NHL Power Rankings: Oscars edition
This is the 10th in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2024-25 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.
In this edition, we pick a movie that represents each team's season following Sunday's Academy Awards.
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1. Winnipeg Jets (42-15-4)
Previous: 1
Top Gun: Maverick (2022). It's rare for a sequel released 36 years after the original to be far superior, but that's the case with this film. That also happens to be the case with the 2.0 Winnipeg Jets, who are putting together a campaign the original Jets of the '80s and '90s could've only dreamed of. The Stanley Cup Playoffs can sometimes be a danger zone, but Winnipeg is well-equipped to go all the way.
2. Washington Capitals (38-14-8)
Previous: 2
I'm Still Here (2024). The Capitals' season doesn't share anything in common with this Oscar-nominated film about the military dictatorship in Brazil - except for the title. Many doubted Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record after he struggled out of the gate last season. But guess what? Ovi's still here, and he's still great.
3. Dallas Stars (39-19-2)
Previous: 3
La La Land (2016). Is this the start of something wonderful and new? Or one more dream that I cannot make true? Those are some of the lyrics to "City of Stars," the Oscar-winning track sung by Ryan Gosling in Damien Chazelle's musical. Dallas is likely wondering the same thing ahead of a pivotal postseason, as the squad has fallen short in two straight conference finals.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (38-20-2)
Previous: 10
Uncut Gems (2019). Watching this gritty American crime thriller is an anxiety-inducing experience from start to finish, much like your typical Maple Leafs season. Spoiler alert: Adam Sandler's character, Howard Ratner, meets an abrupt end, which is what usually happens to Toronto in the spring.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (35-20-4)
Previous: 11
Mean Girls (2004). The Lightning have become one of the NHL's most ruthless organizations, willing to win at all costs in ways that would make Regina George proud. GM Julien BriseBois essentially told franchise icon Steven Stamkos this offseason that "you can't sit with us" anymore. The mentality may ruffle some feathers, but the Bolts clearly don't mind, earning three Stanley Cup Final appearances in the last five years. How many more could they make? The limit does not exist!
6. Florida Panthers (37-21-3)
Previous: 5
The Batman (2022). Remember when Robert Pattinson beat the brakes off of those guys near the beginning of the movie? That's what we imagine playing against Florida is like. The newest Batman film might not be as beloved as its Christian Bale-led predecessors, but it's still great. Similarly, it remains to be seen if these Panthers are as good as they were during their Cup-winning season last year, but they're still damn fierce contenders.
7. Vegas Golden Knights (36-18-6)
Previous: 7
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (2023). Vegas is putting together another strong season, much like another (movie) franchise that seemingly only puts out bangers. Sure, the Golden Knights missed the playoffs in 2022, but maybe that was their "Mission Impossible II" - the series' lowest-ranked film on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. Edmonton Oilers (35-21-4)
Previous: 4
John Wick (2014). Revenge is the only thing on Edmonton's mind after losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring. Somewhat surprisingly, the main character appears to be Leon Draisaitl instead of Connor McDavid.
9. Colorado Avalanche (35-24-2)
Previous: 12
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). It felt apt to pair the Avalanche with one of the best breakup movies ever following the Mikko Rantanen trade. Colorado will have to forget about its two-time 40-goal man in order to move on, no matter how much it hurts.
10. Carolina Hurricanes (35-22-4)
Previous: 6
Hot Rod (2007). There's only one coach in the NHL with a nickname that compliments his physique - Rod "The Bod" Brind'Amour. Despite great regular-season success under Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes have often fallen flat on their faces in the postseason, not unlike stuntman Rod Kimble. Can Carolina finally make the jump - over 15 school buses - in the playoffs this year? Maybe some green tea would help.
11. New Jersey Devils (33-23-6)
Previous: 13
The Substance (2024). This Oscar-nominated body horror piece sees Hollywood castoff Elisabeth Sparkle inject herself with a serum to create a "better" version of herself. The Devils can relate to that, seeing as there have been two versions of them this season. New Jersey has alternated wins and losses since Jan. 25 and has played .500 hockey since the new year.
12. Los Angeles Kings (31-19-8)
Previous: 8
50 First Dates (2004). Or, in the Kings' case, 50 First-Round Matchups Against the Oilers. If the playoffs started today, Los Angeles and Edmonton would play each other for the fourth straight season, and the Oilers have won the past three meetings. The Kings will hope to attract someone who can help them ahead of the trade deadline, like how Adam Sandler wooed an amnesiac Drew Barrymore in the film.
13. Minnesota Wild (35-22-4)
Previous: 9
Hacksaw Ridge (2016). The Wild have been running an infirmary all season. Mats Zuccarello, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Kirill Kaprizov have missed significant time, and the latter three are currently sidelined. We're not saying Gustav Nyquist is combat medic Desmond Doss, who rescued 75 soldiers in World War II. However, someone needs to hop over the boards and help Minnesota keep its position in the Central.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets (30-22-8)
Previous: 19
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Everyone should be pulling for the Blue Jackets this season, just as everyone rooted for Chris Gardner (who was brilliantly portrayed by Will Smith) in this biographical film about overcoming adversity and hardships. Columbus has played its way into a wild-card spot while grieving the losses of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
15. Detroit Red Wings (30-24-6)
Previous: 14
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). A breakup can sometimes lead to better things, and the Red Wings certainly found the right person (or head coach) in Todd McLellan after dumping Derek Lalonde. Detroit is a steady 17-7-2 since McLellan took over Dec. 26.
