IHM NHL Power Rankings 1-32: Our Own Order and One Reason for Hope for Every Team
Date: November 30, 2025 · Author: IHM News
The quarter mark of the season is always a perfect moment to reset the conversation. Instead of copying anyone else’s list, this is the official IHM Power Rankings - our own 1-32 view of the league right now, based on form, underlying numbers, star power and long-term outlook.
To keep the focus on optimism, every club also gets one clear “Reason for Hope” - something real that fans can point to when the schedule tightens and the standings compress.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Reason for hope: Nathan MacKinnon is again skating on a different level, and Cale Makar is playing like he wants another Norris Trophy - and maybe even a Hart vote or two. Around them, Colorado finally has a deeper supporting cast that chips in every night. The Avs look like the most complete team in the league and are on pace to flirt with one of the highest point totals of the modern era.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Reason for hope: Rod Brind’Amour’s structure still suffocates opponents. The Hurricanes are built on defensive detail, but this season the attack has also exploded: Seth Jarvis is finishing, Sebastian Aho is driving play, Jordan Staal sets the tone down the middle and Pyotr Kochetkov has settled the net after a shaky start from Frederik Andersen. When Carolina is rolling, there are almost no easy chances for the other side.
3. Dallas Stars
Reason for hope: Dallas does not always dominate the chance count, but it rarely matters. Glen Gulutzan’s second stint behind the bench has produced a ruthless, efficient machine. The Stars own one of the best power plays in the league and sit near the top in goals per game, while their veteran core understands exactly how to manage tight, low-event games in the spring.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
Reason for hope: Every year people wonder if the Lightning window has closed, and every year the core refuses to listen. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel are a vicious one-two punch up front, Victor Hedman still anchors a strong blue line, Anthony Cirelli eats the hard minutes in the middle and the penalty kill regularly tilts the ice. No matter what the season throws at them, Tampa finds a way to stay dangerous.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Reason for hope: On paper, losing Alex Pietrangelo for a major stretch should have broken their defensive identity. In practice, it barely did. Vegas has kept its structure intact, ranking near the top of the league in shots generated while allowing very few high-danger looks against. When they’re healthy again on the back end, this still looks like a Cup-caliber roster.
6. New Jersey Devils
Reason for hope: New Jersey’s offense looks exactly as advertised. Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier keep the attack humming, while Simon Nemec has taken a massive step by handling heavy minutes on defense. Veteran goaltender Jake Allen has quietly handled an increased workload with poise, giving the Devils enough stability to let their stars win games.
7. Anaheim Ducks
Reason for hope: Leo Carlsson is having the kind of season that can change the direction of a franchise. He is on pace to push past the 100-point mark; only Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne have ever lived in that neighborhood in Ducks history. If Carlsson keeps this up, he will not just set records - he will redefine what Anaheim’s ceiling looks like for the next decade.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Reason for hope: Last spring’s collapse against Edmonton raised serious questions about the Kings’ ability to defend in big moments. So far this season, they’ve answered by tightening their structure and allowing among the fewest goals in the league. If that defensive identity holds, they will head into the playoffs far better equipped to protect a lead than a year ago.
9. Minnesota Wild
Reason for hope: The difference between last season and this one is simple: continuity. The Wild were wrecked by injuries a year ago, but now they are consistently iced by the same core group. Three of their top four defensemen in ice time haven’t missed a game, and the team’s overall play has looked far more organized as a result.
10. Detroit Red Wings
Reason for hope: This is the clearest version yet of Steve Yzerman’s long-term vision. Under Todd McLellan, Detroit combines a more disciplined defensive game with the high-end skill of Dylan Larkin and a rising group of young forwards. The Wings are limiting shots against while getting real contributions from rookies like Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson – a very healthy combination.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Reason for hope: First-year coach Dan Muse has unlocked a fresher, more aggressive version of the Penguins. They are giving up very few goals, scoring enough to sit in the top third of the league and operating with the NHL’s most efficient power play. Arturs Silovs has pushed the standard in net, and Tristan Jarry has responded with improved play of his own.
