It is not fairly often a franchise-altering player gets traded in the course of a National Hockey League season — that’s, it wasn’t fairly often until Mikko Rantanen was shockingly sent from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in January of 2025. That was a little bit of an outlier, until he was moved again, this time to the Dallas Stars, lower than two months later.
Could an analogous situation be brewing in 2025-26? Because the Vancouver Canucks proceed to spiral out of playoff contention, the Quinn Hughes rumors have taken on a lifetime of their very own — and brothers Jack and Luke have made it very clear they’d like to get one in every of the league’s best defensemen added to a formidable Latest Jersey Devils roster. Hughes still has one other season remaining on his contract after this 12 months, but when things don’t change quickly in British Columbia, it’s hard to see him wanting to sign a long-term take care of the franchise.
For that reason, the primary Hughes Bowl of this campaign just seems to mean a little bit bit more heading into Week 10. No, Jack Hughes won’t be playing when the Canucks visit the Devils for a Sunday matinee clash on the Prudential Center, as he continues to get well from hand surgery. But it can be an intriguing hockey game nonetheless, with multiple reports already confirming that Latest Jersey has touched base regarding the supply of the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner. And they don’t seem to be the one ones.
If a blockbuster trade occurs that sends Hughes out of Vancouver — whether to Newark or elsewhere — it might send shockwaves throughout the league, just because the Rantanen saga did. But nothing seems imminent as of right away. Still, it’s something to control as December rolls along.
The vacation season is now well underway, and it goes without saying that the movement in ClutchPoints’ latest NHL Power Rankings is critical after a packed seven days. There will not be a brand new No. 1 in Week 10, but there actually is a brand new No. 32 — and a ton of change in between. Let’s discuss.
Previous 2025-26 NHL Power Rankings: Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
1. Colorado Avalanche (no change)
The Avalanche’s quest for regular-season immortality went off mostly and not using a hitch in Week 9, the one snag being the team’s second regulation lack of the 2025-26 campaign. Considering that took 25 games — and it was a 3-0 showing otherwise — Colorado stays entrenched because the NHL’s best team over per week into December. Jared Bednar’s troops played back-to-back matinees over the weekend, and should you have not seen Nathan MacKinnon (the game’s best player right away) rating an absurd time beyond regulation winner against the Rangers at MSG on Saturday, here’s your cue. That sealed a 3-2 win, which was the identical final rating against the Flyers in Philly 24 hours later. It’s now 22 victories in 28 games, and Valeri Nichushkin is back within the lineup, making things even scarier. It is a battle of first vs. worst on Tuesday, because the Avalanche travel southeast to play the Predators in Smashville.
2. Dallas Stars (+1)
The Stars deserve a ton of credit; they’re skating stride-for-stride with the Avalanche through 30 games, a task that has been not possible for each other team. Dallas has won eight of 10 games, not lost in regulation since mid November, and improved to only three points back of their important Central Division rivals. The squad can have to take care of one other brutal absence, as Tyler Seguin suffered a major ACL injury that may cost him the remaining of the season. That is hugely disappointing for a player who continues to make an impact at each ends of the rink, and for a team that just lost one in every of its more essential players long-term for the second straight regular-season. Despite that, the Stars just carry on winning, and so they must have Thomas Harley and Matt Duchene back within the lineup before the Latest 12 months. Replacing Seguin will likely be tough, but this roster has the talent to stay at the highest of the Western Conference without him.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (-1)
After climbing to the highest of the Atlantic, the Lightning stumbled last week, losing three straight games in regulation — two to the Islanders and one to the Penguins. Tampa Bay stays at the highest of the division, however the hold is precarious, with the Bruins tied and the Canadiens and Red Wings each just a degree back. It’s crowded, like many of the Eastern Conference, and things won’t get any easier during a four-game road trip that begins in Toronto on Monday and continues in Montreal, Latest Jersey and Long Island before the week is out. Victor Hedman is back within the fold, which is great, but Andrei Vasilevskiy was placed on IR, which is the other. It’ll be as much as Jonas Johansson and Brandon Halverson to assist right the ship within the interim.
