NHL Power Rankings 2025-26 Updated 1-32 Poll: Avalanche Dominance Continues as Playoff Picture Takes Shape

The Colorado Avalanche remain firmly atop the latest NHL power rankings for the 2025-26 season, showcasing a level of consistency that has become their hallmark. With a staggering 83.3% points percentage through mid-December, the Avalanche have separated themselves as the team to beat, leaving commentators wondering if any franchise has ever swept every major award in a single season. Nathan MacKinnon’s pursuit of the Hart, Rocket Richard, and Art Ross trophies simultaneously, combined with Cale Makar’s Norris Trophy candidacy and Scott Wedgewood’s Vezina-worthy goaltending, has created a perfect storm of excellence in Denver.

The end of the 2025 calendar year brings clarity to the playoff race, with the Eastern Conference tighter than it has been in at least a decade. The seven-point gap between top and bottom on U.S. Thanksgiving represents the closest conference margin in recent memory, making each game increasingly consequential as teams jockey for position. This compressed competitive landscape means that even brief slumps can prove devastating, while hot streaks offer significant leverage in the standings.

Top Contenders: Establishing the Championship Hierarchy

Colorado Avalanche Retain Commanding Lead

The Avalanche’s grip on the number one position reflects more than just stellar individual performances. Their systematic dominance has created a template that other franchises are scrambling to replicate. The team’s ability to maintain elite production across all situations while managing player workloads suggests a sustainable model for postseason success. With matchups against Winnipeg, Minnesota, and Utah on the horizon, Colorado has opportunities to extend their lead before the holiday break.

Wedgewood’s emergence as a legitimate Vezina candidate represents one of the season’s most compelling narratives. After facing questions about whether he could handle a starter’s workload, his .925 save percentage and ability to make timely saves have provided the stability that championship teams require. The goaltending position, often the great equalizer in playoff hockey, appears to be a strength rather than a question mark for the defending champions.

Dallas Stars Solidify Second Position

The Dallas Stars have embraced their role as the Avalanche’s primary challenger, maintaining their hold on the second spot with a 72.9% points percentage. The Central Division’s brutal competitiveness means the Stars cannot afford complacency, especially after watching the Avalanche capture the division crown last season. The “three-headed hockey Hydra” reference to Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota illustrates the division’s unique strength, where at least one legitimate Stanley Cup contender will face a first-round elimination.

Mikko Rantanen’s Game 7 heroics against Colorado in last year’s playoffs serve as a reminder that regular-season success guarantees nothing. The Stars’ ability to elevate their game when facing elite competition makes them particularly dangerous, as they have demonstrated the mental fortitude required for deep playoff runs. Their upcoming schedule features tests against Anaheim, Toronto, and Detroit, offering chances to build momentum before the calendar turns to 2026.

Carolina Hurricanes Surge into Third Place

The Hurricanes’ ascent to third in the rankings reflects the revelation that is Brandon Bussi between the pipes. Since being claimed off waivers from Florida, Bussi has posted 11 wins in 12 games with a .911 save percentage, solving Carolina’s longstanding goaltending consistency issues. This development fundamentally alters the Hurricanes’ championship calculus, transforming a question mark into a potential strength.

Carolina’s structure and defensive responsibility have never been in doubt, but elite goaltending provides the final piece of the puzzle. The team’s ability to dominate possession and limit high-danger chances now pairs with a goaltender capable of stealing games when needed. With matchups against Florida bookending a crucial tilt with Tampa Bay, the Hurricanes have opportunities to solidify their standing among the league’s elite.

Central Division Arms Race: Minnesota’s Bold Move

The Minnesota Wild’s acquisition of Quinn Hughes stands as the season’s most shocking transaction. A team not publicly mentioned in speculation swooped in to add a superstar defenseman, immediately altering the Central Division’s power dynamics. Hughes’ seamless integration—scoring in his debut and earning the “Quinn-esota” moniker—demonstrates the organization’s savvy evaluation and execution.

