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NHL

Power Rankings: Clock Strikes Midnight

Posted Feb 27, 2009 12:00PM By Ted Starkey (RSS feed)

Filed Under: NHL Power Rankings

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After using February as a chance to see what last-minute fixes need to be made before this Wednesday's trade deadline, not a lot has been decided in the playoff chases, with the East and West both featuring ridiculously little margin for error for some teams. All of this means many teams will have some very tough choices to make, and the few teams that are out of the playoff chase are getting a chance to receive a king's ransom for their assets.

Check out what team's back up on top of the latest power rankings, and what you might want to look for as the hours wind down for teams to make one final push towards the playoffs.

  • 1. Red Wings (Last Week's Ranking: 2)
    Detroit gets another statement win over San Jose, serving notice that it's still the defending champs. Now, the question is to see what the Wings have up their sleeve at the deadline, as general manager Ken Holland always seems to have something up his sleeve this time of year.
  • 2. Devils (Last Week: 3)
    Martin Brodeur returns to the net for his 99th career shutout, and should pass Patrick Roy's NHL-record mark for wins in March -- perhaps in Montreal in the middle of the month. With him back, the Devils could be sending Kevin Weekes elsewhere -- and looking for defensive help.
  • 3. Flyers (Last Week: 7)
    Had it not been for Martin Biron's fumbled puck against the Penguins, the Flyers very well could have a seven-game winning streak going right now. Now, the big question in Philadelphia is if the Flyers be able to upgrade their goaltending situation for the stretch drive.
  • 4. Sharks (Last Week: 4)
    Only a loss to Detroit is a blemish on the Sharks' last six games, as the team still hasn't hit double-digits in regulation losses with one game left to play in February. Now, San Jose could be looking for some more depth to see if it can finally break through in the postseason.
  • 5. Capitals (Last Week: 1)
    The Caps hit some potholes with losses to Colorado and Philadelphia, but Alex Ovechkin gets the best of Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. The Caps are interested in getting some help on the blueline, not to mention a backup goaltender in case anything happens to Jose Theodore.
  • 6. Bruins (Last Week: 6)
    After a tough trip to Florida, the Bruins bounce back with convincing wins over the Panthers and Ducks at home. Will Boston make a real splash at the deadline for a power forward at the deadline to bolster its strong bid to end the city's 36-year-old Stanley Cup drought?
  • 7. Flames (Last Week: 8)
    Calgary continues to play well, winning three in a row and building up a 10-point edge in the Northwest Division. The Flames may look to add a bit more punch as they are one of the few Western clubs seemingly safely ticketed for a playoff spot.
  • 8. Blackhawks (Last Week: 5)
    With some tough competition out West, the 'Hawks could probably land a mint for goaltender Nikolai Khabiboulin if they chose to do so, although right now, it looks like the team's happy to go with their current tandem and perhaps trying upgrading their forward corps other ways.
  • 9. Canadiens (Last Week: 11)
    Controversy? What controversy? After Alexei Kovalev's benching and the bad press for the Kostitsyn brothers, the Habs bounce back with wins over the Senators and Canucks to grab a slight edge in the now-tightly packed Eastern race.
  • 10. Panthers (Last Week: 14)
    The Panthers are in the thick of the Eastern playoff chase with a home win over the Bruins and a win at Madison Square Garden, with Florida looking to end a seven-year playoff absence. Now, will the team really deal Jay Bouwmeester at the deadline, or keep him and hope for the best?
  • 11. Canucks (Last Week: 13)
    After a wretched January, the Canucks are putting the finishing touches on an 8-2-0 February with one game yet to play in the month. But Vancouver faces some tough questions over what to do next week with free agency looming for several players this summer.
  • 12. Sabres (Last Week: 9)
    Ryan Miller's injury really puts the Sabres' playoff hopes in doubt, as Buffalo will be one of many teams needing to upgrade their goaltending situation at the deadline. The bright spot for the Sabres is Thomas Vanek may be back sooner than expected to help in the playoff push.
  • 13. Blue Jackets (Last Week: 16)
    The Blue Jackets are making a bid for the team's first-ever playoff berth, and you figure the team will try to make a splash to try and make it a reality. With Steve Mason in net, Columbus is certainly a team that could do some damage in the postseason - if it can get there.
  • 14. Hurricanes (Last Week: 18)
