IHM POWER INDEX - NHL 1-32 Holiday Rankings
Date: December 21, 2025 · Author: IHM News
The first IHM Power Rankings on November 30 were our quarter season reset. Three weeks later the league looks the same only at the top. Underneath Colorado the board has shifted hard. This is the official IHM POWER INDEX Holiday Edition. It is based on form, IHM Metrics, injury context, star impact and how sustainable each team’s game looks for the next few months.
For continuity every club keeps a clear reference to the previous IHM ranking from November 30. And because it is holiday season, each team also gets one simple Holiday Gift - the thing that would help the most if it showed up under the rink-side tree tomorrow.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 1 · Movement: -
Colorado stays on top of the IHM board. Nathan MacKinnon is pushing MVP pace again, Cale Makar drives the back end and the supporting cast feels deeper than the 2022 Cup group. The Avs still control games through pace and puck touches in the middle and they are one of the few teams that can win playing fast or grinding down the clock.
Holiday Gift: A reinforced trophy cabinet for all the individual awards and another deep run that still feels very possible.
2. Dallas Stars
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 3 · Movement: ▲1
Dallas climbs one spot and looks like the clear number two for now. The Stars do not always dominate shot volume but they control game states with veteran poise. Their power play punishes mistakes, their top nine can score in waves and the blue line group is more than good enough when they keep the game in structure.
Holiday Gift: A steel chair and extra edge for the spring when the Central turns into a cage match with Colorado and Minnesota.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 2 · Movement: ▼1
Carolina slides one spot but stays in the inner circle of contenders. The five man structure is still one of the best in the league and Brandon Bussi has given them the stable goaltending they were missing. When they are on time with their forecheck and line changes they suffocate teams at the blue lines and live in the offensive zone.
Holiday Gift: A tour bus for the Bussi story because he has gone from waiver claim to rock star in the crease.
4. Minnesota Wild
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 9 · Movement: ▲5
Minnesota is the big climber in the top tier. The Quinn Hughes trade changed their ceiling instantly. Hughes has stepped into their system like he has been there for years and the Hughes FOW at the top of the Wild power play gives them a new look that forces opponents to respect every seam.
Holiday Gift: A lightsaber for Quinn and the full Star Wars treatment now that “Quinn esota” is officially a thing.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 5 · Movement: -
Vegas holds their ground inside the top five. They still look like a playoff team nobody wants in the first round. Even with key injuries they keep shots to the outside and their comeback numbers when trailing are among the best in the league.
Holiday Gift: A fresh pack of batteries so they can keep charging from behind when the game looks lost.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 7 · Movement: ▲1
Anaheim was already high in the first IHM list and they stay in the elite group. Leo Carlsson drives their offense like a true franchise piece. The rest of the young core feeds off his pace and confidence. There is still volatility in their own zone but the upside is obvious.
Holiday Gift: An endless stack of rookie cards with Carlsson’s name on them because this season is building his legend in real time.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 4 · Movement: ▼3
Tampa drops a little, mostly because other teams surged, not because the Lightning fell apart. The Battle of Florida has tilted toward the Panthers again and injuries are adding up, but this core still knows how to plot a full season arc and peak when it matters.
Holiday Gift: Bandages for a roster that keeps going through physical wars but refuses to accept a closed window narrative.
8. Washington Capitals
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 12 · Movement: ▲4
Washington climbs into the top ten on the strength of a tightened defensive game and high level goaltending. Alex Ovechkin is still contributing, but the real difference this year is how organized they look without the puck and how much Logan Thompson has stabilized their results.
Holiday Gift: A Canadian snack pack for Thompson if he keeps pushing his way into Olympic conversations.
9. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 22 · Movement: ▲13
Philadelphia is one of the biggest movers on the entire board. The defensive identity that was just a theory a month ago is now showing up in the numbers every week. Goals against remain low, the penalty kill is dangerous and Dan Vladar has turned his chance into a real starter’s workload.
Holiday Gift: A reflex test stick for Trevor Zegras so he can keep adding to his ridiculous shootout highlight reel.
10. Detroit Red Wings
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 10 · Movement: -
Detroit stays locked in at ten. The goal differential is still a concern but the overall structure under Todd McLellan looks more stable than in previous seasons. Larkin, DeBrincat and the young forwards give them real scoring depth and the Wings refuse to drop out of the Atlantic race.
Holiday Gift: A brick wall in front of their net to bring the goals against closer to their actual talent level.
11. New York Islanders
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 17 · Movement: ▲6
The Islanders jump into the top half of the list. Their defensive backbone is still there and now the young wave is making a real commercial impact. Matthew Schaefer has become a minute eater on the blue line and his jersey is suddenly one of the hottest sellers on the Island.
