVAN	-1.83	33.7	1-1	+0.5	50%
31	Calgary FlamesCGY	-1.85	34.3	0-2	-4.0	0%
32	Chicago BlackhawksCHI	-1.96	33.8	0-2	-3.5	0%

The top five that week

Colorado Avalanche top the board at +2.00, 1-0 with a +5.0 goals per game margin, and a projection of 50.2 wins. The gap to Carolina Hurricanes is 0.56 rating points, a clear number one.
Carolina Hurricanes sit second at +1.44, 1-1 with a -1.0 goals per game margin, and a projection of 48.6 wins.
Minnesota Wild sit third at +1.10, 2-0 with a +2.5 goals per game margin, and a projection of 46.4 wins.
Edmonton Oilers sit fourth at +1.07, 2-0 with a +2.0 goals per game margin, and a projection of 46.3 wins.
Florida Panthers sit fifth at +0.98, 0-1 with a -1.0 goals per game margin, and a projection of 46.4 wins.

Current NHL power rankings ← October 3, 2026 All editions