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Power Rankings, Seattle Hiring and Sonny Milano

July 19, 2019, 1:39 PM ET [7 Comments]
Thomas Townsend
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
NHL has release the first Power Rankings for next season. The article* hedges a bit (obviously) stating that things could change at any moment with the potential for big trades. I want to take a second to compare their power rankings to how the teams finished last year.

Power Rankings:
1.TBL
2. STL
3. BOS
4. NSH
5. TOR
6. WAS
7. DAL
8. CGY
9. SJS
10. COL
11. VGK
12. FLA
13. PIT
14. WPG
15. CAR
16. NYI

2019 Final Standings (top to bottom based upon points):
1. TBL 128
2. CGY 107
3. BOS 107
4. WAS 104
5. NYI 103
6. SJS 101
7. TOR 100
8. NSH 100
9. PIT 100
10. WPG 99
11. CAR 99
12. STL 99
13. CBJ 98
14. MTL 96 - didn't make the playoffs
15. DAL 93
16. VGK 93
17. COL 90 - made the playoffs

The only team that the 'experts' moved into the top 16 that was not a playoff team from the year prior was FLA (moving CBJ out no surprise). Let me be clear about one thing before I go on, I am not advocating that the Jackets be in the top 16 of the Power Rankings. They just shed 4 critical UFAs including an outstanding goalie and the franchises top single season point scorer. If they are top 16 they will have to earn that respect all over again this season.

But, how many times do the same exact teams make the playoffs the following season? Or in this case 15 of 16? Here is how it breaks down over the last 5 seasons compared to the season just prior with the number of different teams from year to year:

2019 - 2018: 5
2018 - 2017: 7
2017 - 2016: 7
2016 - 2015: 4
2015 - 2014: 7

On average there have been 6 different teams in the NHL playoffs from the year prior. The Power Rankings are not meant to be a prediction of the next season's final standings, but knowing that on average 6 new teams will move into playoff spots shouldn't the power rankings have more than one new team in the top 16?

Here is how I view this list:

It is easy to have BOS, STL, TBL, TOR and COL in the top 10. Given their playoff success and off season acquisitions, I believe that COL should be higher than #10. COL made moves to get better and should take steps forward this season with a great core of young players. TOR could be the team in this group that underwhelms this season. They have made moves, but I'm not sure those moves have made them any better. And this whole Marner signing/hold out issue could spell disaster.

NSH, WAS, DAL, CAL, and SJS seem a little too high for me. I get WAS is a solid team with great goaltending and agree with moving CAL down after a bad post season (but they are not top 10 in power rankings). I am also okay with DAL, they are probably top 10 but would likely slot them at 9 or 10. NSH is the wild card here, solid goaltending, fire power up front, but traded PK. Not sure how that impacts their defense, especially with the Trotz era over.

Then you have VGK, FLA, PIT, WPG, CAR and NYI rounding out the top 16. Vegas is struggling with the salary cap this off season and I think it finally catches up with them. CAR has made shrewd moves this off season. They upgraded their depth adding Reimer and Forsberg to back up Mrazek, replacing Ferland with Dzingel and Haula and kept a solid group on the back end mostly together. NYI has switched out goalies choosing to go with Varlamov but really did little else. This team over-achieved last season and we will see if they can do it again. PIT and WPG are both in tough spots. Both teams have a good core (PITs is aging) and quality goalies in net, but the league may be passing these teams by. FLA has made a splash in the off season first hiring Coach Q, then signed Bob, Connolly, Stralman and Acciari. Most agree that this near playoff team last year is a certain contender in the Atlantic this year.

Teams left off this list (in no particular order):

NYR

Made a big signing in Panarin. Seems to me that they will be a playoff team with a great group of young players looking to make a name in the NHL next season.

PHI

Added a strong C in Hayes to an already good core of guys who have skated together for some time now. With a full season of Carter Hart, I think this team gets in the playoffs.

CBJ

This is obviously a homer pick, but I think this group surprises people and the goaltending rounds into shape by the new year.

CHI

What is old is new again. They have mixed veterans and youth on this team. And the veterans on this team are like no other in the league (3 Cups for the core). Lehner serves as a great alternative to an oft injured Crawford. The d-corp has also been bolstered by the acquisition of Maatta and de Haan.

ARI

A team on the cusp last season adds a scorer that they desperately needed. Will Phil get them over the hump? He thinks so as he torpedoed the deal to go to MIN but accepted a move to ARI.

EDM

How is the team with the single best player in the NHL not considered a top 16 team? I know that one player, even the best player, cannot carry a team at the highest level, but he has pieces around him and the team finished last season strong. This will be a team people are talking about next season.

Seattle

Ron Francis will be the GM for the new Seattle franchise scheduled to begin play in the 2021-22 season. He has GM experience in CAR, but his teams didn't make the playoffs while he was at the helm. However, he does have two things going for him, name recognition and 2+ years to evaluate talent. Getting an early start as GM could be a huge benefit as well as having the favorable expansion draft rules that VGK used to flourish instantly in the league. Given the response from fans in Seattle, this team will have a ton of support.

Sonny Milano

Sonny accepted the CBJ qualifying offer for a one-year-deal. He spent parts (very small parts in most years) of 4 seasons with the Jackets. In 70 games he has 24 points (15 g, 9 a) in a mostly limited role. He has also contributed to an AHL championship. There was rumor that he fell out of favor with Torts last season. Or that he was injured or both, but went from 55 games played in 2018 to only 8 in 2019. Then there is the arrest that happened recently. Personally I though that this may have spelled an end to his time in Columbus, maybe that is why he signed the tendered offer. But, let's remember, he is a 23 year old kid, and kids make mistakes. Here's hoping he learns from his mistakes and can focus his talents on making the squad this season.

There have been rumblings that he was signed simply to be traded. Not a good idea as his value has never been lower as an NHL prospect. CBJ would be wise to give him a shot at the big club and see what happens. Teams will be looking for young talent even during the pre-season so there is little risk in seeing how he starts out.

Happy Friday, and thanks for reading.

*NHL.com Power Rankings article: https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-power-rankings-super-16-july-18/c-308287302
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