NHL Power Rankings: Fresh 1-32 Poll Highlights March's Pivotal Matchups

The NHL trade deadline arrives Friday, intensifying the playoff push across the league. ESPN’s latest power rankings, compiled from a panel of commentators, analysts, reporters and editors, reflect games through Wednesday with points percentages updated through Thursday. [1] [2] Colorado Avalanche remain entrenched at No. 1, but movement abounds as teams eye postseason positioning. Each ranking also spotlights the most captivating March game for every club, underscoring potential previews and rivalry clashes.

These polls capture the league’s fluidity post-Olympics, with previous rankings from late February showing similar top-five stability but notable jumps for squads like the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens. As odds shift via DraftKings Sportsbook, the focus turns to how deadline deals might reshape the landscape. Here’s the full breakdown.

Top contenders holding court

Colorado Avalanche top the poll for the third straight week at 75.8% points percentage, their dominance unquestioned amid a Central Division tussle. Their marquee March 6 clash at Dallas Stars revives last spring’s epic playoff series, vying for division supremacy and the NHL’s top seed. They close the month with another home date against the Stars on March 18. Next seven days include road test at Dallas, home vs. Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers and at Seattle Kraken.

Dallas Stars vault to No. 2 from fifth, boasting 69.7% with eyes on eclipsing Colorado. Beyond Avalanche rematches, March 21 at Minnesota Wild looms large, potentially a first-round preview ripe for “message sending.” Their schedule heats up vs. Colorado soon, then Chicago Blackhawks, Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton. This positioning underscores their Western Conference threat.

Carolina Hurricanes sit steady at No. 3 with 68.9%, primed for Eastern Conference finals against Tampa Bay Lightning. That mid-March 14 tilt at Tampa serves as an early indicator. Upcoming: at Edmonton, Calgary Flames, home vs. Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. Their consistency positions them as Cup favorites.

Minnesota Wild hold fourth at 66.1%, with March 24 at Tampa Bay as a dream Stanley Cup Final appetizer, pitting U.S. Olympians Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy against Canada’s Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point. Next: at Vegas, home vs. Colorado, Utah Mammoth and Philadelphia Flyers. Geographic and national rivalries add spice.

Tampa Bay Lightning slip to fifth from second but match Minnesota’s 66.7%, eyeing a Florida-Oilers Final repeat block. Key: March 21 at Edmonton Oilers. Schedule: at Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, home vs. Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. Coach Jon Cooper’s squad remains playoff-bound.

These leaders exemplify post-Olympic resilience, with points percentages signaling deep runs ahead. Their key games could swing divisions.

Eastern surge and wildcard watches

Buffalo Sabres maintain sixth at 64.5%, turning heads in the Atlantic with March 8 vs. Tampa Bay now pivotal for the division crown—an unlikely twist earlier this season. Next: vs. Nashville Predators, Tampa, San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals.

Montreal Canadiens climb to seventh from ninth, 62.5%, with March 31 at Tampa Bay evoking the wild 2021 Cup Final amid realignment chaos. Also a potential first-rounder after three Southern road tilts. Upcoming: at Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, home vs. Toronto and at Ottawa Senators.

Pittsburgh Penguins hold eighth, 61.5%, despite Sidney Crosby’s Olympic injury absence. March 16 and 24 vs. Colorado Avalanche promise Nova Scotia ratings gold with Nathan MacKinnon homecoming. Crosby nears return for the latter. Next: vs. Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, at Carolina and Vegas.

Detroit Red Wings drop to ninth from seventh, 62.1%, battling East playoff spots with 10 of 12 March games against conference foes. Standout: March 27 at Buffalo, possible Atlantic 2-3 clash. Schedule: vs. Florida Panthers, at New Jersey Devils, rematch vs. Florida, at Tampa.

New York Islanders rocket to 10th from 14th at 59.5%, reigniting a sneaky Penguins rivalry in March 30 home ice battle for East positioning. Next sparse: at San Jose, St. Louis.

This cluster highlights Eastern volatility, where climbs like Montreal’s signal wildcard intrigue. Key games against peers will clarify brackets.

Pacific and Central bubble battles

Boston Bruins steady at 11th, 59.8%, with St. Patrick’s Day March 17 at Montreal Canadiens a classic rivalry amid playoff fights. Next: vs. Washington, at Pittsburgh, vs. Los Angeles, San Jose.

Vegas Golden Knights slip to 12th from 10th, 58.1%, wielding March 8 and 26 vs. Edmonton Oilers to dagger Pacific hopes. Next: vs. Minnesota, Edmonton, at Dallas, Pittsburgh.

