The first round of the NHL playoffs intrigued and entertained many viewers. The President’s trophy winning New York Rangers were the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping Washington (the only first round sweep). Boston became the first NHL team to win four straight game sevens over a single opponent. Florida won their first Battle of Florida matchup against Tampa Bay. Carolina proved they can take care of business with depth scoring and goaltender Frederik Andersen still finding his groove. Four fantastic teams will show audiences why they made it this far, but only two will go to the conference championship. It’s time to predict which two have the best chance of advancing to round three.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes v. #1 New York Rangers
Mika Zibanejad (left) and Sebastian Aho (center) will have a lot of scoring opportunities this series.
Almost everyone who watches the NHL knew this would be a second round matchup once the Rangers clinched first in the Metropolitan. Obvious or not, Carolina versus New York will be one of the funnest series. Both teams are loaded with scoring and defensive depth, play well on special teams and are led by great veteran coaches. The Hurricanes and Rangers mostly mirror each other and are even in many categories.
The tipping point will be goaltending. Former Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin isn’t just the better of the two starting netminders in the series, he’s also the healthiest and plays better. The Hurricanes Frederik Andersen can steal wins and give Carolina a deep run, but he’s not playing at Shesterkin’s level and still needs to find his rhythm after missing half the regular season with deep-vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolisms.
Prediction: Rangers win series 4-2
#4 Boston Bruins v. #2 Florida Panthers
Despite a re-match from last year’s series, Florida is the stronger, deeper team.
This is a re-match of last year’s first round series where Florida overcame a 3-1 series deficit and shocked the sports world, pulling off the biggest upset in NHL history. This year the Panthers won the atlantic division and the Bruins are the underdogs.
Many believe this will be an easier series for Florida after they eliminated Tampa Bay. It’s important to remember Boston swept the Panthers in their four game regular season series. Yes, Florida brings a different level of physical play and has a better coach than Toronto, but the Bruins are the best veteran team remaining in the east that can counter the aggressive Panthers.
If Boston wants to make this a long, close series, they need to attack Florida’s defense in the first two periods each game. The Panthers have yet to blow a lead in the third period (regular or postseason) this season. They also play better if there’s overtime. Don’t be surprised if the Bruins tire easily after game four.
Prediction: Panthers win series 4-2
NHL eastern conference first round playoff predictions: 3-1
The first round was exciting and fun. Minnesota shockingly swept Phoenix. Denver barely led most of their four wins against the Lakers. Dallas and the Clippers had an entertaining series. Oklahoma City had no playoff jitters as they confidently swept the more experienced Pelicans. The Thunder and Mavericks will show viewers how close they are to becoming complete teams while Denver and Minnesota have the best second round matchup in either conference. Two of the remaining four teams will advance to the next round. Time to break down which of the two have the best chance to make the conference finals.
#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
Dallas and Oklahoma City have great guard duos. Forward and center play will determine who wins this series.
The Mavericks and Thunder have many similarities but many differences. They have great starting guards who score at will. They have young, dangerous centers starting to find their rhythm on both sides of the ball. Dallas and Oklahoma City also have starting forwards facing a lot of pressure to defend well and score better. Both coaches also know how to get the best out of their improving rosters.
The differences are in expectations. The Mavericks face growing pressure to make a championship run with star guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving playing their best basketball these last three months. The Thunder’s starting five is the youngest in the league and hasn’t faced adversity in the postseason. Doncic and Irving have enough experience to help center Daniel Gafford, and forwards P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. gain advantages on Oklahoma City’s center Chet Holmgren, and forwards Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort. It will be interesting to see how both teams counter each other’s strengths and styles.
Prediction: Mavericks win series 4-2
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #2 Denver Nuggets
Guards Jamal Murray (blue) and Anthony Edwards (white) will have one of the best series of their careers.
This could be the best NBA playoff series of 2024. Minnesota and Denver have split their last two regular season series and have the right players to counter each other. This could be the only Denver series we see a one-on-one matchup on Nikola Jokic, as he’ll be guarded by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
Nuggets guard duo Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have as much skill as Timberwolves guard duo Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards. You could go as far to say Conley’s experience and better defense presents a problem for Denver. Since Gobert can do what most teams can’t and cover Jokic by himself, Minnesota can double cover Caldwell-Pope or Murray (depending on who’s playing better each game). Roster depth will be more important since Sixth Man of the Year winner Naz Reid can play well at both power forward and center for the Timberwolves, and Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson can play both sides of the ball well when Murray rests.
The winner of this series will be decided on the play of Minnesota star forward Karl-Anthony Towns against Denver forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon’s played better each postseason series since he was traded to the Nuggets in 2021. He can play physical on both sides of the ball and is a consistent rebounding threat. Towns is a great three point shooter, but his rebounding and preference of playing away from the basket and interior poses a problem Denver can exploit further into the series.
Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-3
First round western conference playoff predictions: 2-2
The NHL’s western conference was the first to have every playoff spot clinched. However, seeding was finished after the last game of the regular season. Many wonder if either of last year’s conference finals participants can replicate their success and represent the west in a championship slugfest. The conference wants to win the Stanley Cup two years in a row. Winnipeg improved this season and drew an easier first round opponent. Vancouver and Edmonton have enough balance on offense and defense to shake a series in their favor.Finally, Vegas has returned to their Stanley Cup champion selves after serious roster moves before their playoff run. Only four teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#6 Los Angeles Kings v. #4 Edmonton Oilers
For the third year in a row, captains Connor McDavid (left) and Anze Kopitar (right) square off in the first round.
It’s the third year in a row these teams will play each other in round one. Los Angeles has a top three defense and penalty kill but the offense has struggled to play past quick transition. That’s a bad game-plan against the improved Oilers defense.
The Kings have struggled this season to consistently beat Edmonton’s goaltender duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. While Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch has improved the defense, the offense isn’t one dimensional scoring from captain Connor McDavid and former MVP Leon Draisaitl anymore. Forward Zach Hyman and defenseman Evan Bouchard will frustrate the Los Angeles defense.
Prediction: Oilers win series 4-2
#5 Colorado Avalanche v. #3 Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg showed audiences in their April 13th 7-0 thumping over the Avalanche that Colorado’s depth on both offense and defense is strained.
This pick will either be bullseye accurate or stunningly wrong due to how the Jets mauled Colorado in Ball Arena April 13th. Winnipeg’s mindset has shifted and they looked ready for the playoffs after their remaining regular season games. The Jets are getting depth scoring from centers Sean Monahan and Adam Lowry, forwards Tyler Toffoli, Morgan Barron and Gabriel Vilardi, and defensemen Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo.
Colorado’s scoring depth fizzles out once the first line of Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Mikko Rantanen don’t tally points. It’s concerning goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has played tired most of April. Winnipeg has to take advantage of these weaknesses and quickly eliminate the Avalanche.
Prediction: Jets win series 4-1
#7 Nashville Predators v. #2 Vancouver Canucks
Hits reminiscent of Dakota Joshua’s on Alexandre Carrier in the regular season will be a common theme in this playoff series.
Vancouver surprised many with their consistent, quality play even when starting goaltender Thatcher Demko was injured the last few months of the regular season. Their reward: drawing the hottest wildcard team in either conference.
Nashville’s been one of the league’s best teams since the March seventh trade deadline. More importantly, the pairing of Ryan McDonagh and Roman Josi has both stabilized the defense and opened up scoring opportunities in transition offense. McDonagh’s playoff success on defense combined with former captain and Stanley Cup champion center Ryan O’Reilly on offense presents more of a challenge to the Canucks.
Vancouver can counter some of the Predators optimism with the return of Demko in net. Playoff-mode Thatcher Demko was feared after his 2020 miracle series loss against Vegas. Coach Rick Tocchet’s mentality mirrors former coach and current general manager Barry Trotz. Nashville knows how to play with and against this thought process well. Coach Andrew Brunette will challenge and want his players to hit and bully the Canucks stars. The physical play will throw Vancouver’s scoring leaders off their game and make them play a brand of hockey no one’s challenged them to all season.
Western conference upset prediction: Predators win series 4-2
#8 Vegas Golden Knights v. #1 Dallas Stars
Dallas is the favorite this time but the return of playoff-mode Jonathan Marchessault (81) does boost Vegas’ championship chances.
The best first round matchup in the conference. In a rematch of last year’s conference finals, this time Dallas has home ice and touts both a top five offense and top ten defense. The Stars might be the most complete team in the league with eight 20+ goal scorers on the roster.
