The calendar has officially flipped to 2024 and the NHL season is nearly halfway over.
Taking a glance at the standings, perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2023-24 NHL season so far has been the tale of the Vancouver Canucks. With poor cap management and an underperforming roster, the Canucks needed this season to go perfectly or risk the breakup of some really talented players.
And so far, it has! Entering 2024, the Canucks own sole possession of the top spot in the Pacific, a division featuring the reigning Stanley Cup champions and Connor McDavid himself. In a year the Canucks needed to rally together the most to stave off implosion, the team has put together quite a run before the halfway point of the season.
The real question is, can this last? The Canucks have one of the harder remaining strength of schedules left and have the Golden Knights, Kings, and Oilers breathing down their necks in the Pacific. Time will tell if the Canucks truly are a contender after so many years of disappointment, but so far they’re exceeding expectations and then some.
As for the rest of the NHL, here’s how we see things as the new year begins in our January 2024 power rankings.
32
San Jose Sharks (9-25-3)
Last ranked: 32
The Sharks closed out 2023 with an eight-game losing streak. The tank for Macklin Celebrini continues.
31
Chicago Blackhawks (11-23-2)
Last ranked: 29
Connor Bedard is pulling away in the Calder Trophy race with 15 goals and 33 points in 35 games. The kid is certainly something special, even if the Blackhawks are anything but right now.
30
Columbus Blue Jackets (12-18-8)
Last ranked: 31
Injuries have once again sapped the power from the Blue Jackets roster. Columbus likely wasn’t going to be a playoff contender, but to lose Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, Patrik Laine, and more to injury over the last few weeks is quite the blow. Maybe 2024 will provide the Blue Jackets with better injury luck.
29
Anaheim Ducks (13-23-0)
Last ranked: 30
After an early season jump, it’s clear the Ducks have settled back into their usual spot in the NHL’s basement. Between Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and more, this Ducks squad looks well prepared for an explosive future, but they need more time in the oven to cook for sure. The upside of another bad season? A top draft pick that could be the missing piece for this Ducks team!
28
Ottawa Senators (14-18-0)
Last ranked: 24
Reality came crashing back down for the Senators in December. Ottawa went 6-9-0 last month, firing head coach D.J. Smith and promoting Steve Staios to the general manager position after a turbulent few weeks for the organization. With a tough 2024 schedule lying in wait, the Senators’ hopes of competing for a playoff spot this season have dwindled nearly out of reach.
27
Montreal Canadiens (15-16-5)
Last ranked: 26
The Canadiens had a rough three-game skid to end 2023. However, the biggest story to come out of Montreal in December is that Juraj Slafkovsky is starting to get things going, with six points in his last seven games. Slafkovsky turned heads as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft so it’s great to see him start to pick things up as the new year begins.
26
Calgary Flames (15-16-5)
Last ranked: 22
Calgary opened December with a 1-4-2 record and never really recovered from that awful start. December needed to be a big bounce back month for the Flames and it just didn’t happen, putting their playoff hopes in severe jeopardy as 2024 begins. The most disappointing part of the Flames’ season so far? Jonathan Huberdeau, who had just one point in December, an assist on the final game of the month.
25
Minnesota Wild (16-15-4)
Last ranked: 27
Unlike Calgary, Minnesota was able to right the ship — somewhat — in December, going 9-5-0 and giving their playoff hopes a much-needed boost. Their early-season swoon might still end up dooming them by season’s end, but the fight hasn’t left the Wild yet. Unfortunately for their playoff hopes, Filip Gustavsson and Kirill Kaprizov are both week-to-week with injuries. Real tough break for Minnesota here.
24
Buffalo Sabres (15-19-4)
Last ranked: 19
The Sabres had some real ugly losses in December and plummeted out of the playoff race in the East as other teams started to get hot around them. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen especially had a rough month in net, going 1-4-1 with an .866 save percentage, which allowed Devon Levi to grab the starting goaltender’s spot. It’s going to take a miracle for the Sabres to claw back into postseason contention and with the East looking as strong as it has, I don’t think this young team has it in them this year.
23
St. Louis Blues (18-17-1)
Last ranked: 21
Jordan Binnington went back to being unreliable in December, posting a 4-5-0 record with an. 881 save percentage. The Blues continue to hang around in the playoff conversation, but their lack of consistency is starting to hurt them in terms of gaining ground from their peers.
