Two months into the season and the NHL point total race is already more interesting than it has been in some time.
As December begins and the 2022-23 NHL season rolls along, hockey fans are starting to see the beginnings of a scoring race to remember between Jason Robertson and Connor McDavid. McDavid, the four-time Art Ross winner for most points in a season, has been the nearly-undisputed points champion in the NHL since his sophomore season.
Now, however, it seems McDavid has some real competition. Robertson is having a real incredible year with the Dallas Stars, leading the team in goals (19) and points (36). At 23 years old, Robertson is even starting to outpace McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in goals per 60 minutes looking back to 2020. Yes, really!
Not only that, thanks to Robertson, the Stars are shining brightly as the best team in the Central Division. McDavid’s Oilers, meanwhile, are slogging it out for a wild card spot.
With the first two months of the hockey season done and dusted, here’s how we rank the Oilers, Stars, and the other 30 teams in our final NHL power rankings of 2022!
32
Anaheim Ducks (6-15-2)
Last ranked: 32
Anaheim finally got some regulation wins under their belt in November, but the Ducks are well and truly cooked this season after allowing the most goals against (95) through the first two months. The tank for Connor Bedard is here.
31
Chicago Blackhawks (6-11-4)
Last ranked: 31
Patrick Kane trade rumors are swirling now that the Blackhawks have come back down to earth from their solid start to the year. This November stretch from Chicago is on par with what was expected from them this season.
30
Philadelphia Flyers (8-10-5)
Last ranked: 20
November wasn’t kind to the Flyers, as the team lost 10 straight games and have dealt with a plethora of injuries that have their lineup looking more like their AHL affiliate.
Lines and pairings today:
Tippett-Frost-Bellows
Hayes-Sedlak-Farabee
Deslauriers-N. Cates-MacEwen
Willman-Laczynski-BrownExtras: Laughton, Atkinson, J. Cates
Provorov-Ristolainen
Sanheim-Braun
Zamula-SeelerNo DeAngelo today.
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) November 28, 2022
This Flyers team was always going to be bad, sure, but this is just cruel.
29
Arizona Coyotes (7-10-3)
Last ranked: 30
Jakob Chychrun’s return to the Coyotes from injury also has fueled the rumor mills as December begins. Given the Coyotes are firmly tanking this season as well, Chychrun will likely be on the trade block by spring. And with three points in his first four games back, the 24-year-old defenseman seemingly has not lost a step yet.
28
Columbus Blue Jackets (7-12-2)
Last ranked: 29
This Blue Jackets team is just… not good. Johnny Gaudreau is over a point-per-game player (22 points in 21 games) but other than that, the Blue Jackets are just a lifeless hockey team. Makes you wonder why they even went out to net the biggest free agent this past offseason if they can’t even do anything with him.
27
Ottawa Senators (8-12-1)
Last ranked: 23
This was supposed to be the Senators year, but things have not gone to plan two months in. Brady Tkachuk is having a great season (25 points in 21 games played) but other than that, Ottawa hasn’t gotten the results they’ve wanted out of the rest of their group. It’s unfortunate that a fun offseason is set to go to waste with the Senators lethargic play.
26
San Jose Sharks (8-13-4)
Last ranked: 28
It’s a shame Erik Karlsson’s resurgence (32 points in 25 games) is doing absolutely nothing for the Sharks, who sit seventh in the Pacific and three points out of a wild card spot. Offensively, the Sharks have been buoyed by Karlsson’s hot start, but the defense and goaltending are just so bad in comparison. However, it is nice to see Karlsson bounce back after some real tough years in San Jose.
25
Vancouver Canucks (9-11-3)
Last ranked: 31
November was a much better month for the Canucks, who went 7-6-1 after a disastrous start to the 2022-23 season. Things still aren’t great for Vancouver, as they sit outside of a playoff spot with many teams between them and the wild card, but it seems as if the team has stabilized. Having Elias Pettersson (18 points in 14 November games) and Bo Horvat (16 points in 14 games) both heat up last month was a very good sign from a team that looked lifeless in October.
