NHL power rankings are a thing, even when no games are being played in the summer, except out on the golf course, that is. The New York Rangers remain in the mix for the top spot even though they’ve had a largely quiet offseason, despite substantial noise about a possible Jacob Trouba trade back in June.
The Blueshirts added forward Reilly Smith in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, signed fourth-line center Sam Carrick, re-signed RFAs Braden Schneider and Kaapo Kakko and brought back veteran Chad Ruhwedel to contend for their seventh defenseman spot. They still need to re-sign RFA defenseman Ryan Lindgren who has a salary arbitration hearing scheduled Aug. 2.
Perhaps their biggest move was waiving two-time Stanley Cup winner Barclay Goodrow, who was claimed by the San Jose Sharks. Also, forward Jack Roslovic (Carolina Hurricanes), center Alex Wennberg (San Jose Sharks) and defenseman Erik Gustafsson (Detroit Red Wings) departed in free agency.
Up against the salary cap, that’s minimal turnover, which isn’t a terrible thing considering New York reached the Eastern Conference Final last season with largely the same roster, losing in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. They also won the Presidents’ Trophy and set franchise records for wins (55) and points (114) in the regular season.
So, a very good team remains, on paper, very good.
Smith replaces Roslovic. Zac Jones takes Gustafsson’s spot. A healthy Filip Chytil replaces Wennberg. Perhaps a younger forward like Brennan Othmann or Brett Berard forces his way into the lineup with a strong training camp.
They remain a legit Stanley Cup contender and one of the best teams in the NHL, still more than two months before opening night in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9.
But how do the Rangers stack up against the best of the best?
Where Rangers stand in NHL offseason power rankings
No matter how you slice it, the Rangers remain a top-five team in the NHL power rankings. Arguments can be made for top three, but top five seems the right spot.
So, let’s take a look at the top-five teams in our NHL offseason power rankings.
5. New Jersey Devils
The only team in this top five not to have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, the Devils should be back on track after a monster season in 2022-23, when they finished second in the Metropolitan Division with a franchise-record 112 points and then eliminated the Rangers in seven games to win their first-round playoff series.
Terrible goaltending and team defense, coupled with a slew of key injuries, knocked the Devils off course last season, but they have an outstanding nucleus full of talented young players. And they upgraded the roster this offseason by trading for goalie Jacob Markstrom, signing free agent defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon and acquiring forwards Tomas Tatar and Stefan Noesen.
Jack Hughes and Co. are going to be a handful again this season, likely even better than two years ago. But until they prove themselves when games begin, we’ll keep the Devils at No. 5 on this list.
4 . New York Rangers
The Rangers are running it back with nearly the same roster as last season after failing to move Trouba and open up enough space to pursue a top-six right wing. Still, this is a really good team. And their next big move to aid the Stanley Cup push should come ahead of the trade deadline.
They’re good enough to maintain their high standing in the League and with a key add or two late, should once again be in the championship mix.
3. Dallas Stars
This was a coin flip almost, choosing the Stars over the Rangers in this spot, because it was Dallas that lost a key piece this offseason when defenseman Chris Tanev signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This, after the Stars, like the Rangers, lost in six games in the conference final.
But it’s hard not really like Dallas’ mix of veterans and outstanding younger players like Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley, Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven.
With the Rangers still missing a key piece in their top-six forward group, the slight edge, at this point, goes to the Stars.
2. Florida Panthers
Blasphemy! The Stanley Cup champions are not No. 1 in the offseason power rankings? How?!
Listen, the champs are the champs until someone knocks them off. But losing Brandon Montour from their D corps in free agency, and even Oliver Ekman-Larsson for that matter, is a big blow for the Panthers. And that punishing fourth line played such a big role, yet Kevin Stenlund ended up in Utah, Kyle Okposo is going to retire and both Nick Cousins and Steven Lorentz remain unsigned.
This was a similar flip of the coin, but the Panthers are No. 2 here.
1. Edmonton Oilers
The team that came within one win of a reverse sweep against the Panthers and the Stanley Cup championship, has had a terrific offseason upgrading its roster. So, the Oilers surpassed the Panthers on our offseason power-rankings list.
The Oilers made two savvy additions this offseason to upgrade their secondary scoring behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, signing Victor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Re-signing Adam Henrique was another excellent move.
Simply, the Oilers are better now than when they played Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final this past spring. And they are No. 1 in our offseason power rankings.
