The Carolina Hurricanes top the NHL power rankings after four weeks of the 2026-27 season, with the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins close behind and the Vancouver Canucks anchoring all 32 teams.
Records below are current to Oct. 31, 2026, as listed by the NHL and cross-checked against ESPN. The order weighs points percentage, goal differential, recent form and the quality of each team’s results. The ranking itself is opinion. Our last NHL power rankings had the Vegas Golden Knights first.
No. 1, Carolina Hurricanes (11-2-2): The league leader with 24 points, a plus-20 goal differential and an 8-1-1 record in its past 10 games.
No. 2, Edmonton Oilers (10-2-2): Only 14 games played and 22 points, a .786 points percentage, with a plus-17 goal differential and a 7-2-1 run over the past 10.
No. 3, Boston Bruins (10-4-1): Their 21 points came with a plus-19 goal differential, the second best in the league, and a 7-2-1 stretch.
No. 4, Montreal Canadiens (9-3-2): Montreal has 20 points in 14 games and has gone 8-1-1 in its past 10, though its plus-6 goal differential is modest by comparison.
No. 5, Minnesota Wild (9-3-3): The Wild have 21 points and a plus-12 goal differential, and have lost in regulation only three times.
No. 6, Colorado Avalanche (8-5-1): A plus-15 goal differential is the fourth best in the NHL, and the Avalanche sit at 17 points in 14 games.
No. 7, Tampa Bay Lightning (8-3-2): With 18 points in just 13 games, Tampa Bay has a .692 points percentage.
No. 8, New Jersey Devils (9-5-0): The Devils have 18 points, a plus-8 differential and a 7-3-0 record over the past 10 games.
No. 9, Washington Capitals (8-4-0): Washington has played only 12 games, collecting 16 points with a 7-3-0 record in its past 10.
No. 10, Vegas Golden Knights (9-5-1): The previous top-ranked team has 19 points and a plus-9 differential, but is 5-4-1 in its past 10.
No. 11, Utah Mammoth (9-5-0): Utah has 18 points and a plus-5 goal differential, with a 6-4-0 record in its past 10.
No. 12, Florida Panthers (8-4-2): The Panthers have 18 points in 14 games and a plus-5 differential.
No. 13, Ottawa Senators (9-5-1): Ottawa has 19 points, matching Vegas, but its plus-4 goal differential and 5-4-1 recent record keep it below the contenders.
No. 14, Dallas Stars (8-5-1): Dallas has 17 points and a plus-7 differential, and has gone 6-3-1 in its past 10.
No. 15, Toronto Maple Leafs (8-6-2): Toronto has 18 points, but it has played 16 games, two more than most teams, and is 5-4-1 in its past 10 with a plus-7 differential.
No. 16, Seattle Kraken (8-5-1): The Kraken have 17 points and an even goal differential, with a 6-3-1 record in their past 10.
No. 17, New York Islanders (7-5-2): The Islanders have 16 points and a plus-1 differential, and are 5-3-2 in their past 10.
No. 18, Buffalo Sabres (7-4-3): Buffalo has 17 points, but its minus-6 goal differential suggests the record is flattering.
No. 19, St. Louis Blues (7-6-1): The Blues have 15 points, a plus-2 differential and a 6-4-0 record in their past 10. They beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a power-play game on Oct. 20.
No. 20, New York Rangers (7-6-1): The Rangers have 15 points and a plus-2 differential, but are 4-5-1 in their past 10.
No. 21, Detroit Red Wings (6-5-3): Detroit has 15 points and a minus-2 differential, with three overtime or shootout losses.
No. 22, Nashville Predators (14 games played): The Predators have 15 points, a minus-5 differential and a 3-3-4 record in their past 10.
No. 23, San Jose Sharks (7-7-1): San Jose has 15 points but a minus-11 differential, and is 4-5-1 in its past 10.
No. 24, Pittsburgh Penguins (5-7-2): Pittsburgh has 12 points in 14 games, with a minus-2 goal differential that is better than its record.
No. 25, Anaheim Ducks (7 regulation losses): The Ducks have lost seven games in regulation and have one overtime or shootout loss.
No. 26, Calgary Flames (6-8-0): The Flames have 12 points and a minus-16 differential.
No. 27, Los Angeles Kings (4-7-2): Los Angeles has 10 points in 13 games and a minus-9 goal differential.
No. 28, Columbus Blue Jackets (5-7-0): Columbus has 10 points in 12 games and a minus-10 differential.
No. 29, Winnipeg Jets (4 wins, 3 overtime or shootout losses): The Jets have just four wins this season and a negative goal differential.
No. 30, Philadelphia Flyers (4 overtime or shootout losses): Philadelphia has four overtime or shootout losses and a negative goal differential.
No. 31, Chicago Blackhawks (4-9-1): Chicago has nine points and a minus-22 goal differential, and is 3-6-1 in its past 10.
No. 32, Vancouver Canucks (3-12-1): Vancouver has seven points in 16 games, the fewest in the NHL, and a minus-25 goal differential, the worst in the league.
Our next NHL power rankings are due on Nov. 9.
Via NHL.com standings and ESPN.
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