NHL Power Rankings: A new No. 1, Rangers fall from top 10 and the league’s best deals

The most important day in the American calendar is finally here: Black Friday.

It’s a day to celebrate consumerism in all its glory with epic deals on TVs, toasters and coffee makers. At Power Rankings HQ, we wanted to join in on the festivities of this very important holiday.

We scoured the books for this week’s rankings to find the best Black Friday deals for each team. A guy scoring at a 40-goal pace making a million bucks? What a bargain! A top-five goalie for $2 million? What a steal!

Here are the 32 best values around the league this season.

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Last week: 2
Sean’s ranking: 1
Dom’s ranking: 1

He’s not the cheapest Hurricane ($6.5 million AAV), and Carolina is getting plenty of value from defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield, but we can’t say anyone other than Martin Necas. Is that because he took over first place leaguewide in points heading into Thanksgiving? Perhaps.

Even if he’d stayed in second place, Necas would still be locked in as the league’s foremost breakout star. He’s not just racking up points, either — he’s doing it more efficiently than anyone else in the league (5.58 per 60). With him producing at this level, Carolina’s top six makes a whole lot more sense.

Last week: 1
Sean’s ranking: 2
Dom’s ranking: 2

It’s not often that a team’s best deal belongs to their highest-paid player and the Jets certainly have other options, but the answer right now has to be Connor Hellebuyck. He is once again carrying Winnipeg to incredible heights and is looking like the Vezina front-runner. Hellebuyck’s consistency at such a volatile position is a marvel and when you compare what he’s doing to what others being paid roughly $8 million are doing, it’s not even close. It can be risky paying goalies big bucks, but that’s not the case for Hellebuyck. Year after year, he’s worth every penny and then some.

Last week: 3
Sean’s ranking: 3
Dom’s ranking: 3

For one more season, the Wild have Brock Faber on an entry-level deal and they’re certainly getting the most out of that forced bargain. Faber has leveled up from a strong rookie season to prove he’s every bit the elite No. 1 stud he looked to be in flashes. He’s dominating in a shutdown role, an impressive feat for such a young defender.

Last week: 7
Sean’s ranking: 4
Dom’s ranking: 5

The Capitals have a ton of great choices thanks to several players taking a big step forward, but we have to give the nod to Connor McMichael. He signed a two-year extension this summer worth $2.1 million per season and it’s safe to say he’s been worth way more than that to the Capitals. In 22 games he already has 13 goals, just five off last year’s career high of 18 with 60 games to go. He’s managed that while tilting the ice heavily on Washington’s shutdown line. McMichael looks like the real deal.

Last week: 10
Sean’s ranking: 6
Dom’s ranking: 4

No Golden Knights defender has been on for a higher goals percentage than Brayden McNabb; Vegas is outscoring opponents 23-10 in his minutes, plenty good enough for a player who makes less than $3 million this season and a necessary bit of economy on a top four that, aside from McNabb, counts more than $21 million against the cap.

Last week: 8
Sean’s ranking: 5
Dom’s ranking: 6

Nothing says “value” quite like a right-shot defenseman who can crush matchup minutes, and that’s what New Jersey has gotten from Johnathan Kovacevic this season. New Jersey’s goal share, expected and actual, are both above 60 percent when Kovacevic is on the ice, and plenty of that has to do with his ability to suppress offense. No defenseman in the league with at least 100 minutes played has been on the ice for fewer expected goals against per 60 than Kovacevic’s 1.59. That’s big-time stuff for anyone, let alone a player who cost the Devils just a fourth-round pick over the summer.

Last week: 5
Sean’s ranking: 7
Dom’s ranking: 8

Mason Marchment was a revelation in his last season with the Panthers. He scored at a 73-point pace and dominated puck possession to an incredible degree. It was the kind of breakthrough that put him on the map, enough to figure any team signing him was about to get a real steal. That didn’t happen for Dallas immediately, but in Year 3 of his deal, the Stars are getting a massive return on their investment. Marchment is right back at that ridiculous level we saw in 2021-22 scoring at a point-per-game pace and once again dominating the shot clock on a nightly basis. His line with Matt Duchene (also a steal!) and Tyler Seguin has easily been the team’s best and at $4.5 million, Marchment has been a bargain.

