Rahl Bets | NHL POWER RANKINGS (April 8, 2022)
- Eastern Conference by Brandon Wamsley
- Western Conference by Brock Hartley
Rahl Bets | NHL POWER RANKINGS (MARCH 28, 2022)
With the NHL playoffs nearing, we at Rahl Reviews have decided to help you get prepared by summarizing what has been going on around the league. We will be updating our rankings every 7-10 days, so be sure to check back!- Eastern Conference by Brandon Wamsley
- Western Conference by Brock Hartley
1. Colorado Avalanche (46-14-6)
This is the team to beat in a Western Conference that is weaker than most anticipated. Anything less than a WCF appearance should be viewed as a disaster. Even a WCF loss would be a disappointment for this juggernaut.2. Florida Panthers (44-15-6)
The Florida Panthers come in at #2 in our post-deadline edition of the NHL Power Rankings. We really put a lot of thought into putting the Panthers in the 1 spot but had to give the nod to Colorado. With that being said, the Panthers are a clear number 2 and the favorites to come out of the East. The additions of Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot at the deadline made the best team in the East even better, and the Panthers are poised to make a very real cup run with a ton of skill and plenty of depth throughout the roster. The only worry to be found in Florida is the injury to Aaron Ekblad, who is a key piece in living up to their Cup expectations. The 26-year-old Defenseman had already posted 15G and 42A on the season and was a Norris contender before getting injured. Ekblad is expected to return for the first playoff series though, and if healthy, the Panthers are as real a Cup contender as anyone. They will need to be more careful with the puck come playoff time, and dispose of some sloppy, turnover prone tendencies, but we have no reason to believe they won’t do just that and tighten things up when the postseason begins.