McKeen's Hockey Prospects - NHL POWER POLL

October 18, 2005

George Bachul
McKeen's Hockey Prospects Staff

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NHL POWER POLL
Rank	TM	Comment
1		When you are scoring more than double what your opponent's are, success can't be far behind.

2		Sizzling 94.4% on the penalty kill and the second-least number of shots against per game keeps veteran team near the top.

3		NHL Player of the Week Steve Sullivan leads this puck-possession team (56.8% on faceoffs) to unbeaten start.

4		Leading the NHL in goals per game - without Mats Sundin.

5		Powerplay ranks 15th, penalty-killing is 29th, and barely outscoring opponents. But winning the close ones.

6		Really laying the rubber on opponents with over 37 shots per game on average. Also the least penalized team in the league.

7		White-hot Luongo pacing Panthers to good start despite team scoring at just 1.67 goals against per game.

8		'New World' Rangers skate and work hard, and the results have been very positive.

9		Offensive contributions coming from all sources like surprise leading scorer Derek Armstrong.

10		Scoring in bunches but need to tighten up on the backend. Goalies Niittymaki and Esche have a combined .855 save percentage.

11		Have yet to outshoot an opponent in any of their victories so far. In fact, the Wild have given up 7 more shots per game than they've taken.

12		Run-and-gun team is scoring well but also allowing far too many goals to be considered amongst the elite.

13		Lecavalier, Richards, St. Louis, yet still just 24th in the NHL in goals-per-game.

14		Currently sitting 7th in the NHL in goals against. Defense has to be good as they've been just middle of the pack offensively.

15		Near the top of the league in scoring led by super-sophomore Eric Staal. Rookie goaltender Cam Ward solid between the pipes as well.

16		Only taking an average of 23 shots per game but a solid defense keeps the Stars in every game.

17		The loss of Forsberg and Foote will undoubtedly hurt this team. Can still score, but the defensive presence is still missing.

18		Smyth hurt, Horcoff hurt, high-mileage blueliners Cory Cross and Igor Ulanov in the top six, Conklin pedestrian in goal. Markkanen has been solid though.

19		Raycroft playing decent but facing a lot of pucks this young season. Thornton is out with back troubles and Zhamnov has yet to play a game.

20		Sergei Fedorov has been disappointing and is now day-to-day with a sore groin. Powerplay has been anemic to say the least.

21		No Roman Hamrlik, No Kenny Jonsson, and Janne Niinimaa playing more like a man depressed than possessed.

22		Not the same team that went to the Cup finals in 2003-04. Feeling loss of character players like Gelinas and Conroy, and Kiprusoff looking human.

23		Special teams have been very average, but the real problem is that the Devils are being severely outplayed 5-on-5. No one named Scott around to solve the backend woes.

24		Aside from big back-to-back wins against Washington, Thrasher fans have little to cheer about though getting Kovalchuk signed will help. Injured Kari Lehtonen at root of the problem.

25		Just what you would expect from a Gretzky coached team - decent defensively but can't put the puck in the net! Golden Brett retiring helps clear logjam of one veteran struggler.

26		Sidney Crosby has no idea what it's like to win an NHL game with the Pens still looking for their first victory. Only Washington has allowed more goals.

27		Very young team in need of maturing. UFA's have yet to find cohesion while Khabibulin must do better than his current .866 save percentage.

28		Lalime has looked shaky, Brewer is not Pronger, and Jackman missed the first three games with shoulder problem. It's not looking good.

29		Ovechkin is the real deal but the firesale took a lot out of the franchise. Giving up nearly five goals per game.

30		Nash hurt, Zherdev poor, and not many other scoring weapons to compensate. Even rookie brightspot Gilbert Brule is out injured until November.