The 2021-2022 NHL season has become the third one to be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Certain teams have had to shut down and miss several weeks of games. Players on every team have been on and off the COVID protocol list, and the NHL even pulled out from attending The Olympics. However, The NHL is now thriving on ESPN and making back a lot of money that was lost during the pandemic.

1. Colorado Avalanche
Rank Last Month: 8
Player to Watch: Nathan MacKinnon (29-9-33-42) (Games-Goals-Assists-Points)

The Avs land at No. 1 for the first time this year. There was never any cause for concern when they were out of the playoff race. The Avs sit in 1st in the Central Division with 59 points in only 39 games played. Nathan MacKinnon has been fantastic in 29 games, registering 42 points and 1.42 points per game. MacKinnon hopes to lead the Avalanche past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

2. Carolina Hurricanes
Rank Last Month: 6
Player to Watch: Sebastian Aho (35-17-25-42)
The Hurricanes have moved up 5 spots in the last month due to Sebastian Aho’s offensive outburst. The Canes are 8-1-1 in their last ten games and sit atop the Metro Division. Aho is a top “all-around” center in the league, excelling at both offense and defense. Aho possesses a +13 rating and has won 55% of faceoffs. He is a dream player to have centering a top line because of his offensive and defensive capabilities. He is one of the explanations for the Canes’ amazing run this season

3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Rank Last Month: 19Player to Watch: Evan Rodrigues (40-15-15-30)

The Penguins improved by 16 spots this month to move up to third on the power rankings. Normally a team would not move up this many spots in one month, but the Penguins earned it. The team went over a month without losing a game, from December 1st-January 8th. In that time they went 10-0 and outscored opponents 45-20. Evan Rodrigues is scoring at a rate of .75 points per game, which is an insane mark for him. Prior to this season, Rodrigues career-high in points was 29 back in 2019, a season in which he played 74 games. Rodrigues has become a reliable scoring option that has stepped up for Pittsburgh when star players like Sidney Crosby were injured

4. Florida Panthers
Rank Last Month: 5
Player to Watch: Jonathan Huberdeau (41-15-40-55)Florida currently has the most points in the NHL and holds 4th place on the power rankings. Jonathan Huberdeau has been a point-scoring machine, putting up 55 points. If he keeps this pace, this will be his 4th season in a row finishing above a point per game pace. Some say that because Huberdeau plays in a disadvantaged market like Florida, his offensive talent is the best-kept secret in hockey

5. New York Rangers
Rank Last Month: 7
Player to Watch: Adam Fox (42-7-38-45)
The Rangers have moved up 2 spots
and into the top 5 for the first time this season. They have played consistently good hockey and are likely to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Third-year defenseman Adam Fox is currently second on the team in points. He also leads the league in points among defensemen. Fox is dynamic on both sides of the puck and rarely makes a mistake. He took home the Norris Trophy for being the best defenseman in the league last season.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

Rank Last Month: 1

Player to Watch: William Nylander (38-16-22-38)
The Leafs fall five spots but remain in the top 10. The Leafs have continued to play good hockey, but some other teams just passed them. The Leafs are in 3rd in the Atlantic Division behind Tampa and Florida. However, the Leafs have played consistently better hockey all season. Nylander, who is part of Toronto’s “Big 4” forwards, is scoring above a point per game for the first time in his career. The Swedish winger is on pace to score 82 points this season and nearly 40 goals playing second-line minutes.

7. Tampa Bay Lighting
Rank Last Month: 10
Player to Watch: Victor Hedmen (43-9-35-44)
After a sluggish start, the Bolts are sitting exactly where they were expected to be, right near the top of the standings. A lot of the Lightning’s success of late has been credited to their defense, and there is none better in the league than Victor Hedman. The 6’6 defenseman plays well on both sides of the puck. Hedman is currently second on the team in points and leads them in ice time. He plays valuable minutes in all situations, including power play and penalty kill. The Lightning have sustained injuries to their forward group this season and they still have an excellent record.