The Golden Knights are fortunate to have the defensive depth to counter. Captain Mark Stone returns and the newly acquired Tomas Hertl is playing better since he returned from injuring his left knee. Similar to last year’s postseason matchup, Vegas has bigger defensemen and more overall depth than Dallas, but the goaltending has been inconsistent for the Golden Knights. Jake Oettinger might be the best netminder in the conference while Logan Thompson and Adin Hill could split starts, throwing off Vegas’ defensive rhythm.
Prediction: Stars win series 4-2
Regular season western conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
The 2023-24 NBA regular season ended on a high note for the eastern conference. New York clinched the second seed in their final game before the play-in tournament. Indiana and Orlando are young teams that exceeded expectations and will use this postseason to learn how to improve for future playoff appearances. Most believe the east is Boston’s to lose. Milwaukee’s inconsistency even before hiring new coach Doc Rivers solidifies this belief. Regardless, four talented and competitive teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Miami Heat v. #1 Boston Celtics
While Jayson Tatum (left) will have one of the best statistical series of his career, it’s up to Miami’s Tyler Herro (right) to keep the Heat close in each game.
This couldn’t be a more lopsided series. Miami’s without star forward Jimmy Butler against the league’s best team. Boston’s starting five and their dangerous scoring depth makes this a one-sided matchup. No matter how well the Heat play, the Celtics will quickly advance to round two.
Prediction: Celtics win series 4-0
#6 Indiana Pacers v. #3 Milwaukee Bucks
Tyrese Haliburton (left) and the Pacers are heavily favored to sweep Giannis Antetokounmpo (right) and the Bucks after sweeping them in the regular season.
It’s not as easy a prediction Indiana will sweep their first round opponent like Boston will, but many expect it. Milwaukee didn’t win 50 games during the regular season after they hired Doc Rivers (they had 30 when Adrian Griffin was let go). The Bucks have regressed on defense since Jrue Holiday was traded to Portland for star point-guard Damian Lillard. Lillard’s also struggled shooting from three-point range most of the season.
Indiana decisively swept their central division rivals, and this was before they traded for forward Pascal Siakam mid-January. The Pacers averaged 123 points per game and were over 50% in field goal percentage in the regular season. Indiana never faced a dip in offensive production. That’s bad news for the Bucks.
Prediction: Pacers win series 4-0
#7 Philadelphia 76ers v. #2 New York Knicks
Former league MVP Joel Embiid’s still easing back into playing full-time minutes, but Isaiah Hartenstein and the Knicks have a shutdown defense that can frustrate Philadelphia.
This series would look different if 76ers franchise star center Joel Embiid was at full health and consistently playing 40 minutes a night. Since Embiid’s easing back into his major roles, New York will take advantage of this weakness and attack both the former MVP and Philadelphia’s complimentary players. Forward OG Anunoby and the guard duo of Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo will be too much for coach Nick Nurse’s adjustments.
Prediction: Knicks win series 4-1
#5 Orlando Magic v. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers
No matter who wins the series, both Paolo Banchero (5) and Donovan Mitchell (45) should play well and give audiences the best series of the first round.
The hardest series to decide a round one winner in either conference. Both Orlando and Cleveland are young and inexperienced, but play hard and are fun to watch. They have similar stats and both excel playing inside the three-point line. This will probably be a physical, seven game series.
If any side can claim an advantage, it would be the Cavaliers with guard Donovan Mitchell leading the offense. The Magic can counter with guard duo Gary Harris or Jalen Suggs, but it won’t be enough to contain Mitchell. Cleveland can counter Orlando’s star trio of Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner with their trio of Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Jarrett Allen. This puts more pressure on Harris and Suggs to score more than Mitchell, but that will be hard to do each game.
Prediction: Cavaliers win series 4-3
Regular season eastern conference playoffs and play-in prediction record: 6-2
The 2023-24 NBA regular season ended in anticipation for a thrilling western conference playoff race. MVP runner-up Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are the favorites to make a deep run to the championship while the young Thunder and Timberwolves want to prove they can compete and beat the best veteran teams left. No one should underestimate the resurgence of New Orleans, and Phoenix is still the team everyone wants out in order for a fair chance at the finals. Four talented squads will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#7 Los Angeles Lakers v. #2 Denver Nuggets
Fans are blessed with another LeBron v. Jokic series, but it could mirror last year’s lopsided results after Denver’s game one win.
The easiest series out west. Nikola Jokic is an MVP front runner and his supporting cast of Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope outmatch LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell. Lakers coach Darvin Ham struggled to adjust against Jokic and Denver’s offense in every second half of their regular season games. Don’t expect that to change in the series.
Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-0
#8 New Orleans Pelicans v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
If New Orleans wants to drag Oklahoma City into a long series, point-guard CJ McCollum (3) has to be their top playmaker.
Similar to Miami versus Boston in the east, New Orleans is without their star franchise player this series. Unlike the Heat, the Pelicans have a good amount of scoring depth to make their first round series fun. They’re also fortunate the west’s number one seed is both in their first playoff series and as young as the University of North Carolina’s basketball team.
If New Orleans has any chance of taking advantage of Oklahoma City’s young starting five, the veteran starters have to be their best players each game. Point-guard CJ McCollum has been phenomenal in previous playoff series, but he needs to get out of his scoring slump. Shooting guard Brandon Ingram and center Jonas Valanciunas can add more on offense and help slow down Thunder center Chet Holmgren and guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.
The number one seeded Thunder had a top three offense, but their youth will make this a longer series compared to a more experienced team like Denver or Phoenix. The Pelicans are desperate to stay in the playoffs long enough for franchise star Zion Williamson to return. It might not be enough to slow down a resurgent and determined team coached by Mark Daigneault.
Prediction: Thunder win series 4-2
#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #4 Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles forward duo Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will be a great counter to Dallas guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
This was the first clinched matchup before the regular season ended. The series stars are Los Angeles forward duo Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, while Dallas counters with guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Two factors will determine the winner: coaching and which team can slow down the other’s elite duo. James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Terance Mann can counter Doncic and Irving with how their offensive playmaking, but P.J. Washington Jr. and Daniel Gafford might struggle against George and Leonard if this series goes more than five games.
Coaching favors Tyronn Lue over Jason Kidd. Lue’s been in harder situations ranging from championship finals experience to roster depth issues in previous playoff rounds. His adjustments will determine how many games the Clippers can beat Dallas.
Prediction: Clippers win series 4-2
#6 Phoenix Suns v. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves
If Phoenix wants to replicate their regular season success against Minnesota, they must attack the interior early and often.
The Suns dominated the Timberwolves during the regular season. Yet Minnesota looks different with guard Anthony Edwards and center Rudy Gobert elevating the team’s nightly performances.
There’s no doubt Phoenix forward Kevin Durant will play some of his best postseason basketball, but he’ll need more help from guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, forward Grayson Allen and center Jusuf Nurkic. The Timberwolves match up well against Phoenix’s starting five. Point guard Mike Conley and center Naz Reid bring the needed veteran presence and scoring depth. It depends on how franchise star Karl-Anthony Towns continues to ease back into heavy minutes and if he comes off the bench compared to his regular starting role. If Towns continues coming in from the bench like he did in game one, Phoenix will have a hard time winning the series.
Prediction: Suns win series 4-2
Regular season western conference playoffs prediction record: 5-3
Every playoff series in the eastern conference was set almost a week before the regular season ended. In a surprising twist, Pittsburgh misses the playoffs for the second straight year and Detroit came up short despite a thrilling overtime win. Only Carolina and Tampa Bay acquired more than one major player by the trade deadline. The other six will rely on scoring depth and coaching changes to get through another tough postseason. Each team has their hands full against veteran playoff franchises wanting a championship appearance. It’s time to break down which four teams have the best chance of advancing to the second round.
#7 New York Islanders v. #2 Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina’s Seth Jarvis (24) was fun to watch throughout the regular season. He’ll have a tough time keeping up with New York’s Mathew Barzal (13).
Two months ago, it was inconceivable the Islanders wouldn’t just make the playoffs, but get as high as the seventh seed. New York won eight of their final ten regular season games and have adjusted to a postseason mindset led by center Mathew Barzal.
Unfortunately for the Islanders, they drew the red-hot Hurricanes. Goaltender Frederik Andersen is back to full health and the acquisitions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov are another layer of playoff depth few teams can counter. New York had a great run to end the regular season, but Carolina’s depth will overwhelm them early and often.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-1
#8 Washington Capitals v. #1 New York Rangers
Jimmy Vesey and the Rangers offense will give Washington’s defense and Charlie Lindgren (79, white) problems.
