Super 16: Rangers enter top 5 of power rankings, Bruins remain No. 1

The New York Rangers have busted through the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars to crack the top five in the NHL.com Super 16 power rankings.

The Rangers are in this week at No. 5 ahead of the Maple Leafs, who dropped two spots to No. 6, and the Stars, who fell one to No. 7. New York received one more voting point than Toronto.
The Tampa Bay Lightning also leapfrogged the Maple Leafs to ascend to No. 4 this week, two voting points behind the New Jersey Devils.
The Pacific Division is well-represented with five teams getting in the Super 16 including the Vegas Golden Knights, who advanced three spots to No. 9, and the Los Angeles Kings, who moved up two to No. 11.
The Calgary Flames are the fifth team from the Pacific; they're No. 16 with 10 voting points, one more than the Washington Capitals.
As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the 13 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 is given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on down the line.
Here is the Super 16 with some thoughts on the ranked teams from each of the voting staff members:

1. Boston Bruins (41-8-5)

Total points: 206
Last week: No. 1
"For those expecting the Bruins to falter after their impressive first half, well, keep waiting. Boston is 6-3-1 in its past 10 and showing no signs of slowing down. Their 3-2 overtime victory at the Stars on Tuesday was a statement win against the best team in the Western Conference. The only issue facing the Bruins these days, it seems, is how much it will cost to retain pending unrestricted free agent David Pastrnak, who scored the overtime goal against the Stars. The price seems to be getting higher with every game." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

2. Carolina Hurricanes (36-10-8)

Total points: 195
Last week: No. 2
"The Hurricanes are everything we expect them to be … except when they play the Rangers. For some reason, the Hurricanes just can't seem to figure out them out. New York defeated Carolina in seven games in the Eastern Conference Second Round last season and has two wins in as many games against the Hurricanes since Jan. 3, including 6-2 on Saturday. But Carolina is first in the Metropolitan Division, a Stanley Cup contender gearing up to play and host its first outdoor game, the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series against the Washington Capitals at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN360, TVAS2). The Hurricanes don't necessarily have to go shopping for help before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 3, but they could fill the hole left by forward Max Pacioretty's Achilles injury to make themselves a bigger threat coming playoff time. That's what I expect they will do." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

3. New Jersey Devils (35-14-5)

Total points: 169
Last week: No. 3
"The Devils continue to roll, like they have for much of this season, despite being without Jack Hughes for the past three games because of an upper-body injury. New Jersey is 13-3-3 since Dec. 30, with goalie Vitek Vanecek going 11-0-1. The Devils' 1-7-1 slide from Dec. 9-28 looks to be an aberration after they went 21-4-1 in their first 26 games. With a younger roster, they'll need to continue to prove themselves as the season progress and the intensity picks up. But they've given general manager Tom Fitzgerald every reason to give them some help (maybe a top-six forward with size and playoff experience?) before the trade deadline." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (35-16-3)

Total points: 167
Last week: No. 5
"Two wins against the Colorado Avalanche in one week? The Lightning are rounding into form in an Atlantic Division that looks absolutely terrifying. They have an all-world goalie in Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov had an 11-game point streak (four goals, 12 assists) and they are undaunted by the team that defeated them in the Stanley Cup Final last season. The Lightning are the Lightning and, given the past five seasons, I'm not sure there's a higher compliment than that." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

5. New York Rangers (32-14-8)

Total points: 147
Last week: No. 7
"The Rangers are riding high with six straight wins and going 13-2-2 in their past 17. New York did some trade deadline shopping early by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9 to fill its top-six wing need. The Rangers have Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox, who each have at least 50 points this season, and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin. With fewer than 30 games remaining, they've hit their stride and gearing up for another deep Stanley Cup Playoff run." -- David Satriano, staff writer

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (33-14-8)

Total points: 146
Last week: No. 4
"The Maple Leafs remain one off the most perplexing teams in the NHL. Are they good? Yes. They are elite. They have survived key injuries, including to forward Auston Matthews and goalie Matt Murray, and they have prospered. The problem is they are surrounded by good teams. They could be a top-five team in the NHL, but they are the third-best team in the Atlantic Division behind the Bruins and Lightning. They are going to have to find a way to get better or they could be out in the first round yet again and have another promising season fizzle out much too early. It is not the ideal place to be with six weeks left in the regular season." -- Shawn P. Roarke, director of editorial

7. Dallas Stars (30-14-11)

Total points: 136
Last week: No. 6
"The Stars have made a leap forward. The question is, how much farther they can go? In 2020-21, they finished fifth in the Central Division and didn't qualify for the playoffs. Last season, they finished fourth and lost the Western Conference First Round in seven games to the Flames. Now, under new coach Peter DeBoer, they're in first and two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets. A good sign for the playoffs: They rank second in the NHL in goals-against per game (2.55) behind the Bruins (2.11)." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

8. Winnipeg Jets (34-20-1)

Total points: 117
Last week: No. 8
"The Jets were struggling a bit heading into the All-Star break, but they've righted things and are pretty much right where I figured they'd be at the moment. They've won two in a row since coming off the break/bye week and three straight going back to Jan. 30. Defenseman Josh Morrissey keeps racking up the points. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck remains steady; he was out sick for a 3-2 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday but could return against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. I don't foresee them doing anything flashy by the deadline, and why would you when everything is clicking along just fine?" -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

9. Vegas Golden Knights (33-18-4)

Total points: 92
Last week: No. 12
"The Golden Knights have exceeded expectations considering that goaltending was a big question mark before the season, and it still is. Rookie Logan Thompson excelled in place of an injured
Robin Lehner
(hip surgery last August) and went to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game. Now that Thompson is out for a while with a lower-body injury, Laurent Brossoit and Adin Hill need to step up. Even if we expect Thompson back before the regular season is over, the Golden Knights might look for depth at the position before the deadline." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

10. Edmonton Oilers (30-19-6)

Total points: 79
Last week: No. 10
"I don't think anyone would argue when I say the Oilers are unquestionably the most talented team up front in the Pacific Division. Connor McDavid looks on his way to another Hart Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL, and Leon Draisaitl is more than likely to again exceed 100 points. I have to believe general manager Ken Holland is searching for help on defense before the deadline. If he can find it, I think it's Edmonton's division to lose." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

11. Los Angeles Kings (30-18-7)

Total points: 77
Last week: No. 13
"The Kings have come out of the All-Star break playing about as well as they were before, winning their first two games by a combined 11-2 against teams desperate for points, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, and they're 5-1-1 in their past seven games. The offense has come from all four lines and goalie Pheonix Copley, who has started eight of the past nine, continues to give them a chance to win every game. Los Angeles could use a puck-moving left-shot defenseman to complement Drew Doughty and Sean Durzi on the right side, and they have several prospects who could be desirable to other teams. But what they have right now has been good enough to this point, so the Kings could stand pat and feel pretty good about where they're at and where they could potentially get to." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

12. Colorado Avalanche (29-19-5)

Total points: 73
Last week: No. 11
"The Avalanche have regained some health and appear to be a more confident group. They'll also look to gain headway in the standings once the schedule hits March and April, when 12 of their last 24 regular-season games are against teams currently not in a playoff position. The return of defenseman Bowen Byram, who missed three months with a lower-body injury, and the consistency of forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and defenseman Cale Makar, will play a big role down the stretch. Still, I wonder if Colorado has to find a player to fill the void left by Nazem Kadri (Flames), who had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 16 playoff games for the defending Stanley Cup champions last season. Maybe general manager Chris MacFarland is thinking the same thing and hopes to sure things up in a deadline deal for either Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) or Ryan O'Reilly (St. Louis Blues)?'-- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

13. Seattle Kraken (31-18-6)

Total points: 62
Last week: No. 9
"Seeing the Kraken in playoff position has to be an absolute thrill for Seattle fans, especially considering that they missed the playoffs by 37 points in their inaugural 2021-22 season. On paper, they still have an unassuming roster of players, almost all of whom had supporting roles with their previous teams. So what's changed? I have to think it's the team culture and their belief that they are way better than the fragile 60-point team of last season. The Kraken are still subpar on special teams and have nothing close to an elite scorer, but they are getting the job done by committee and are among the best scoring teams in the NHL thanks to their 10 forwards with double-digit goals and two other skaters with nine. Trading for one or two reliable penalty killers could be their best tactical move." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

14. Pittsburgh Penguins (27-17-9)

Total points: 48
Last week: No. 14
"The Penguins are 8-8-4 in 20 games since returning from the Christmas break. They were 19-9-5 prior to the holiday. They're still living off their remarkable 18-game stretch from Nov. 9-Dec. 15, when they were 14-2-2, first in the NHL in that stretch in wins, points (30) and points percentage (.833). What they have done in the past 20 games is stay above water. They'll drown by the end of the season if they continue down the same path. The Penguins need an infusion, particularly a forward or two to bolster their top-nine forward depth. They're a two-line team, and that's not going to be good enough even if Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead those two lines. But for now, they are hanging on and they have games in hand on the teams chasing them for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, four on the Capitals and New York Islanders, and five on the Florida Panthers."-- Rosen

15. Minnesota Wild (28-21-5)

Total points: 17
Last week: No. 15
"Kirill Kaprizov is scoring at least every other game, if not more. That's the good news for Minnesota. But it's when Kaprizov doesn't produce that the Wild start to throw up their hands and look around. They've lost five of six and are 3-7-1 and averaging fewer than two goals per game in their past 11. Like the Penguins, the Wild are hanging on in the playoff race but won't for too much longer if they stay goal starved. They should be in the market to add a center. Toews and O'Reilly would fit the bill, but they would for a lot of other teams too."-- Rosen

16. Calgary Flames (25-19-11)

Total points: 10
Last week: Unranked
"Six of the 13 voters had the Flames in their rankings versus five for the Capitals. That's how close it is, and that's how telling it is too. Neither Calgary nor Washington has been exactly lighting the NHL on fire lately. But for Calgary, it's the points being left on the table that matter. The Flames are tied with the Stars and San Jose Sharks for the most losses after regulation (11). They had leads in the third period against the Rangers on Feb. 6 and the Ottawa Senators on Monday, but lost both in overtime. They had a lead late in the second against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 9 and lost in regulation. If the Flames can turn those fortunes around, they will be a playoff team. They're built to be one." -- Rosen

Others receiving points:Washington Capitals 9, Buffalo Sabres 7, Florida Panthers 6, New York Islanders 4, Nashville Predators 1
Dropped out:Islanders (No. 16)

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Vegas Golden Knights; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Calgary Flames
BRIAN COMPTON
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Minnesota Wild
NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Calgary Flames
TOM GULITTI
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Washington Capitals
ADAM KIMELMAN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. New York Rangers; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Buffalo Sabres; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Pittsburgh Penguins; 16. Minnesota Wild
ROBERT LAFLAMME
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Washington Capitals
MIKE G. MORREALE
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Edmonton Oilers; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Seattle Kraken
TRACEY MYERS
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Calgary Flames
SHAWN P. ROARKE
1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Buffalo Sabres; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Nashville Predators
DAN ROSEN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Seattle Kraken
DAVID SATRIANO
1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. Vegas Golden Knights; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Florida Panthers
PAUL STRIZHEVSKY
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Minnesota Wild
MIKE ZEISBERGER
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. Calgary Flames; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Minnesota Wild
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