8. Washington Capitals
Rank Last Month: 2
Player to Watch: Alex Ovechkin (42-29-29-58)
Alex Ovechkin is 36 years old and is 3rd in the league in points scored. There is no way to stop him because he is an elite sniper that the Capitals count on for a lot of their offense. Ovechkin has been more generous with the puck this season by notching 29 assists as well netting 29 goals. Ovechkin only trails Wayne Gretzky by 135 goals for the most in league history.

9. Nashville Predators
Rank Last Month: 21
Player to Watch: Juuse Saros (29-19-9-0 2.21GAA .929SP)
While not as drastic as the Penguins, the Predators jumped up 12 spots in the last month mostly because of the goaltending of Juuse Saros. Possessing a 19-9 record with a .929 save percentage is very noteworthy. In 28 games, Saros has a 2.21 goals-against average and is in the Vezina (best goalie award) conversation this year.

10. St. Louis Blues
Rank Last Month: 15
Player to Watch: Vladimir Tarasenko (36-14-22-36)
The Blues have had a very solid last month, winning 7 of their last 10 games. Tarasenko, the 30-year-old Russian winger, is scoring a point per game, which is a very relieving sight for Blues fans. Taransenko has not had a fully healthy season in 4 seasons due to several shoulder surgeries. Upon his return, Tarasenko has scored 14 goals and is second on the team in points.

11. Vegas Golden Knights
Rank Last Month: 16
Player to Watch: Max Pacioretty (16-12-9-21)
Pacioretty is a very important player for the Golden Knights. They’ve played well without him. However, Pacioretty is the team’s best goal scorer. Pacioretty brings more than just his elite shot and offensive senses, he is also a very inspiring leader. Max spent 3 years as the Montreal Canadiens captain before he arrived in Vegas. On a new team, having an established veteran and leader is vital to success and that’s one of the most important things about Pacioretty’s presence in Vegas.

12. Minnesota Wild
Rank Last Month: 3
Player to Watch: Kirill Kaprizov (36-17-30-47)
The Wild drop 9 spots this month after having a mediocre month. I’ll admit that number three last month might have been a little too high for the Wild but they are still in a playoff spot. Kirill Kaprizov hasn’t cooled off like the rest of the team, netting 17 goals in 36 games. His elite offensive talents drive the team and it’s very noticeable when he isn’t on the ice.

13. Anaheim Ducks
Rank Last Month: 11
Player to Watch: Trevor Zegras (37-19-19-29)
Trevor Zegras is an amazing young talent in the league. Last year, the then 20-year-old led Team USA to a World Juniors Gold Medal. Zegras is already playing top six minutes in the NHL. Zegras is young and incredibly smart in the offensive zone. He has great puck handling skills and always knows how to find the open player in front of the net. All of these factors will make Zegras an excellent young player for years to come.

14. Boston Bruins
Rank Last Month: 12
Player to Watch: Patrice Bergeron (37-12-19-31)
The Bruins are a difficult and confusing team to rank. The old days of Bruins dominance are behind them, but don’t tell that to Patrice Bergeron. He is the center of the so-called “perfection line” and has won the best defensive forward award 4 times in his historic career. Bergeron is an elite faceoff man who has won 65% of all draws he’s been in. He is trusted defensively and an amazing playmaker in the offensive zone. The 37-year-old has won 4 Selke Trophies for his elite defense.

15. Los Angeles Kings
Rank Last Month: 22
Player to Watch: Viktor Arvidsson (34-9-15-24)
The Kings season has been filled with inconsistency. The team experienced an 8 game win streak that was sandwiched between 2 separate 6 game losing streaks. The player that has been surprising and consistent is Viktor Arvidsson. He has seen an increase in playing time with the Kings and his point totals have rebounded with that increase. Scoring 9 goals and notching 15 assists in 34 games is impressive considering he only had 25 points in 51 games last year.

16. San Jose Sharks
Rank Last Month: 14
Player to Watch: Logan Couture (38-13-18-31)
The Sharks have found some respectability this season which is a step up from the last two years. However, the team needs to change soon. They are outperforming expectations which has once again delayed a rebuild. The one player you can count on seeing in San Jose after the trade deadline is center Logan Couture. He is a leader, a hard worker, and has a reputation for being tough as nails. Couture possesses many of the intangible qualities that can’t be taught in the NHL, like determination. In his age 32 season he is still producing points at an elite level.

