NHL Power Rankings: Updated poll, plus fantasy hockey surprises for all 32 teams

Through another week of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes remain atop the ESPN Power Rankings. But, there are big changes elsewhere in the Top 5 and beyond. And as a special treat, this week is another fantasy hockey takeover! Sean Allen (East) and Victoria Matiash (West) identified the biggest fantasy hockey surprise -- either good or bad -- for each team. It's not too late to play ESPN fantasy hockey, with new leagues starting every Monday. How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday. Those ballots are combined to come up with the rankings you see below. Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published on Oct. 30. Points percentages are through Thursday's games. 1. Carolina Hurricanes Previous ranking: 1 Points percentage: 77.78% Pyotr Kochetkov, G (4.75 fantasy points per game, 18.2% available): Kochetkov has never finished a full NHL season with a save percentage better than .911. He's at .921 this time, with two shutouts and just one regulation loss, and he's grabbed the bulk of Carolina's starts. Behind a team that allows barely 22 shots a game, this one has legs. Next seven days: vs. CHI (Nov. 7), vs. SEA (Nov. 12) 2. Minnesota Wild Previous ranking: 3 Points percentage: 73.53% Ryan Hartman, C (0.92 FPPG, 68.2% available): As the Wild establish themselves as the early team to track down in the Central Division, Hartman is becoming a casual supporting cast member in John Hynes' otherwise formidable lineup. A depressing state of affairs for fantasy managers accustomed to some production from the feisty forward who, suprisingly, isn't satisfying any categories at present. Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 6), vs. TB (Nov. 7), @ MTL (Nov. 10), @ TOR (Nov. 12) 3. Edmonton Oilers Previous ranking: 4 Points percentage: 73.53% Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/LW (2.76 FPPG, 29.4% available): Harkening back a few short weeks, there was minimal fantasy interest in the forward, who put up only mediocre numbers the past two seasons and started this campaign on IR. Fast-forward to now and the longest-serving Oiler of all time is picking up points like it's 2022-23. Skating on a power play with McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard certainly doesn't hurt. Next seven days: vs. VAN (Nov. 7), vs. NYR (Nov. 9), vs. PHI (Nov. 11) 4. Boston Bruins Previous ranking: 2 Points percentage: 73.53% James Hagens, C (1.98 FPPG, 62.8% available): The 20-year-old has wasted no time making his rookie season a fantasy story. Hagens is on pace to blow past every scoring mark he's ever set, Boston has dominated at 5-on-5 when he's out with Elias Lindholm and Casey Mittelstadt, and he's earned power-play time. Next seven days: vs. FLA (Nov. 8), vs. MTL (Nov. 12) 5. Tampa Bay Lightning Previous ranking: 6 Points percentage: 73.33% Charle-Edouard D'Astous, D (2.00 FPPG, 68.8% available): We flagged D'Astous as a pickup two weeks ago, and he's only strengthened his case. His power-play time has nearly tripled from last season, and he's been on the ice for most of Tampa's power-play time lately. Role-driven production on a contender is the kind that sticks. Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 7), @ WPG (Nov. 8), @ BUF (Nov. 11), @ CBJ (Nov. 12) 6. Vegas Golden Knights Previous ranking: 5 Points percentage: 66.67% Rasmus Andersson, D (1.52 FPPG, 13.0% available): He isn't anchoring the top power play -- that's a five-forward crew -- and he isn't leading his club in blocked shots -- that's Noah Hanifin -- so all Andersson is accomplishing right now is serving as a functional second-pair defender with five even-strength points in 17 games. A disappointing surprise. Next seven days: @ BUF (Nov. 8), vs. UTA (Nov. 11) 7. New Jersey Devils Previous ranking: 7 Points percentage: 68.75% Arseny Gritsyuk, LW/RW (1.97 FPPG, 56.6% available): Gritsyuk has the best seat in New Jersey, riding with Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes, and the trio has dominated the scoreboard at 5-on-5. He's also shooting at more than double his career rate, so expect the goals to slow. The