24
Montreal Canadiens (11-10-1)
Last ranked: 22
The Canadiens had some rough losses in November, including a 4-0 shutout against the Sharks and a 7-2 loss to the Sabres. The brightest spot for the Canadiens amidst a middling month of November? Goaltender Sam Montembeault went 3-1-1 with a .919 save percentage, his best stretch of play in his career. That, at least, is something to build upon if you’re Montreal.
23
Buffalo Sabres (9-12-1)
Last ranked: 12
Oh, how the Sabres have fallen. After having one of the best starts to a season in franchise history, Buffalo went a putrid 3-9-1 in November. An eight-game losing streak undid everything the team did in its first month, with the team now placing seventh in the Atlantic Division and playoff odds sitting at 25 percent.
At the very least, it’s nice to see Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin having great seasons, something that bodes well for the Sabres long-term future.
22
Washington Capitals (10-11-3)
Last ranked: 21
Injuries have really done a number on this Capitals team. Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom have yet to see the ice this season due to longer-term injuries. Connor Brown, T.J. Oshie, and Dmitry Orlov all have suffered key in-season injuries that have derailed the Capitals even further. We all knew this Capitals team was on its last legs as the second-oldest team in the NHL, but a 5-7-2 record in November has Washington sitting three points out of a wild card spot and in dire straits.
The only positive for this Capitals team? Alex Ovechkin continues to be Alex Ovechkin in his quest to catch Wayne Gretzky.
21
Nashville Predators (10-9-2)
Last ranked: 26
You’d think having a 7-4-1 record in November would put the Predators higher on this list, but regression on the offensive side has them on the lower end of the NHL’s middling teams. Matt Duchene, in particular, has taken a step backwards from his 43-goal, 86-point season last year with just five goals and 17 points in 21 games this year. The rest of the Predators offense shouldn’t be overlooked here either, as no one on Nashville has put up double digits in goals yet so far this season.
20
St. Louis Blues (11-11-0)
Last ranked: 27
Never let it be said that the Blues do anything by half measures, as the team followed up an eight-game losing streak with a seven-game winning streak in November. St. Louis is a volatile hockey team this year — fitting given who their starting goaltender is — and while its entertaining, it’s certainly not a sustainable strategy in the NHL.
19
Minnesota Wild (10-9-2)
Last ranked: 17
It’s a shame the Wild traded Kevin Fiala because of salary cap woes in the offseason because they could use a playmaker like him to help out Kirill Kaprizov (27 points in 21 games). After being one of the NHL’s best offenses last year, the Wild have regressed so far back that they’re now one of the league’s worst goal scoring teams (61) through two months of the season.
Either the rest of the Wild will need to step up to support Kaprizov or general manager Bill Guerin will have to do some hunting for a big enough offensive piece to get them into the playoffs.
18
Edmonton Oilers (12-10-0)
Last ranked: 5
Things are never boring with the Oilers, I’ll say that much. A freak skate injury to Evander Kane has hampered Edmonton’s vaunted offense, so much so that they’ve only scored 24 goals since his last game on November 8. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are No. 1 and No. 4 respectively in the NHL’s point scoring race, but the rest of the Oilers offense has been lifeless in comparison.
It doesn’t help matters either that Jack Campbell (3-3-0, .863 save percentage in November) has had a real rough go of it in net after signing a five-year, $25 million contract in the summer. The Oilers are still in the playoff race, but they’re not anywhere near the top echelon of teams like we once thought.
17
Detroit Red Wings (11-6-4)
Last ranked: 15
The Red Wings are one of the NHL’s biggest surprises so far this year. Thanks to some great offseason additions from Steve Yzerman in the form of Dominik Kubalik (22 points) and David Perron (16 points), Detroit is actively fighting for a playoff spot as December begins. The biggest reason the Red Wings are markedly improved is due to Ville Husso (9-3-3, .912 save percentage this season) who is definitely the best summer pickup from any team.