Holiday Gift: Extra fours and eights for the jersey room before they run out of 48 again.
12. Boston Bruins
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 21 · Movement: ▲9
Boston is one of the sharp risers. Marco Sturm has doubled down on a defense first blueprint and the Bruins are grinding points out of tight nights. Morgan Geekie’s breakout goal numbers give them a second scoring pillar behind David Pastrnak and the special teams remain a strength.
Holiday Gift: A Best Buy gift card for the “Geek Squad” that has suddenly turned into one of the most dangerous lines in the league.
13. Edmonton Oilers
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 25 · Movement: ▲12
Edmonton rockets up the list after a rough earlier stretch. Leon Draisaitl’s 1000 point milestone is a reminder of how long this core has been driving elite offense. The trade for Tristan Jarry is a calculated risk in net and the room clearly believes the window is wide open again.
Holiday Gift: A lighter to match the iconic Draisaitl celebration photo and keep the fire under this core for another deep push.
14. Florida Panthers
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 16 · Movement: ▲2
Florida is playing the long game again. Injuries have kept the lineup in constant flux but the underlying profile is still that of a playoff team. Once they are closer to full health, the mix of Marchand, Reinhart and Lundell can drive them back toward the top of the conference.
Holiday Gift: A health savings card to finally get a full roster on the ice at the same time.
15. Los Angeles Kings
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 8 · Movement: ▼7
The Kings slide a bit but still sit in playoff position in the IHM view. Injuries in goal have forced them into short term fixes again and that has cost them some stability. The defensive identity is still there and when they get league average health they look more like a top ten team than a bubble group.
Holiday Gift: A sleigh for Pheonix Copley so he can keep shuttling wins from the North Pole to Los Angeles in December.
16. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 11 · Movement: ▼5
Pittsburgh falls to the middle of the board after a run of blown leads that would test any dressing room. The structure is good for two periods but late game management and third period details keep letting teams back in. The IHM model still likes their talent, but the reliability score has dropped.
Holiday Gift: A bigger third period cushion and a reset button for the last ten minutes of games.
17. Montreal Canadiens
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 15 · Movement: ▼2
Montreal slides slightly, but the arc is not negative. The three goalie rotation has created some awkward rhythm but the defensive play in front of them is trending up. Caufield and Suzuki keep the offense honest and the Habs are starting to feel more like a hard out than a free spot on the schedule.
Holiday Gift: A Sith robe for the crease so someone can finally claim the full time number one role.
18. New Jersey Devils
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 6 · Movement: ▼12
New Jersey takes one of the bigger drops on the board. The underlying attack is still dangerous, but the lineup has been in flux and Jack Hughes’ situation continues to hang over everything. When he is healthy and rolling the Devils can climb fast, yet right now their profile looks more like a volatile middle team.
Holiday Gift: A fully healthy Jack Hughes and a long stretch where their top forwards can stay together.
19. San Jose Sharks
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 23 · Movement: ▲4
San Jose remains one of the most interesting rebuild stories. Macklin Celebrini continues to live near the top of the scoring charts and the rest of the young core is starting to stack real NHL minutes. They are not a finished product, but the direction of travel is finally clear.
Holiday Gift: A bobblehead shelf big enough for all the Celebrini and Will Smith collectibles that are coming.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 26 · Movement: ▲6
Toronto moves up after a better stretch of late game execution and a stronger response to Craig Berube’s demands. The top six can still explode in short bursts and a couple of comeback wins reminded everyone how fast this roster can flip a script.
Holiday Gift: A permanent bench mic for Berube so every fiery speech ends up on a motivational reel.
21. Utah Mammoth
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 19 · Movement: ▼2
Utah drifts slightly downward, mostly because of the Cooley injury that hit the middle of their lineup hard. The process is still solid at both blue lines and the goaltending has been good enough to keep them in most games, but the top end scoring punch is temporarily reduced.
Holiday Gift: A little luck and a healthy return for Cooley so the early season momentum does not fade.
22. New York Rangers
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 24 · Movement: ▲2
The Rangers are one of the strangest splits in the league. On the road they look like a legit playoff team. At home the numbers crash. The defensive foundation under Mike Sullivan is solid, but Madison Square Garden has turned into a puzzle they still have not solved.
Holiday Gift: A long road trip and maybe a mental reset on home ice expectations.
23. Ottawa Senators
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 14 · Movement: ▼9
Ottawa falls down the board after struggling to score at five on five. The defensive play improved earlier in the season, but now the goals that were supposed to arrive from the core have gone quiet for stretches and their margin for error is thin.