The Capitals just proceed to win prolifically, and it was difficult to not place them within the top-three of the NHL Power Rankings in Week 10 — a spot they’re well-deserving of. Washington has surged to the highest of the Metropolitan Division with a sparkling 18-9-3 record after winning 10 of 12 games dating back to November 17. It’s an incredible heater for Alex Ovechkin and company, and he’s as much as 911 profession goals. With Charlie Lindgren on the shelf, Logan Thompson has been getting the lion’s share of starts, and he continues to prove why he’s among the best goalies within the NHL. Fresh off a 2-0 shutout win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday evening, he’ll be back in between the pipes against the Hurricanes on Thursday following a three-day break.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (-1)
Speaking of the Hurricanes, Carolina is correct there with Washington, currently three points back for the division lead with two games in hand. That is despite a down stretch that is seen the team hover across the .500 mark during the last month or so. Frederik Andersen continues to struggle, but Pyotr Kochetkov being back is vital, although he struggled in his return from injury. The Canes lost 4-1 to the Sharks on Sunday, only a day after they doubled up the Predators 6-3. Now 17-9-2, they’ll look to begin stringing a few wins together — as they did earlier within the season — starting on Tuesday night against the Blue Jackets.
6. Anaheim Geese (+1)
With each Lukas Dostal and Petr Mrazek on the shelf, Ville Husso has done a greater than admirable job within the Geese’ crease during the last week and a half. He has began six straight games and won 4 of them, which is sort of impressive considering he probably wasn’t sure if he would get the decision up from American Hockey League San Diego in any respect this season. His run because the starter shouldn’t last long, but he’s done an ideal job, and Anaheim is back in command of the Pacific Division at 18-10-1. Sunday night was especially encouraging, because the Geese hammered the slumping Blackhawks 7-1 to finish the week strong.
7. Vegas Golden Knights (+1)
Carter Hart is officially back within the National Hockey League, and he showed solid form in his first two games for the Golden Knights. The 27-year-old made 27 saves in Tuesday’s shootout win over the Hawks, and 21 more in a 3-2 OT victory over the Rangers on Sunday. Akira Schmid shut out the Devils in between — his former team — and the 2 figure to separate starts within the continued absence of Adin Hill. The rotation is working, for now a minimum of, as Vegas has won 4 straight games to enhance to 14-6-8. After winning the primary two games of the road trip, they’ll proceed the Eastern swing against the Islanders, Flyers and Blue Jackets, and expect Hart to get the nod against his former Philadelphia team on Thursday.
The Wall of Saint Paul finally showed some cracks last week, as Jesper Wallstedt allowed 4 goals on 20 shots in a 4-2 loss to the lowly Canucks on Saturday. Considering it got here 4 nights after an enormous shutout over the Oilers, we aren’t in any respect nervous in regards to the young netminder. But Minnesota losing two games in a row and three of 4 is a little more concerning, even though it got here on the heels of seven straight wins. It looks like Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson will split starts for the foreseeable future, and the pair of Swedes together form one in every of the NHL’s best tandems. A four-game road trip reaches its conclusion on Monday night, with the Wild playing the Kraken in Seattle before returning to the State of Hockey.
The Panthers badly needed a few Stanley Cup Playoff heroes to step up within the regular season, and eventually, Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe have arrived on the scene. The 2 have combined for 11 points in eight total games, helping Florida secure a back-to-back set over the Blue Jackets and Islanders on the weekend. After all, Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart proceed to steer the charge, and all of those skaters playing at the highest of their game is vital right away. Saturday’s game was wacky, with the Cats beating the Jackets 7-6 in OT. It’s still been a disappointing begin to the 12 months at 14-12-2, but considering the injury troubles, it might be worse. And so they’re still just 4 points out of the division lead.
