The Power

 

Well everyone, the rankings are back, enjoy it with all of the extra adjectives and poor grammar that this University Graduate can spew out.  Our defending champ, James Hammond is now in Vancouver fulfilling his dream of being a panhandler on Hastings Street, and with his vile ‘Nucks sitting on top of the Power Rankings, life just doesn’t seem fair anymore.  Sure he has change for a dollar, but it just doesn’t seem worth it to me. 

 

We have just passed the thirty game mark in Rokhed 8, so with about fifty games to go this year, there is plenty of time for your team to make a move to the front of the line.

1 - Vancouver (23-4-4) – 71.65

Welcome to our new reality.  James has his Canucks at the top of the Western Conference in what should have been a rebuilding year for his team.  Without a lot of experience in the line-up, the defending champs are relying on a bunch of rookies, along with Todd Bertuzzi to lead this team.  Jason Labarbara with a 10-1 record has earned himself plenty of playing time alongside Dan Cloutier in the nets for the ‘Nucks.  On the lighter side, James gets to play wang-tag with the winos on Hastings with his new job, so at least he’s happy.

2 – Washington (23-3-4) – 71.30

Will Bedinger is at the top of the Power Rankings!  And in other news water is wet.  No surprise here, in that the always dominant Darth Bedinger is still among the league’s elite.  Led by Sergei Samsonov and Eric Staal (Who does Erich have to unzip for now?), the Capitals never seem to have to rebuild.  They are loaded for another run at the RHL title in is now knows as the Bedinger invitational tournament.  Why play 82 games?  Just give Will the #1 seed out East, and go from there?

3 - Nashville (21-4-4) – 65.40

Our first newcomer to the league, Everett seems to have picked up the RHL game very quickly.  Led by newly acquired centre Peter Nedved, Predators have jumped out to a comfortable lead in the Central Division.  In goal has been the most traded goalie in recent Rokhed history, Curtis Joseph, and he has not disappointed.  With play like this, he may actually stay in Nashville for a month or two!  Looks like Everett will be a high seed at this rate and may be our best chance to knock off James from his perch on top of the league!

 

4 - St. Louis (19-8-0) – 58.50
If Everett is the new, then Walter is definitely the old, as our resident Octogenarian has another team in the top ten.  After leading the LA Kings to the Pacific Division Crown one year ago, Walter left the comfy confines of the West Coast for the Gateway City of St. Louis.  With eight wins in their last 10 and with a couple of games in hand on Nashville, the Blues have an even chance of knocking off the Predators in the Central.  Led by newly acquired Marty Turco and Keith Tkachuk the Blues are rolling in the West.

5 - New Jersey (20-10-0) – 54.15

Tom is back with a vengeance!  After his Devils slipped back last year, falling out of the Eastern Conference playoffs, Tom has his boys back in the hunt.  With unquestionably the best collection of young, up and coming talent in the RHL, this team is good now and will be good for a long time.  Now if he would only trade me Stoll and Phaneuf, we’d be good.

 

6 - Calgary (20-7-4) – 54.10

My Flames are still hanging around in the Western Conference.  With a downright old group of players, the Flames are proving that experience is a big thing in the RHL.  The team is a collection for old guys (Doug Weight), older guys (Peter Bondra), and the downright ancient (Brett Hull).  However with a defense that is anchored by Zdeno Chara and Nick Lidstrom, they seem to be able to hang with anyone in the RHL.

 

7 - Minnesota (20-8-3) – 53.30

Jerimiah has always been able to win with inferior talent.  All he needed was Paul Kariya to win.  Well this year the track meet continues for Minnesota ‘Gone’ Wild, as the addition of Sergei Federov has finally given the Wild a bone-a-fide second threat to score.  The only thing that ever trips Jer up is his goaltending, with Kevin Weekes still getting the nod in Minny.

 

8 – Atlanta (18-12-2) – 52.55

After a slow start to the year, Jay has put away his Quiznos hat for a while and has taken 8 of their last 10 games.  Gone are the days of Forsberg, but here are the days of Alfredsson as he has stepped into the top centre spot for the team and has dominated.  Dominik Hasek has regained his Rokhed 6 form, and as is usual for a Jay Cook team, Hasek will be relied upon heavily to carry the mail (30 games played through 32 games)!

 

9 – Detroit (18-9-7) – 48.25

Definitely a 60 minute team as the Red Wings have struggled after regulation is over.  With Pavel Datsyuk carrying the offensive load in the Motor City, it is allowing the newly acquired young gun, Sydney Crosby, to slip into the background.  Currently in 2^nd in the Central Division, the only real question mark for the team would have to be in goal.  Olaf Kolzig has been average at best and his 3.28 GAA will have to improve for this team to challenge Nashville for the division crown.

 

10 – Toronto (18-8-5) – 48.15

This team will be in the mix as long as they have a GM.  With Craig Laporte already overdue for his meltdown and exit from T dot, Maple Leaf fans are just holding their breath that Craig will keep it together.  Led by the Czech phenom Ales Hemsky, the Buds are making their presence felt in the Eastern Conference.  It is obvious that the Buds are one line team though as the teams +/- ratings give it away.  With only five players playing with a plus rating, they are leaned on heavily by Craig to keep the team afloat.  Craig will need to stay healthy for this game plan to keep working!