22
Seattle Kraken (15-14-9)
Last ranked: 28
A weaker Western Conference has allowed the Kraken back into the playoff hunt, as Seattle ended December on a four-game win streak despite a seven-game losing streak earlier in the month. The Kraken have been playing better hockey of late, winning tight, shut-down hockey games when it mattered the most. Seattle’s offense still lacks in firepower compared to last season, but the Kraken still have a legitimate chance to squeak into the postseason if this kind of play continues.
21
Detroit Red Wings (17-16-4)
Last ranked: 13
The Red Wings had a disastrous December that they might not be able to recover from. Detroit went 5-9-1 last month, putting them three points out of a playoff spot and behind four teams in the standings to make the second wild card. Patrick Kane might be a point-per-game player (13 points in 13 games) since joining the Red Wings, but even he might not be able to lift Detroit out of this recent funk they find themselves in.
20
Edmonton Oilers (18-15-1)
Last ranked: 25
Things seem to be turning around for the Oilers, who went 9-3-0 in December and outscored their opponents 49-31 during that time. In a weaker Western Conference, the Oilers’ recent five-game win streak has them sitting three points out of a wild card spot. A good start to their comeback, for sure, but it’s fair to wonder if this Oilers team can make it back to the second round with all their flaws still on display.
19
Washington Capitals (17-11-6)
Last ranked: 16
The Capitals are just one of a handful of teams stuck in a logjam in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. A just fine December (5-5-4) has them tussling with some Eastern heavyweights for the wild card, but I don’t think they’ll last long in the fight. However, it is good to see Alex Ovechkin start to score goals again after a long, 14-game drought without one.
18
New York Islanders (17-10-9)
Last ranked: 17
There might not be a team more middling than these Islanders. Brock Nelson is having another great season and Ilya Sorokin has mostly been a wall in net, but outside of that, there’s not really much to say about this Islanders team. Currently, New York sits in a playoff spot in early January, but don’t be surprised if more talented teams oust them from this spot in due time.
17
Pittsburgh Penguins (18-13-4)
Last ranked: 20
Pittsburgh endured a four-game losing streak to begin December and finished the month 7-1-1 to put themselves back in playoff contention. Things aren’t totally fixed with the Penguins — who still have the NHL’s seventh worst power play at 13.39 percent — but Sidney Crosby and company have looked more like their old dominant selves recently. And with the way Jake Guentzel is playing, a big payday is likely on the way this upcoming summer when his current contract expires.
16
New Jersey Devils (19-14-2)
Last ranked: 14
It’s clear by now that the 2023-24 Devils have taken a step back from last year’s incarnation that made it to the second round of the playoffs. A wild card spot is still within reach for the Devils, but between a less potent offense and Vítek Vaněček’s regression, New Jersey isn’t the force it once was just a year ago.
15
Tampa Bay Lightning (18-16-5)
Last ranked: 12
Andrei Vasilevskiy has been just fine in net for the Lightning since his return from injury, going 7-6-0 with a .901 save percentage in December. It’s been some time since we’ve seen the Lightning look like your middle-of-the-pack playoff contender and that’s the version we’ve gotten so far this season. Tampa Bay’s offense can still light you up with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, but the brick wall of Vasilevskiy hasn’t emerged yet this season.
14
Nashville Predators (20-16-1)
Last ranked: 18
Despite a three-game losing streak near the end of the month, the Predators did well for themselves in December. If he stays healthy, Filip Forsberg is on pace for a career year as he leads the team in points (41) and goals (18). It’s still anyone’s guess if the Predators will actually be able to sustain this for a playoff push, but right now the team is performing better than expected.
13
Arizona Coyotes
Last ranked: 23
Speaking of performing better than expected, the Coyotes aren’t a complete dumpster fire this season and have a chance at the playoffs! Arizona’s young pieces are finally starting to fit together as the team sits at a positive goal differential (plus-11) as 2024 begins. A big reason for that? Connor Ingram has been a stable presence in net this year, putting up a 4-4-0 record and a .915 save percentage in December.
12
Philadelphia Flyers (19-13-5)
Last ranked: 15
Despite a down ending to 2023 (a 1-2-2 record in their final December games), the Flyers continue to outperform expectations as a legitimate playoff hopeful with possible second round aspirations if they can find their groove again. Given that John Tortorella himself is at the helm, I reckon the Flyers will be back to their usual ways in short order as they continue to surprise in a tough Eastern Conference.
