What felt like minutes after Week 15 of THW’s Power Rankings went live, the next big trade chip came off the board, as Kiefer Sherwood was acquired by the San Jose Sharks from the sinking Vancouver Canucks. This move makes a lot of sense for both parties, as the Canucks got a decent return on one of the best players on the market, where the Sharks got a veteran player who can bring an imposing presence to their line-up as they push for the postseason.
Overall, the trade wasn’t unexpected, other than the fact that it came in mid-January. In a normal season, the would be a classic last-minute deadline acquisition to bolster a young roster, but in this compressed schedule leading up to the 2026 Olympic Games, it is mostly a reminder of how close we actually are to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline in terms of games left to be played, even if it looks far away on the calendar.
Speaking of schedules, the 2025-26 condensed schedule never stops marching forward. We’ve discussed many times how this has been brutal for players, but fatigue has to be setting in for fans, especially those who follow the sport casually. With the standings so tight, it feels like every week might as well be game one of the season, as teams swing wildly between streaky play that feels unsustainable. Also, if you’re in an area where the snow is being measured in feet this morning, please stay safe out there!
As always, this means that big changes are here to follow in Week 16 of THW’s 2025-26 NHL Power Rankings, so let’s dive in to see what’s happened on the ice!
32-18: Blues Falling Out of the NHL Playoffs Window
32. Vancouver Canucks (Previously: 32)
31. New York Rangers (Previously: 30)
30. St. Louis Blues (Previously: 26)
29. Calgary Flames (Previously: 25)
28. Seattle Kraken (Previously: 22)
27. Chicago Blackhawks (Previously: 29)
26. Ottawa Senators (Previously: 23)
25. Winnipeg Jets (Previously: 31)
24. Los Angeles Kings (Previously: 27)
23. Washington Capitals (Previously: 19)
22. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previously: 14)
21. Philadelphia Flyers (Previously: 20)
20. Nashville Predators (Previously: 17)
19. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previously: 21)
18. New Jersey Devils (Previously: 28)
At the start of the 2025-26 NHL season, I thought the Blues were going to be one of the teams to watch when it came to the postseason. They had a veteran roster filled with good players, a well-respected head coach, and a fairly reliable goaltender in Jordan Binnington, so I really expected the floor would be the first Western Wild Card for St. Louis.
Now, 52 games into the season, the Blues appear to be bottoming out as one of the worst teams in the NHL. They have the fewest goals scored in the league (2.42 per game), are fifth-worst in goals against (3.38 per game), while being bottom 10 in both the power play and penalty kill. Overall, this paints a bleak picture of a team that has to be considering a major sell-off at the deadline.
Elsewhere in the Rankings, I’m having to ask if the Blue Jackets, Capitals, Flyers, or Devils are going to be a real threat moving forward. For Columbus and New Jersey, this week went well, as they are starting to dig out of the hole they put themselves in after a poor December put them behind in the standings. For Washington and Philadelphia, things have not gone well in recent weeks, and there should be a real concern about whether or not they should swing a blockbuster trade or look to restock for next season.
It’s hard to tell if any of these teams will be a real threat for the playoffs, as they are all below average in a season where below-average seems to be the new norm. Sure, they can be in a playoff position with a short winning streak, but whether or not they will be a threat is another question.
17-11: Mammoth Rising to New NHL Heights
17. San Jose Sharks (Previously: 13)
16. Florida Panthers (Previously: 18)
15. Edmonton Oilers (Previously: 16)
14. Anaheim Ducks (Previously: 24)
13. Dallas Stars (Previously: 15)
12. New York Islanders (Previously: 11)
11. Utah Mammoth (Previously: 12)
When it comes to NHL teams having a truly entertaining 2025-26 season, the Mammoth have to be near the top of the list. This franchise has been one of extremes this season, as they started out 8-2-0, then proceeded to go 4-10-3 in their next chunk of games, before turning things fully around and going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games played.
Simply put, things are going right for Utah, and with the rest of the Western Conference stuck in neutral, they have put themselves in great shape to be a real contender for the 2026 NHL Playoffs. If not for the Central Division being top-heavy, they would have more to fight for than a Wild Card, but at least this goal is squarely in front of them.
Speaking of the Western Conference, the Pacific Division has seen some movement again, as the Ducks have put together a seven-game winning streak to claw their way back in the hunt for second place in the division behind Edmonton. When it comes to the Oilers, they have been maddeningly consistent this season, as they are one of two teams that haven’t had a three-game or more winning streak this season. Given this context, it’s pretty incredible that they are still second in the division.
10-1: Red Wings Pushing the NHL’s Best
10. Minnesota Wild (Previously: 7)
9. Montreal Canadiens (Previously: 5)
8. Boston Bruins (Previously: 9)
7. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previously: 10)
6. Buffalo Sabres (Previously: 8)
5. Colorado Avalanche (Previously: 1)
4. Vegas Golden Knights (Previously: 6)
3. Carolina Hurricanes (Previously: 4)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previously: 2)
1. Detroit Red Wings (Previously: 3)
While I had some genuine questions about the Red Wings after a strong stretch of play put them near the top of the standings back in December, the team hasn’t taken a step back, as they keep finding ways to grit out big wins and stockpiling points to hold onto first place in the Atlantic Division, despite the best efforts of the Lightning. Not only this, but their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate team, the Grand Rapid Griffins, set an AHL record with a 17-game road points streak this week, further reminding us that this storied franchise is stacked with talent from top to bottom. Lets see if they can keep the vibes high and push for the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Now, for the first time this season, the Avalanche have shown that they are, in fact, human. The cracks in their armor have been spreading for a few weeks, but it’s finally time to move them off first place in the Rankings after they went 4-4-2 in their last 10 games played. Right now, every team in front of them have gone at least 7-3-0 in their last 10 games played, so I couldn’t justify keeping Colorado anywhere above fifth this week.
However, I expect them to be a big player at the trade deadline, and you’re already seeing lines being drawn to the Avalanche for top talent on the trade board. It really feels like if they can add a little bit more oomph to this already stacked roster, they will be unstoppable even with this bump in the road.
NHL Ramping Up to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
With all eyes will be on the 2026 Olympic Games, I have to point out that the Lightning will be hosting one of the most ambitious Stadium Series games ever on Sunday, Feb. 5th. After this event, there will only be a few more games before the Olympic Break, then we will have two-plus weeks to recalibrate for the push to April.
Related: What Is the Canadiens’ Plan for Patrik Laine?
So, we know it’s going to be an exciting few weeks across the NHL, and I’m looking forward to covering the remaining time before the Olympics. For now, stay safe and warm if you’re dealing with the Arctic weather this week.