The Capitals almost drew a favorable first round matchup against Carolina. Instead they drew the President’s Trophy winning (awarded to the team with the league’s best record) New York Rangers. The Rangers have a top five offense, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin is among the best at shutting down opposing offensive playmakers.
Washington coach Spencer Carbery has proven resourceful and will find ways to frustrate a deep, veteran New York offense to take some pressure off goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Darcy Kuemper. Don’t be surprised if this series lasts longer due to the Capitals new, scrappy mindset.
Prediction: Rangers win series 4-2
#5 Toronto Maple Leafs v. #4 Boston Bruins
Two original six franchises in another physical and mean first round series. This will be a ratings success.
The last power rankings discussed Toronto’s disadvantages facing any atlantic division rival in round one. Auston Matthews didn’t even get 70 goals in the regular season and the celebratory gift for the team is another first round matchup against their long-time rival Boston.
The Bruins have many advantages over their Canadian rival, but the big ones are the goaltending duo of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, and their home play versus their rivals. The Leafs netminder duo of Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll are streaky and not ready to face a veteran team like Boston.
The latter advantage cements this pick. The Bruins are 7-0 against the Leafs (with total goals being 25-13) in their last seven games. Toronto’s also lost the last eight of nine games at TD Garden. While this series might go seven games, it’s clear who advances.
Prediction: Bruins win series 4-3
#6 Tampa Bay Lightning v. #3 Florida Panthers
The 1980s-1990s had the Battle of Alberta. The 2010s-2020s have the Battle of Florida. Like the winner of those glorious western conference series, the winner of these eastern matchups are favored to represent the conference in the Stanley Cup finals.
There’s nothing better than a state or provincial rivalry in the NHL playoffs. It’s juicier if both teams are heavily favored to reach the championship.
Coaching doesn’t get better than Jon Cooper versus Paul Maurice. Goaltenders Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky will have games where they frustrate opposing offenses and give up four or more goals depending on how both teams attack the net. Both Florida teams again feature the best forward and center depth in the conference. One could say it’s a deadlock and the winner might be decided in game seven.
If there’s a decisive factor for which team advances, it’s defensive depth. Both Aaron Ekblad and Victor Hedman will return, but Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh, Erik Cernak, Matt Dumba and Calvin de Haan are a better core than Florida’s Gustav Forsling, Brandon Montour, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov. The Panthers core defensive players will struggle whenever the Lightning have power-play opportunities.
Eastern conference upset prediction: Lightning win series 4-2
Regular season eastern conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
Left winger Anthony Duclair won’t be an MVP candidate but he’s having another solid season. Duclair’s been an important player and face in the media.
After Wayne Simmonds retired last month, there are currently 34 black players in the NHL. Some notable players and starters include former 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield, K’Andre Miller and Seth Jones. A good number such as Ryan Reaves, Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway and Kyle Okposo are found on third or fourth lines to provide stronger, physical presences or defend on the penalty kill.
There’s one who stands out the last five years in a class of his own. That would be forward Anthony ” “The Duke” Duclair. Duclair’s been on eight teams (including two this season) and has impressed on each one. From setting a franchise scoring record in 2019 with Ottawa to making a Stanley Cup finals appearance last year in Miami, Anthony Duclair is a hot name because of what teams look for and want in a forward.
After last year’s finals appearance with the Florida Panthers, Duclair was traded to San Jose for Steven Lorentz and a fifth round draft pick. Most NHL teams in a long-rebuild don’t trade draft picks unless it’s for a quality player. Anthony Duclair was a bright spot for San Jose despite the team’s offensive and defensive woes. He tallied 16 goals and eleven assists, averaging 16 minutes of ice time in 56 games on the worst team in the league. Cup contenders took note of Duclair’s efforts and many hockey news outlets had him going somewhere needing both scoring depth and veteran presence for deep playoff runs. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois traded Jack Thompson and a 2024 third round pick for San Jose’s only quality player (who wasn’t injured) a day before the trade deadline.
The Lightning made one of the best trades at the deadline. Anthony Duclair has scored five goals and added four assists in the ten games played since March seventh. Coach Jon Cooper put Duclair on the first line with MVP favorite Nikita Kucherov and phenom center Brayden Point. They’ve won all but two games since the move, and one of the losses took overtime in Los Angeles. When coach Cooper was asked by the TNT panel before Tampa’s 3-1 home win against Boston on March 27th about what Duclair brought to the team Cooper replied, “He (Duclair) slots all the guys in spots they should be.” The most tenured coach in the NHL added that the Lightning looked at and heavily considered trading for him months ago. The decision has Tampa Bay six points back of Toronto for third in the Atlantic and at fifth place in the eastern conference. If the playoffs were held today, the Lightning would play the Leafs and possibly take the series to seven games.
It’s a big deal Anthony Duclair is coveted by multiple playoff contenders wanting a finals appearance. I wrote at the beginning there are 34 black players in the NHL, and while some of them are or will become stars, none of them have the unique career trajectory as Duclair. Quinton Byfield will probably be a star, but right now he’s injured while Los Angeles sputters. K’Andre Miller takes a backseat to multiple stars in New York while Ryan Reaves is known for physical play and fighting. There’s Seth and Caleb Jones, who are afterthoughts in Chicago. Most black players such as the aforementioned Okposo, Greenway and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are depth players. Matt Dumba is the closest to receiving similar attention as Duclair, but he’s also on Tampa Bay and takes a backseat to defenseman Darren Raddysh.
Many black viewers have wanted to watch ice hockey for a long time but sadly haven’t been able to watch someone who looks like them elevate a team’s performance the way Matthew Tkachuk or Valeri Nichushkin have on Florida or Colorado. It’s why Anthony Duclair is a big deal. He’s been on title contending teams, makes everyone around him better while growing his game and sometimes sets a record. The NHL’s return to ESPN and ABC means more audiences are finally watching the first black hockey star in over a decade. Duclair’s 28 years old, so expect continued, growing interest from all kinds of viewers.
Forward Anthony Duclair (10) and center Brayden Point (21) lead a red-hot Tampa Bay power-play at 29%.
Here’s the April 2024 power rankings. These will be the last power rankings for the season due to the playoffs starting April 20th.
#32 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 31)
Many knew San Jose would be awful this season with a continued roster teardown. We’re witnessing a full rebuild that will take at least five years to construct. The Sharks best players are Logan Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and they might not be around after 2024 with how San Jose needs high draft picks. This will be a long, painful process for northern California hockey fans.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 32)
Chicago’s had one of the best power-plays since March began. Number one overall pick Connor Bedard returning is a big factor for the team’s improvement, but Ryan Donato and Philipp Kurashev are peaking at a good time. Coach Luke Richardson might have saved his job for the rest of the calendar year.
#30 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 30)
General manager Pat Verbeek has a lot to consider once the season ends (if owner Henry Samueli doesn’t fire him). Many expect starting goaltender John Gibson to finally be traded, but who else will go before the 2024 draft? Coach Greg Cronin is probably done and free agency always has a lot of valuable talent wanting to sign with warmer climate teams. Anaheim has to get better than this season’s disaster.
#29 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 29)
Like the Ducks, Columbus will be a name to watch in the draft. As written last month, a new general manager means a new vision and ideas. The Blue Jackets could retool most of the roster centered around rookie center Dmitri Voronkov. We’ll find out what kind of revamp Columbus will have at the start of free agency.
#28 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 27)
This is a good time to look back to the 2018 draft where Montreal picked Jesperi Kotkaniemi ahead of Brady Tkachuk. How big was that move? To start, Kotkaniemi isn’t with the Canadiens anymore while the younger Tkachuk brother is Ottawa’s captain. It didn’t matter when Montreal made the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup finals, but every season besides that one shows how the Canadiens could use the extra goal scoring. Montreal is currently 27th in goals scored with 201. Ottawa is 15th with 235, and Tkachuk is the leading scorer with 33. If we wanted to transfer all 33 over, it would give Montreal 236 and place them between Vegas and Ottawa. The Canadiens would have more goal scoring than the Capitals, Penguins, Flyers, Wild, Kings, Jets and hilariously, one more than the Senators. They’d also be closer in the playoff race.
#27 Arizona Coyotes (last ranking: 28)
It’s a shame Arizona had a winless February. The Coyotes could’ve ended some conference rivals playoff chances with their play in March. Instead they have to add more scoring depth while bolstering the defensive lines. Maybe we’ll look back a year or two from now and consider February 2024 a turning point for a more competitive team clinching a playoff berth.
#26 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 26)
Management has to be careful about who to move once the season ends. If we were to start a list by position on who the Senators should keep we’d start with:
Defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson.