The Red Wings have yet to really have a statement win against teams better than them in the standings, but it’s certainly no fluke that they’ve put themselves in a wild card spot either.
16
Florida Panthers (10-9-4)
Last ranked: 6
The Panthers have yet to find a rhythm to their game this season and it’s starting to show in the standings. Florida’s had no positive momentum at all to ride this season, having only won two games in a row just twice. Six of their 13 losses on the year have also been by only one goal, making it even harder to build momentum when coming so close to victory night in and night out. Matthew Tkachuk, at least, is giving it his all each night, with a team-leading 29 points in 21 games played this season.
15
Calgary Flames (10-9-3)
Last ranked: 3
A seven-game losing streak was not the way the Flames wanted to begin November after a strong opening month to the season. Right now, it seems as if Calgary’s worst fears are coming to light, that their rebuilt offense won’t be able to hit the highs it used to. The biggest disappointment in that regard is Jonathan Huberdeau, who has just 12 points in 19 games played after a career 115-point season last year. After cruising to the first spot in the Pacific last year, the Flames have a real fight on their hands if they want to keep a playoff spot.
14
Los Angeles Kings (12-9-4)
Last ranked: 19
The Kings are getting distance between themselves and the Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division, with a four-point lead as December begins. Fiala’s been putting in work as the Kings biggest offseason acquisition and was a point-per-game player in November. There’s still concerns with this Kings team, goaltending namely, but Los Angeles is doing a good job taking advantage of the Oilers and Flames stumbles.
13
Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-4)
Last ranked: 14
We’re certainly wishing all the best to Kris Letang after the defenseman was sidelined indefinitely due to a stroke on Wednesday. As for the rest of the Penguins, the team is finally starting to look like the squad we’re all acquainted with after going 7-4-3 in November. The impetus for the Penguins recent stretch of good play is none other than Tristan Jarry, who went 4-1-3 with a .914 save percentage last month. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins offense are doing their jobs, so now it’s up to Jarry to keep up the good play in net.
12
New York Rangers (10-9-4)
Last ranked: 10
November was a rough one for the Rangers, who went 5-6-2 last month and are currently sitting out of a playoff spot. Instead of looking superhuman like he was last year, Igor Shesterkin has looked more like a league average goaltender. For shame! I still have faith that Shesterkin will be able to rekindle some of the magic from last year, but it’s clear if the Rangers best player isn’t on his game, New York isn’t one of the East’s top teams.
11
New York Islanders (15-9-0)
Last ranked: 11
Mathew Barzal’s stat line so far this season is pretty hilarious. The Islanders top forward has 26 points in 24 games with just two goals and a 3.6 shooting percentage. Usually, having your team’s top forward shoot below four percent would spell disaster, but Barzal’s playmaking ability has driven the Islanders to second place in the Metropolitan Division. It’s fair to be skeptical about the Islanders as a true playoff contender given how much trouble they’ve had keeping up with the top offensive teams in the postseason, but for now the team has returned to being solid once more in the regular season.
10
Tampa Bay Lightning (13-8-1)
Last ranked: 9
Victor Hedman is having an uncharacteristically poor start to the season with one goal and 10 overall points in 20 games played. Thankfully for the Lightning, Mikhail Sergachev has been quite the offensive driver this season (22 points in 22 games) and is doing his part to cover up the blemishes for the long-time NHL veteran. It’s hard to say if Hedman’s struggles are worth worrying about long-term, as we know the Lightning overall hit cruise control in the regular season, but it’s definitely something to take note of two months in.
9
Seattle Kraken (14-5-3)
Last ranked: 25
After a disappointing inaugural season, it feels good to see the Kraken playing so well early on this year. Seattle finally has found the right mix offensively, in part thanks to offseason pickup Andre Burakovsky scoring 23 points in 22 games played. In fact, the Kraken are overall benefiting from a NHL-first shooting percentage of 13.1 after being sixth-worst last season with an 8.9. It’s possible the bubble could burst for the Kraken, especially with Philipp Grubauer and Martin Jones playing below .900 this season, but let’s enjoy the fun while it lasts!