linemates are why he should stay rostered when they do. Next seven days: @ NYI (Nov. 7), @ TOR (Nov. 8), @ WPG (Nov. 10), vs. WSH (Nov. 12) 8. Montreal Canadiens Previous ranking: 10 Points percentage: 71.88% Jacob Fowler, G (4.96 FPPG, 21.0% available): The 21-year-old has turned Montreal's crease into his own, going 7-1-1 with a .925 save percentage and two shutouts, including a 46-save gem against St. Louis. He's taken four of the last five starts, and with the Canadiens winning, the work should keep coming. Next seven days: @ TOR (Nov. 7), vs. MIN (Nov. 10), @ BOS (Nov. 12) 9. Dallas Stars Previous ranking: 11 Points percentage: 62.50% Miro Heiskanen, D (1.82 FPPG, 4.4% available): After a more productive start to the season, the Stars' top defenseman has five assists and zero goals (minus-three) to show for eight consecutive contests. Hardly terrible figures, but a disappointing surprise from what was anticipated from a figure expected to keep pace with some of the best fantasy blueliners in the biz. Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 7), vs. WPG (Nov. 12) 10. Utah Mammoth Previous ranking: 8 Points percentage: 61.76% Sebastian Cossa, G (1.33 FPPG, 98.6% available): He's already proving to be more valuable than Karel Vejmelka for his hockey club and fantasy managers alike. After getting his pro pads wet in his first legitimate shot at regular NHL competition, Cossa is establishing himself as a dependable go-to for a strong Utah club with plenty of talent out front. If the Mammoth don't trade for an upgrade in net, the 23-year-old is going to start piling up positive fantasy points quickly. Next seven days: @ OTT (Nov. 7), @ VGK (Nov. 11), vs. STL (Nov. 12) 11. Colorado Avalanche Previous ranking: 15 Points percentage: 58.82% Scott Wedgewood, G (-1.51 FPPG, 29.2% available): With Mackenzie Blackwood back in form, few expected the Avalanche's other netminder to repeat last year's impressive fantasy showing. But this season's flat-out surprisingly poor play from Wedgewood, when offered the occasional opportunity to start for one of the league's better teams, still inspires a shake of the head. Next seven days: vs. DET (Nov. 7), @ TOR (Nov. 10), @ OTT (Nov. 12) 12. Florida Panthers Previous ranking: 9 Points percentage: 62.5% Seth Jones, D (2.55 FPPG, 13.4% available): Jones is scoring like a point-per-game defender, and nothing about it screams fluke. He's logging more than 24 minutes a night with heavy power-play duty, his shot volume is way up and he's converting at his usual rate. Florida's quarterback is back to being a fantasy cornerstone at 32. Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 7), @ BOS (Nov. 8), @ CBJ (Nov. 10), vs. DET (Nov. 12) 13. Ottawa Senators Previous ranking: 13 Points percentage: 61.77% Linus Ullmark, G (5.30 FPPG, 9.4% available): Last season's struggles are a distant memory. Ullmark went 7-1-0 with a .945 save percentage before a lower-body injury landed him on injured reserve in late October. He wasn't expected to be out long, so if a frustrated manager in your league cut him loose, pounce. Next seven days: vs. UTA (Nov. 7), vs. WSH (Nov. 10), vs. COL (Nov. 12) 14. Seattle Kraken Previous ranking: 12 Points percentage: 63.33% Mackie Samoskevich, LW (1.84 FPPG, 92.6% available): While many suspected the young skater would enjoy the chance to further spread his wings away from an exceptionally stacked lineup in Florida, fewer projected he would blossom into a such a valuable fantasy performer so quickly. Skating alongside rising star Berkly Catton, the 23-year-old has three goals and four assists on his past six contests. Next seven days: vs. NYR (Nov. 7), vs. CAR (Nov. 12) 15. Washington Capitals Previous ranking: 14 Points percentage: 57.14% Jordan Kyrou, RW (1.98 FPPG, 33.8% available): Kyrou's scoring has outrun his usage. Fifteen minutes a night and fewer than two shots a game don't usually produce this kind of output, he's shooting well above his career mark and Washington has been outscored with him on the ice at 5-on-5. Enjoy the run, but consider trading him away. Next seven days: vs. FLA (Nov. 7), @ OTT (Nov. 10), @ NJ (Nov. 12) 16. Buffalo Sabres Previous ranking: 19 Points percentage: 56.67% Jack Quinn, RW (2.26 FPPG, 32.0% available): Quinn's shooting percentage is running well ahead of his career norm, so some regression is coming. What isn't going anywhere is the role: Buffalo has handed him nearly all of its power-play time lately, and he's skating 19 minutes per game. Even with fewer goals, that's a top-six fantasy winger. Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Nov. 6), vs. VGK (Nov. 8), vs. TB (Nov. 11), @ CHI (Nov. 12) 17. New York Islanders Previous ranking: 17 Points percentage: 53.33% Bo Horvat, C (2.49 FPPG, 7.8% available): At 31, Horvat is on pace to top his career highs, and the usage backs it up: nearly 22 minutes per game, close to four minutes on the power play and three shots a game. His shooting percentage is only a touch above his career norm. Some cooling has already crept in, but this is a legitimate No. 1 center. Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 7), @ SJ (Nov. 9), @ LA (Nov. 12) 18. Toronto Maple Leafs Previous ranking: 16 Points percentage: 52.94% Easton Cowan, LW/RW (1.76 FPPG, 35.3% available): Cowan's second season is shaping up as a breakout. The 21-year-old is on pace to shatter last season's numbers, his shot volume is way up, and Toronto has been dominant at 5-on-5 when he's out with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. Next seven days: vs. MTL (Nov. 7), vs. NJ (Nov. 8), vs. COL (Nov. 10), vs. MIN (Nov. 12) 19. Nashville Predators Previous ranking: 20 Points percentage: 59.38% Ryan O'Reilly, C (2.64 FPPG, 13.8% available): A solid collection of points, sure, but few had the Predators' top centerman boasting seven goals heading into Thursday's tilt with the Avalanche. That trend won't last, O'Reilly's current shooting percentage is unsustainable, but the veteran's all-around fantasy value remains underappreciated. Next seven days: vs. STL (Nov. 7), @ LA (Nov. 10), @ ANA (Nov. 11) 20. New York Rangers Previous ranking: 18 Points percentage: 55.88% Alexis Lafreniere, LW/RW (2.25 FPPG, 12.7% available): Lafreniere is on pace to blow past his career highs. His shot volume is up from last season, and he's getting about three minutes of power-play time a night. The rest is a shooting percentage running well above his career mark. Expect the goals to slow, but the 25-year-old has set a new floor. Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 7), @ EDM (Nov. 9), @ CGY (Nov. 11) 21. Detroit Red Wings Previous ranking: 21 Points percentage: 50% Viktor Arvidsson, RW (2.18 FPPG, 41.4% available): Arvidsson's power-play time has nearly doubled from last season, and the 33-year-old has turned it into his best fantasy run in years. His shooting percentage will drift back toward his career mark, but alongside Alex DeBrincat and Emmitt Finnie with steady power-play work, the floor stays high. Next seven days: @ COL (Nov. 7), @ STL (Nov. 10), @ FLA (Nov. 12) 22. St. Louis Blues Previous ranking: 23 Points percentage: 50% Jimmy Snuggerud, RW (1.84 FPPG, 65.5% available): While some of us mused the young winger could flirt with the 40-goal mark in his second year, Snuggerud's early rostership figures suggest we're not a large crowd. Well, even after a less auspicious start, the 23-year-old is on pace for 40-plus, and his fantasy numbers reflect as much. Next seven days: @ NSH (Nov. 7), vs. DET (Nov. 10), @ UTA (Nov. 12) 23. Anaheim Ducks Previous ranking: 26 Points percentage: 53.13% Beckett Sennecke, RW (2.51 FPPG, 14.8% available): The benefits of skating on a line and power play with Cutter Gauthier are coming to fantasy light in real time for the young winger. After accumulating 60 in his rookie season, Sennecke is comfortably on pace to hit the 80-point plateau, including a hefty portion counting with the extra skater. Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 6), vs. PIT (Nov. 8), vs. NSH (Nov. 11) 24. San Jose Sharks Previous ranking: 22 Points percentage: 44.12% Macklin Celebrini, C (2.71 FPPG, 0.1% available): Averaging 1.1 real points/game hardly cuts it for a top-five fantasy draft pick overall, especially one who banged out 115 just this past season. Fingers crossed that Wednesday's players' only meeting helps to altogether re-steer the Sharks' offensive ship, led by last year's Ted Lindsay Award finalist. Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 6), @ DAL (Nov. 7), vs. NYI (Nov. 9), vs. PIT (Nov. 11) 25. Columbus Blue Jackets Previous ranking: 25 Points percentage: 50% Charlie Coyle, C (1.99 FPPG, 54.9% available): At 34, Coyle is producing at a career-best clip. The difference is opportunity: he's getting more than three minutes of power-play time a night, about a minute more than last season, and he's shooting right around his career rate. That's a late-career bump with a real foundation under it. Next seven days: @ BUF (Nov. 6), vs. FLA (Nov. 10), vs. TB (Nov. 12) 26. Calgary Flames Previous ranking: 28 Points percentage: 46.88% Joel Farabee, LW/RW (2.32 FPPG, 40.2% available): Hands up if you had Farabee on pace for 80 points with the Flames in 2026-27. Right. Yet here we are, watching the former Flyer help Calgary win games by contributing from the top line and power play. Next seven days: vs. ANA (Nov. 6), vs. PHI (Nov. 8), vs. NYR (Nov. 11) 27. Los Angeles Kings Previous ranking: 29 Points percentage: 42.86% Quinton Byfield, C (1.33 FPPG, 59.7% available): With Anze Kopitar enjoying retired life, this is supposed to be the year the second-overall draft selection (2020) finally flourishes into a genuine star center. Not the case so far, although Byfield is showing signs of heating up. Hopefully this recent haul of three goals and an assist in three contests is only a harbinger of more to come. Next seven days: vs. PIT (Nov. 7), vs. NSH (Nov. 10), vs. NYI (Nov. 12) 28. Pittsburgh Penguins Previous ranking: 24 Points percentage: 37.5% Tommy Novak, C/LW (1.79 FPPG, 84.9% available): Novak's best fantasy asset right now is his company. He's been skating with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell lately, and his power-play time has more than doubled from last season. If that arrangement holds, the 29-year-old remains a worthwhile depth add. Next seven days: @ LA (Nov. 7), @ ANA (Nov. 8), @ SJ (Nov. 11) 29. Winnipeg Jets Previous ranking: 27 Points percentage: 44.12% Neal Pionk, D (1.92 FPPG, 40.6% available): Shouldering more of the load while Josh Morrissey recovers from a wrist injury, including logging valuable minutes on the Jets' top power play, Pionk is averaging nearly 2.0 fantasy points/game via a collection of goals, assists, shots, hits and blocked shots. Unfortunately for the defenseman's fantasy managers -- but very fortunately for the Jets -- Morrissey is due back in the next few days. Next seven days: vs. TB (Nov. 8), vs. NJ (Nov. 10), @ DAL (Nov. 12) 30. Philadelphia Flyers Previous ranking: 30 Points percentage: 33.33% Matvei Michkov, RW (1.94 FPPG, 25.2% available): Michkov is scoring on more than a third of his shots, which isn't sustainable for anyone. The real gain is on the power play, where his time has jumped by more than a minute a night. The 21-year-old is still a long-term fantasy building block, but expect the goal pace to cool. Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 8), @ VAN (Nov. 9), @ EDM (Nov. 11) 31. Chicago Blackhawks Previous ranking: 31 Points percentage: 26.47% Roman Kantserov, RW (1.44 FPPG, 91.3% available): Never mind the first three of weeks, as most ex-KHL skaters need a bit of time to adapt to the game on this side of the Atlantic. The 22-year-old has already warmed up nicely. Heading into Thursday's game against the Lightning, Connor Bedard's linemate is riding a six-game point streak with four goals and a pair of helpers. Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 7), vs. BUF (Nov. 12), vs. WPG (Nov. 14) 32. Vancouver Canucks Previous ranking: 32 Points percentage: 19.44% Brock Boeser, RW (1.94 FPPG, 32.6% available): All hail Elias Pettersson, and his scoring numbers this season, in re-convincing us masses he's not utterly washed up as an overpaid player. But savvy fantasy managers already knew the two-way center was a precious fantasy performer by way of his league-leading enthusiasm for blocking shots amongst forwards. So enter Boeser, who's making bales of productive hay alongside Pettersson, particularly with the man advantage. Next seven days: @ EDM (Nov. 7), vs. PHI (Nov. 9)