NHL Power Rankings: 2019 in 5 Words Edition

Check out the top performers of the week in the NHL, with two Maple Leafs and a Lightning defenceman making the list.

Sportsnet’s NHL Power Rankings are nothing if not “on trend,” a phrase we once heard someone better dressed say in a boardroom.

So, when we saw a New Year’s hashtag pop up on the ol’ Twitter feed — #2019In5Words — we thought it might be fun to apply that challenge to the National Hockey League’s membership.

While you shouldn’t count on us to nail the exercise the way global-warming activist Greta Thunberg did, we will give ’er a shot.

So, in the holiday spirit of brevity (and trying to be respectful of the fact you’re eager to return to your stocking-suffed paperback), we present our NHL Power Rankings: 2019 in 5 Words Edition.

Per tradition, all teams are ranked in descending order according to current strength.

The write-ups concisely summarize the past 365 days in the life of each of the league’s 31 clubs.

Because you’ve got resolutions to attend to.

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1. St. Louis Blues

Gloria! Glo-ria! Gloria! Glo-ria! Glo-riaaaaaaa!

2. Washington Capitals

Most NHL wins this decade.

3. Boston Bruins

Chara plays through broken jaw.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Galchenyuk back on trading block.

5. New York Islanders

Barry Trotz for Jack Adams.

6. Colorado Avalanche

Makar has made Barrie expendable.

7. Carolina Hurricanes

Bunch of Jerks shock world.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Presidents’ Trophy < Winning playoff games.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs

Another Game Seven in Boston.

10. Philadelphia Flyers

Gritty somehow not behind bars.

11. Dallas Stars

This wasn’t a hockey decision.

12. Vancouver Canucks

Benning spending big on UFAs.

13. Florida Panthers

Bobrovsky gets you playoffs, right?

14. Vegas Golden Knights

Four straight power play goals.

15. Winnipeg Jets

What’s the deal with Byfuglien?

16. Arizona Coyotes

Mediocre team pushes all in.

17. Nashville Predators

Did Nashville win Subban trade?

18. Calgary Flames

Peters face of hockey’s #MeToo.

19. New York Rangers

Panarin looks worth $81.5 million.

20. Montreal Canadiens

Hurricanes immediately match offer sheet.

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

Best worst year in history.

22. Minnesota Wild

Boudreau working for third GM.

23. Chicago Blackhawks

Kane best player of decade.

24. Buffalo Sabres

Jack Eichel needs more help.

25. Edmonton Oilers

McDavid, Draisaitl need more help.

26. Los Angeles Kings

Kovlachuk experiment explodes in face.

27. Ottawa Senators

We are a (rebuilding) team.

28. Anaheim Ducks

The children are our future.

29. San Jose Sharks

Pavelski more important than thought?

30. New Jersey Devils

Hall wins draft lottery, leaves.

31. Detroit Red Wings

Steve the Tank embraces lottery.

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