DCHL Power Rankings (and one player from each team that needs to improve in the 2nd half) (FINAL)

In part 2, I made a mistake and accidentally skipped over the Nashville Predators. I’ve since edited the article to include them. However, I’m also going to put it below, as many may not go back to that previous article. As well, the Los Angeles Kings, which I had ranked #11 in part 2, has now moved into this final part, and St. Louis and Minnesota have each moved up one spot (12 and 11 respectively).

13. Nashville Predators (28-22-2)

The Nashville Predators shoot up the rankings after a 5 game win streak coming into the olympic/all-star break. They’ve got a very solid team that could definitely overtake some of the teams currently ahead of them, especially with the way they’ve been playing. There is one player who really needs to step, and that’s assistant captain Johnny Gaudreau. After 3 consecutive 70+ point seasons, Gaudreau seems to have stopped dead in his tracks, posting 9 goals and 16 assists for a measly total of 25 points in 52 games. Gaudreau has been one of the best players in the entire league the last few seasons, so it’s a shame to see how far the mighty has fallen. Johnny Hockey is certainly skilled enough to make a comeback, and if the Preds expect to make the playoffs, his return to form is essential. 

I’d also like to add that each of the teams in the top 10 are pretty similarly skilled for the most part, thus a lot of what I have to say will probably get fairly repetitive. Now, onto the list: 

10. Los Angeles Kings (28-18-5)

Starting off the top 10, we have the Kings, a team with an elite top 6, and incredible depth. They absolutely have what it takes, but there are still improvements to be made. Coming in off a breakout season with the Avalanche where he posted 31 goals and 49 assists for a whopping 80 points in 81 games, Pierre-Luc Dubois has been disappointing in comparison. Currently at 23 points (11g, 12a) in 51 games, it's mind-boggling that he has not been able to produce at the same level seeing as I'd argue he moved to a better team. Dubois certainly has all the tools he needs to get back to the level he performed at last year, it's just a matter of putting them to use.

9. Calgary Flames (28-18-6)

The Flames slightly edge out the Kings due to their record in the last 10 games. It is pretty surprising seeing how high the Flames are in the standings, considering only 6 players have a positive +/-, and of those 6, only 2 have players more than 10 games. Clearly, there’s some issue on the back end of the ice. Whether or not that is due to the defense, or goaltending is up for debate, but the team clearly plays worse when Thatcher Demko is in net. While Fleury has a stellar 24-11-4 record, Demko carries a much less stellar 4-7-2 record. With an 88.37 sv%, and a 3.05GAA, it is clear that he hasn’t been able to figure things out. He’s an incredible young goalie when he’s at his best, but this may simply not be his year. Regardless, Fleury cannot carry the full load and if the team can’t trust the backup to perform when necessary, problems could arise for Calgary in the final stretch. 

8. Winnipeg Jets (31-16-5)

Now, normally the Jets would probably be a bit higher, but seeing as they are the only team in the top 10 to lose more than half of their last 10 games, I’ve decided to rank them at 8. With an incredibly deep roster composed of both veteran players and young and up-and-coming stars, the Jets are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs this year. They’re up there with the best of them, but there are a few players I’d like to see make improvements, the main one being Mark Giordano. He is by no means playing poorly, 31 points in 47 games actually quite impressive. However, it’s tough to pick someone on this team because everyone is playing at the level you’d expect of them. So, I’ll use this opportunity to point out that of all the players who’ve played more than 5 games, he is the only one on the team with a negative +/-, at -3. He also ranks 3rd in defenseman scoring, though the two above him (Brent Burns and Seth Jones) are not slouches by any means. Not much improvement needs to be made, perhaps he just needs to tighten up his play in the defensive end a bit.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (29-14-8)

Frankly, the Penguins are not a team I’d have expected to be ranked this highly, but here we are. Who could have seen Nick Bonino and Alex Goligoski leading the team in points? The Penguins rank 15th in goals for, 12th in goals against and 12th in goal differential, so how they’ve made it this far is anyone’s guess. My guess would be excellent goaltending and having unlikely heroes step up and produce, but that will only get them so far. Team captain, Jamie Benn sits at 24 points (14g10a) in 52 games played. He’ll need to step up and start producing more, as the competition will be tough with the Islanders, Flyers and Hurricanes all ahead of his team. By every measurable metric, they are middle of the pack. That being said, they’ve continuously defied the odds and proved us all wrong, so there is nothing that says they can’t continue to do so and make a deep run this year.  I’ve talked at length about how good the central division is, but this top 5 of the metro is arguably even better, so it’ll be interesting to watch how the rest of this season unravels for them.