11
Toronto Maple Leafs
Last ranked: 10
Things are never easy for the Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov is now down in the minors after a horrific December showing (1-1-3, .828 save percentage). The Maple Leafs continue to have some wild games this season, between blowouts on both sides along with epic comebacks that fall just short in the end. This chaos makes for great mid-season viewing — sorry Maple Leafs fans — but doesn’t bode well for the team going forward into the playoffs unless they can clean things up before spring.
10
Carolina Hurricanes (21-13-4)
Last ranked: 8
December was a tale of two halves for the Hurricanes. In their first 10 games of the month, the Hurricanes went 4-4-2, then rebounded and were able to close out the month 3-1-1. With their usually stout defense and goaltending lagging behind this year, Carolina’s offense has stepped up as needed. Sebastian Aho, in particular, is having a great year and has 15 points in his last six games, helping drive the Hurricanes through this recent hot stretch.
9
Winnipeg Jets (23-9-4)
Last ranked: 11
Connor Hellebuyck is once again in early conversation for the Vezina with an 18-6-3 record and a .920 save percentage this season. This year, the Jets have been way better than expected and are locked in a battle for first place in the Central, a far cry from their previous underperforming seasons. It seems like the winds of change have blown through Winnipeg and have turned this team back from the brink after Mark Scheifele and Hellebuyck trade rumors dominated the offseason.
8
Vegas Golden Knights (22-11-5)
Last ranked: 5
A gross final few weeks of December really took the wind out of the Golden Knights’ sails. To cap off 2023, the Golden Knights went 2-5-0, a record that dropped them out of the first spot in the Pacific. Adin Hill’s injury really has done a number on Vegas, as the goaltender was doing a lot of heavy lifting for the team this season, but hopefully he’ll be back to full health in short order.
7
Florida Panthers (23-12-2)
Last ranked: 7
The Panthers are finally starting to show flashes of the team that bullied its way to a Stanley Cup Final appearance last summer. Matthew Tkachuk’s struggles this season have been well documented, but the forward’s put up points in each of his last three games and might finally be starting to turn a corner.
6
Los Angeles Kings (20-9-5)
Last ranked: 4
The Kings cooled off a bit in December, losing a handful of close one-goal games in a spot of bad luck. Cam Talbot also has had a bit of a slump recently, going from stellar to just average, but it doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about just yet. The top of the Pacific is super competitive this season so if the Kings want to keep pace with their peers, they’ll have to pick it up as 2024 begins.
5
Vancouver Canucks (24-10-3)
Last ranked: 9
The 2023-24 season was a make-or-break year for the Canucks and so far, they’ve passed with flying colors. Coming into the new year, the Canucks boast the NHL’s best offense with 142 total goals and have allowed the fifth fewest goals against (95) with the midway point of the season approaching. Given that it’s Vancouver, the bottom could fall out at any time, but it seems like whatever Rick Tocchet’s doing behind the bench, it’s working in a big way.
4
Dallas Stars (22-10-4)
Last ranked: 6
After slow starts to the season, Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz picked it up dramatically in December. With everything now clicking for this deep Stars team, the rest of the Western Conference should be on high alert going forward. A pair of 8-1 wins — against the Lightning and Blackhawks — in December have the Stars flying high into the second half of the season.
3
Colorado Avalanche (24-11-3)
Last ranked: 3
Nathan MacKinnon already has 61 points on the season, good enough to pace second in the NHL behind Kucherov. December was an up and down month for the Avalanche, who remain inconsistent week to week, but are still an incredibly deadly team no one wants to face on a nightly basis with how scary deep their offensive talent is.
2
Boston Bruins (23-7-6)
Last ranked: 2
A rough early December could have derailed a lesser team than the Bruins, but Boston was able to overcome the slump to win four straight entering 2024. It’s still feels like a miracle that the Bruins are this good without Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí, yet it’s a definite testament to the assembled talent of David Pastrňák, Brad Marchand, and more that Boston has yet to miss a step since the departure of two of their biggest stars.
1
New York Rangers (25-10-1)
Last ranked: 1
It should be no surprise that the Rangers maintain the top spot in these power rankings. Artemi Panarin’s having another bonkers year and put up 11 goals and 19 points in 14 December games. New York’s supporting cast remains one of the best in the NHL thanks to the production of Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and more. Even with some tough December losses, the Rangers still sit atop these power rankings as the best, most well-rounded team of the bunch.
