Carolina Hurricanes lead the ESPN Power Rankings after another week of the 2026-27 NHL season, though the top five sees significant movement. Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers swap positions, while Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning round out the top five. A special fantasy hockey takeover features Sean Allen covering the Eastern Conference and Victoria Matiash the West, identifying surprises for all 32 teams.
The rankings, determined by a panel of ESPN hockey commentators, reflect games through Wednesday, with points percentages through Thursday's contests. Pyotr Kochetkov of the Hurricanes continues his strong start, posting a .921 save percentage with two shutouts. For Minnesota, Ryan Hartman struggles to satisfy fantasy categories despite the team's Central Division standing. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins revives his fantasy value in Edmonton, while James Hagens impresses as a rookie for Boston. Charle-Edouard D'Astous remains a valuable pickup for Tampa Bay.
Further down the list, the Vegas Golden Knights feature Rasmus Andersson's limited fantasy impact despite power-play time. Each team entry includes upcoming seven-day schedules and specific fantasy advice, making this weekly poll essential for managers navigating the early season landscape.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing