Super 16: Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights top final power rankings

The Stanley Cup celebration is still going on in Las Vegas, but the hockey world turns its focus to Nashville next week as the offseason is in full swing and the 2023 NHL Draft awaits.

Before we get to Nashville for the draft, we figured what better way to close the book on the 2022-23 season and look ahead to the 2023-24 season than with a final Super 16 power rankings.

The Vegas Golden Knights are the obvious and unanimous No. 1 after rolling through the Stanley Cup Playoffs to a championship, needing just 22 games to win 16. But it gets interesting and unpredictable after that, kind of like what the offseason is going to be like.

So, here are the final rankings of the season with a look ahead to what business each of the 16 ranked teams must tend to this offseason.

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. A point total assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on down the line.

There were 15 voters this week. Here is the Super 16:

1. Vegas Golden Knights (51-22-9)

Defeated Winnipeg Jets in first round, Edmonton Oilers in second round, Dallas Stars in Western Conference Final and Florida Panthers in Stanley Cup Final

Total points: 240

"Not party too hard. Seriously, did you see the parade? If the Golden Knights keep this up, they won't be able to skate come training camp. Other than that, the biggest issue is goaltending. Robin Lehner's status is uncertain. Logan Thompson is signed for two more seasons, but Adin Hill, Laurent Brossoit and Jonathan Quick each can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Hill was the hero in the playoffs. Does he parlay that into a new contract in Vegas or elsewhere?"-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

2. Dallas Stars (47-21-14)

Defeated Minnesota Wild in first round, Seattle Kraken in second round, lost to Golden Knights in conference final

Total points: 197

"The Stars had a good run, making it to the conference final before losing to the Golden Knights. If they could use anything this offseason, it would probably be some depth on defense. Miro Heiskanen is clearly the defensive star of the Stars (sorry), but you could argue he had to play too much in the playoffs. He logged 528:10 of ice time in 19 postseason games, easily leading Dallas. Defenseman Ryan Suter was next at 443:44. Getting a depth defenseman would help the Stars and Heiskanen." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

3. Carolina Hurricanes (52-21-9)

Defeated New York Islanders in first round, New Jersey Devils in second round, lost to Panthers in Eastern Conference Final

Total points:190

"The Hurricanes were rolling through the first two rounds of the playoffs until they got to the conference final and were swept by the Panthers, losing each game by one goal. While they should be one of the Stanley Cup favorites again next season, Carolina has a lot of business to take care of this offseason and it starts with goaltending. Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta can each become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and general manager Don Waddell needs to decide if one or both of them will be back. Keep in mind, they also have Pyotr Kochetkov, who had a solid rookie season. Carolina has a number of pending UFA forwards, including Jordan Staal and Paul Stastny, but the goaltending situation likely will need to be sorted out first." -- David Satriano, staff writer

4. Florida Panthers (42-32-8)

Defeated Boston Bruins in first round, Toronto Maple Leafs in second round, Hurricanes in conference final, lost to Golden Knights in Stanley Cup Final

Total points: 183

"The biggest thing the Panthers need to do this offseason is heal. They had several players with significant injuries by the end of the Stanley Cup Final, including forward Matthew Tkachuk (fractured sternum) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (shoulder), who is expected to have surgery and miss the start of training camp. And coach Paul Maurice said there is another, yet-to-be-named player whose injury might cause him to miss the start of camp. Florida also needs to figure out whether to re-sign potential unrestricted free agent defensemen Radko Gudas and Marc Staal and upgrade its depth at forward." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

5. Edmonton Oilers (50-23-9)

Defeated Los Angeles Kings in first round, lost to Golden Knights in second round

Total points: 174

"The Oilers pushed the Golden Knights the hardest in the playoffs and had it not been for a break or two, could have won the title themselves. Forwards Connor McDavid (153 points; 64 goals, 89 assists) and Leon Draisaitl (128 points; 52 goals, 76 assists) have a strong supporting cast around them, but the Oilers need to improve their depth on defense. Darnell Nurse was suspended for Game 5 against Vegas with the best-of-7 series tied 2-2 and was sorely missed in a 4-3 loss. Mattias Ekholm was an excellent trade deadline acquisition from the Nashville Predators, but Edmonton likely needs another top-four defenseman. Goaltending also needs to improve. Stuart Skinner had a solid regular season and is a Calder Trophy finalist as the NHL's top rookie, but he struggled in the playoffs with a 3.68 goals-against average and .883 save percentage. Jack Campbell was not given a start in the playoffs, having lost the No. 1 job due to his struggles in the regular season."-- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