12. Washington Capitals
Reason for hope: Alex Ovechkin is still doing things forwards in their 40s are not supposed to do. He continues to pile up points and has already added another hat trick this season. Around him, Tom Wilson, John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun have all made heavy, positive impacts, and Logan Thompson has played like a bona fide No. 1 goaltender.
13. Seattle Kraken
Reason for hope: The Kraken have finally found real stability in the crease. Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer and Matt Murray have combined to deliver some of the best team save percentages in the league at both five-on-five and in all situations. Lane Lambert’s system keeps shots and scoring chances against under control, and the goaltending is rewarding that structure.
14. Ottawa Senators
Reason for hope: A shaky start forced Ottawa to double down on Travis Green’s defensive concepts, and that reset has paid off quickly. The Senators now sit near the top of the league in fewest shots allowed per game, while still getting steady production from Drake Batherson, Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto. Jake Sanderson’s all-around emergence on the back end is the kind of development that can anchor this core for years.
15. Montreal Canadiens
Reason for hope: Jakub Dobes has turned what looked like a stopgap opportunity into a full breakout. He has outplayed Sam Montembeault and given Montreal a calm, reliable presence in net. Combine that with tighter defensive play through the neutral zone and strong seasons from Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and suddenly the Canadiens don’t feel like an easy two points anymore.
16. Florida Panthers
Reason for hope: Depth and experience. The Panthers are used to playing through adversity after back-to-back deep playoff runs, and they are doing it again. Brad Marchand is producing some of his best numbers in years, Sam Reinhart remains a constant threat and Anton Lundell continues evolving into a high-end two-way center. This group knows how to manage the long grind of a season.
17. New York Islanders
Reason for hope: The future on Long Island arrived quickly. Top pick Matthew Schaefer has stepped right into a big role on defense, routinely logging over 22 minutes per game and looking comfortable at both ends. Up front, Maxim Shabanov’s breakout three-point night on a recent 6-1-0 road trip hinted at a higher ceiling than just bottom-six depth.
18. Winnipeg Jets
Reason for hope: Even with Connor Hellebuyck facing a lengthy absence, the Jets are rarely out of games because they can score in waves. Multiple lines are capable of driving offense, and stars like Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele remain point-per-game threats. Their power play is elite, and over 82 games that usually pulls teams back into the race.
19. Utah Mammoth
Reason for hope: The Mammoth’s strong start does not look like a fluke. Their opening run of eight wins in 10 games showed a team that controls play at both blue lines, ranking high in goals for and among the league’s best in shots and goals allowed. That balance is exactly what expansion-market clubs normally need years to find.
20. Chicago Blackhawks
Reason for hope: Connor Bedard’s second act might be even more ridiculous than his rookie year. He is tracking toward a 116-point season – numbers that would put him in conversation with the greatest individual years in Blackhawks history. Meanwhile, improved goaltending has pushed Chicago’s team save percentage into the top tier of the league, giving them a chance most nights.
21. Boston Bruins
Reason for hope: Marco Sturm has leaned hard into a defense-first identity, and Boston has bought in. Nikita Zadorov brings edge and muscle on the blue line, Jeremy Swayman looks more like his peak form, and the Bruins still sit comfortably in the top 10 on both the power play and the penalty kill. As long as David Pastrnak is firing, they remain dangerous in tight, low-scoring games.
22. Philadelphia Flyers
Reason for hope: The Flyers have rediscovered an identity built on work ethic and structure. They hover near the top of the league in goals against per game, their penalty kill is a serious weapon and Dan Vladar has played his way into a true starter’s workload. Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny provide enough offensive punch to make that defensive base matter.
23. San Jose Sharks
Reason for hope: For the first time since their last playoff run, there is legitimate excitement around San Jose’s offense. Macklin Celebrini is on pace to surpass Joe Thornton’s franchise record for points in a season if he maintains his current clip, and he may even force his way into Olympic conversation for Team Canada. Around him, William Eklund, Will Smith and Yaroslav Askarov are forming the core of the next competitive Sharks team.
