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Pacific Division Power
Rankings
Halloween Spook-tacular Edition
| 10/22/13 - By Ryan Hall -
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As the NHL moves towards the end of the first month
of the season, most teams have nearly reached the 10 game mark. While this
artificial deadline may be a little early to accurately judge who's a contender
and who's not, it does provide the chance for the first edition of the Pacific
Division Power Rankings. The Power Rankings take into effect how well a team
has been performing so far based on the expectations of that team heading into
the season, as well as the level of play that they have been exhibiting. In
honour of Halloween being just around the corner, this inaugural edition will
provide some suggestions on what each team should dress up as, based on how
they've been performing on the ice.
#1 - San Jose Sharks
(Medusa)
Like the legendary mythological creature, the Sharks have
a variety of ways to hurt you right now. With scoring coming from nearly every
line, San Jose has the firepower to match any team goal for goal, and this
depth makes them nearly impossible to game plan against. Additionally, the
Sharks also rank in the top 3 in goals by defensemen, with this being an extra
dimension of an already potent attack. However, as the recent Detroit game
showcased, this team also can turn you to stone if they so desire, with the
outstanding goaltending of Anti Niemi providing the foundation for solid in
zone play. I could go on and on for a while, but an 8-0-1 start, combined with
a +24 goal differential is scary enough to make the point.
Previous
Ranking: N/A
#2 - Anaheim Ducks (Frankenstein)
With a
mismatched amount of pieces that seemingly have come from every conceivable
location, the Ducks embody the patchwork construction of fiction. While most
squads that pull in other teams cast offs, mix them with rookies and a small
handful of regular stars may have mixed results, this monster is shaping up to
be a fearsome foe. Right now Coach Bruce Boudreau has managed to get everyone
pulling in the same direction, and this 7-1-0 Anaheim team is making last
year's surprise Pacific title appear to be no fluke. One cause for concern
though is that with only a +11 goal differential the Ducks haven't been blowing
teams away. With Dustin Penner nursing a concussion, and such a small margin
for error, any offensive drop-off could lead to trouble.
Previous
Ranking: N/A
#3 - Calgary Flames (Zombie)
Let's face
it, everyone thought the Flames would be horrible. Following the loss of their
heart in Captain Jarome Iginla's trade late last season, and the retirement of
the team's backbone in goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, they appeared to be stone-cold
goners. But like any good Halloween film, they're back from the dead and so far
exhibiting a rare combination of tenacity and talent unseen in Calgary for
years. Even though they sit next to last in the division, they still have
overachieved, and just keep coming game in and game out. However, the roster
does remain thin, and unless Sean Monahan continues to carry them, the
shambling should eventually stop - and with it the Flames chances. Right?
Previous Ranking: N/A
#4 Phoenix Coyotes (The Mummy)
While there isn't much to choose between Phoenix and Los Angeles, the
Coyotes get the nod at #4 due to their resiliency. Once again Dave Tippett is
working his magic on a squad that doesn't give anyone nightmares. Even though
the sample size is quite small, Phoenix looks like a team that will continue to
contend for a playoff spot, even as they don't get as much press as other more
flashy clubs. Unfortunately, like the Mummy, there are several loose ends that
could lead to the whole thing unravelling quite rapidly. As mentioned, the team
is paper thin in depth, and this shows up the most on the offensive side of the
game where the Coyotes lack the punching power to slug it out with most teams.
Additionally, with so little goal support Mike Smith can't afford to have a
night off as Phoenix plays in close games nearly every night (only +1
differential so far). If there are any injuries to the top line, or Smith
falters, the Coyotes could be in for a horror show of their own.
Previous Ranking: N/A
#5 Los Angeles Kings (Werewolf)
Ahh the Kings. Which team you'll get on a given night remains a mystery! Will
it be the bruising club that is just removed from a Stanley Cup win and
Conference Finals appearance? Or perhaps the offensively challenged team that
relies on Jonathon Quick too much? When the moon is full, and the Kings are on
their game though, they remain capable of giving any team a good mauling.
However, if you manage to catch them when it's a cloudy day, or they just
aren't feeling it, they are downright ordinary - as their 6-4-0 record, and +1
goal differential, shows. Right now LA looks like a team that will contend, but
not one that has the desire to be a front runner. If they ever do emerge from
the woods with that look in their eyes though, they'll shoot up the rankings
(and standings) like a bat out of hell.
Previous Ranking: N/A
#6 Vancouver Canucks (Headless Horseman)
'Beware! Beware! When the Headless Horseman Rides!' These words strike
fear into the citizens of Sleepy Hollow in the classic tale, but for the
residents of the Pacific Division they mean nothing at all. While the Canucks
still possess top end talent, right now they lack identity as new coach John
Tortorella seeks to remodel them in his own style. Unfortunately for Vancouver
fans, this process is proving to be lengthy, and the team hasn't shown any
signs of gelling into a legitimate contender. Perhaps the best news is that the
team still boasts a 5-4-1 record and is hanging around, which means that if
they do get their heads on straight they don't have to worry about being too
far behind everyone else. Until that happens though, the greatest danger from
the Canucks is that a team accidently wanders into their path as they charge
and stomp about in search of an identity.
Previous Ranking:
N/A
#7 Edmonton Oilers (Ghost)
Just like a ghost, the
Oilers sound scary from a distance. A quick look at their roster reads like a
murders row of young talent, though that potential has yet to translate into
reality for Edmonton. Sadly, that has resulted in more bark than bite as the
Oilers continue to struggle to score goals, and in their own end they appear
lost at times. In a fitting comparison to the ethereal, the Oilers also seem to
lack structure and form, despite the work of head coach Dallas Eakins to
install discipline to their game. All this combines to produce an Oilers team
that is really quite tame when confronted, despite the racket they generate
from afar. Until they find a way to mature and play at the NHL level, these
Oilers will remain the Casper of the Pacific Division.
Previous
Ranking: N/A
*Power Rankings will be updated approximately every 10
games*
Contact Ryan at
ryanhall@letsgosharks.com
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