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2009/2010 Power Rankings – ESPN


2009-2010 Power Rankings: Week 1
RK (PV) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 Penguins 0-0-0 Hey, they’re the defending Stanley Cup champs. They get a free pass to the top of the rankings for at least a week.
2 Sharks 0-0-0 These are regular-season rankings, not playoff rankings, which explains why the Sharks are here and not in the trash bin.
3 Flyers 0-0-0 This is a good, big, deep, hungry team. All eyes are on goalie Ray Emery now.
4 Capitals 0-0-0 The Caps are grittier up front, but the defense and goaltending will have to prove themselves if Washington wants to get to the top of the heap.
5 Blackhawks 0-0-0 Can the youthful Hawks play with monster expectations? Why not?
6 Red Wings 0-0-0 The Wings will have to prove significant personnel changes won’t set them back too much in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
7 Flames 0-0-0 Look for big bounce-back seasons from goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
8 Bruins 0-0-0 Defending Vezina Trophy and Norris Trophy winners Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara suggest the Bruins will remain a force in the East even without Phil Kessel.
9 Ducks 0-0-0 If the goaltending tandem of Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere doesn’t implode, the Ducks are a dark horse to win the Pacific Division.
10 Lightning 0-0-0 The Lightning could be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference if Mike Smith stays healthy in goal.
11 Hurricanes 0-0-0 A solid, middle-of-the-playoff-pack team.
12 Blues 0-0-0 Erik Johnson, Paul Kariya, et al, start the season healthy and with high expectations. Those expectations are well-placed.
13 Sabres 0-0-0 Can the Sabres stay healthy? If so, they’re back in the postseason.
14 Kings 0-0-0 Are these Kings really ready to take that all-important step toward the playoffs? They’d better be, or heads will roll in L.A.
15 Panthers 0-0-0 Solid coaching and a core of young forwards are ready to take the Panthers back to the postseason.
16 Oilers 0-0-0 Top-notch coaching, solid goaltending and a talented blue line should get the Oilers back into the playoffs.
17 Canucks 0-0-0 A murderous road schedule around the Olympics and questions about the offense will combine for heartache come playoff time. At least in our book.
18 Canadiens 0-0-0 Lots of offense, not enough size and what about the goaltending?
19 Senators 0-0-0 Too many question marks, especially along the blue line. Can Pascal Leclaire revive the Sens?
20 Wild 0-0-0 New coach Todd Richards should erase the previously stifling style, but the Wild still will not have enough offense.
21 Predators 0-0-0 Can rookie sensation Pekka Rinne carry the freight for a Preds team that once again looks like it will struggle to score?
22 Rangers 0-0-0 There is something not quite right with the Rangers. Marian Gaborik will have to prove us wrong.
23 Blue Jackets 0-0-0 Hard to believe Steve Mason will be able to replicate his extraordinary rookie-season success. If he can’t, there will be trouble aplenty in Columbus.
24 Devils 0-0-0 Even Jacques Lemaire won’t be able to hide the deficiencies in offense from which the Devils look to suffer.
25 Thrashers 0-0-0 The offense will be explosive, but goaltending might once again doom the Thrashers.
26 Stars 0-0-0 The retooled Stars have questions on the back end, and need offensive stars Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards to bounce back from serious injuries.
27 Maple Leafs 0-0-0 Tough, you bet. Scoring? Not so much. Goaltending? Who knows.
28 Islanders 0-0-0 Rookie John Tavares is in the spotlight, but team defense and goaltending should be better this season.
29 Coyotes 0-0-0 The office mess has bled into the locker room with the resignation of coach Wayne Gretzky. New bench boss Dave Tippett is a fine coach but hasn’t had much time to get this squad ready for competition.
30 Avalanche 0-0-0 A once-great team in full decline.

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