Last week: 9
Sean’s ranking: 9
Dom’s ranking: 7

Ask any Leafs fan who the team’s best defenseman is and a large majority will likely give you the same answer: Jake McCabe. His shutdown game is underrated and he’s taken that to another level this season with Chris Tanev, another defensive ace, to form one of the league’s stingiest pairs. McCabe has been a rock for the Leafs and an absolute bargain at only $2 million this season (with Chicago retaining 50 percent of his salary). Say what you will about Kyle Dubas’ tenure with the Leafs, but he seriously cooked with that deal.

9. Florida Panthers, 13-9-1

Last week: 6
Sean’s ranking: 8
Dom’s ranking: 9

Is it Sam Reinhart? It might have to be Sam Reinhart. The same Sam Reinhart who signed a $69 million contract in the offseason. When you’re leading the league in goals and scoring on nearly 28 percent of your shots, the salary number barely matters. (Florida will need someone outside of its very talented, very expensive core to step up, but that’s another issue for another time.)

Last week: 14
Sean’s ranking: 11
Dom’s ranking: 10

It’s Cale Makar, and we have two points to make. The first, and we’re breaking some ground here — man, this guy is really good. He’s 10th league-wide in scoring (30 points, more than Connor McDavid and seven ahead of the second defenseman), and the Avalanche are winning his minutes to a degree comparable to his Norris season in 2021-22. Back then, his on-ice expected goals plus/minus per 60 was 0.72. Currently, it’s at 0.66, 28th in the league among D-men with at least 100 minutes played.

The second: As good as Makar’s contract may be, it’s not a great sign that the Avs’ top value makes $9 million a year. Someone down the lineup needs to step forward.

Last week: 12
Sean’s ranking: 10
Dom’s ranking: 13

The Kings have used a by-committee approach to replacing Drew Doughty on the blue line, and they’ve gotten plenty of production from rookie Brandt Clarke along the way. Clarke leads the Kings’ blue line in points (15, six more than anyone else), on-ice goals for per 60 (3.48) and expected on-ice goals for per 60 (3.36).

Last week: 15
Sean’s ranking: 12
Dom’s ranking: 11

If you’re looking for a place for Evan Bouchard slander, you’ve come to the wrong spot. While Bouchard isn’t quite scoring at his usual rate, no one is for Edmonton. Everything else under the hood is business as usual for Bouchard, whose on-ice numbers are just as good as they were last season when he emerged as a Norris contender. His pair with Mattias Ekholm has officially been elevated to shutdown duties and have done a damn good job with that considering their current goaltending circumstances. Bouchard has more to give, but he’s still been really good — and at $3.9 million he’s still the best bargain on the team.

Last week: 11
Sean’s ranking: 15
Dom’s ranking: 12

Future Team Canada member Brandon Hagel signed a massive eight-year extension last year priced at $6.5 million per season, a deal that gave a lot of folks some sticker shock. “Hagel? $6.5 million?” There’s no shock these days with what he’s bringing to the table. After quietly scoring 75 points last season, Hagel has taken another leap with 26 points in 21 games this season which is second to only Nikita Kucherov on the Lightning. Yes, he’s got more than Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel while also soaking up matchup minutes on a fantastic shutdown line with Anthony Cirelli. Hagel is a helluva player.

Last week: 13
Sean’s ranking: 14
Dom’s ranking: 14

Flying way under the radar this summer was the Canucks adding Kiefer Sherwood at just $1.5 million. That’s looking like one of the best bargains of the offseason with how he’s started, scoring 2.9 points per 60. Sherwood has been so good that he’s earned a spot next to Elias Pettersson over the last six games, a stretch where he has three goals and five points while dominating at five-on-five.

Last week: 16
Sean’s ranking: 13
Dom’s ranking: 16

Calgary is getting a top-10 goaltending season, in both save percentage (.921) and goals saved above expected (8.43), from Dustin Wolf. Really good stuff from a 23-year-old rookie. He’s a big reason the Flames are up this high.