Anaheim Ducks rise to 13th from 16th, 59%, chasing playoff drought end via March 28 at Edmonton. Next: vs. Montreal, St. Louis, at Winnipeg Jets, Toronto.

Columbus Blue Jackets leap to 14th from 22nd, 59%, eyeing playoffs with March 29 vs. Boston crucial. Next: vs. Utah, Los Angeles, at Tampa, Florida.

Utah Mammoth dip to 15th from 12th, 56.5%, poised for inaugural playoff hosting against potential foe Vegas on March 19 road. Next: at Columbus, Chicago, Minnesota, home vs. Chicago.

Edmonton Oilers at 16th, 54.8%, counter Vegas dates March 8 home and 26 with Pacific crown at stake. Next: vs. Carolina, at Vegas, Colorado, Dallas.

These mid-packers embody the grind, where divisional daggers like Vegas-Edmonton define trajectories. Olympic returns fuel surges.

Playoff chasers and lottery hopefuls

Ottawa Senators jump to 17th from 21st, 56.6%, needing wins over superiors like March 11 vs. Montreal Canadiens for Brady Tkachuk’s playoff return. Next: at Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal.

Washington Capitals rise to 18th from 23rd, 54.8%, with Alex Ovechkin feasting on March 11 and 31 vs. Philadelphia Flyers—his third-most scored-against foe. Next: at Boston, vs. Calgary, Philadelphia, Buffalo.

Seattle Kraken unchanged at 19th, 54.9%, harvesting points March 14 at Vancouver Canucks to ignite Pacific rivalry. Next: vs. Ottawa, Nashville, Colorado.

Philadelphia Flyers hold 20th, 54.9%, with March 7 at Pittsburgh Penguins a Keystone spark for unlikely playoffs. Next: at Pittsburgh, vs. New York Rangers, Washington, at Minnesota.

San Jose Sharks slip to 21st from 18th, 54.2%, featuring Macklin Celebrini’s homecoming March 12 at Boston Bruins. Next: vs. St. Louis, New York Islanders, Buffalo, Boston.

Toronto Maple Leafs climb to 22nd from 24th, 51.6%, with Battle of Ontario intensity March 21 at Ottawa Senators. Next: vs. Tampa, at Montreal, Anaheim.

Bubble dynamics intensify here, as chasers like Washington leverage stars while lottery teams eye draft positioning.

Bottom feeders and draft implications

Los Angeles Kings fall to 23rd from 17th, 52.5%, battling Utah Mammoth March 22 and 28 to send Anze Kopitar into retirement with playoffs. Next: vs. Montreal, at Columbus, Boston.

Florida Panthers drop to 24th from 15th, 50.8%, rebooting Cup pedigree via March 6 and 10 home-and-home vs. Detroit Red Wings above them. Next: at Detroit, rematch, Columbus.

New Jersey Devils steady 25th, 51.6%, with Hudson River oomph March 7 vs. New York Rangers. Next: vs. Rangers, Detroit, Calgary.

Nashville Predators unchanged 26th, 51.6%, stealing from playoff clubs like March 10 and 19 vs. Seattle Kraken. Next: at Buffalo, Seattle, Vancouver.

Winnipeg Jets hold 27th, 49.2%, with U.S. Olympic reunion March 19 at Boston Bruins featuring Connor Hellebuyck, Kyle Connor vs. Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Swayman. Next: vs. Vancouver, Anaheim, New York Rangers.

The lower rung mixes fading contenders and tankers, where games like St. Louis Blues’ March 18 at Calgary influence draft slots alongside Vancouver Canucks’ farewell to Kopitar March 26.

Chicago Blackhawks at 28th, 45.9%, showcase No. 1 picks duel March 24 at New York Islanders: Connor Bedard vs. Matthew Schaefer. Next: vs. Vancouver, Dallas, Utah twice.

Calgary Flames up to 29th from 30th, 45.1%, inverse chase vs. Vancouver March 28. Next: vs. Carolina, Washington, New York Rangers, New Jersey.

New York Rangers to 30th from 29th, 45.9%, tracking March 10 vs. Calgary for draft odds. Next: at New Jersey, Philadelphia, Calgary, Winnipeg.

St. Louis Blues 31st same, 45.1%, jockeying draft via March 18 at Calgary. Next: at San Jose, Anaheim, New York Islanders, Carolina.

Vancouver Canucks anchor 32nd, 35.2%, bidding adieu to Kopitar March 26 after his 62 points in 71 vs. them. Next: at Chicago, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Nashville.

As March unfolds, these rankings foreshadow deadline ripples and playoff seeds. Trades could catapult risers like Buffalo or Islanders while testing fallen powers like Florida. Keep eyes on divisional showdowns—they’ll dictate the postseason map.