8
Winnipeg Jets (14-6-1)
Last ranked: 13
When you play well enough in front of Connor Hellebuyck, good things will happen. The Jets were a mess last season and as a result, Hellebuyck was league average and Winnipeg missed the playoffs by eight points. Now? Hellebuyck has a third-best .931 save percentage this season and the Jets are flourishing. Plus, offensive contributions from defenseman Josh Morrissey (17 points in 12 November games) can’t be overlooked here either, as he leads the team in points despite having a career high of 37 a season in his NHL career.
7
Carolina Hurricanes (12-6-5)
Last ranked: 4
A five-game skid in mid-November is rough, especially as four of those losses came in overtime. The Hurricanes also have been dealing with an injury to starter Frederik Andersen in net, which is always tough to swallow too. Still, Carolina is a good team going through a rough patch, so expect them to bounce back in short order. Also fun fact, Andrei Svechnikov is on pace for his first 50-goal season, as his 14 goals leads the Hurricanes as December begins.
6
Toronto Maple Leafs (14-5-5)
Last ranked: 16
The Maple Leafs weren’t nearly as bad as our previous rankings suggested, but it’s clear the team still has its issues despite how good they can be. November, at least, was a major improvement for Toronto, who went 10-1-3 and jumped into second in the Atlantic Division. Right now, things are clicking for the Maple Leafs and even their goaltending is getting the job done, with a fourth-best average 2.54 goals allowed per game. Tune in next month to see just how the Maple Leafs mess this up!
(Kidding, or am I?)
5
Colorado Avalanche (12-7-1)
Last ranked: 8
The Avalanche have finally settled into the 2022-23 season after a bit of a so-so start. And so far, the reclamation project of Alexandar Georgiev is going swimmingly too, as the former Rangers goaltender posted a 6-2-0 record and a .932 save percentage in November. The Central is definitely going to put up more of a fight than it has in years past, but the reigning Stanley Cup champions are more than prepared to take on challengers for their crown.
4
Dallas Stars (13-6-4)
Last ranked: 7
What else can we say about Robertson that hasn’t already been said? Robertson has a 16-game point streak stemming back to October 27 and is sitting three points behind McDavid for the NHL lead with 36 on the year. The 23-year-old is blossoming into a star player before our eyes and has helped lead the Stars to first place in the Central with his NHL-best 19 goals this season.
Eight goals in six games ✅
16 straight games with a point ✅
Tied for the League lead in points ✅Jason Robertson (@JasonRob1999) is on another level right now! pic.twitter.com/XunwfK1JYQ
— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2022
3
Vegas Golden Knights (17-6-1)
Last ranked: 2
A lot of the talk this year has been on Jack Eichel (26 points) and Alex Pietrangelo (21 points) having comeback seasons after rough injuries, but the Golden Knights wouldn’t be where they are without Logan Thompson and Adin Hill in net. This house of cards the Golden Knights built likely would have fallen apart if Thompson and Hill weren’t up to the task of tending the goal in Robin Lehner’s stead.
2
New Jersey Devils (19-4-0)
Last ranked: 18
I wasn’t ready to call the Devils officially legitimate after October, but now I can give my full vote of confidence. The Devils put together a 13-game win streak, the longest in the NHL this season, and have looked completely dominant in every aspect of their game since the year began. It seems like it was only a matter of time before Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt broke out like this on the big stage and now the team has the goaltending to support them.
Barring a historic collapse during the winter, just give Lindy Ruff the Jack Adams trophy now.
1
Boston Bruins (19-3-0)
Last ranked: 1
It was close, but the Bruins remain No. 1 on our list as December begins. Not only is Boston’s goal differential the best in the league (plus-40), the team has yet to lose at home, going 13-0-0 in their rink to start the 2022-23 season. Everyone is doing their part on the Bruins, from David Pastrnak and his team leading 14 goals and 32 points on down.
If we’re experiencing the last ride of this Bruins team as we know it, what a way to go out.
