The Vegas Golden Knights open the 2026-27 season atop the NHL, and our first power rankings of the year have them ahead of Edmonton, Carolina and Anaheim after the first week of play. Records are current to the morning of Oct. 12, and teams have played between four and seven games.
The order weighs points percentage, goal differential and the quality of each team’s start. Small samples move quickly, so expect plenty of shuffling in the weeks ahead. Records are shown as wins, regulation losses and overtime losses.
No. 1: Vegas Golden Knights (5-1-0). Vegas has 10 points in six games and a plus-9 goal differential, with the best points percentage in the league.
No. 2: Edmonton Oilers (4-0-1). The Oilers are the only team in the West without a regulation loss, with nine points in five games and a plus-8 differential.
No. 3: Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-1). Carolina leads the NHL with 11 points and a plus-10 goal differential through seven games.
No. 4: Anaheim Ducks (4-1-0). The Ducks have eight points in five games and a plus-5 differential.
No. 5: New York Rangers (5-2-0). The Rangers have 10 points in seven games and share the league’s best differential at plus-10.
No. 6: Minnesota Wild (3-1-1). Minnesota has seven points in five games and a plus-6 differential.
No. 7: Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1-0). The Lightning have eight points in five games and are plus-4.
No. 8: Ottawa Senators (4-1-0). The Senators are the top Canadian team in the Eastern Conference with eight points in five games and a plus-4 differential.
No. 9: Boston Bruins (4-2-0). Boston has eight points in six games and a plus-7 goal differential.
No. 10: Seattle Kraken (4-2-0). The Kraken have eight points in six games and a plus-9 differential.
No. 11: Utah Mammoth (4-2-0). Utah has eight points in six games and a plus-7 differential.
No. 12: Colorado Avalanche (3-2-0). The Avalanche have six points in five games, but their plus-9 differential is among the league’s best.
No. 13: Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1). Pittsburgh has seven points in six games and a plus-5 differential.
No. 14: Washington Capitals (3-2-0). The Capitals have six points in five games and are plus-3.
No. 15: Toronto Maple Leafs (3-2-1). The Leafs have seven points in six games with a plus-2 differential.
No. 16: Winnipeg Jets (3-1-1). Winnipeg has seven points in five games, but a minus-2 goal differential suggests the record is a little ahead of the play.
No. 17: Dallas Stars (2-2-1). The Stars have five points in five games and a plus-3 differential.
No. 18: Nashville Predators (2-1-2). Nashville has six points in five games and an even goal differential.
No. 19: San Jose Sharks (3-2-0). The Sharks have six points in five games despite a minus-4 differential.
No. 20: Florida Panthers (2-1-2). Florida has six points in five games and is minus-3.
No. 21: Montreal Canadiens (2-2-1). The Canadiens have five points in five games and are minus-4.
No. 22: New York Islanders (2-3-0). The Islanders have four points in five games, though their plus-3 differential is better than the record.
No. 23: St. Louis Blues (2-2-1). St. Louis has five points in five games and is minus-2.
No. 24: Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2-0). The Blue Jackets have four points in four games and are minus-1.
No. 25: New Jersey Devils (2-2-0). New Jersey has four points in four games and is minus-4.
No. 26: Buffalo Sabres (2-3-0). The Sabres have four points in five games and a minus-8 differential.
No. 27: Detroit Red Wings (1-3-1). Detroit has three points in five games and is minus-5.
No. 28: Vancouver Canucks (2-5-0). The Canucks have four points in seven games and a minus-11 differential.
No. 29: Los Angeles Kings (0-2-2). The Kings have two points in four games, all from overtime losses, and are minus-7.
No. 30: Chicago Blackhawks (1-5-0). Chicago has two points in six games and a minus-14 differential.
No. 31: Philadelphia Flyers (0-5-2). The Flyers have two points in seven games and a league-worst minus-20 differential.
No. 32: Calgary Flames (0-5-0). Calgary is the only team without a point, and its minus-19 differential is second-worst in the league.
Next week’s rankings will be published Monday, Oct. 19.
If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.
Via Fox Sports and CBS Sports standings.
Follow Canada News Media
Get the day's top Canadian stories and our two daily 60-second news videos wherever you scroll.