6. Boston Bruins (65-12-5)

Lost in first round to Panthers

Total points:163

"I think we can confidently say that the Bruins won't have the same sort of regular season in 2023-24 that they did in 2022-23, when they set NHL records for points and wins. But I don't think they're going to go into freefall either. The big question for them -- just as it was last season -- is whether Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will be back. Both forwards are unrestricted free agents, both are considering retirement, both will only sign with the Bruins if they elect to return to the NHL. It's a big swing, but even if neither returns, Boston should contend for the playoffs -- and could even have a better showing than its disappointing first-round exit this season."-- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

7. New Jersey Devils (52-22-8)

Defeated Rangers in first round, lost to Hurricanes in second round

Total points:153

"The Devils have been busy this offseason and have plenty more left to do according to general manager Tom Fitzgerald. On June 9, they gained a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by trading defenseman Damon Severson to the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing him to an eight-year contract ($6.25 million average annual value). Six days later, forward Jesper Bratt agreed to an eight-year contract ($7.875 million AAV). New Jersey is now working toward signing another key piece, forward Timo Meier, who can become a restricted free agent July 1. Beyond that, short-term decisions need to be made on pending unrestricted free agent forwards Tomas Tatar, Miles Wood and UFA defenseman Ryan Graves. With the emergence of goalie Akira Schmid behind Vitek Vanecek during the playoffs, it'll be interesting to see how the Devils intend to handle RFA goalie Mackenzie Blackwood." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (50-21-11)

Defeated Tampa Bay Lightning in first round, lost to Panthers in second round

Total points:133

"Incoming general manager Brad Treliving has plenty on his to-do list in the near future. Can he get Auston Matthews to sign long term? Can he do the same regarding William Nylander who, like Matthews, is entering the final year of his contract? Will Sheldon Keefe be back as coach? If not, then who? Is there enough cap space to woo center Ryan O'Reilly back to Toronto? Does he want to return? There are so many offseason questions surrounding this team. Treliving really does have his work cut out for him." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

9. Colorado Avalanche (51-24-7)

Lost to Kraken in first round

Total points:131

"With the uncertainty surroundings captain Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche need to look for a star forward or surely to add solid depth up front. The 30-year-old forward is expected to miss next season after having a cartilage transplant in his right knee. His injury also kept him out of this season. Colorado missed him dearly on the ice, but also for the leadership he brings in the dressing room. The team has only six forwards under contract, one more than defensemen. General manager Chris MacFarland will be very busy." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

10. Seattle Kraken (46-28-8)

Defeated Avalanche in first round, lost to Stars in second round

Total points: 116

"Seattle didn't have any issues when it came to scoring last season with six players scoring at least 20 goals, but I feel the Kraken could use another strong defenseman on the back end. Dmitry Orlov is arguably the best unrestricted free agent defenseman and could be a fit if the price is right. The same is true about Radko Gudas, and maybe even Marc Staal since he made an impact with the Panthers. The Kraken also need to figure out their backup goaltending situation with Martin Jones a pending UFA."-- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (46-30-6)

Lost to Maple Leafs in first round

Total points:98

"Traditionally, the Lightning are not big players in free agency, having maxed out their cap space in a run for the Stanley Cup. That is the case again this offseason, despite going out in the first round. Barring a move to shed some player salary, there is precious little money with which to add to the roster. That is the bad news. The good news is this is still a roster capable of challenging for the Cup, especially with goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, defenseman Victor Hedman and forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos returning. The biggest need in free agency for the Lightning could be getting creative in finding a way to sign potential unrestricted free agent forward Alex Killorn, who has been an integral part of the run they made to the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row, winning twice."-- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

