Archive · as published October 17, 2026

NHL Power RankingsOctober 17, 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	Carolina HurricanesCAR	+1.88	51.3	6-1	+1.9	86%
2	Vegas Golden KnightsVGK	+1.36	48.8	6-2	+1.4	75%
3	Colorado AvalancheCOL	+1.31	49.9	4-3	+1.1	57%
4	Edmonton OilersEDM	+1.24	47.2	5-1	+1.7	83%
5	Tampa Bay LightningTBL	+1.09	48.0	5-2	+0.3	71%
6	Utah MammothUTA	+1.07	46.7	6-2	+1.3	75%
7	Minnesota WildMIN	+0.76	45.9	5-3	+0.8	63%
8	Ottawa SenatorsOTT	+0.69	44.7	6-2	+0.4	75%
9	Washington CapitalsWSH	+0.52	44.9	4-3	+0.3	57%
10	Boston BruinsBOS	+0.51	42.9	5-2	+1.3	71%
11	Florida PanthersFLA	+0.43	45.7	3-4	-0.1	43%
12	Dallas StarsDAL	+0.42	45.1	3-4	+0.4	43%
13	New York RangersNYR	+0.32	40.8	6-2	+1.3	75%
14	New Jersey DevilsNJD	+0.30	43.6	4-3	0.0	57%
15	Anaheim DucksANA	+0.16	42.4	4-3	+0.1	57%
16	Buffalo SabresBUF	+0.09	43.4	4-4	-0.8	50%
17	Montréal CanadiensMTL	-0.03	43.3	2-4	-0.8	33%
18	San Jose SharksSJS	-0.07	41.6	4-3	-0.9	57%
19	Seattle KrakenSEA	-0.10	38.8	5-3	+1.1	63%
20	Winnipeg JetsWPG	-0.29	39.3	4-3	0.0	57%
21	New York IslandersNYI	-0.31	39.4	3-3	+0.7	50%
22	Columbus Blue JacketsCBJ	-0.33	40.9	2-3	-1.0	40%
23	St. Louis BluesSTL	-0.36	39.6	3-4	+0.3	43%
24	Toronto Maple LeafsTOR	-0.43	40.0	2-4	0.0	33%
25	Pittsburgh PenguinsPIT	-0.60	40.0	2-5	-1.0	29%
26	Los Angeles KingsLAK	-0.76	39.8	0-4	-1.5	0%
27	Nashville PredatorsNSH	-0.88	37.6	2-5	-0.6	29%
28	Detroit Red WingsDET	-0.90	37.6	2-5	-0.7	29%
29	Chicago BlackhawksCHI	-1.27	34.2	3-4	-1.1	43%
30	Philadelphia FlyersPHI	-1.61	35.8	0-8	-1.9	0%
31	Calgary FlamesCGY	-1.84	33.8	1-6	-3.0	14%
32	Vancouver CanucksVAN	-2.02	31.3	1-7	-1.8	13%

The top five that week

Carolina Hurricanes top the board at +1.88, 6-1 with a +1.9 goals per game margin, and a projection of 51.3 wins. The gap to Vegas Golden Knights is 0.52 rating points, a clear number one.
Vegas Golden Knights sit second at +1.36, 6-2 with a +1.4 goals per game margin, and a projection of 48.8 wins.
Colorado Avalanche sit third at +1.31, 4-3 with a +1.1 goals per game margin, and a projection of 49.9 wins.
Edmonton Oilers sit fourth at +1.24, 5-1 with a +1.7 goals per game margin, and a projection of 47.2 wins.
Tampa Bay Lightning sit fifth at +1.09, 5-2 with a +0.3 goals per game margin, and a projection of 48.0 wins.

Current NHL power rankings ← October 16, 2026 All editions