Centers Shane Pinto, Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris and Ridly Greig.
Forwards Claude Giroux, Drake Batherson, Brady Tkachuk and Boris Katchouk.
Goalie Mads Sogaard
If new management decides to keep these players while adding roster depth and doubles down better defensive play, then more free agents will see Ottawa as an attractive destination. Most of the Senators listed are still young and seen as high-grade offensive playmakers eager to make the postseason.
#25 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 23)
That eight game losing streak pretty much eliminated the Kraken from postseason contention. Bummer for a top ten scoring defense that got little help. Seattle scored four goals once during the slump and averaged one goal a game in seven of the eight losses. General manager Ron Francis still has an ongoing plan for how this team should look, but it still feels disappointing after last year’s postseason success.
#24 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 18)
Trading Jake Guentzel to Carolina ended their season. There are more difficult decisions that will be made after the season ends from who to keep, who to trade and if there will be a retooling versus a rebuild. It will be a long offseason.
#23 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 20)
Another team that has a lot of hard decisions to make once the regular season ends. While the Flames had an ok March, they didn’t have enough to close the gap in the wildcard race. That could lead to goaltender Jacob Markstrom getting traded in the offseason. If Calgary moves Markstrom, then the team could regress at a pace many expected before the 2023 season began.
#22 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 25)
Buffalo’s nemesis for the second straight year is the number of remaining games on their schedule. The Sabres are close to being a playoff team but can’t pull out big wins when it matters most. It’s not all on coach Don Granato either, but management could stick him with the blame once the season ends. A lingering issue Buffalo has to address is the struggling play from rookie and younger players when they’re brought up from minor league systems compared to their opponents.
#21 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 21)
The trade for goalie Jake Allen could work well next season. Right now there aren’t enough games nor easier opponents for New Jersey to get many quick points over and leapfrog into the eighth seed. It would be smart to retain interim coach Travis Green for next season and implement more of his schemes with a young, determined roster.
#20 New York Islanders (last ranking: 24)
New York started March hot and then reality set in. They’ve lost eight of the last eleven and all were ugly. Three were shutouts and then an angry Red Wings getting captain Dylan Larkin back drove home how poor the Islanders decisions have been the past few years. The genius of Lou Lamoriello will cost them another shot at the playoffs.
#19 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 10)
Wow. Sometimes a player can be what holds a team together but nobody thought Detroit would tumble without captain Dylan Larkin. General manager Steve Yzerman’s plan was revealed when Larkin wasn’t playing: continue developing young talent in the minor leagues while finding who works best with the current roster.
#18 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 17)
Nashville’s ascent probably sinks Minnesota’s season. The Wild have to play Colorado twice and face Vegas, Winnipeg and Los Angeles one more time. Minnesota needs a lot of help to get into the eighth seed. The Wild have San Jose twice and Chicago in their remaining games but it won’t be enough.
#17 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 19)
The Blues are five points ahead of Minnesota and three behind Los Angeles for the last wildcard spot. They’re 25-1-0 in games where they score four or more goals, and 16-3-4 in one goal games (with a win percentage over .700). Finally, the Blues have the second highest winning percentage when scoring first this season at .882 (behind only Winnipeg). St. Louis has a good chance at squeaking into the eighth seed with the Kings falling apart. If the Blues make the playoffs, it will be a headache for whoever has the top seed in the west.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 13)
Washington will surpass Philadelphia in the standings if the Flyers keep playing down to their competition. Coach John Tortorella already let his players and media know the last two weeks have been awful. Philadelphia needs to improve on defense and create better scoring chances on the power-play. Bringing in goalie Ivan Fedotov after the Russian KHL rescinded his contract could bring spark the change Tortorella’s looking for.
#15 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 22)
All the thought pieces on captain Alex Ovechkin being too old to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record and Washington being eliminated from the playoffs were useless. As I wrote in previous power rankings, no team in the east wants to face the Capitals if they somehow clinch a playoff berth. Well, they’re a top eight team in the east and are one of the hottest since the trade deadline. Washington has the fifth best winning percentage when scoring first this season at .759 and the highest win percentage in one goal games at 17-2-10. The Capitals are also playing their best against the hardest part of their schedule. Coach Spencer Carbery should be considered for coach of the year.
#14 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 16)
Los Angeles was in a better position to seal a playoff berth until their current three game losing streak. It would be disheartening for one of the league’s best defenses to miss the postseason due to a second half collapse. The Kings also can’t play down to their competition. They’re under a lot of pressure to have a strong finish when many didn’t expect them to be in this position at the start of 2024.
#13 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 11)
It’s easy to make excuses for Vegas regarding their health, defense and roller coaster performances but remember, this was the last team to lose a game starting the 2023-2024 regular season. The Golden Knights were the best team in the league for almost two months. They’ve followed up impressive wins with deflating losses. Yes, Vegas is a big name contender if they make the postseason, but they haven’t played like the reigning champions enough and probably wouldn’t be favored in a first round matchup against any of the central division teams trying to clinch the first seed.
#12 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 9)
Toronto’s in a sticky spot. Right now they’re the atlantic’s third seed, which is great until one factors the Maple Leafs will play either the Bruins or Panthers in the first round. Given how Boston is 7-0 against Toronto (with total goals being 25-13) in their last seven games, Toronto’s lost the last eight of nine games at TD Garden, and the first round game seven PTSD against the Bruins lingers over a decade, this isn’t a matchup the franchise wants. However the Maple Leafs would get mauled by Florida if they decide playing the Panthers is the better option. One could say if Toronto lost a good amount of games to drop down to the seventh seed, that would improve their postseason outlook. That means Auston Matthews could miss the 70 goal mark to remain a top MVP candidate. No matter the choice made, the result won’t end well.
#11 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 14)
If you wanted to know how better Anthony Duclair has made Tampa Bay’s offense, here’s a comparison with him being on the first line with Kucherov and Point compared to when Brandon Hagel was partnered with the duo during the Lightning’s March 14th 6-3 home win against the Rangers:
with Hagel
Time on ice: 4:40
0-4 on shots
0-2 on slot shots
0-2 on goals
With Duclair
Time on ice: 4:43
7-1 on shots
5-0 on slot shots
3-0 on goals
Brandon Hagel’s a good player, but he’s doesn’t elevate a playoff veteran offense versus some of the league’s best teams like Duclair will.
#10 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 15)
Until Arizona routed them last Thursday, Nashville had a franchise best run in points at 18 games going 16-0-2. Filip Forsberg had a seven game goal streak going until Saturday’s wild loss in Colorado, surpassing captain Roman Josi’s by three games. Goalie Juuse Saros has the second most shutouts in franchise history with 22 despite him being a starter less than five seasons. We’ll see how the Predators respond later into the month after three straight losses but right now, this is the team no one wants to face heading into the postseason. General manager Barry Trotz would be a solid pick at winning the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award.
#9 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 12)
Despite some mediocre streaks, the two players who have improved most since Kris Knoblauch’s taken over are Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard. We’re seeing Hyman’s improvement each week even if we looked past his career high 52 goals. He’s fourth in team points with 72 and has the team’s most shot attempts and game-winning goals. Bouchard has tied Paul Coffey’s 1984-85 franchise record for most game winning goals by a defenseman in a single season with six. He’s also ahead of Hyman in team points this season while anchoring an improving penalty-kill. Whoever Edmonton draws in round one will have headaches trying to contain them while defending captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
#8 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 3)
The NHL Network’s John Torchetti and Billy Jaffe made a great point on Winnipeg’s slump; the Jets have to start resting starters such as goalie Connor Hellebuyck before the postseason. Winnipeg’s dealing with both coach Rick Bowness coming back and finally snapping a six game losing streak. The Jets aren’t out of the central division race yet, but they should focus on preserving the health of their main core before the postseason begins. If nothing else, Winnipeg can see how good their depth and minor league stars are while trying to get as many points possible.
#7 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 6)
Famous goaltender and TNT panel guest Henrik Lundqvist had an eye-opening take in the middle of March: Colorado’s a great team at home (now having a record of 28-7-1), but on the road, they’re mediocre at best (posting a record of 18-15-5). It’s fine for one round if the Avalanche stay at three in the west, but that’s not an encouraging number if they play in a loud arena in Edmonton, Vegas or Nashville.
#6 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 1)
The Panthers clinched a playoff spot but you wouldn’t know it given how they’ve played the last eight of ten games. Poor performances led to coach Paul Maurice going on a tirade inside Florida’s locker room after an ugly loss to the Islanders. Then the Panthers lost in spectacular fashion against Montreal. There’s enough time to make a determined push but keep an eye on how well Florida plays the next week and a half.
