Division Power Rankings: Nashville Predators Plummet Further
By Chad Minton
Colin Blouin’s Rankings (@colinblouin)
team. 23. . 4-1-1 (9 PTS). Previous: 1st. Tampa Bay Lightning. 1
Previous: 2nd. Dallas Stars. 2. team. 119. . 4-1-1 (9 PTS)
team. 109. . 5-1-0 (10 PTS). Previous: 3rd. Carolina Hurricanes. 3
Previous: 4th. Florida Panthers. 4. team. 97. . 5-0-1 (11 PTS)
Previous: 5th. Nashville Predators. 5. team. 151. . 4-4-0 (8 PTS)
Columbus Blue Jackets. 6. team. 113. . 4-3-3 (11 PTS). Previous: 6th
Chicago Blackhawks. 7. team. 94. . 3-4-3 (9 PTS). Previous: 8th
2-6-2 (6 PTS). Previous: 7th. Detroit Red Wings. 8. team. 72.
Colin Blouin’s Rankings (@colinblouin)
Tampa Bay is still Tampa Bay, with all the speed and firepower one would want to see in a team. They look pretty damn good, though prone to slip-ups every now and again.
Dallas still looks like they could beat just about anyone any given night and also boasts some strong firepower and solid goaltending.
Carolina has an unrelenting offense that can really push time of possession but also strike at seemingly the first chance they get – they’re opportunistic and it makes them dangerous.
Florida seems to be maintaining the upward trajectory they were on at the end of 2020.
Nashville has flashes of solid team hockey, looking very strong when at even strength, but a woeful penalty kill coupled with a very bad powerplay makes special teams their undoing – if anything keeps them out of the playoffs, it will be that.
Columbus just doesn’t wow me, and I think it’s the inconsistency – they’re capable of being decent but can’t seem to show it night in and night out. Chicago is bad, but Detroit is worse, and there isn’t really much else I can say than that…at least nothing nice.