The Wild’s 67.1% points percentage and rise to fourth in these power rankings validate their aggressive approach. Hughes’ apparent Star Wars fandom adds a cultural dimension to his arrival, though he narrowly missed the team’s Star Wars night celebration. The acquisition positions Minnesota as a legitimate threat to both Colorado and Dallas, potentially creating a three-way battle for division supremacy that could rank among the most competitive in NHL history.

Edmonton Oilers and the Milestone Machine

Leon Draisaitl’s 1,000th point achievement places him in rare company, joining Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and Connor McDavid as the only Oilers to reach that milestone with the franchise. Edmonton’s unique place in NHL history as the only organization with five 1,000-point players underscores their offensive legacy. The commemorative shirt referencing Draisaitl’s iconic wedding cigarette pose demonstrates the franchise’s ability to blend historic achievement with modern cultural touchstones.

Despite these individual accolades, the Oilers sit at 13th in our rankings with a 57.1% points percentage, reflecting the gap between offensive brilliance and consistent team success. Edmonton’s challenge remains translating regular-season production into playoff dominance, a puzzle that has eluded them despite generational talent.

Metropolitan Division: Parity and Uncertainty

The Metropolitan Division presents a study in contrasts, with no team establishing clear separation. The Washington Capitals’ drop from third to eighth in these rankings illustrates the volatility inherent in closely contested conferences. Logan Thompson’s .925 save percentage and Vezina-caliber performance have kept Washington competitive despite inconsistent team play, but the margins for error remain razor-thin.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings occupy similar positions, hovering around the playoff cutline with points percentages in the 58-61% range. Trevor Zegras’ historic shootout proficiency—63% success rate on minimum 15 attempts, surpassing Vyacheslav Kozlov’s 58.7%—provides the Flyers with a unique weapon in tight games. Meanwhile, Detroit’s negative goal differential despite leading the Atlantic Division represents one of the season’s most puzzling statistical anomalies.

Atlantic Division: Boston’s Scoring Surge

The Boston Bruins’ rise in these rankings correlates directly with Morgan Geekie’s offensive explosion. His 24 goals trail only Nathan MacKinnon league-wide, and David Pastrnak’s assertion that Geekie “has everything to score 50 in this league” highlights the belief within the organization. Geekie’s 58-goal pace would represent one of the most unexpected scoring eruptions in recent memory.

Boston’s 57.1% points percentage positions them as a dangerous sleeper, capable of overwhelming opponents with depth scoring. Their upcoming schedule against Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal offers opportunities to accumulate points against rebuilding teams while building chemistry for a potential playoff push.

The Pacific Division: Youth Movement and Rebuilding

Anaheim’s Rookie Sensation

Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke has justified his third-overall selection by leading all NHL rookies in goals and points. His shocked reaction on draft night has transformed into confident production, giving Ducks fans a cornerstone player around which to build. Anaheim’s 61.8% points percentage reflects the impact of youth injection across their lineup.

San Jose’s Promising Future

The Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have formed one of the league’s most exciting young partnerships, with Celebrini ranking among the top five in league scoring throughout the season. Their sleepover bobblehead promotion, complete with Tyler Toffoli cot add-on, represents creative marketing that connects with younger fans. The team’s 52.9% points percentage doesn’t fully capture the excitement surrounding their rebuild.

Vancouver’s Questionable Trade

The Quinn Hughes trade will define Vancouver’s franchise trajectory for years. While Hughes immediately strengthens Minnesota’s championship window, the Canucks received Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick—potentially a franchise-altering haul. Buium’s vision and Rossi’s 30-goal potential suggest the Canucks could ultimately “crush” this trade, though the immediate pain of losing a superstar is evident in their 32nd-place ranking and 43.9% points percentage.

Battling Injuries and Adversity

Several contenders face significant injury challenges that could reshape the playoff landscape. The Florida Panthers have weathered a storm of absences, posting a 17-13-2 record without Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gadjovich, and Eetu Luostarinen. Their ability to remain in wild-card contention speaks to organizational depth and coaching, but the timeline for returning to full strength remains uncertain.

Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard will miss the remainder of December with an upper-body injury, raising concerns about his availability for the Olympics. Bedard’s week-to-week status creates anxiety for both Chicago’s development timeline and Team Canada’s Olympic roster construction. His absence from a team already struggling at 47.1% points percentage compounds challenges.

Utah Mammoth forward Logan Cooley’s eight-week absence with a lower-body injury threatens to derail their surprising wild-card push. Cooley’s 14 goals ranked second on the team, and his offensive production will be difficult to replace during a crucial stretch of games.

Coaching Carousel and Front Office Movement

The Buffalo Sabres’ dismissal of Kevyn Adams marks the first significant front-office change of the season, with Jarmo Kekalainen stepping in as general manager. Kekalainen’s history of hiring John Tortorella in Columbus has sparked speculation about Buffalo’s coaching future, though Lindy Ruff remains in place. The Sabres’ 51.5% points percentage reflects a team searching for identity and direction.

Nick Saban’s minority ownership stake in the Nashville Predators adds star power to a franchise struggling at 45.5% points percentage. Saban’s partnership with businessman Joe Agresti brings new resources and potential cross-sport innovation to a market passionate about hockey.

Statistical Oddities and Standout Performances

Several statistical anomalies deserve attention as we assess team quality. The New York Rangers’ horrific home record—4-10-3 at Madison Square Garden—contrasts sharply with their 13-5-1 road mark, creating one of the league’s most bizarre splits. Their 52.8% points percentage would improve dramatically with even average home performance.

Detroit’s ability to lead the Atlantic Division despite a negative goal differential and 111 goals allowed (eighth-most in the NHL) defies analytical conventions. Their 58.6% points percentage suggests a team winning close games and earning points in overtime, though sustainability questions persist.

The Ottawa Senators’ even-strength goal-scoring drought—finding the net just twice in six games while being outscored 14-5 at 5-on-5—threatens their playoff positioning in an historically tight Eastern Conference. Their 54.5% points percentage hangs in the balance as they search for offensive solutions.

Looking Ahead: Implications for the Playoff Race

As teams approach the holiday break, several trends emerge that will define the second half. The Central Division’s three-headed monster—Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota—creates a nightmare scenario where one elite team faces early elimination, potentially opening the door for a Pacific Division team to reach the conference finals.

The Eastern Conference’s compressed standings mean that seeding will likely come down to the final week, with tiebreakers and regulation wins carrying increased importance. Teams like Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit cannot afford extended losing streaks in an environment where every point proves precious.

Colorado’s pursuit of historic individual and team achievements adds narrative weight to their regular-season performance. The potential to sweep major awards while capturing the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup would cement this era as one of hockey’s most dominant. However, the playoffs remain a different beast, as Dallas demonstrated last spring.

Final Assessment

These NHL power rankings for the 2025-26 season reveal a league defined by dramatic contrasts. Colorado’s pursuit of perfection exists alongside Vancouver’s painful rebuild. Established superstars like Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl produce historic numbers while rookies like Beckett Sennecke and Macklin Celebrini announce their arrival. The trade market has already delivered one shocking move in Quinn Hughes to Minnesota, with Calgary’s potential fire sale looming as the deadline approaches.

As teams enter the holiday season, the groundwork for playoff positioning has been laid. Injuries to key players like Connor Bedard and Logan Cooley create uncertainty for franchises on the playoff bubble. Coaching changes in Buffalo and ownership shifts in Nashville remind us that organizational stability matters as much as on-ice performance.

The Avalanche’s dominance sets the standard, but the NHL’s parity ensures that no championship is guaranteed. With points at a premium in both conferences, the second half promises intense competition, difficult trade decisions, and the emergence of new contenders. The race for the Stanley Cup is officially on, and these power rankings provide our latest snapshot of a season still writing its story.