The excellent news for the Bruins is there aren’t any nice groups within the 2023-24 National Hockey League.
The dangerous information is that they’re swimming in an enormous sea of fine groups, particularly within the Eastern Conference. Could a staff which makes the precise strikes by the commerce deadline separate from the pack? You by no means know. We thought that’s what the B’s did final yr.
Anyway, listed below are this month’s installment of the Herald’s Power Rankings:
1. New York Rangers – The Blueshirts, who personal the most effective factors proportion within the league (.750), have demonstrated they’ll win in quite a lot of kinds.
2. Vegas Golden Knights – The champs might not be operating away with something, however they’re nonetheless formidable.
3. Vancouver Canucks – Rick Tocchet is the main Jack Adams Award candidate and Thatcher Demko is vying for the Vezina. Weird how these two awards go hand-in-hand.
4. Boston Bruins – The staff’s compete stage will be the highest its been all season, however they’re 1-0-3 of their final 4. Secondary scoring is a matter.
5. Los Angeles Kings – If they may determine a technique to win at house (5-5-3 at Crypto.com Arena), the Kings could possibly be the staff to beat.
6. Dallas Stars – We’ll see if the Stars can stay among the many elite whereas coping with the dreaded “week-to-week” lack of Jake Oettinger.
7. Colorado Avalanche – No. 1 goalie Alexandar Georgiev has a .897 save proportion. The Avs want higher.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs – Forever top-heavy and flawed for spring hockey, the Leafs’ offensive weapons make them a troublesome out each night time.
9. Winnipeg Jets – An id that was slipping away the final couple of years has re-emerged.
10. Philadelphia Flyers – John Tortorella has remade the Flyers in his picture, and prior to anybody anticipated.
11. Florida Panthers – The Cats ought to be greater than this. But they’re in higher form than they had been final yr. And everyone knows what occurred then.
12. New York Islanders – The Isles are 7-1-2 of their final 10, nevertheless it’s exhausting to imagine in a staff that has a minus-4 in objective differential.
13. Carolina Hurricanes – Still ready for the ‘Canes to make their move. They’re an unimpressive 4-4-2 of their final 10.
14. Nashville Predators – It’s a pleasant story that the Preds are in a playoff spot, particularly with Juuse Saros being simply common up to now.
15. Tampa Bay Lightning – Nikita Kucherov has put the estimable Bolts on his again, however the 6-10-2 street file is problematic.
16. Arizona Coyotes – The assortment of younger expertise is beginning to outgrow their faculty rink.
17. Washington Capitals – While Alex Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase has slowed to a crawl, new coach Spencer Carbery has the Caps knocking on the door of a playoff spot.
18. New Jersey Devils – They’re nonetheless dropping video games they shouldn’t be, however having Nico Hischier again within the lineup helps a ton.
19. Detroit Red Wings – The Patrick Kane signing has not catapulted the Wings to the heights they anticipated. They’ve misplaced three straight and fallen out of the playoff construction.
20. Minnesota Wild – Recent bias could also be in full impact, nevertheless it seems like new coach John Hynes will information the Wild to a playoff spot.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins – I assumed Kyle Dubas’ low season acquisitions would make the Penguins higher. I used to be mistaken.
22. Montreal Canadiens – 2022 No. 1 total decide Juraj Slafkovsky hasn’t given the Habs a direct bump, however there’s time for him to determine flex his 6-3, 230-pound body. Still, Montreal is in placing distance of a playoff spot.
23. St. Louis Blues – Meh. Maybe it was time for Craig Berube to go, however the roster has holes.
24. Calgary Flames – You surprise how lengthy GM Craig Conroy hangs on to UFAs-to-be Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin – and if there’s a possible commerce match with a sure Atlantic Division staff with both of them.
25. Edmonton Oilers – The Oil has cooled off with three straight losses, however Edmonton remains to be able to occurring a tear that may get them into the playoffs.
26. Seattle Kraken – Maybe they need to have certified Morgan Geekie.
27. Buffalo Sabres – So a lot for that win in Boston propelling the Sabres. The franchise remains to be paying for the sins of tanking.
28. Ottawa Senators – Veteran coach Jaques Martin, put in as interim head coach after D.J. Smith’s firing, is sweet at defensive techniques. But provided that the goalies can cease the puck.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets – A gradual begin and now accidents have doomed the Jackets’ season, however they’ve received a keeper in Adam Fantilli.
30. Anaheim Ducks – As we thought firstly, Greg Cronin’s received a variety of work to do. But he’s doing it.
31. Chicago Blackhawks – The Hawks could also be tanking, too, nevertheless it’s on the managerial stage. Hasn’t seeped into the teaching or enjoying ranks. They would possibly have the ability to pull off this long-term plan.
32. San Jose Sharks – David Quinn’s Sharks have punched again at a league that considered them as a laughingstock. But they’re nonetheless a nasty staff.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”