 

11 – Dallas (15-8-6) – 45.55

That damn Joe Thornton has found his way to Dallas and in spite of them playing on auto pilot without a regular GM this year, they are hanging tough in the Western race.

 

12 - Buffalo (16-14-2) – 42.95

Led by their captain Mike Peca the Sabres are a real threat in the Eastern Conference.  With only two losses in their last ten the Commish has his team on a roll.

 

13 - Colorado (16-10-5) – 41.10

Brian…playoffs…no really…Brian…playoffs.  Brian has been in Rokhed for five full years.  In those five years, Brian has missed the playoffs five times.  With this being his sixth season his team has a definite shot at the playoffs.  Sure his team can’t score, but when you only give up less than two goals per game anything is possible.

 

14 – Ottawa (16-11-2) – 40.40

Hanging tough in the East, the Senators seem to be that itch you just can’t scratch.  They have the top end talent to be among the best, but so far have been just off their game.  Look for the addition of that old drunk Belfour to steady out the Senators defensively.

 

15 – Montreal (15-12-2) – 39.35

Serge is just hanging around the .500 mark so far this year.  The lack of scoring prowess has been killing the Habs so far this year.  With Naslund, their leading scorer on pace for only 70 points this year, obviously something is wron in Montreal.  Sergina is pissed!

 

16 - NY Rangers (19-11-3) – 36.45

A red-hot start by the Blue shirts was supposed to be a harbinger of good things; however with just two wins in their last ten, the Rangers have slipped out of the top ten teams. 

 

17 – Boston (16-11-5) – 35.45

The Beantowners took a smack-down this week at the hands of the Wild and the Flames as they lost back to back for the first time in a while.  Erich’s crew have been decidedly inconsistent this year, and with only four wins in their last ten they will need to get things going.  Keeping people healthy wouldn’t hurt either.

 

18 - Philadelphia (12-13-5) – 30.85

The Flyers are in an unenviable position right now.  They aren’t bad enough to contend for the top draft pick this year, but they aren’t good enough to really compete for a good playoff seed.  Markus’ team needs to decide if they want to win this year or not.

 

19 – Carolina (13-14-4) – 28.60

How can you tell your team is struggling?  That would be when Shawn McEachern is leading your team in scoring.  Vesa Toskala has been getting the lion’s share of the starts, while Martin Biron is sitting in the wings.  It doesn’t help Vesa’s because when Biron has been better.  Joe could be considering a change in net.

 

20 – Florida (14-15-4) – 28.40

Another team suffering from a case of mediocrity, the Panthers need to decide something.  Are they re-building, or do they want to compete right now.  That will be the challenge for the new GM in Miami.

 

21 – Phoenix (14-11-7) – 26.25

This team is in a freefall without their GM.  The Phoenix organization is entirely dependant upon their GM to lead them to victory.  Shanahan is having a year of renaissance but if Kevin doesn’t get back soon, his effort will have been for nothing.

 

22 - San Jose (13-13-6) – 24.85

There is time for the Sharks to get back into things.  Without a GM in place there is no hope for a San Jose comeback in the West without some stable leadership.  Mike Modano stirs the drink in San Jose but he will need to raise his game for this team to compete.

 

23 - Los Angeles (13-13-7) – 23.60

There is cold, very cold, and then the slump that L.A. is in.  This is a good team that is losing right now, why, why, why?  Tyson needs to get this team going soon.

 

24 - Tampa Bay (12-16-4) – 20.55

The other Wielenga is having a rough year in Tampa as his Lightning are quickly sinking in the Eastern Conference.

 

25 – Anaheim (11-19-5) – 18.80

They don’t have a GM; they don’t have a good roster, why should I write about another useless team?

 

26 – Chicago (9-15-5) – 14.90

As I say every time…hehe Blackhawk…it still kills me!

 

27 – Pittsburgh (12-18-2) – 11.60

Looks like Kevin will have his work cut out for him with the Penguins.  They have the tools to build a team with, Kevin will just have to find out how to make them win.

 

28 – Edmonton (10-19-2) – 10.05

The Oilers are suffering from a lack of direction these days.  With the a strong collection of young talent, this team should be better then they are.  Ronald McDonald needs his happy meal.

 

29 – Columbus (9-18-4) – 10.00

Dave left the Maple Leafs in the off-season in a huff with the team’s ownership, and accepted a real challenge with Columbus.  With an AHL roster for the most part this team is at least a year away from being competitive.  This may end up being the best team in Rokhed 10, but for now they will again be one of the weakest.

 

30 - NY Islanders (6-20-4) – 0.05

In the lowest number I have ever seen in a Power Ranking, These Islanders are playing some dreadful hockey.  It is embarrassing how a team with both Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth can be this bad.  This team has been shockingly bad.