6. Dallas Stars (31-14-5)

The Dallas Stars are clearly looking to make a huge run for the playoffs, seeing as they’ve just traded for David Pastrnak, the DCHL equivalent of a joint being passed around at a party. With one of the deepest rosters and arguably the best goalie tandems in the league, the Stars are looking to have some of the best odds at winning the cup this year. Despite the ridiculous depth they have, I’d like to see their depth players improve in the offensive end. Mainly, Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri had a great run in the playoffs, winning the cup last season with Buffalo, so he’ll be looking to run it back this year. He will likely be instrumental in their run, as he knows what it takes, but he’s been a bit off this season. Posting a very mediocre 24 points in 49 games, Palmieri isn’t exactly earning that shiny new contract that he signed this off-season. He’s only a few years removed from posting 94 and 84 points in consecutive seasons. If he can play at even half of the level he played at during those seasons, he should be able to increase his production. 

5. Buffalo Sabres (33-16-1)

The reigning and defending DCHL cup champions, the Sabres have not missed a beat. They’re looking to go back to back, but they’ll need some players to step it up a bit. Speaking of players not earning their shiny new contract, the Sabres re-signed Patrick Kane to a whopping $14.5M contract, a contract which he has most definitely not earned until now. Recording 15-14–29 in 50 games, I can’t imagine anyone in the organization is happy with his performance thus far considering the arm and leg that they are paying him. Especially considering his current point total is the same amount of points he put up in the 30 games he played last season, you have to think maybe there’s some nagging injuries from the playoffs. Whatever it may be, there’s clearly something wrong and he’ll have to step it up if he wants to bring the cup back to Buffalo for the 2nd consecutive year.

4. Philadelphia Flyers (32-12-6)

The Philadelphia Flyers are another team that is filled to the brim with all-star talent. There are 2 players that I specifically debated between putting on this list, but the one I’ve chosen to go with is Jakub Vrana. Vrana is one of the best goal scorers on the Flyers, so the fact that he’s only put up 8 goals is disappointing, to say the least. He’s never been much of a pass-first guy, so I’m not too concerned with that number, though it isn’t high enough to make up for the lack of goal scoring (14 assists). Also important to note, he currently has a career-low shooting percentage, at 6.40%. So it is wholly possible that he is simply unlucky. Whatever the case may be, the flyers need him to start producing more if they’re going to make it deep in the playoffs.

3. New York Islanders (32-12-5) 

The Islanders, much like every team in the top 5, have an embarrassment of riches in depth. Their forwards are all performing optimally and their goalies have been swell too. They do rank #1 in the league in Goals For, after all. That being said, I’d like to see their defensemen improve in the offensive zone. Orlov has come in and should be able to help in that regard, but he’s only played 1 game with the team so it’s tough to say, though he did record an assist in that one game. I’d like to see Rasmus Ristolainen start to produce a bit more. For my money, he is the best offensive defenseman that the Islanders have. I can’t blame him entirely though, as he hasn’t really been given the chance to shine on the man advantage. With only 1:01 of average powerplay time on ice (down more than a minute and a half from last season), there’s not really much he can do there. If he can start producing a bit more at even strength, perhaps he’ll gain the coach’s trust enough to put him in that position and then he can run away with it. He’s certainly capable. 

2. San Jose Sharks (37-10-2)

The Sharks are a superteam in every sense of the word, which makes the fact that Connor McDavid is under a PPG pace even more mind-boggling. The best player in the league by a decent margin is currently 20-19–39 in 46 games. This is by no means bad if you’re not Connor McDavid, but unfortunately, he is Connor McDavid so this is certainly below average by his standards. Luckily for him, he is in fact Connor McDavid, so he could very easily get 100 points in the next 30 games and no one would be surprised. I do find it kind of funny that I’m saying he needs to improve seeing as he’s nearly point per game, but I do genuinely think it’s a tad disappointing knowing what he’s capable of.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (35-10-4)

The Hurricanes are 2nd place in the league but are currently riding a 4 game win streak. This, in addition to being 9-0-1 in their last 10 games, and very specifically shutting out the San Jose Sharks in their last game before the break is what has elevated them to the top spot of the power rankings. Carolina is a team that may not have the star power that some other teams in the top 10 have, but they don’t need that. They clearly have a tight-knit group that has been absolutely killing it lately. Their top six have been especially effective, so I’d like to see their depth scoring improve. Chandler Stephenson currently carries with him a -10 rating while only posting 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 46 games played. If he can figure things out, that should immediately improve their depth scoring, something that will prove to be essential once the playoffs come around.