10. Montreal Canadiens (+1)
The Canadiens have begun to return out of their first real slump of the season, following up seven losses in eight games by winning five times in eight tries between November 22 – December 7. That has Montreal back on the right track within the Atlantic, and just a degree out of the division lead. A 4-3 loss to the Blues at home on Sunday was disappointing, but it surely got here on the heels of back-to-back wins over a few north of the border brethren within the Jets and Leafs. The Habs will play within the Heritage Classic in 2026 in Winnipeg against those self same Jets, on October 25, 2026 at Princess Auto Stadium. That must be a spirited tilt, but Marty St. Louis’ team is concentrated on the current, and continuing to carry onto a playoff spot over a troublesome four-game week.
11. Latest Jersey Devils (-5)
The Devils have been struggling mightily without Jack Hughes, and the shortage of goal scoring is a direct results of not having the superstar within the lineup. Latest Jersey has lost five straight games, all in regulation, and only scored seven times in that span. They were also shut out twice. Yikes. It is the worst stretch of the season for Sheldon Keefe’s team — by far — who have not been capable of buy a win because the calendar flipped to December. Things do not get any easier against a pair of adverse opponents in Week 10, that being the Senators, Lightning and Geese being followed by the primary Hughes Bowl of the season on Sunday. The Devils took a success within the NHL Power Rankings on this edition, and if they cannot right the ship, they’ll sink even further next Monday.
12. Boston Bruins (+3)
Huge credit to the Bruins, who’ve continued to loaf around at the highest of the Atlantic despite missing superstar David Pastrnak for the last five games. Boston won three of those tilts, improving to 17-13-0 and right on the precipice of the division lead. Jeremy Swayman looks back to form, while Morgan Geekie continues to attain prolifically; he’s still second within the league with 22 in only 30 games. This roster has a probability to loaf around a playoff spot all 12 months, and that will likely be very true if Pastrnak produces like his usual self when he returns. He has a probability to play on the B’s current road trip, which begins in St. Louis on Tuesday before making stops in Winnipeg on Thursday and Minnesota on Sunday.
The Oilers are only too talented of a team offensively to be getting shut out, but that is exactly what happened against Wallstedt and the Wild on Tuesday. It was clear that was unacceptable for Connor McDavid and co; Edmonton proceeded to beat Seattle 9-4 and Winnipeg 6-2, proving they’ll indeed rating goals. Make that 4 wins in six tries for the Oil, who’re starting to return around after one other difficult start to a different regular-season. The highlight for the club this week is a visit to a few of hockey-crazed markets. After playing the Sabres and Red Wings at home, they’ll head to Toronto to play the Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday before visiting the Bell Centre and Habs on Sunday. Despite the general struggles, they’re still just six points back of the division lead.
14. Detroit Red Wings (-2)
Some weeks, the John Gibson-Cam Talbot tandem works. But most weeks it really doesn’t, and it has been brutal in December. It’s holding the Red Wings back, who’ve lost five of their last seven games, while allowing 30 goals in that stretch. That is not a recipe for any form of success for this Detroit team, which is just eager to get back to the dance next April. They a minimum of ended the week strong, beating the Kraken 4-3 on the road, a spot where they are going to get familiar. They’ll play 4 more away from Motown — in Vancouver, Calgary Edmonton and Chicago, in that order — before returning to Little Caesars Arena early next week. They’re still in solid shape at 15-11-3, but as we have learned, things can change quickly within the Eastern Conference.
15. Philadelphia Flyers (+2)
The Flyers are continuing to impress in 2025-26, and so they’re looking much like the iteration of the team that hung around a playoff spot right until the bitter end in 2023-24. Philly has won six of nine games, and probably the most recent, a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche, saw them play a tough game against one of the best team from start to complete. At 15-9-3, they’ve officially put the league on notice, and so they’re getting some respect within the NHL Power Rankings. What an addition Trevor Zegras has been; he leads the team with 26 points in 27 games. Highlighting Week 10 is Carter Hart’s return to the City of Brotherly Love, and the way he will likely be received by the group at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday is anyone’s guess.