#5 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 4)
Boston’s knocked down a spot due to a small goalie controversy regarding Jeremy Swayman being the long-term starting option and the other four teams ahead in the rankings. The Bruins also have a brutal remaining schedule and finish the regular season with one more game against Washington. If Boston struggles before April 20th, it might determine how they fare in the first round.
#4 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 2)
It would be a surprise if Rick Tocchet doesn’t win the Jack Adams award for best coach in 2023-2024 with how Vancouver wins. Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is out the rest of the season with a knee injury and the Canucks went 8-4 in March with Casey DeSmith starting most of the games. They might not make it past the second round against teams that can take advantage of the goaltending weakness, but Vancouver’s offense can make a series just as difficult with their offense. It also depends on the opponent the Canucks draw in the first round (should they remain the second seed in the west).
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 7)
The Hurricanes clinched their sixth straight postseason berth and goalie Frederik Andersen is gradually getting back to playing his best. There are a handful of teams that know how to slow down Carolina and none of them will face Rod Brind’Amour’s team in round one. The Hurricanes will be a hard out for whoever makes it to the later rounds.
#2 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 8)
The main concern with Dallas was how they would separate themselves from Jared Bednar’s Avalanche and the resurgent Jets later in the season. The Stars have been the most consistent of the three and is the only team that regularly pummeled the red-hot Predators. Dallas is peaking at the best time and they should clinch the top seed in the western conference.
#1 New York Rangers (last ranking: 5)
New York became the first team of the season to clinch a playoff spot and have more than 100 points. They finished March at 10-3-1 and averaged four goals a game while averaging three a game on defense. The power-play was over 31% and the penalty kill shut down opponents 85% of the time.
If you don’t find that impressive, then you must watch what the Rangers did to Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche in Ball Arena on March 28th. Goalie Igor Shesterkin made sure to shut the MVP favorite out of the scoring column, breaking his 35 home game point streak in over four periods of play. New York’s the team to beat unless injuries take a toll.
Rangers center Vincent Trocheck nets the game-winning shootout goal past Colorado goalie and former Ranger Alexandar Georgiev in Ball Arena. New York’s playing their best hockey just before the playoffs.
(From left to right) Chet Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylin Williams and Jalen Williams are the young core that could lead Oklahoma City to a dominant run similar to the one from the 2010s.
The NBA finals are played in June and the victor of the series wins the championship. Champagne is sprayed, confetti falls and the winning team has bragging rights for almost a year with their trophy and accolades. For many viewers, the other 29 teams will be viewed as failures for coming up short. Perhaps the viewers are right; the losing teams come up short with many regrets. Runner-ups in the conference championships don’t have enough to win a few more games. The other 26 are losers separated by a few weeks or months.
Some teams exceed expectations by not just one year, but more than two or three. Last year the Sacramento Kings brought joy out of casual viewers (probably because they snapped their two decades long playoff drought) because it was a different team in California dominating opponents for a division title. One might say this year’s Orlando Magic is similar due to their myriad of misfortune since 2010. Orlando is where they should be after years of rebuilding, but the Oklahoma City Thunder is further ahead in its rebuild than anyone thought. General manager Sam Presti has impressed the league with his decision-making, and basketball fans should (mostly) love the team’s upward direction.
There’s a lot to like with this team. Let’s start with the most basic for those not familiar with the NBA; the Thunder (as of this writing) are tied for first in both the northwest division and the western conference. Point-guard and rising league star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a top choice to win league MVP and rookie (sort of) center Chet Holmgren is a close second for the Rookie of the Year award. The guard duo of Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey are one of the league’s best back court threats despite their postseason inexperience.
Then there’s Jalen Williams. The sophomore leads Oklahoma City in fourth quarter scoring. He can make a three point shot or charge straight to the rim, offsetting defensive stops by opponents. His footwork, passing and vision are improving weekly, leaving many to wonder how high his ceiling is to stardom. Jalen Williams’ 19 points per game, four rebounds, four and a half assists and 54% shooting put him as one of six players in NBA history to accomplish this at the age of 22 or younger.
A team this young and inexperienced in the playoffs won’t win the championship in 2024. The veteran playoff teams are more likely to prove why in the later rounds, but it’s shocking to many how good Oklahoma City is when several saw them as a play-in prediction this year. Presti is a big part of that progress, trading away star veterans and accumulating the needed players and draft picks to build a better roster.
Presti’s roster moves make the Thunder a fascinating case for how to plan ahead for both the draft and the salary cap. Regarding the latter, the franchise isn’t spending money on big name free agents…at least not yet. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks tweeted that Oklahoma City’s salary cap is predicted to be around $141 million after their season ends. Contract extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams don’t start until the 2026-2027 season. The team’s paying less than $95 million for a 13 man roster.
Several franchises aren’t just trying to get at the Thunder on the court, they are also playing catch-up against a team loaded with extra salary cap space, a young determined roster, and trade pieces that could upend the NBA and the winning process many organizations have used in past years. If there is an asterisk for Oklahoma City, it may be how shooting guard Josh Giddey is handled after the postseason. While Giddey’s statutory rape charges were dropped, the situation puts both him and the franchise in an uncertain place. The league could decide to step in after nothing was handled and strip the Thunder of some draft and cap assets. One does wonder how severe the punishment might be after eight months and no follow up.
That draft situation gets more interesting. In the last five years, Oklahoma City traded for picks of every round. The Thunder have three first round picks for the upcoming 2024 draft. Four of the current starting five players are first round picks who are 25 years old or younger. They also have three first round and two second round picks for 2025 and seven first round picks from 2027-2029 in case Williams, Holmgren and/or Gilgeous-Alexander sign max-contracts.
Unless the league’s front office decides what actions to take, it’s clear that after the champion of 2024 is crowned, the second winner of the 2023-2024 season is Oklahoma City.
General manager Sam Presti has a formula many teams in the league are trying to replicate. He’ll have the basketball world on edge the next few years.
Here are the NBA power rankings for March
#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)
It was difficult choosing who would have the last place rank on here. At least Detroit is showing progress and has some semblance of a future. Washington doesn’t have a quality coach or a developing franchise star. They do have Kyle Kuzma averaging 21 points a game, but that’s not something to brag about.
#29 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 29)
Since play resumed, the Pistons are playing the way many expected before the regular season began. They’ve lost by more than ten points in three games, all to serious playoff contenders. While there are roster issues, there is progress before the season ends. That was unfathomable two months ago.
#28 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 28)
That four game winning streak did little to calm down serious analysts who noticed front office and upper management changes after the trade deadline. It’s possible the fresh faces decide to clean out the entire roster once the regular season ends. I don’t see anyone (including LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges) staying with the new owner and general manager itching to start over.
#27 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 27)
Number one pick and league phenom Victor Wembanyama became the first player in NBA history to record 75+ made three-point shots, 150+ assists and 150+ blocks in a debut season. He accomplished all that before February ended. Wembanyama became the 15th NBA player to post the rare ‘5×5’ statline in a 123-118 loss to the Lakers last month, finishing that game with 27 points, ten rebounds, eight assists, five steals, and five blocks in the 31 minutes he played (since the league started keeping track of steals and blocks in 1973-1974). Last but not least, he is one of two players who has put up multiple triple-doubles in under 30 minutes of a game this season. The only other player who has done that is regular season MVP favorite and reigning finals MVP Nikola Jokic. Teams are starting to double-cover Wembanyama on defense due to his stellar offensive performances. He’ll be scarier when San Antonio adds better complimentary players.
#26 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 26)
Portland was one of two winless teams in February (the other being the Wizards). It’s the third time in NBA history two teams have accomplished that feat. Somehow, Chauncey Billups keeps his coaching job until the end of the season. It is obvious management doesn’t care about the regular season and the team doesn’t most nights. One has to wonder if the league will take notice and do something about it.
#25 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 25)
Guard DeJon Jarreau is third on Memphis in assists and leads the team in rebounds and steals. The Grizzlies found a good player to keep developing until everyone returns healthy next season.
#24 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 24)
Scottie Barnes is the only player in the NBA to lead his team in all stats (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks). Toronto will miss the playoffs due to blown leads and playing down to their competition, but Barnes will be their biggest star. The Raptors have to keep building around him after the season ends.
#23 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 23)
Brooklyn decided the answer to the start of their awful 2024 was firing Jacque Vaughn. Vaughn was keeping the team alive in the play-in race most of the season. Only the Nets could fully implode after acquiring another “super team” roster. There really needs to be a study of what goes on at 15 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn.
