Super 16: Golden Knights take No. 1 spot; Islanders, Oilers enter rankings

The holiday season has arrived. Some gifts have already been given to those who celebrate Hanukkah. Santa and his helpers are wrapping Christmas gifts. However, for some NHL teams, presents came early.

We're talking about depth for the Vegas Golden Knights, No. 1 this week in the NHL.com Super 16. We're talking about rookies in Boston, a backup goalie who has found the fountain of youth in New York and a No. 1 who is enjoying the sunny SoCal life in Los Angeles.

They are the surprise gifts that arrived before the holiday season. The 16 teams ranked this week all got at least one, some more. It's made for a festive first two months of the season.

Read on for more, but as a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the voters put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the Super 16.

1. Vegas Golden Knights (20-5-5)

Total points: 201
Last week: No. 4

"The Golden Knights have had 23 skaters play at least one game this season, and each has scored. The stars have been their stars, but everyone has contributed. That includes defenseman Brayden McNabb, who has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 30 games and is on place for an NHL career high. He is also tied with forward William Karlsson for the team lead with a plus-11 rating, averaging 20:15 of ice time per game. Surprise, surprise. Or maybe not. They are the defending Stanley Cup champions." -- David Satriano, staff writer

2. Boston Bruins (18-5-4)

Total points: 194
Last week: No. 2

"I didn't expect rookie centers Matthew Poitras and Johnny Beecher to make the team at the start of the season, so I think any contribution they've made should be counted as a surprise. There have certainly been ups and downs for both -- coach Jim Montgomery had a sit-down with Poitras last week after a healthy scratch and a third-period benching -- but there's no question both have been pleasant surprises for a team deeply in need of centers. Poitras has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 26 games, and Beecher had been a steady presence on the fourth line and defensively, with five points (four goals, one assist) in 26 games." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

3. New York Rangers (19-7-1)

Total points: 177
Last week: No. 1

"Jonathan Quick continues to be the surprise gift that keeps on giving for the Rangers. He's a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a potential future Hall of Famer, but there were questions about Quick's ability to still be an effective NHL goalie, even in a backup role. Last season did not go well for him even though he contributed to the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup championship. He was 16-15-6 with a 3.41 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in 41 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Golden Knights. But Quick has been a huge addition for the Rangers. He's 8-0-1 with a 2.20 GAA and .922 save percentage in 10 games and proving at 37 years old that there are plenty of saves left in his pads." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

4. Los Angeles Kings (16-6-4)

Total points: 172
Last week: No. 3

"The Kings knew their forward and defensive depth was strong enough to contend for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The question was in net. They knew they needed quality goaltending to go from a Stanley Cup Playoff contender to a Cup contender. Enter Cam Talbot, the surprise. Talbot signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Kings on July 1. He has already played beyond the value of that contract. Talbot is 12-5-2 with a 2.02 GAA, .927 save percentage and two shutouts in 19 games. The Kings are fourth in the NHL in points percentage (.692). The surprise and the reward go hand in hand." -- Rosen

5. Vancouver Canucks (20-9-1)

Total points: 139
Last week: No. 7

"Filip Hronek already has 27 points (two goals, 25 assists) in 30 games. His NHL career high is 39 points (nine goals, 30 assists), which he got last season in 64 games, with 38 coming in 60 games with the Detroit Red Wings and one in four games with the Canucks after they got him in a trade on March 1 for a couple of draft picks. They even got a fourth-round pick to come with him from Detroit. Yet here is Hronek on the Canucks' top defense pair alongside Quinn Hughes sporting a plus-21 rating and averaging 24:16 of ice time per game. No matter the narrative now, Hronek has been a pleasant surprise for arguably the NHL's most surprisingly consistent team." -- Rosen

6. Colorado Avalanche (18-9-2)

Total points: 132
Last week: No. 5

"The Avalanche coveted Ross Colton before landing the forward in a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2023 NHL Draft. But the center has exceeded expectations and is on pace for NHL career highs of 23 goals and 40 points. He has been good on the power play and provided, in a more robust and comprehensive manner than expected, the depth sought by a Cup-contending team." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-6-6)