16. Latest York Islanders (+2)
The Islanders are attempting to regulate to life without heart and soul veteran Kyle Palmieri, and up to now, so good. Latest York has won three of 4 games, and the three victories were Ilya Sorokin masterclasses. The Russian netminder allowed only one goal over two wins against Tampa Bay, and perhaps much more impressively, he allowed just three goals to high-flying Colorado in a 6-3 victory. The Isles are only the second team to beat the Avs in regulation this 12 months, and that’s hugely impressive. Within the one game that Sorokin sat on the bench, they lost 4-1 to the Panthers in Florida with David Rittich between the pipes. It goes without saying that Patrick Roy will ride Sorokin as much as he can because the campaign goes on, and he’ll be back between the pipes when the surging Golden Knights come to Long Island on Tuesday night — the primary of a three-game homestand.
17. Ottawa Senators (-4)
The hope was that the Senators can be higher once Brady Tkachuk returned to the lineup, but unfortunately, the team has been mired in a slump because the captain returned. Ottawa has lost 4 of 5 games, all in regulation, dropping them to second last within the Atlantic. After all, they’re just 4 points out of the division lead, but that appears very distant right away. The Linus Ullmark-Leevi Merilainen tandem has struggled, while the offense has completely dried up, to the tune of just 12 goals scored in five games. There is a ton of talent on this roster to right the ship, but it surely’s still been the worst stretch of hockey in Canada’s capital this season.
18. Winnipeg Jets (-4)
The entire individuals who voted for Connor Hellebuyck to win the Hart Trophy last season are being proven right in real time. The Jets are only not a playoff team without the superstar netminder, and it’s showing in his absence. Winnipeg has lost seven of nine games, in the method dropping out of a playoff spot entirely. Considering they’re the reigning President’s Trophy winners, the alarm bells are sounding in Manitoba. There’s just not enough depth scoring, and never ok goaltending from Eric Comrie, who has lost six of his last nine starts. On a happier note, Nino Niederreiter will play his 1,000th NHL game against the Capitals on Saturday night. The fifth overall pick within the 2010 NHL Draft has seven 20-goal seasons to his name and has been a reliable middle-six forward for five different franchises during the last decade and a half. One other silver lining to the brutal stretch is that the Jets will host the Heritage Classic next October, although nobody across the organization cares an excessive amount of about that right away.
19. Latest York Rangers (+2)
With Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck each on the shelf, Igor Shesterkin may need reclaimed the title as one of the best goaltender within the National Hockey League. He has won five of his last seven starts, with one in every of them being a troublesome time beyond regulation loss to the Avalanche in a game that might have went either way. The Rangers have won five of eight and picked up a degree in seven of them, culminating in one in every of their best stretches of the season. This is very encouraging considering Adam Fox stays on LTIR, and the defense doesn’t take a look at all the identical without him. Vladislav Gavrikov is proving his mettle within the Big Apple after signing as a free agent, while the offense is humming along — form of just like the glory days a few seasons ago.
20. Pittsburgh Penguins (+2)
Despite being without Evgeni Malkin for Sunday night’s tilt against the Stars, the Penguins were capable of take Dallas to a shootout, and looked just nearly as good as their cross conference foes all night. It is a trend that Pittsburgh has been capable of loaf around with even the league’s elite, and so they’re on a solid run right away after a troublesome begin to November. The Pens have won 4 of seven but picked up a degree in six of them, improving to 14-7-6. That is a successful begin to the 12 months regardless of the way you slice it, and Tristan Jarry has regained his popularity as an above-average starting netminder — a minimum of for now. Back at the highest of the wildcard race within the Eastern Conference, the front office probably couldn’t have asked for higher within the second week of December.
21. Los Angeles Kings (-1)
The Kings have forgotten the best way to rating goals in 2025-26. After sitting within the upper echelon of the National Hockey League with a mean of three.04 goals per game last season, it has been a rather more sobering narrative this time around. Through 28 games, LA is producing just 2.68 goals per game, which is nice for twenty seventh league-wide. And so they just have way too many passengers. Anze Kopitar (14 points in 23 games) is scoring at one in every of his worst profession paces in his last season, while Alex Laferriere (12 points), Trevor Moore (12 points), Joel Armia (11 points), Andrei Kuzmenko (eight points) and Phil Danault (five points) all have to be much, significantly better. It is not surprising that there have been reports the Kings wish to add scoring ahead of the deadline, which is becoming a difficulty of utmost concern. With six losses in nine games, LA is holding onto the third seed within the Pacific for dear life.
22. Seattle Kraken (-3)
After winning 4 of 5 games from early to late November, and vaulting up the Western Conference in the method, it’s come crashing down for the Kraken during the last two weeks. Seattle has lost five games in a row, 4 of them in regulation, and fallen completely out of a playoff spot in the method. Joey Daccord has began all of those losses and left something to be desired, but what can he do when the offense has only produced nine goals in that span? The problems are far and wide within the Emerald City as of late, and the Kraken are in peril of a free fall within the NHL Power Rankings if they cannot get back within the win column this week.
23. San Jose Sharks (no change)
It has been a difficult couple of weeks for the Sharks, who’re standing pat within the NHL Power Rankings after playing near .500 hockey because the middle of November. That being said, San Jose is 14-13-3, and just being above .500 in any respect is a win at this point. Let’s not forget that the 2024-25 Sharks only won 20 total games. It is a significantly better team, and it’s only going to get well as Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith proceed to steer them out of the rebuild. However the growing pains are still there, and for each couple of great starts Yaroslav Askarov puts together, he has one he’d wish to forget. Still, through 30 games, SJ is correct within the thick of the playoff race within the West, and they cannot be in any respect disillusioned with that.
24. Utah Mammoth (+1)
After a brutal stretch of eight losses in 10 games, that saw the wheels fall off yet further for the Mammoth, they finally turned in an excellent week. Utah has gone 2-2 since last Monday, losing to the Sharks and Flames while beating the Geese and Canucks. When the offense is humming, it could really rating, as evidenced by a 7-0 shellacking of Anaheim, who’s tops within the Pacific. But just as this team is able to scoring seven in a game, the offense can dry up just as fast — see a 1-0 shutout loss vs. St. Louis on November 29 or a 2-0 defeat against Calgary on Saturday. There are reports that making the playoffs just isn’t optional for the the Mammoth in 2025-26, so although they probably should not be top buyers ahead of the trade deadline, the front office might be seeking to make a splash or two between now and March 6.
25. Calgary Flames (+3)
After starting the season horribly — and spending a while within the NHL Power Rankings basement due to it — the Flames are slowly but surely turning things around. Calgary has picked up a degree in seven of nine games, and won six of them, getting out of the Pacific Division basement in the method. After a few strong Devin Cooley starts, he’s again taken a back seat to Dustin Wolf, who has been terrific recently. The Calder Trophy finalist allowed just two goals in victories over the Wild (4-1) and Mammoth (2-0) to finish the week, firmly entrenching him back because the starter in Alberta. If these form of results sustain, it’ll interesting to see if the Flames’ front office decides to carry off on selling, a minimum of for now.