#22 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 19)
The drop off continued after the last rankings but there is hope for the franchise moving forward. Utah has played hard since new ownership and management took over. That’s a great starting point because the team knows they can have a few good months and hover around the play-in bubble. The Jazz now have to find star players the next few years who will lead the team into the play-in.
#21 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 21)
A hilarious stat popped up near the end of February showing Atlanta finished 750-750 in their last 1,500 games. A team couldn’t achieve this level of mediocrity if they tried. Since that stat came out, the Hawks are 5-6, making them 755-756 in 1,511 games.
#20 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 22)
They probably won’t make the play-in bubble but the Rockets have improved after the last few seasons, mostly due to the coach-player duo of Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun. Houston’s situation is similar to Oklahoma City where there’s a lot of draft capital and cap space. The only difference would be adding free agents to compete for a starting role. The Rockets will be interesting to watch the last month of the regular season due to where they place in the draft and how management wants to move forward with those assets.
#19 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 20)
Since the Bulls have nothing interesting going on, it’s important and refreshing to see Lonzo Ball has finally been cleared for advanced rehab activities and is nearing a return to practice. General manager Marc Eversley has an important decision on what to do with Ball after the season ends. His choice will decide the direction of the franchise.
#18 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 18)
Golden State’s end to the regular season depends on Stephen Curry’s ankle sprain. His ankle’s progressing quicker than expected but the Warriors have to be patient. If he returns for the Monday night game against the Knicks, the last spot for the play-in bubble will be Golden State’s to lose.
#17 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 17)
We need to zoom out of the inconsistent play for a moment and realize no one else has scored 40,000 points in league history until LeBron James did this month. I don’t think we will see that surpassed within the next 40 years.
Back to the part with the inconsistent play. The hilarious part with James is how the Lakers have lost every recent milestone and memorable game since the return from COVID-19. It’s ironic given that when there are GOAT debates, we know who would not lose these highlighted games.
#16 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 13)
Philadelphia won their first game of the season Sunday without either Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in what was the lowest scoring contest of the season 79-73. The Sixers need perfect defense to remain in the playoff race and that’s not enough since they might draw Cleveland or Milwaukee in the first round (if they get past the play-in). Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield and P.J. Tucker must step up and compete for leading scorer each game whenever Maxey can’t play.
#15 Miami Heat (last ranking: 9)
Just like the last few months of the 2021-2022 season, injuries are taking a toll on Miami late in the season after a championship finals series loss the previous year. Unless Orlando slumps the last month of the regular season, expect Miami to make a play-in round appearance.
#14 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 12)
A post from NBA Memes earlier this week revealed an interesting fact: Kevin Durant led the 2011-2012 Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA Finals appearance when he was 23, the same age star point guard Luka Doncic is now. We can talk about who else was on that Thunder team but let’s not forget LeBron James made it to his first finals appearance at 22. Yes the Mavericks had Jalen Brunson as a great second scoring option and failed to re-sign him multiple times, but many will question Doncic’s supposed “all-time great” legacy if Dallas doesn’t make a championship finals appearance in either the next few months or next year.
#13 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 16)
If Sacramento wants to avoid the play-in round, they have to beat every opponent not threatening for the postseason and five of the next ten versus playoff favorites. This is why losses against Detroit, Houston and Chicago the last month and a half were pains. The Kings are in a better position to clinch one of the top six seeds in the west but haven’t capitalized on those chances.
#12 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 14)
Despite the high octane offense, Bennedict Mathurin’s season ending shoulder injury could force Indiana to make the play-in yet miss out on a middle playoff seed. While he was their fourth leading scorer, having sophomore shooting-guard Andrew Nembhard immediately in the starting role throws off both the offense and defense. Coach Rick Carlisle must get creative the last month of the regular season.
#11 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 11)
The cluttered standings in the western conference means any team could wind up getting the four to six seeds. I see Phoenix as a play-in team due to both their inconsistent play each month and their remaining schedule. The Suns have a brutal last month of the regular season lined up and it wouldn’t surprise me if one or two teams surpass them in the standings.
#10 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 15)
Sophomore and former number one overall pick Paolo Banchero is one of only four players the last 40 years (since 1983-84) to have career averages of 20+ points, 6+ rebounds and 4+ assists at age 21 or younger. The other three were Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Luka Doncic (via Magic_PR). The young Magic core plays the game right and doesn’t focus on making three-point shots most of the time. In fact, they’re 34-11 when they shoot 35 or less three-pointers, and 5-17 when they shoot more than 35. This will be a fun team to watch the rest of 2024.
#9 New York Knicks (last ranking: 8)
There isn’t a more relieved team by Philadelphia’s fall than New York. The Knicks have been mediocre at best since that fabulous January. They’re fortunate their schedule gets easie
r before April starts. If there’s little improvement the last two weeks of the regular season, they will show viewers how far they’ll go in the playoffs.
#8 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 10)
New Orleans decided franchise star Zion Williamson should play point guard and the results are incredible. Minus a blowout home loss against Cleveland, Williamson averaged seven assists a game in those ten games (most of which he played point guard in) and the Pelicans went 7-3. It’s not just their best basketball of the season, they’re finally showing audiences how high the ceiling can be when everyone’s healthy.
#7 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 2)
Los Angeles’ spotty play since the All-Star break has been a concern but the double digit loss at home to Minnesota on Tuesday puts the Clippers in a dangerous position. Not only did the Timberwolves come back from a 22 point deficit and win by 18, but Los Angeles lost franchise and hometown star Kawhi Leonard to a back injury for what looks like a few weeks. While the west is the tighter conference, the Clippers schedule shouldn’t let them fall too far down the standings. Keep an eye on how Los Angeles handles the end of the month.
#6 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 5)
Cleveland probably won’t win the central division due to some unnecessary losses at the end of February and the beginning of March (another team in their division is also looking better) but the Cavaliers are still the third seed in the east. Cleveland should remain a favorite to make round two of the postseason no matter who they draw in the first round (barring any injuries).
#5 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 7)
The defense is slowly improving but I’m not sure how Milwaukee will perform in the later playoff rounds with Doc Rivers’ coaching. The Bucks could play their best basketball in April and use those changes to advance to the conference finals. It’s also possible Milwaukee’s defense is their downfall, especially if the offense stalls against a more defensive-minded team like New York or against division rivals Cleveland and Indiana.
#4 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 6)
It has been an incredible season for the franchise that many will forget Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finally surpassed Kevin Durant with the most 30+ point games in a season with 48 (Durant had 47 in both 2010 and 2014. Right now Gilgeous-Alexander has 49). He has 94 games averaging 30+ points in not even two full seasons. Gilgeous-Alexander is the player many thought Luka Doncic would be while making his teammates better.
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 4)
My long-running gripe with this team was how they’d perform closer to the postseason with two well-paid big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. Since Towns was sidelined with a left knee meniscus tear, Minnesota is a better team with Anthony Edwards as the star player and Rudy Gobert sticking to defense. The Timberwolves must go with this formula moving forward and find the right complimentary players for Edwards once their season is done.
#2 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)
I agree with TNT’s Charles Barkley that if Boston doesn’t win the championship this June, they won’t win it anytime soon. The Celtics’ starting five and their roster depth are too good to just make conference finals and championship finals appearances. There’s so much pressure on Boston to win another title that I’m not sure they can do it if an opponent is more at ease or better coached.
#1 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 1)
MVP favorite Nikola Jokic became the third player all-time to record a triple-double against every team (joining LeBron James and Russell Westbrook) when he recorded a 21 point, 19 rebound and 15 assist statline against the Wizards on February 22nd. He’s the main reason the Nuggets are tied for first in both the northwest division and the western conference. It’s important to keep in mind if Denver gets the one seed, it will be harder for the rest of the conference to win more than two games in Ball Arena once the postseason begins. That will deflate most of the conference and drain any fun for the team that wins the eighth seed because the Nuggets will not lose four games to an undermanned play-in winner. It’s not good news for veteran teams Golden State, the Los Angeles teams or Phoenix.
MVP candidate Nikola Jokic (with ball) became the first player in NBA history to record a triple double of 15 (points, rebounds and assists), making all of his shots on the court during a 130-110 win against the Wizards February 22nd. He’s the most dangerous player the final month of the regular season.
From left to right: T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty and John Carlson celebrating after a goal in Florida February eighth.
A new month begins and one can see which teams will clinch playoff seeds and which ones could make a championship run. NHL Network analyst Brian Laughton said three years ago most teams are usually a few plays to a few players away from being postseason contenders each year. Four out of five times, that’s the correct analysis. Anything can happen on the ice. Viewers have seen so many upsets and what-if scenarios on who even makes the playoffs (we’re looking at you 2022-2023 Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers) that an entire series can change in the blink of an eye.