Total points: 128
Last week: No. 10

"When Calle Jarnkrok scored an NHL career-high 20 goals last season, there were suggestions among observers that he'd reached his ceiling. Not so fast. The 32-year-old is proving that maybe all those who were surprised with his production last season, well, they shouldn't be. The forward has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 27 games and is on pace to set another career high for goals (22). His versatility is underrated too; he's played on Toronto's top three lines and been effective in all those roles." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

8. Florida Panthers (17-10-2)

Total points: 124
Last week: No. 9

"It's not like nobody knew Sam Reinhart was good. He’s scored 30-plus goals twice and at least 20 in five other seasons, which has been convincing enough. The surprising part is the level Reinhart has elevated his game to this season. The 28-year-old forward has had at least two points in 13 of 29 games. His 17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points, seven power-play goals, four game-winning goals and 23.9 percent shooting percentage all lead the Panthers -- a surprise they could hardly count on in preseason. He is on pace for 48 goals and 105 points, which would each be an NHL career high." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

9. Dallas Stars (16-8-3)

Total points: 115
Last week: No. 6

"Mason Marchment was signed by the Stars to bolster their scoring in the summer of 2022, but he has surprised me with how productive he's been to start this season. He has 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) through 27 games. At this rate, he has a great chance of topping his numbers from last season, his first with the Stars, when he had 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 68 games. Granted, he played with a heavy heart last season: his father, former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment, died July 6, 2022, one week before Mason signed a four-year, $18 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) with the Stars. This season, he's looking great. Dallas has had balanced scoring, and Marchment has been a big part of that." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

10. Winnipeg Jets (17-9-2)

Total points: 104
Last week: No. 11

"It may not come as a surprise to the Jets, forward Mark Scheifele or goalie Connor Hellebuyck, but having them sign identical seven-year, $59.5 million contract extensions ($8.5 million AAV) two days before Winnipeg opened the season can fairly be labeled unexpected. The thought here was that Scheifele and Hellebuyck each would begin the season uncertain about his future and that once January rolled around they would be in all of the trade rumors. But signing them solidified the Jets, took away a storyline that could have had negative consequences and lengthened Winnipeg's window to win. It has worked wonders this season. The Jets are competing for first place in the Central Division, Hellebuyck is a contender for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie, and Scheifele leads Winnipeg with 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists)." -- Rosen

11. New York Islanders (14-7-7)

Total points: 56
Last week: Unranked

“You have to believe the Islanders are thrilled with the development of Simon Holmstrom, their first-round pick (No. 23) from the 2019 NHL Draft. After scoring six goals in 50 NHL games as a rookie last season, the 22-year-old forward has eight in 27 games this season, including four short-handed, which leads the League. Holmstrom has been dependable in all situations and should only get better as the season progresses." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

12. Edmonton Oilers (13-13-1)

Total points: 54
Last week: Unranked

"Sam Gagner came to the Oilers looking for a job and has been a surprise gift for them heading toward the Christmas break. Gagner had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, helping Edmonton extend its winning streak to eight games. Gagner was invited to training camp on a professional tryout and, because of hip surgery in the offseason, was unable to play any preseason games. He started the season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, where he had five points (one goal, four assists) in five games. He worked his way back to the NHL and is a regular in the lineup under Kris Knoblauch, who replaced Jay Woodcroft as coach Nov. 12. Gagner has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 15 games and has become an important member of the fourth line." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

13. Detroit Red Wings (15-10-4)

Total points: 43
Last week: No. 8

"Patrick Kane is like the gift at the end of ‘A Christmas Story.’ You think you've opened everything -- offseason additions like J.T. Compher, Shayne Gostisbehere and Alex DeBrincat -- and then, suddenly -- surprise, you get a shooter. Kane has two points (one goal, one assist) in five games since signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract as an unrestricted free agent Nov. 28, and he's still getting up to speed after having hip resurfacing surgery June 1. The forward had 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) in 73 games on one leg last season. What can he do if healthy? Detroit opponents, beware. He'll shoot your eye out." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