24. New York Rangers
Reason for hope: The Rangers have quietly become one of the stingiest teams in the league under Mike Sullivan. They average well under three goals against per night, with Vladislav Gavrikov adding size and stability next to Adam Fox. In goal, the pairing of Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick still gives New York a chance to steal games whenever they are outplayed.
25. Edmonton Oilers
Reason for hope: It is impossible to count a team out that features Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both above a point per game. Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic are contributing offensively as well, and this core has already shown that it can erase sluggish starts and still push all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
26. Toronto Maple Leafs
Reason for hope: John Tavares has effectively turned back the clock. He and William Nylander are carrying much of the offensive load, combining for elite production at both even strength and on the power play. Nick Robertson has finally carved out a regular top-six role, and with Joseph Woll back as the No. 1, Toronto has a realistic path to a second-half surge.
27. Vancouver Canucks
Reason for hope: When Thatcher Demko is fully healthy, Vancouver’s ceiling rises instantly. Early in the year he again looked like the Vezina-finalist version of himself from 2023-24. Filip Chytil has shown he can handle top-six center responsibilities when rolling, and Kiefer Sherwood’s scoring outburst at the start of the season signaled that the Canucks’ middle six can be more dangerous than in recent years.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets
Reason for hope: Whatever happens this season, Columbus knows it can rely on Zach Werenski as a true franchise defenseman. He recently reached the 400-point mark and routinely plays close to half the game. Up front, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli are already giving the Jackets one of the league’s more exciting young transition attacks, especially at five-on-five.
29. St. Louis Blues
Reason for hope: The standings might not show it yet, but the Blues quietly defend as well as almost anyone. They sit among the league’s best teams in limiting overall scoring chances and high-danger looks per 60 minutes. If they can find just a bit more finishing talent, those underlying numbers suggest a bounce-back is coming.
30. Buffalo Sabres
Reason for hope: The waiver claim of goaltender Colten Ellis already looks like a smart piece of business. He has stepped in and immediately steadied the crease, going 3-1-0 with strong save numbers in his first handful of appearances. Rookie forward Josh Doan has also fit seamlessly, logging significant minutes and adding much-needed depth scoring.
31. Calgary Flames
Reason for hope: For a team sitting near the bottom of the table, Calgary’s defensive profile is shockingly good. They rank near the top of the league in both scoring chances against and high-danger attempts against per 60 minutes. If management decides to retool rather than fully rebuild, that blue-line foundation will be a major reason why.
32. Nashville Predators
Reason for hope: It is a tough year in the standings, but the Predators still have legitimate building blocks. Filip Forsberg continues to add to his case as the greatest forward in franchise history, on pace for another 30-goal campaign, and Matthew Wood has played himself into All-Rookie Team and Calder Trophy conversations. If the prospect pipeline continues to hit, this downturn might not last long.
IHM Q&A – Making Sense of the IHM Rankings
Why Colorado over Carolina and Dallas?
All three look like serious contenders, but Colorado gets the edge because of the MacKinnon-Makar combo and a deeper supporting cast than in recent seasons. Their ceiling still feels a touch higher than anyone else’s.
Who looks like the most dangerous “middle of the pack” team?
Pittsburgh and Detroit both profile as clubs that could jump a full tier up the board with one strong month. Their underlying numbers, special teams and coaching all point in the right direction.
Which rebuilding team has the clearest identity?
San Jose and Chicago stand out. Both have elite young centers in Celebrini and Bedard, improved goaltending and a clear plan to build around their new stars.
Is any bottom-eight team a realistic playoff threat?
Vancouver and Toronto have the talent and goaltending to rip off a 10-2 stretch and suddenly look much more like top-16 teams. Their position in the standings feels more fragile than permanent.
What is the main takeaway from this IHM list?
The gap between tiers is smaller than it appears. Several clubs outside the top 16 have legitimately strong foundations, while some near the top are riding elite finishing or goaltending that could cool off. The next month is likely to reshuffle this board all over again.