The remaining one fifth is easy to predict and at times unanimous. The 2021-2022 eastern conference comes to mind. Once the all-star weekend started, everyone knew which eight teams in the conference were going to make the playoffs. There was no pushback from any of the bottom eight teams once the second half began. The 2022 regular season ended with the eighth seeded Capitals finishing ahead of the ninth ranked Islanders by 16 points. Both teams were in no shape to win a first round series, but the points margin was eye opening even to a casual viewer.
The NHL’s 2023-2024 eastern conference is starting to mirror that result. If one looks at the eastern conference standings today, it’s a given the top five teams (all have 76 points or more) will make the playoffs. All five have good coaches, at least three quality goal scorers and solid roster depth. The bottom three trio of Philadelphia, Detroit and Tampa Bay have faced multiple issues this season and despite slumps, trade talks or not enough veteran presence are still in a good position to clinch a playoff spot a week or two after the trade deadline.
This is why it’s important to watch how every team plays once the calendar year begins. The remaining five teams on the outside (Columbus, Ottawa and Montreal are pretty much eliminated from contention) will have a hard time getting one of the top eight spots. The Capitals, Devils, Penguins and Islanders are the closest teams that could upset one of the three under 76 points. Washington’s defense is surprisingly better than previous years and captain Alex Ovechkin is heating up at the best time. However they also lost T.J. Oshie and still don’t have Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals have the third worst scoring offense in the league and not enough depth to average three goals a game against quality contenders. They have a brutal schedule this month with almost every game against a top team close to clinching a playoff spot or a western conference team trying to stay relevant and jump past other rivals in the postseason standings.
New Jersey is on the opposite end. Forward Jack Hughes is back and the offense looks great but the defense is one of the league’s worst. Many believe the Devils will trade for a star netminder by the March eighth deadline. If the plan is to get a goalie such as John Gibson, Juuse Saros, Elvis Merzlikins or Anton Forsberg, then New Jersey has to give up at least one important player on offense. The Devils aren’t the only team wanting to get into the playoffs that would like goalie help and there’s also no guarantee any of the four names would fix the nagging defensive issues many teams have exploited all season.
Pittsburgh could be the most threatening of the four on paper. They’ve played only 57 games and can add more offensive-minded pieces with tradable players such as Erik Karlsson, Brian Rust and Rickard Rakell. The Penguins will have to contend with a heavy March schedule that features eleven games against playoff hopefuls (including two against Edmonton). Their “easier” games against Ottawa and Columbus will also be hard. There’s no guarantee they’ll find a trade partner who will exchange offensive talent without wanting more in return, and Pittsburgh isn’t in a position to trade away draft picks or any of their core three players.
The Islanders might be the worst of the four. They’re historically bad on the penalty-kill, have only two twenty goal scorers and are in the bottom half of the league in both total offense and defense. Like Washington and Pittsburgh, New York has a rough schedule the last four weeks of the regular season. They didn’t even score their first empty net goal of the season until Leap Day.
Keep in mind that if any of these four wind up getting the eighth or seventh seed, it means one or two of the Tampa Bay-Detroit-Philadelphia trio has to implode their nine point lead. This presents other problems. Despite Pittsburgh having the extra games to play compared to Washington, could the general managers of both franchises decide to give up more assets at the trade deadline instead of coming up short of a playoff spot and a few extra weeks of play?
Many teams believe the trade deadline is the last chance to make necessary changes and want to head into April as postseason favorites. Florida had that mindset last year and wound up representing the conference in the Stanley Cup finals. However the Panthers had more than just luck heading into that championship appearance. Unless any of the Lightning, Red Wings or Flyers trio believes they can’t go any further, we should assume the only serious issues in the east will be seeding for the top eight teams.
The Devils have won some important games since 2024 began but are too inconsistent to make the postseason. They might be sellers at the trade deadline and not buyers.
Here are the power rankings for March.
#32 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 32)
Former players Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane scoring the game tying and winning goals on former Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios’ jersey retirement night is another stain on the franchise. Chicago didn’t retain the necessary players after winning their third championship this century and the front office blunders continue to show in meaningful games. One has to wonder how much of the rebuild around franchise star Connor Bedard gets botched after this season.
#31 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 31)
Until he got hurt, Tomas Hertl was considered the big name San Jose could move by the trade deadline. A team last in goals for and against won’t have many attractive assets available to postseason contending teams unless it’s solidifying depth or fleecing a franchise trying to clinch a lower playoff spot. The Sharks might be stuck with this whole roster another two months.
#30 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 30)
The past month was a net positive for the Ducks despite having four wins to show for it. However three of the four came against the Sabres, Senators and Devils. Those eastern conference teams needed the two points for a better position in the wildcard race. Anaheim also has better trade options than San Jose while their younger core players get better.
#29 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 29)
The firing of the league’s longest tenured general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has ripple effects. February hadn’t ended and Emil Bemstrom was traded to Pittsburgh on the 22nd. This means Columbus will have multiple purges next week and the following months.
#28 Arizona Coyotes (last ranking: 25)
What a tailspin. Analysts went from watching Arizona’s potential to wondering if they’ll deal a lot of the core roster. What a disastrous February for the Coyotes and at the worst possible time.
#27 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 27)
It was brought up by Jamison Coyle and Bruce Boudreau on the NHL Network this past week that Martin St. Louis could be relieved as head coach at the end of the season if Montreal doesn’t feel there’s enough progress with the current young core. That’s an impulsive move. Anyone watching the NHL knows the Canadiens are re-building a roster that doesn’t have a top tier goalie or a dangerous goal scorer. St. Louis would be a coveted coaching name should he be fired.
On a positive, it’s good to see someone showed the power rankings to Juraj Slafkovsky. He had the best month of his young, professional career.
#26 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 28)
Ottawa’s progress depends on how well they improve on total defense. Their struggle this week (starting at Washington) was due to a return of the run-and-gun offensive style of play they were used to under former coach D.J. Smith. That cost them needed points. It’s too late for the Senators to make a playoff run but new management should have a good idea of who’s worth keeping and who should be traded by the March eighth deadline.
#25 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 24)
Buffalo is capable of beating quality playoff teams but not two or three times a week the next month and a half. The Sabres don’t have a 20+ goal scorer on the team and have already played 60 games. There couldn’t be more pressure on general manager Kevyn Adams to determine how closer the team is in their rebuild and a new coach after this month.
#24 New York Islanders (last ranking: 20)
After one month of Patrick Roy’s return to coaching New York has:
Retained a historically bad penalty kill at 71%.
Been shutout against a mediocre Blues team that scored three goals in 32 seconds February 22nd.
The fourth worst win percentage when leading after the second period at .720 (ahead of only Chicago, San Jose and Columbus).
You know who wouldn’t have the Islanders playing some of the worst defense in franchise (and at times league) history? Barry Trotz. Someone has to pick general manager Lou Lamoriello’s brain into why firing him was a bright idea.
#23 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 18)
What a breakout year for Jared McCann. He leads the team in goals and points while being third in assists and second on power-play points. He’s on the first line with Matty Beniers, so it’s important Seattle keeps him around not just for Beniers to keep growing into his star role, but for depth if both end up in a scoring slump.
#22 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 22)
Just as I predicted, Alex Ovechkin is back to where we thought he’d be on offense once other players either returned from personal matters, injuries or stepping into their needed roles. Yes Pittsburgh has more games to play and could sneak up on the current eighth seed, but if any of the eight teams had to pick which one on the outside they don’t want to see get hot this month, I assure you at least six teams would pick the Capitals. Washington would threaten many postseason dreams if they somehow get a top eight spot in the east.
#21 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 21)
After their Sunday thrashing against Tampa Bay, TNT’s Paul Bissonnette dropped an interesting stat: the Devils give up the first goal in 72% of their games. That means not only is New Jersey playing rush offense hockey most of the time, they’re not improving on defense due to how they’re not used to playing from behind. The studio panel mostly agreed with me that coach Lindy Ruff and upper management should be more concerned about developing the defense the rest of this season instead of making a playoff push.
#20 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 23)
Who knew trading away players like Elias Lindholm would result in the best month of the season? Outside of one winless week, Calgary won all their games and dominated against Boston, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Los Angeles. The Flames have nothing to lose and for the first time this season, that makes them a threat to veteran teams trying to play their best.
#19 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 19)
St. Louis is ahead of Calgary due to how much more talent they have but that could evaporate next week. Their defense gave up four goals or more in all but one of their losses in February. The Blues more than likely end the season with fire sale cap shedding from general manager Doug Armstrong.