17. Vancouver Canucks
Rank Last Month: 30
Player to Watch: J.T Miller (39-12-27-39)
The Canucks surprised everyone by making a change behind the bench. The Canucks as an organization are not known for making drastic changes unless something is really wrong. The coaching change benefited everyone as the Canucks went 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. JT Miller continues to score at an elite pace, putting up more than a point per game through 36 games. Over the last month, the Canucks have made their way into the playoff race.

18. Calgary Flames
Rank Last Month: 9
Player to Watch: Andrew Mangipane (36-18-4-22)
The Flames are still in a decent spot in the western conference, 5th in the Pacific division. However, they have lost their last 4 games. Mangipane has had a great year offensively. He leads the Flames in goals (18) and has scored on 21 percent of shots taken. However, Mangipane is not the most selfless player on the team, only having 4 assists in 36 games. The Flames have been offensively challenged as of late but the 18 goals provided by Mangipane have helped them into a playoff spot.

19. Edmonton Oilers
Rank Last Month: 4
Player to Watch: Connor McDavid (36-19-36-55)
If you could only watch one player in the NHL it would have to be Connor McDavid. The Oilers dropped 15 spots in a month because of their abysmal 2-12 record in their last 14 games but none of it is on McDavid. He is considered the best player in the league and has even been dubbed the next “great one”. McDavid excels at all aspects of the game and has just been named to his 7th consecutive All-Star Game. He is a human highlight reel and can be counted on to score over 100 points a season.

20. Winnipeg Jets
Rank Last Month: 20
Player to Watch: Kyle Connor (37-21-19-40)
Winnipeg’s season has been one to forget, as they land in 20th for the second month in a row. The Jets are outside the top 16 in the standings and may not make the playoffs for the first time since 2016-2017. Kyle Connor has been team MVP this year. His production is higher than it normally is when the rest of the core is slumping. He is a dynamic offensive talent with a wicked shot. The 25- year-old is on pace to score 48 goals and tally 42 assists.

21. Detroit Red Wings
Rank Last Month: 17
Player to Watch: Lucas Raymond (42-11-22-33)
The Red Wings fall four spots and out of the top 20 but I’m overall still impressed with their season. So far they have been at 17th and 21st in the power rankings and have maintained a .500% record all season long. A lot of this season’s success can be attributed to the addition of Lucas Raymond, a 20-year-old Swedish winger. Raymond was drafted 4th overall in 2020 and has already been the most impactful player in his draft class. Contributing 33 points in 42 games, he has garnered a lot of attention. Raymond has been in consideration for Rookie of the Year since November.

22. Dallas Stars
Rank Last Month: 11
Player to Watch: Jason Robertson (30-16-21-37)
The Stars fall 11 spots in this month’s rankings. Dallas has been an inconsistent team for a while now so it’s not unexpected to see such a precipitous drop in just one month. The reason for Dallas’ constant struggles is their lack of offense between games, in particular from their veteran players. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin’s production has been nonexistent this season. Without Robertson, Dallas would be severely offensively challenged and would be without a good young player in the lineup. Even still, if the Stars want to climb up the rankings in the months to come, Tyler Seguin needs to come alive.

23. New York Islanders
Rank Last Month: 31
Player to Watch: Adam Pelech (30-1-9-10)
The Islanders lackluster season continues offensively but the teams record improved because of their commitment to defense. Adam Pelech is often talked about as being in an elite group of defensmen along with his partner, Ryan Pollock. Pelech is the defensive minded player of the pair and plays big time minutes. He plays an average of 21:25 a night and has a +6 rating which is the highest on the team.

24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Rank Last Month: 18
Player to Watch: Jakub Voracek (36-1-25-26)
Voracek has been a consistent scorer throughout his career, which he started in Columbus over a decade ago. After his long time in Philadelphia, the Czech born winger has returned to Columbus and is having a solid year. Voracek was never considered a huge goal scorer, but having 1 goal in 36 games is concerning. The real value lies in his offensive awareness and passing abilities. Voracek is great at finding open space on the ice and moving the puck there. He is also a solid defensive centerman.

