NHL Power Rankings: Updated poll, plus each team's points vs. preseason projections

Closing in on the quarter mark for NHL teams -- which is exactly 21 games, thanks to the expanded 84-game schedule -- and some teams have emerged as clear Stanley Cup contenders while others have cropped up as front-runners for strong positioning in the draft lottery.

The Hurricanes, who are No. 1 in the Power Rankings again, are in that top group. But just how good have they been, based on expectations?

This week, alongside our new 1-32 poll, we examine how each team has done compared with their preseason over/under point total. And there are some shockers!

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday. Those ballots are combined to come up with the rankings you see below.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 6. Points paces and percentages through the games of Nov. 11.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 1

Points percentage: 78.95%

Preseason O/U: 107.5

Current pace: 132.6

Even without reigning Conn Smythe winner Jordan Staal for much of the season, the Canes keep rolling.

Next seven days: vs. SEA (Nov. 14), vs. MTL (Nov. 19)

2. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 2

Points percentage: 75%

Preseason O/U: 100.5

Current pace: 126

Although the Quinn Hughes long-term question remains unanswered, the short-term results have been superb.

Next seven days: @ BOS (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 17), @ CGY (Nov. 19)

3. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 4

Points percentage: 75%

Preseason O/U: 88.5

Current pace: 126

No one outside the 617 area code seemed to believe in the B's this season, but they appear to be one of the NHL's strongest clubs after nearly a quarter of the campaign.

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Nov. 14), vs. LA (Nov. 17), @ DET (Nov. 18)

4. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 3

Points percentage: 77.5%

Preseason O/U: 104.5

Current pace: 130.2

An inspired Connor McDavid is apparently a very dangerous Connor McDavid, and the first-round ouster from the 2026 playoffs seems to have done the trick.

Next seven days: @ TOR (Nov. 14), @ PHI (Nov. 15), @ FLA (Nov. 17), @ TB (Nov. 19)

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 5

Points percentage: 72.22%

Preseason O/U: 102.5

Current pace: 121.3

At some point down the road, the Lightning will fall out of the realm of perennial playoff contenders. But that point is not, apparently, 2026-27.

Next seven days: vs. DET (Nov. 14), vs. WSH (Nov. 17), vs. EDM (Nov. 19)

6. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 7

Points percentage: 68.42%

Preseason O/U: 99.5

Current pace: 114.9

As with any team, health will continue to be a big factor. But acquiring a three-time Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck appears to have solved the goaltending deficiency.

Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 14), vs. MTL (Nov. 18)

7. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 6

Points percentage: 70%

Preseason O/U: 103.5

Current pace: 117.6

There's no Cup Final losing team hangover here, and only a fool would expect the Knights to be anywhere but a top-two spot in the Pacific by season's end.

Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 13), vs. VAN (Nov. 15), vs. DAL (Nov. 17), vs. DAL (Nov. 19)

8. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 8

Points percentage: 72.22%

Preseason O/U: 98.5

Current pace: 121.3

A hipster Cup pick this preseason, the Canadiens have had some bumps along the way but are delivering on that promise from an overall standpoint.

Next seven days: vs. COL (Nov. 14), @ NYR (Nov. 16), @ NJ (Nov. 18), @ CAR (Nov. 19)

9. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 11

Points percentage: 63.16%

Preseason O/U: 107.5

Current pace: 106.1

Only for a team with as high expectations as the Avs would a 106-point pace feel like a disappointment. But we might not have seen this team's top gear yet either.

Next seven days: @ MTL (Nov. 14), @ UTA (Nov. 18), vs. ANA (Nov. 19)

10. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 9

Points percentage: 64.71%

Preseason O/U: 100.5

Current pace: 108.7

One of the other Central powers appears to be chugging along right on schedule, a bit ahead of pace and right in the mix for the division title.

Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 14), vs. FLA (Nov. 15), @ VGK (Nov. 17), @ VGK (Nov. 19)

11. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 19

Points percentage: 65.79%

Preseason O/U: 85.5

Current pace: 110.5

Our first major surprise. After finishing outside of the playoff picture in 2025-26, the Preds have roared back into the conversation in 2026-27.

Next seven days: @ VGK (Nov. 13), @ SJ (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 17)

12. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 13

Points percentage: 63.16%

Preseason O/U: 94.5

Current pace: 106.1

No Brady Tkachuk, no problem? The bounce-back campaign from Linus Ullmark has been a nice boost, as has Tim Stutzle leveling up from star to superstar.

Next seven days: @ PIT (Nov. 14), @ WPG (Nov. 17), vs. PHI (Nov. 19)

13. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 15

Points percentage: 62.5%

Preseason O/U: 101.5

Current pace: 105

Despite Alex Ovechkin failing to launch (with just one goal to this point), the Caps appear to be in the thick of the playoff contenders in the East.

Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 14), @ TB (Nov. 17), vs. BUF (Nov. 19)

14. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 12

Points percentage: 57.9%

Preseason O/U: 107.5

Current pace: 97.3

Three teams tied for the highest over/under in the preseason; the Canes are smashing that number now, the Avs are just under pace and the Cats are a bit off track. But there's a lot of season left -- and they'll get Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov back for part of it, too.

Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 14), @ DAL (Nov. 15), vs. EDM (Nov. 17)

15. Utah Mammoth

Previous ranking: 10

Points percentage: 55.26%

Preseason O/U: 96.5

Current pace: 92.8

An uneven stretch in recent weeks dropped the Mammoth below their projected pace. Another winning streak in the weeks ahead will get them back where they belong.

Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 14), vs. VAN (Nov. 16), vs. COL (Nov. 18)

16. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 23

Points percentage: 55.26%

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Preseason O/U: 95.5

Current pace: 92.8

Heavy is the head that wears the playoff contender crown, and the Ducks had some difficulty in the early season given those heightened expectations.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 14), vs. CGY (Nov. 15), @ STL (Nov. 17), @ COL (Nov. 19)

17. Seattle Kraken

Previous ranking: 14

Points percentage: 59.38%

Preseason O/U: 81.5

Current pace: 99.8

Another of this season's most pleasant surprises, it seems that we'll need to take the Kraken seriously as the playoff races heat up.

Next seven days: vs. CAR (Nov. 14), vs. VAN (Nov. 19)

18. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 20

Points percentage: 57.5%

Preseason O/U: 86.5

Current pace: 96.6

Despite a season-ending injury to franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers keep plugging along at an impressive clip.

Next seven days: @ VAN (Nov. 13), vs. MTL (Nov. 16)

19. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 16

Points percentage: 52.78%

Preseason O/U:96.5

Current pace: 88.7

Similar to the Ducks, last season's playoff appearance seems distant now as the Sabres struggle to keep up in the ridiculously tough Atlantic.

Next seven days: @ DAL (Nov. 14), @ PHI (Nov. 17), @ WSH (Nov. 19)

20. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 17

Points percentage: 52.94%

Preseason O/U: 88.5

Current pace: 88.9

What can we say, sometimes the sportsbooks nail these projections!

Next seven days: @ ANA (Nov. 14), vs. CBJ (Nov. 17), @ WPG (Nov. 19)

21. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 22

Points percentage: 50%

Preseason O/U: 84.5

Current pace: 84

See the Isles' entry above.

Next seven days: vs. FLA (Nov. 14), vs. ANA (Nov. 17), @ PIT (Nov. 19)

22. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 29

Points percentage: 50%

Preseason O/U: 84.5

Current pace: 84

OK, this is getting a bit uncanny now ...

Next seven days: @ CHI (Nov. 14), vs. OTT (Nov. 17), vs. NYI (Nov. 19)

23. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 18

Points percentage: 45%

Preseason O/U: 95.5

Current pace: 75.6

Hope sprung eternal this summer, as the Leafs welcomed No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna into the mix, further buttressing the offensive attack. ThoughAuston Matthews and William Nylander have held up their end of the bargain, deficiencies abound elsewhere, particularly in goal, where veteran Sergei Bobrovsky has not delivered the goods.

Next seven days: vs. EDM (Nov. 14), @ CHI (Nov. 17), vs. LA (Nov. 19)

24. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 21

Points percentage: 44.74%

Preseason O/U: 86.5

Current pace: 75.2

The Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson sagas have yet to reach their conclusions. The Wings' play has been admirable under the circumstances, but below even modest expectations.

Next seven days: @ TB (Nov. 14), vs. BOS (Nov. 18)

25. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 26

Points percentage: 44.74%

Preseason O/U: 77.5

Current pace: 75.2

The Flames certainlyfeel like they're performing a lot better than expected, though they're a shade behind their projection. (To be fair, that 77.5 number was 31st in the league.)

Next seven days: @ LA (Nov. 14), @ ANA (Nov. 15), @ SJ (Nov. 17), vs. MIN (Nov. 19)

26. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 24

Points percentage: 42.86%

Preseason O/U: 94.5

Current pace:72

After Macklin Celebrini's superstar turn last season -- and the Sharks narrowly missing the playoffs -- they were a popular pick to return to the postseason in 2027. Uh-oh.

Next seven days: @ UTA (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 15), vs. CGY (Nov. 17)

27. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 25

Points percentage: 43.75%

Preseason O/U: 91.5

Current pace: 73.5

Despite having one of the cooler Hometown Remix uniforms, the Blue Jackets haven't been giving fans much to cheer about this season.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 14), @ NYI (Nov. 17), @ CHI (Nov. 19)

28. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 28

Points percentage: 42.11%

Preseason O/U: 89.5

Current pace: 70.7

A surprise playoff appearance last season might have set the expectations a little too high for Sidney Crosby& Co.

Next seven days: vs. OTT (Nov. 14), vs. STL (Nov. 19)

29. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 27

Points percentage: 37.5%

Preseason O/U: 95.5

Current pace: 63

The Kings have been a little more competitive after losing six straight to open the season but remain well behind projections.

Next seven days: vs. CGY (Nov. 14), @ BOS (Nov. 17), @ TOR (Nov. 19)

30. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 30

Points percentage: 38.1%

Preseason O/U: 93.5

Current pace: 64

Similar to their in-state rivals in Pittsburgh, the Flyers were a bit of a surprise in the 2026 playoffs, and that might have gotten people a little too excited this preseason.

Next seven days: @ CBJ (Nov. 14), vs. EDM (Nov. 15), vs. BUF (Nov. 17), @ OTT (Nov. 19)

31. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 31

Points percentage: 25%

Preseason O/U: 79.5

Current pace: 42

At some point, Connor Bedard will have the Blackhawks contending for division titles again (and hopefully, Stanley Cups). This team is not there yet.

Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 14), vs. TOR (Nov. 17), vs. CBJ (Nov. 19)

32. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 32

Points percentage: 17.5%

Preseason O/U: 74.5

Current pace: 29.4

Landon DuPont is a Western Canadian prospect now playing for the University of Michigan. Ranked first on many 2027 NHL draft boards, Canucks fans might want to start paying closer attention to him.

Next seven days: vs. NYR (Nov. 13), @ VGK (Nov. 15), @ UTA (Nov. 16), @ SEA (Nov. 19)

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