16. St. Louis Blues (29-27-6)
Previous: 26
Ocean's Eleven (2001). The Blues pulled off a heist by plucking forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg from the Oilers. Both players have been enjoying strong campaigns, with Holloway ranking third on the team in points. Let's see if St. Louis can steal a playoff spot in the spring.
17. Calgary Flames (28-23-9)
Previous: 17
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004). No one predicted the Calgary Flames being in the playoff race this season, much like no one predicted Average Joe's Gym making a run in the fabled Las Vegas dodgeball tournament.
18. Montreal Canadiens (29-26-5)
Previous: 22
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). Few people knew this animated gem was simply Part 1 of a larger story, so many left the theatre feeling disappointed. The Canadiens are in a similar spot. They're still in the fight, though they don't have the best odds of making the playoffs. Trust the process. A satisfying conclusion will come at some point.
19. Ottawa Senators (30-25-4)
Previous: 15
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). This was Leonardo DiCaprio's last Oscar nomination before he finally won for "The Revenant" two years later. The Senators are desperately trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and still have solid odds, but a five-game losing streak has complicated things. We'll see in April if Ottawa is in Leo's triumphant getting-mauled-by-a-bear era.
20. New York Rangers (30-26-4)
Previous: 18
Joker: Folie a Deux (2024). Todd Phillips' first "Joker" film in 2019 was a critical and box-office success, but his follow-up was a disaster. The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy last season, but their 2024-25 campaign has been a tire fire, similar to the sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.
21. New York Islanders (27-25-7)
Previous: 20
The Godfather (1972). Lou Lamoriello and Vito Corleone are easy to compare. They're a pair of old bosses with plenty of glory to reflect upon but only have problems in the present.
22. Utah Hockey Club (27-25-9)
Previous: 24
Dune (2021). The 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel wasn't the late David Lynch's finest work, but Denis Villeneuve's remake improved upon the original and reinvigorated the franchise. Similarly, the move to Utah has been a breath of fresh air for a club that underwhelmed perennially in Arizona.
23. Vancouver Canucks (27-22-11)
Previous: 16
The Shawshank Redemption (1994). There's been nary a dull moment for the Canucks this season, which is why they get the honor of IMDB's No. 1-rated drama.
24. Boston Bruins (28-26-8)
Previous: 21
Casino (1995). Once a seemingly invincible Eastern Conference empire, the Bruins are finally showing signs of falling from grace - much like Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in Martin Scorsese's 1995 hit.
25. Anaheim Ducks (26-26-7)
Previous: 23
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994). Much like the current Anaheim Ducks, this sequel in the Disney franchise has its moments but isn't much to write home about overall. The main difference is that (spoiler alert) the Mighty Ducks-led Team USA wins its tournament in the movie, whereas the NHL team isn't close to contending.
26. Philadelphia Flyers (27-26-8)
Previous: 29
Trap (2024). No, the Flyers aren't trapped at a concert alongside thousands of other people (including one serial killer) like in M. Night Shyamalan's fun-yet-deeply-unserious crime thriller. However, as the rebuild continues, Philadelphia is trending to be trapped outside the playoff picture. Matvei Michkov is extremely fun to watch, just like Josh Hartnett's out-there performance as the main character.
27. Buffalo Sabres (24-29-5)
Previous: 25
Groundhog Day (1993). It's not hard to see the similarities between the Sabres' plight and what weatherman Phil Connors (aka Bill Murray) endured. Buffalo has been stuck in a seemingly endless loop of mediocrity, but perhaps the team can channel Phil and take advantage of its predicament - only by learning how to win on top of mastering the piano and learning French.
28. Pittsburgh Penguins (24-29-10)
Previous: 27
This Is the End (2013). It's over for the Penguins. OK, we don't mean the franchise itself is going to get sucked into a giant sinkhole in James Franco's front yard. Still, this season has provided concrete evidence that Pittsburgh's competitive window with its legendary core is firmly shut.
29. Seattle Kraken (26-31-4)
Previous: 30
Horrible Bosses (2011). This movie relates to the Kraken in title only, not the plot. But yes, we're looking at you, Ron Francis. Seattle's GM is arguably the worst in the league. He continues to dish out horrible contracts one after another, with the offseason signing of Chandler Stephenson as his latest. The Kraken are doomed to be stuck in NHL purgatory as long as Francis remains at the helm - not good enough to be a contender but not bad enough to bottom out.
30. Nashville Predators (21-32-7)
Previous: 28
Cats (2019). The Predators "won" the offseason by spending a boatload of money on free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. But just like a certain big-budget musical adaptation, the Music City squad has embarrassingly flopped. While it's inaccurate to imply Nashville "literally can't score goals," the Preds have been a major disappointment.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (18-35-7)
Previous: 31
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). The Blackhawks aren't going to clean up any awards or stand the test of time like this movie. But you could draw parallels between the start of Frodo's and Connor Bedard's excruciatingly long paths to success.
32. San Jose Sharks (15-37-9)
Previous: 32
Armageddon (1998). The Sharks were so bad for a few years that it must've been easy for fans to think the world was ending. San Jose has tasked a young cast of star players (Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, etc.) with saving the franchise from an asteroid that'll end life as we know it: a never-ending rebuild.