12. New York Rangers (47-22-13)

Lost to Devils in first round

Total points:86

"Peter Laviolette talked about the Rangers' need to become more of a blue-collar team in his introductory press conference Tuesday. There won't be many changes in New York because of salary cap reasons and players signed, but the Rangers need to adjust their depth to fit Laviolette's style. They could try to play Alexis Lafrenière, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil in their top-six forward group with Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider, which means Vincent Trocheck would have to drop into a third-line center role. That might work for the Rangers as they try to balance their lineup. Trocheck fits the blue-collar mold Laviolette wants, and he'd be effective regardless of who is on his line. They should try to re-sign Tyler Motte or a player like him because he's also in that mold. They need a backup goalie and could try to bring back Jaroslav Halak, who was solid behind Igor Shesterkin." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

13. Los Angeles Kings (47-25-10)

Lost to Oilers in first round

Total points: 66

"Despite the six-game loss to the Oilers in the first round, the Kings' 104-point regular season and their second consecutive playoff appearance was considered a success by most. To build on it, addressing the goalie situation will be general manager Rob Blake's top priority. With Pheonix Copley being the only goalie under contract, Los Angeles will be weighing all options, including free agency, trades, or re-signing Joonas Korpisalo. Ideally, the Kings are looking for a proven No. 1, but with their limited cap space it will require a lot of creativity to procure one. Signing a veteran who would split the workload with Copley may be a more realistic goal." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

14. Minnesota Wild (46-25-11)

Lost to Stars in first round

Total points:47

"Signing Filip Gustavsson is the top priority for the Wild. The goalie can become a restricted free agent July 1, and after he outplayed Marc-Andre Fleury last season he should get the majority of the playing time next season. Fitting him under a salary cap that also includes big cap charges for the buyouts of forward Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will be challenging and could lead to the departures of defensemen Matt Dumba and John Klingberg, each of whom can become an unrestricted free agent. The potential of having to replace two veteran right-shot defensemen won't be easy, but the Wild can't afford to lose a 25-year-old goalie whose 2.10 goals-against average and .931 save percentage were second in the NHL among goalies to play at least 20 games." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

15. New York Islanders (42-31-9)

Lost to Hurricanes in first round

Total points: 30

"The Islanders have the offseason to figure out how to get younger and faster. They clearly have the goaltending with Vezina Trophy finalist Ilya Sorokin, and the bulk of the defense is in its prime. But the inability to consistently provide offense nearly cost them a playoff berth, and it carried into the postseason in their first-round loss to the Hurricanes. Perhaps next season is when Oliver Wahlstrom breaks through, but they need to find a consistent goal-scorer on the wing this summer." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

16. Winnipeg Jets (46-33-3)

Lost to Golden Knights in first round

Total points: 11

"The Jets were a disappointment in the end, losing in five games against the Golden Knights in the first round after winning Game 1. There could be big changes coming. In fact, the Jets could be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the coming days and weeks. There is the potential that they could alter course dramatically and trade some of their major core players like goalie Connor Hellebuyck, and forwards Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler. Hellebuyck, Scheifele and Wheeler all have one year remaining on their contracts. Dubois is a restricted free agent. The decisions the Jets make in the immediate future will have a significant impact on their long-term outlook. They have gone backward since going to the Western Conference Final in 2018, so changing out some core pieces and rebuilding wouldn't be surprising or the worst thing to do." -- Rosen

Others receiving points: Buffalo Sabres 10, Calgary Flames 8, Nashville Predators 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 2

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Edmonton Oilers; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Calgary Flames; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Minnesota Wild

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Seattle Kraken; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Winnipeg Jets

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Seattle Kraken; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Winnipeg Jets

TOM GULITTI

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Boston Bruins; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. New York Rangers; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Winnipeg Jets

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Boston Bruins; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. New York Islanders

ROBERT LAFLAMME

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Florida Panthers; 5. Boston Bruins; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. New York Rangers; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Winnipeg Jets

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Seattle Kraken; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. New York Islanders; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Toronto Maple Leafs; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Los Angeles Kings

TRACEY MYERS

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Seattle Kraken; 6. Boston Bruins; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. New York Rangers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Winnipeg Jets

BILL PRICE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Boston Bruins; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Pittsburgh Penguins

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Boston Bruins; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. New York Rangers; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Nashville Predators; 16. Buffalo Sabres

DAN ROSEN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Seattle Kraken; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Buffalo Sabres

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Calgary Flames

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Florida Panthers; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. New York Islanders

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Seattle Kraken; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Minnesota Wild

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Boston Bruins; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Pittsburgh Penguins