14. Washington Capitals (14-8-4)

Total points: 38
Last week: No. 16

"The Capitals' surprise so far this season has been Anthony Mantha. The forward has found his scoring confidence under coach Spencer Carbery and is third on Washington with seven goals in 22 games. Mantha has dealt with injuries and struggled with consistency since being acquired by the Capitals in a trade with the Red Wings on April 12, 2021, and scored 11 goals in 67 games last season. The 29-year-old was a healthy scratch the second game of this season and missed three games with a ruptured ear drum (Nov. 10-14). But he has rediscovered his game playing on a line with Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael and given the Capitals’ struggling offense a much-needed boost with four goals in his past eight games." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

15. Philadelphia Flyers (16-10-3)

Total points: 35
Last week: No. 15

"It's difficult to call Sean Couturier a surprise. He's a two-time 30-goal scorer and won the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2020. But what is a bit surprising is how seamlessly he's returned after missing 22 months, including all of last season, recovering from two back surgeries. Couturier is as impactful for Philadelphia as he was before his back issues. He's tied with defenseman Travis Sanheim for second on the team with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) as the center on the top line with Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster. He's also playing on the top power-play and penalty-kill units and is the Flyers’ most reliable player whether they are defending a lead or in need of a goal late in a game." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

16. New Jersey Devils (15-11-1)

Total points: 26
Last week: No. 14

"There were many questions surrounding Alexander Holtz entering the season, including whether the forward would finally be able to make significant contributions on offense. The 21-year-old, who was selected No. 7 in the 2020 NHL Draft, is earning his keep this season. He is fourth on the Devils with eight goals and tied with center Nico Hischier and defenseman John Marino for eighth with 12 points, each NHL career highs, while averaging 12:39 of ice time in 27 games. He's always had great self-awareness and a commitment to improving all areas of his game, and it seems to be paying dividends in a middle-six role." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Others receiving points: Nashville Predators 13, Carolina Hurricanes 10, Tampa Bay Lightning 7

Dropped out from last week: Hurricanes (No. 12), Arizona Coyotes (No. 13)

New Amsterdam Game of the Week

Each week, NHL.com will highlight one game that features two teams in the Super 16. This week, it's the No. 12 Edmonton Oilers against the No. 11 New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNW).

The Oilers and Islanders have played their way back into the Super 16 this week, Edmonton courtesy of an eight-game winning streak and the Islanders courtesy of having gone 6-0-1 in their past seven games. It will be interesting to see where the teams are trending by the time they meet. They could be playing their way into the top eight or out of the Super 16 altogether.

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED ’EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Boston Bruins; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Los Angeles Kings; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Vancouver Canucks; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Washington Capitals; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Edmonton Oilers

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Boston Bruins; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Vancouver Canucks; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Nashville Predators

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Carolina Hurricanes

TOM GULITTI

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Vancouver Canucks; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. New York Islanders; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Carolina Hurricanes; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Edmonton Oilers

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. New York Rangers; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Vancouver Canucks; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. Nashville Predators; 16. New Jersey Devils

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Los Angeles Kings; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Vancouver Canucks; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Nashville Predators

TRACEY MYERS

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Vancouver Canucks; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Detroit Red Wings; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. New Jersey Devils

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Los Angeles Kings; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Vancouver Canucks; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Nashville Predators; 12. Winnipeg Jets; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Carolina Hurricanes; 16. Washington Capitals

DAN ROSEN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vancouver Canucks; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. New York Islanders; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Washington Capitals

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Carolina Hurricanes; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Nashville Predators

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Vancouver Canucks; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Carolina Hurricanes

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Vancouver Canucks; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Edmonton Oilers; 15. Nashville Predators; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Los Angeles Kings; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Vancouver Canucks; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. Philadelphia Flyers; 16. New Jersey Devils