4. New York Rangers
Power Rankings will have them lower, but I try not to care too much about what is happening right now. The Rangers have a top-ten forward, they have a top four defenseman and the best or second best goalie alive. They're a top team.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Great roster, great stats, due for some playoff success. The possibility that they could maybe turn the money that they pay Kotkaniemi and one of Martinhook or Stall into $7 million to spend at the deadline should terrify other teams.
2. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers got off to a bad start this year, but they still put up the best stats in the NHL. Their goalie is struggling, but he's proven he's good enough to win a Stanley Cup. They have the best player alive and the third best defenseman alive, oh and Leon Draisaitl too.
The Oilers are a ridiculous team and they still have 56 games and a game in hand to make up the seven points they're down to Vegas right now.
1. The Florida Panthers
The Panthers are still the NHL's best team. The current standings aside, the Panthers are the reining cup champs, they have two great goalies, they have forwards nearly as good as Toronto and Edmonton, and they still have a decent blue-line. They are only 5-5 in their last ten, but still tied with the Leafs who have won ten of twelve.
With their roster, experience and $3 million of expected cap-space at the deadline, the Panthers should still be considered the team to beat.