Holiday Gift: A full month where the even strength scoring finally matches the shot quality.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 28 · Movement: ▲4
Columbus climbs a little on the back of steady goaltending from Jet Greaves and better control of their own crease. The young forwards still make mistakes, but the transition speed from Marchenko and Fantilli gives them a clear identity.
Holiday Gift: A General Grievous action figure for Jet Greaves to match the nickname that is starting to stick.
25. Buffalo Sabres
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 30 · Movement: ▲5
Buffalo gets a small boost in the IHM index. The front office change to Jarmo Kekalainen signaled a harder edge in how this team will be built. Results are still inconsistent, but the idea of tying a young offensive core to a more demanding internal standard makes sense.
Holiday Gift: A whiteboard for all the possible Lindy Ruff and John Tortorella combinations that fans are already debating.
26. Winnipeg Jets
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 18 · Movement: ▼8
Winnipeg drops as the Hellebuyck situation and team form remain unstable. Without peak level goaltending their weaknesses are more exposed and the path back into a strong playoff position becomes much narrower.
Holiday Gift: A Vezina trophy replica and a fully healthy Hellebuyck to remind everyone how high their ceiling is when he is at his best.
27. Chicago Blackhawks
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 20 · Movement: ▼7
Chicago’s position takes a hit after the Bedard injury news. The entire offensive identity is tied to his ability to drive play and without him the Hawks look much closer to a classic rebuilding group than a sneaky spoiler.
Holiday Gift: A bacta tank level rehab for Bedard so this becomes a short setback and not a lost step in his development curve.
28. Nashville Predators
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 32 · Movement: ▲4
Nashville actually rises a few spots despite still living near the bottom of the standings. The Nick Saban ownership link and the identity off the ice have given the franchise some extra noise, but on the ice they still lack depth scoring and consistent puck movement.
Holiday Gift: Crimson tinted alternate jerseys and a few more high end finishers to pair with Forsberg.
29. Seattle Kraken
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 13 · Movement: ▼16
Seattle suffers one of the biggest drops on the entire board. The strong start has been erased by a brutal stretch of results and the health card has not helped. Their defensive structure still shows up in pockets, but the confidence in their game has clearly taken a hit.
Holiday Gift: A rewind button for the opening ten games when they looked like a true top ten team.
30. St. Louis Blues
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 29 · Movement: ▼1
St. Louis stays in the bottom three despite some excellent defensive metrics. They limit chances as well as many top teams, but the finishing talent still lags behind and the power play has not given them enough free offense.
Holiday Gift: Fresh milk and yogurt for a goaltending tandem that keeps them in games and deserves a little more scoring help.
31. Calgary Flames
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 31 · Movement: -
Calgary remains stuck near the bottom of the table in results, even though the defensive profile is still surprisingly strong. They keep shots and chances against at reasonable levels but do not yet have the consistent high end playmaking to flip tight games in their favor.
Holiday Gift: Sunglasses and a hoodie for anyone in the front office taking trade calls and trying to decide between retool and full reset.
32. Vancouver Canucks
Previous IHM Rank (Nov 30): 27 · Movement: ▼5
Vancouver drops to the bottom in this edition of the IHM Power Index, mostly because of the Quinn Hughes trade and the time required to rebuild their identity. The return pieces are interesting and could age very well, but in the short term this is a roster searching for a new backbone on the back end.
Holiday Gift: A Magic 8 Ball to fast forward five years and see whether this trade ends up looking like a franchise turning point in a good way.
IHM Q&A - Reading The Holiday POWER INDEX
Why does Colorado still sit above Dallas and Carolina?
All three look like real contenders, but the Avs still combine the best top end duo in MacKinnon and Makar with a deeper, more balanced supporting cast than a year ago. Their style also travels well, which matters when projecting playoff rounds.
Which team made the biggest positive move since the November 30 IHM list?
Philadelphia, Edmonton and Boston are the clearest risers. The Flyers have locked in a defensive identity, the Oilers have stabilized after a chaotic start and Boston’s structure shift under Sturm is starting to show in the numbers and the standings.
Who is the most dangerous “middle of the pack” team right now?
Detroit and Pittsburgh still profile as clubs that can jump a full tier with one strong month. Detroit’s talent is obvious and the Penguins’ issues are more about game management than talent. Either one could look like a top eight team by mid January.
Which rebuilding teams feel closest to breaking out?
San Jose and Chicago both have elite young centers, improving goaltending and a clear front office vision. Utah also belongs in that conversation as an expansion market that already has credible structure and a fan base buying in.
How often will the IHM POWER INDEX be updated?
The plan is to update the full 1-32 board at key checkpoints like the holiday break and the trade deadline, with shorter IHM highlight updates in between when big moves or injuries change the picture.
IHM News · IHM POWER INDEX - Holiday Edition · December 21, 2025