The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 based on a combination of last week's play and a squad's overall outlook throughout the regular season.
by Ryan Dixon - March 8, 2010 2:25 PM EST
With players starting to return from the infirmary, Montreal is looking dangerous and creeping up our post-Olympic top 30.
It has taken a while, but things are finally looking happier in Habland.
The Montreal Canadiens have been an inconsistent bunch this season, both in terms of results and who is in the lineup thanks to a fairly significant string of injuries.
by Ryan Dixon - February 15, 2010 2:50 PM EST
The Red Wings should be healthy at the end of the Olympic break and ready to make a push for the playoffs.
The return is underway; now it’s about the results.
Barring any unfortunate injuries to their stars competing at the Olympics, the Detroit Red Wings will return from the break in better position to win hockey games than they’ve been in a long time.
by Ryan Dixon - February 8, 2010 2:15 PM EST
Not surprisingly the Caps are No. 1, but certainly surprising is the recent play of fellow Southeasters Tampa Bay.
Steven Stamkos has clearly established himself as a front-line NHL player, but Steve Downie might not be far behind.
Downie is never going to have the elite offensive upside Stamkos does, but he’s rapidly becoming a very useful player for Tampa while skating on the top line with Stamkos and Martin St-Louis.
by Ryan Dixon - February 1, 2010 3:25 PM EST
The Caps jump the Sharks for No. 1, but many eyes are on the Coyotes as they look for their first playoff berth since '02.
Shane Doan looks ready to lead the committee.
That the Phoenix Coyotes woke up Monday morning as the Western Conference’s fourth seed is surprising enough, but it’s all the more eye-catching when you consider this team hasn’t really had an offensive leader all season.
by Ryan Dixon - January 25, 2010 3:05 PM EST
San Jose's back atop our weekly rundown of all 30 NHL clubs, but what's the deal with the Isles staying in the hunt?
It’s tough to know how optimistic to be about the New York Islanders these days.
For the first time in recent memory, they’re battling for a playoff spot and can certainly hold their own with the other underwhelming Eastern teams scrapping it out for seeds five through eight.
by Ryan Dixon - January 18, 2010 2:40 PM EST
The top-end teams are comparable, but the mid-range squads in the two conferences aren't even close.
A disparity in conference competence is nothing new to the NHL, but the East is taking it to the extreme this year.
As of Monday morning, the New York Islanders sat tied for the eighth seed with the Montreal Canadiens with 50 points, but had played two less games for a total of 48.
by Ryan Dixon - January 11, 2010 3:00 PM EST
The Blackhawks emerge as No. 1, but the injury-ravaged Bruins continue to slide in the East.
The way things are going in Boston, it’s almost like Patrice Bergeron’s bad luck is contagious.
In the eyes of many, the B’s entered this season as a serious Cup contender, based mostly on the fact they finished with more points than anyone in the East last year and returned with virtually the same lineup.
by Ryan Dixon - January 4, 2010 3:55 PM EST
With four straight wins the Flames move up a few spots, but not enough to pass the surging San Jose Sharks.
Thanks to a series of recent playoff disappointments, there will be no cause for celebration in Calgary until the Flames toast at least one or two opponents in the post-season.
by Ryan Dixon - December 21, 2009 1:00 PM EST
Things are peachy for the No. 1 Penguins, but it's the complete opposite for the floundering Blue Jackets.
What has Rick Nash signed up for?
When the Columbus Blue Jackets got Nash to commit to an eight-year contract last summer, it was just another indication the team was finally, truly heading in the right direction.
by Ryan Dixon - December 14, 2009 3:25 PM EST
The Devils climb back to the top, but the once-lowly Wild are beginning to make a push.
Even if Gary Bettman was spinning the stats, there’s no way to put a shine on the fact Martin Havlat has just four goals this year.
But we’ll take a half-full approach here and point out Havlat does have five points over his past two games, doubling his goal output in that time and bringing his point total to 16 in 26 games.
by Ryan Dixon - December 7, 2009 3:10 PM EST
Washington claims the No. 1 spot, but their division mates in Atlanta are turning heads.
It’s hard not to view the Atlanta Thrashers with a bit of hairy eyeball.
A team that’s made the playoffs just once since entering the league in 1999-00 presently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference.
by Ryan Dixon - November 30, 2009 2:50 PM EST
With a healthy lineup and proven coaching staff the Preds are once again a surprising small-market team.
One of the best self-effacing lines you’ll hear from a team’s scouting staff when they’re being applauded for mining a late-round gem in the draft is, “If we’re so smart, why didn’t we take him sooner?”
Maybe that’s how the Nashville Predators feel about Shea Weber, who was the third defenseman they drafted in 2003.
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Should Alex Ovechkin be suspended for his hit on Brian Campbell?
"It's something you have nightmares about."
- Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet on giving up a goal to the Flyers with 2.1 seconds left in regulation.
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