25. Ottawa Senators
Rank Last Month: 30
Player to Watch: Drake Batherson (30-12-21-33)
In the last month, Ottawa has not looked like a team that is at the bottom of the standings. Most of the problems they had early in the year have disappeared, including their offensive struggles. Batherson has contributed a point on 33 of the Senators’ 98 goals this season, meaning he is an offensive force to be reckoned with. On a team that lacks a strong forward group, Batherson provides a trustworthy and skilled top 6 centerman who chips in offensively.

26. Chicago Blackhawks
Rank Last Month: 24
Player to Watch: Patrick Kane (37-9-27-36)
The Blackhawks have been a complete mess this season and there are little to none playoff aspirations left for them like there were before the season started. Patrick Kane still provides reason to watch the game. Kane is a future legend and likely will be considered the best American born player to ever play in the NHL. Kane still has offensive value. He is incredibly smart with the puck and knows where everyone is on the ice. Kane has silky dangles that often give him breakaway opportunities. Despite being a poor defensive player, the 33-year-old still provides value to the Blackhawks and was even named to the 2022 American Olympic team.

27. New Jersey Devils
Rank Last Month: 23
Player to Watch: Dawson Mercer (39-9-12-21)
Mercer made a big splash early on in the season by scoring in his first NHL game. After playing for Canada at the 2021 World Juniors, Mercer has become a completely different player. He was always a forward with great all-around skill but his game has stuck at the NHL level faster than anyone expected. The 20-year-old from Newfoundland is on pace for a 20 goal rookie campaign, which is most impressive considering his age.

28. Buffalo Sabres
Rank Last Month: 28
Player to Watch: Dylan Cozens (38-10-10-20)
Cozens is an exciting young player to watch on a team that doesn’t have many players worth watching. After the Sabres traded Jack Eichel to Vegas, it opened up a center spot in the lineup that would need to be filled long term. Cozens has taken on more responsibilities and has performed well. Most times when highly touted young players come into the NHL, they have a hard time accepting that they will not be scoring as many points as they were used to in the Junior Leagues. However, Cozens has taken on an important role for the Sabres as a penalty killer and a forechecker. He has become a team player and has the leadership qualities that make him captain material in the near future.

29. Philadelphia Flyers
Rank Last Month: 29
Player to Watch: Carter Hart (23-7-12-0 2.94GAA .911SP)
The Flyers have been awful this season and I don’t know if I expected that or not. The Flyers are a difficult team to guess where they will finish in the standings from year to year. Last year, the problem was their defense and goaltending so the Flyers intended to fix the defense. The defense didn’t get much better, although Hart has played better in net. He finished last season with a .877 save percentage. This year, the problem is the Flyers aren’t giving him any goal support and you can’t win games when you don’t score goals, no matter how well Hart is playing.

30. Arizona Coyotes
Rank Last Month: 27
Player to Watch: Clayton Keller (40-15-16-31)
Arizona is having a poor season and no one is surprised. However, the Yotes do not have the worst record in the league like was expected. The way they hang in games is a testament to their work ethic. Clayton Keller is having his best offensive season yet on a team where there is no support. Keller has potential too. This year, he’s contributed 29 points in 37 games on an offensively challenged team. He’s been the only bright spot in the Coyotes forward group this season.

31. Seattle Kraken
Rank Last Month: 25
Player to Watch: Bradon Tanev (30-9-6-15)
Seattle plummets to second last in the power rankings after their last ten games, where they went 1-8-1. The team, barring a miracle, is out of the playoff race in their inaugural season. Brandon Tanev has been the Kraken’s most versatile player this season. He’s a forward who plays on the penalty kill and provides a physical presence on the third line. He has provided an unexpected amount of offense this season and has still played a big role in making the identity of the team

32. Montreal Canadiens
Rank Last Month: 32
Player to Watch: Shea Weber (0-0-0-0)
Montreal has been so awful this season that I had to pick a player that hasn’t played yet this year as their “player to watch”. Weber wasn’t just picked because he hasn’t played badly like the rest of the team. Weber is a player to watch because he suffered a career-threatening injury during the playoffs last year and nobody knows if Shea Weber will ever play hockey again. His big and physical style of defense is missed by Montreal this season. Montreal has just 7 wins in 37 games played.