26. Toronto Maple Leafs (+3)
Just like the Flames, the Maple Leafs are beginning to turn their season around. Toronto has won 4 of six, and were almost capable of steal one on the Bell Centre on Saturday night. Down 1-0 to the Habs and with only 10 shots through two periods, Scott Laughton tied things up on a shorthanded breakaway to get the sport past regulation. Although the Leafs would lose in a shootout, they’ve picked up a degree in each of their last 4 games. And considering each Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll at the moment are on the shelf, that is an enormous win. Dennis Hildeby is able to roll with the starting job for the short-term, and he’ll be between the pipes for an all-Atlantic Division clash with the Lightning on Monday night.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (-3)
The slump continues for the Blackhawks, who’ve been one in every of the league’s worst teams in December. In truth, Chicago has only won twice since November 20, which has almost completely erased a hugely encouraging begin to the 12 months. Not even Connor Bedard’s breakout can keep this team afloat right away; the Hawks are porous defensively, as evidenced by a 6-0 loss to the Kings and 7-1 beatdown by the hands of the Geese over the weekend. After losing three of 4 on the road trip, the Hawks will return to the United Center for a house tilt with the Rangers on Wednesday, before heading back out on the road for 4 of their next five. The scheduling hasn’t been kind to this club, but still, they need to seek out a way out of the funk — and fast.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets (-1)
The Blue Jackets going past regulation just looks like an inevitability today, and it happened again — twice — last week. Columbus beat Detroit 6-5 in a shootout before losing 7-6 to the Panthers in time beyond regulation. You may’t say this team is not playing an exciting, firewagon brand of hockey as of late, but it surely’s not resulting in many victories. The Jackets have lost six of eight and fallen to dead last within the Metropolitan Division, which is not insurmountable as they’re just seven back of the first-place Capitals. Still, they need to seek out a strategy to win more games that go past 60 minutes in the event that they wish to keep the playoff hopes alive.
29. St. Louis Blues (+1)
It looks like each time Joel Hofer is between the pipes, the Blues have a probability to win. And when it’s Jordan Binnington starting, St. Louis cannot buy a victory. The simple solution appears to be to offer the previous more starts, but that probably won’t go over well with the latter, who’s one in every of hockey’s larger personalities. Either way, the Blues have won two in a row and 4 of six, with each netminder helping capture two W’s. The difference is, Hofer gave up two goals in his two victories, while Binnington allowed six. It’ll be interesting to see how head coach Jim Montgomery decides to separate the playing time because the season goes on, but it surely’s not an issue that Hofer is the higher goalie right away.
30. Buffalo Sabres (-4)
Even with Josh Norris and Zach Benson back within the lineup, the discouraging results proceed for the Sabres, who’ve lost 4 of six. They launched into a lengthy road trip last week and were run out of the constructing in the primary two, losing 5-2 to the Flyers on Wednesday and 4-1 to the Jets on Friday. That is a brutal start, and it won’t get much easier over a difficult four-game stretch that may take Buffalo through Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle in Week 10. Tage Thompson, who has one point in his last six games, must be much, significantly better. Not only to assist his team get out of this rut, but to earn him a spot on Team USA on the Olympics, which right away just isn’t in any respect guaranteed.
31. Nashville Predators (+1)
It is a miracle, however the Predators are out of the NHL Power Rankings basement. Nashville has actually been decent as of late, winning 4 of six games, including a 2-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions. It is the Preds’ best stretch of the season by far, and although the week ended with a 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes, there may be a minimum of a little bit little bit of hope right away. Juuse Saros remains to be an ideal goalie, and when he’s on his game, he gives this team a probability to be competitive every night. Meanwhile, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly have looked great offensively as of late, as has Luke Evangelista, who has 19 points in 27 games. It might be a mirage, or it might be a little bit little bit of a run in Smashville. Stay tuned.
32. Vancouver Canucks (-1)
For the primary time within the history of ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings, the Canucks are pulling up the rear in Week 10. It’s somewhat hard to imagine considering a really similar core marched all of the strategy to Game 7 of the second round two seasons ago. This time around, it is a nightmare for Vancouver; they’ve lost 10 of 13 games, and never even a 4-2 victory over the Wild to finish the week is sufficient to get them out of the basement. Things will get even worse if Quinn Hughes is traded, but right away, he’s just attempting to deal with hockey. And his teammates are only attempting to get back on even footing and string a few wins together, something that hasn’t happened in any respect in 2025-26. Getting Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko back should help this roster a minimum of get out of last, but right away, that is where we’re at.