    With a shootout win over the Sabres, the 'Canes draw even in points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jim Rutherford is well-known for doing some tinkering with his club at the trade deadline, and always looking to bolster the team's hopes of a playoff return.
  • 15. Stars (Last Week: 10)
    The Stars slump at the wrong time, and now sit in a three-way tie for the eighth seed in the West. With a tough cap salary situation to go with the injuries, there may not be the ton Dallas can do to without some major surgery, which likely means it'll probably go with what they have.
  • 16. Penguins (Last Week: 17)
    The Penguins have won three of their last four, and with them sending Ryan Whitney west for Chris Kunitz - and help for Sidney Crosby - it'll be interesting to see if the Pens make another deadline splash in acquiring more offensive help.
  • 17. Ducks (Last Week: 12)
    With the Ducks in a precarious position in a tie for the last playoff spot, the team acquires Ryan Whitney from the Penguins. The addition of the blueliner just helps fuels the rumors that Anaheim may deal either Chris Pronger or Scott Niedermayer to an Eastern contender.
  • 18. Rangers (Last Week: 15)
    John Tortorella comes on board to replace Tom Renney, but New York continues to slide down the standings, grabbing just two wins so far in February. Glen Sather may have to make a big move on the ice as well in order to keep the team from getting bounced from the playoff picture.
  • 19. Predators (Last Week: 23)
    The Predators win three in a row to put themselves just a point out of the playoffs, and have shown a penchant for coming back in the third period to pull out victories. Now, the question is if GM David Poile thinks this team can really qualify in a very tough Western Conference race.
  • 20. Wild (Last Week: 20)
    The Wild could do a lot at the deadline, as they have some tough decisions to make if they ship Marian Gaborik - or even Niklas Backstrom - out of St. Paul, meaning Minnesota could have a radically different look next week with a team fighting for one of the last playoff spots.
  • 21. Oilers (Last Week: 21)
    The Oilers hit a skid, losing four of five to slide into a logjam for the last playoff spot. With forward Erik Cole as bait, Edmonton could make a pretty major move at the deadline to help bolster its chances of getting into the postseason.
  • 22. Kings (Last Week: 19)
    After a great road trip to begin the month, the Kings have stumbled badly, winning just two of their last eight games to fall four points out of the Western playoff's final spot. Now, Los Angeles has to decide if it's going to make a run or reload for next season.
  • 23. Blues (Last Week: 25)
    With five wins in their last seven games, the Blues have pulled three points back of the eighth spot, giving St. Louis pause if they're going to end up dealing Keith Tkachuk for help down the road or look to try and chase down a playoff berth.
  • 24. Coyotes (Last Week: 24)
    While Phoenix slides down the standings, Coyotes fans have at least to be relieved the team's future in the desert seems a bit more secure with the city of Glendale helping out the financially floundering franchise in some difficult financial times.
  • 25. Avalanche (Last Week: 22)
    While the Avs started their six-game road trip on a solid note, three straight losses pretty much ensures Colorado will be selling off some assets next week. Jordan Leopold, Andrew Raycroft and perhaps even Ryan Smyth could be on the move as the team falls into the West basement.
  • 26. Maple Leafs (Last Week: 27)
    While it's too late for this year, the Leafs put together a nice three-game sweep of the New York-area teams to move to the top of the bottom-feeders of the Eastern Conference. Now, what will the non-Twittering Brian Burke do to help Toronto's future at the deadline?
  • 27. Senators (Last Week: 26)
    If GM Bryan Murray thought the Sens really had a shot at the playoffs, losing four out of five certainly took care of that. Now, Ottawa will look to rebuild and reload for next season with some assets to move at the deadline.
  • 28. Lightning (Last Week: 28)
    It's starting to look like the Bolts may not make a major move at the deadline, but still, there will be plenty of change-of-address cards handed out in Tampa Bay next week with the team's recent slump to put them nine games below .500.
  • 29. Thrashers (Last Week: 29)
    The Thrashers could deal Ilya Kovalchuk, but it's more likely Atlanta will move some smaller pieces to the roster and hope their red-hot Russian star decides to resign with the team before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
  • 30. Islanders (Last Week: 30)
    With Mike Comrie gone to Ottawa and Bill Guerin reportedly waiving his no-trade clause, it appears that a fire sale will be going on in Long Island as the team tries to stockpile draft picks and secure one of the top two selections in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Check out the last rankings here.

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