#18 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 19)
To follow up on last month’s commentary with Pittsburgh, more rumors are saying defenseman Erik Karlsson could be traded back to Ottawa. This is a great idea for both teams. Karlsson would balance out and add needed veteran leadership back to the Senators now that Daniel Alfredsson is an assistant coach, but more importantly the Penguins need high scoring offensive players who can open up the power-play. Vladimir Tarasenko is a possibility since he’s won a championship within the last five years and was rumored to be on the trading bloc. Be on the lookout for how this develops.
#17 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 26)
That’s more like it. Minnesota is finally playing like the team we expected to see this year. In their last eleven games, they averaged four goals on offense, had a 30% power play and a 79% penalty kill. If the defense allows fewer than three goals a game this month, they’ll definitely make the playoffs and give fits to whoever becomes the one or two seed.
#16 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 15)
Anything was an improvement over January. Interim coach Jim Hiller is off to a solid start after taking over. There are still serious concerns about how this team plays and how bad some of the February losses are, but there’s stability and veteran players aren’t disgruntled. Los Angeles needs all the wins it can get on and off the ice.
#15 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 16)
General manager Barry Trotz is the man of the hour in Nashville and no one would want to be in his position right now. After giving up nine goals to division rival Dallas, the Predators have surged for a seven game winning streak. Yet the Juuse Saros trade (and contract extension) talks, what direction this team wants to go in and how much roster talent will be retained brings uncertainty. Serious hockey analysts are aware that whatever happens, the team is in good hands with Trotz’s decisions.
#14 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 11)
Another general manager to keep an eye on at the trade deadline is Julien BriseBois. The Lightning’s defensive struggles were exposed every week in February, peaking in an embarrassing 6-2 loss in Philadelphia that shocked many in the hockey world. BriseBois has to find at least one quality defenseman who can take the pressure off Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak. Without a pivotal trade, Tampa Bay’s path to the playoffs gets harder.
#13 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 17)
I believe Philadelphia isn’t just ahead of their roster rebuild, but they’re in a position where they could seriously threaten to, or eliminate whoever is the one or two seed in the east should they stay at their current points pace. The question then becomes how much do both coach John Tortorella and general manager Daniel Briere improve both the roster and the power-play while retaining the deadliest penalty kill in the league? The Flyers have added a good number of players the last year and a half who fit the organization’s attitude almost perfectly, so this will be interesting to watch.
#12 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 12)
One of the best things I did when creating these power rankings was how to evaluate a team’s overall, season performance. This is not a power rankings constantly swayed by in-the-now mindsets and hot takes due to flashy stats.
Many analysts had Edmonton as the best team in the league due to their winning streak. As many read last month, it was more important to see what team showed up once the streak snapped. The Oilers are 6-5 since their loss to Vegas and captain Connor McDavid scored his first goal after an eleven game drought. We’ll have a better idea of which Edmonton team we’ll get for the playoffs throughout the month.
#11 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 6)
The championship luster has worn off for the reigning champions. After ending Edmonton’s historical winning streak, Vegas went 3-6 the rest of February. Two of those wins were against Arizona and San Jose. Not having captain Mark Stone is part of it but the defense is mediocre at best. It’s possible the Golden Knights become an active trade partner at the deadline.
#10 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 13)
If one was in a coma for the last 20 years and woke up this month and didn’t see the numbers nor names on the jerseys of the active players, they would think the Russian Five were still on ice. During Detroit’s impressive six game winning streak they outscored opponents 28-10. The goalies averaged a .947 save percentage, while the power-play is at 31% and the penalty kill at 80%. The scariest part of the Red Wings improvement is how general manager Steve Yzerman will probably be active at the trade deadline.
#9 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 10)
The Leafs had a great February highlighted by a seven game winning streak. All they have to show for it is a four point lead over Detroit for the third playoff spot in the atlantic. Toronto still deserves credit for playing well in close games and getting better defense and goaltending presence.
#8 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 7)
We’re in the serious part of the power rankings now and Dallas has to be kicking themselves again after another month of mediocre play. Instead of a sizable first place lead in the central division, they’re only two points ahead of Colorado, who spanked them 5-1 on Tuesday. The Stars have to play more seriously and consistently against quality playoff teams. The trade for Flames defenseman Chris Tanev could help determine how much of a division lead they retain.
#7 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 8)
While the franchise should feel good Jacob Slavin is tied for first in franchise history with most points by a defenseman, it’s gone under the radar how the Hurricanes have the league’s second lowest team save percentage at .890 (ahead of only Ottawa’s .885). This is worrying when they also allow the second fewest shots per game with 25.5. Carolina’s a really good team but when they aren’t scoring three goals a game, defensive errors show. The Hurricanes could benefit with a trade or two at the deadline for an extra goaltender wanting to prove themselves.
#6 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 2)
Most analysts are enamored with Nathan MacKinnon’s point streak and for good reasons. What should be the main conversation is Colorado’s 5-7 February record. They desperately miss their scoring depth and captain. The Avalanche need help by the trade deadline if they want to make a deep playoff run. There’s no reason for panic yet. The Avalanche are two points out of first place in the central and Valeri Nichushkin is close to returning.
#5 New York Rangers (last ranking: 9)
Igor Shesterkin is 100% back and that’s not good for the east. He’s undefeated in his last seven starts giving up 1.72 goals a game with a .953 save percentage. He also recorded a shutout on national t.v. and allowed one goal or fewer in five of those seven starts. Shesterkin’s a big reason the Rangers won every game he started in February and why New York has one of the league’s best records.
#4 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 5)
A good number of hockey fans (especially Rangers fans) will be perplexed with Boston’s ranking especially with the analysis that will be provided. Keep in mind New York had a great month, but anything can happen in March with how they’ll play a lot more games. Fatigue could set in early, so it’s better to be consistent as I have been with other teams the past few months.
Boston has to figure some things out. They got bullied by more physical teams touting larger defensemen. It’s one thing to split games with Vancouver, but getting shutout at home to Washington and losing both games to Seattle and Calgary have to be addressed. It also doesn’t help that the Bruins have the sixth worst win percentage when leading after the second period (.758). General manager Don Sweeney might want to acquire an extra defenseman or two at the trade deadline.
#3 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 3)
I won’t address the surprising financial issues because that’s beyond any of us. For now, the on-ice play is what matters most.
Connor Hellebuyck tied Martin Brodeur for fifth in most consecutive games with three goals or fewer with 31. After the streak snapped he’s mostly continued like nothing happened. It would be stunning if Hellebuyck doesn’t win the Vezina this season.
#2 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 1)
Again, a good number of readers might be surprised by this ranking when Vancouver went under .500 for February. It also didn’t help that strong rumors of Elias Pettersson being traded at the deadline due to an impasse over contract negotiations flared up again. Despite the subpar play, the Canucks are ten points ahead of the next challenger in the pacific and they haven’t slipped out of first in the west despite the slump. While coach Rick Tocchet has to make sure the defense fixes their mistakes, Vancouver will keep the one spot in the west until Winnipeg, Dallas or Colorado go on another major winning streak.
#1 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 4)
Florida being the top team shouldn’t surprise anyone. From an eleven road game winning streak (tied for NHL second best all-time), to Matthew Tkachuk being the NHL point leader most of the calendar year, to throttling almost every opponent faced in February, there’s no doubt the Panthers are the hottest and scariest team to start March. Sam Reinhart wasn’t a goal-scoring threat and the team still averaged three goals in each of their wins while losing two games with a combined score of 3-1. Good luck to whoever draws this team in the first round.
Florida’s 9-2 beatdown of Tampa Bay is one of many reasons they’re the best team to start March.
It no secret to anyone in our great country that we are divided politically. It is all the more evident as we enter into another presidential election year. But it is encouraging to see brief moments in the political arena where those on either side of the aisle can come together in unity.
Sports are often a vessel for such unity. Sure, there are rivalries between teams and opposing fan bases. But for those in the same fanbase? Harmony.
Such is the case for the 12th Man. Seattle and the Puget Sound area is more liberal, whereas the rest of the state is more conservative. Yet those who are red or blue put those differences aside on Sundays to become neon green.
It is currently towards the end of the legislative session in Washington, but the State Senate did take time earlier in February to honor former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Senator Ann Rivers from La Center (R-LD18) introduced a resolution in the Senate to thank Carroll for his 14 years. While Senator Rivers was the prime sponsor, twenty other senators co-sponsored the resolution. Both Democrats and Republicans, from all over the state.
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