Last week: 4
Sean’s ranking: 16
Dom’s ranking: 15

One of the more disheartening things about the Rangers’ slide (if you’re a fan, at least) is the big-picture timing. If players like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad are aging out as difference-makers, it’s happening right as a bunch of younger guys are hitting their strides.

Will Cuylle might lead the way there — only Artemi Panarin has more points than Cuylle’s 18, and his line (with Kaapo Kakko and the currently sidelined Filip Chytil) has outscored opponents 10-0 while driving play. Not bad for a guy on an entry-level deal.

Last week: 17
Sean’s ranking: 17
Dom’s ranking: 17

It’s Tage Thompson. A superstar being paid just 0.92 Elias Lindholms per season? How could it be anyone else?

We would love to talk about anyone else in Buffalo, but every road leads back to Tage. He’s having a magnificent year at both ends of the ice, producing at a high level, and doing everything you’d want out of a franchise center. Tage is back, and he’s easily Buffalo’s best deal. Now if only the Sabres could get just fair value out of their other $7 million center …

Last week: 20
Sean’s ranking: 18
Dom’s ranking: 18

If you want a bit of shorthand for how Boston’s season is going — or how Don Sweeney’s offseason went — our pick for their top value is a league-minimum fourth-liner who’s been … fine. Give Cole Koepke some credit; eight points and solid play-driving in a bottom-six role counts for something. It’s the guys ahead of him who have been the problem.

Last week: 19
Sean’s ranking: 19
Dom’s ranking: 20

Next year when a $5 million extension kicks in, the answer to this question probably won’t be Joey Daccord. For now though, he’s making just $1.2 million as the team’s starter and ranks in the league’s top five for GSAx. The Kraken might be painfully mid, but they’d be a lot worse off if not for Daccord.

Last week: 21
Sean’s ranking: 20
Dom’s ranking: 19

At long last, Moritz Seider has a competent partner and the Red Wings have a terrific top pair. Simon Edvinsson has lived up to the hype so far and has been better than advertised for Detroit. The team’s top pair is getting buried in difficult minutes as usual, but Edvinsson’s presence has allowed Seider’s pair to not just survive those minutes, but dominate them. In 279 minutes together the pair has earned 58 percent of the expected goals while outscoring teams 10-5. Defensively, they’ve felt impenetrable. Edvinsson is the missing piece and, lucky for the Red Wings, is on an entry-level deal for this season and the next one. What he’s delivering at that price is exceptional.

Now about the rest of the defense…

Last week: 24
Sean’s ranking: 22
Dom’s ranking: 22

With 44 goals in his first 137 NHL games, we knew Kirill Marchenko could score. This season, though, he’s become a more productive playmaker, averaging nearly two assists per 60 minutes. Marchenko, along with Sean Monahan, have given the Blue Jackets two reliable first-line elements.

Last week: 26
Sean’s ranking: 23
Dom’s ranking: 21

Emil Andrae’s emergence has been a pleasant surprise along Philadelphia’s blue line. In his first 13 games, he (seemingly) won over John Tortorella and played to the best on-ice results of any Flyers defenseman. He’s a fun watch, too. Philly could use a few more like him.

Last week: 22
Sean’s ranking: 21
Dom’s ranking: 24

It’s been a weird season in Ottawa, but Drake Batherson isn’t to blame. He’s been a point-per-game guy, a top-10 scorer on the power play and a relatively decent play-driver at five-on-five. That’s plenty of value on a contract that pays him less than $5 million annually.

Last week: 25
Sean’s ranking: 24
Dom’s ranking: 23

There is exactly one goalie who’s saved more goals above expected this year than Lukas Dostal: Connor Hellebuyck. Pretty good company made even better by a near league-minimum salary. Dostal looks like Anaheim’s goalie of the future.

Last week: 27
Sean’s ranking: 26
Dom’s ranking: 25

When the Blues signed their dual offer sheets this summer, the number next to Philip Broberg’s name almost felt like a mistake. It was a lot of money for a guy who couldn’t crack a lineup that featured Cody Ceci and had struggled to make a name for himself after being picked in the top 10 of the 2018 draft. It was a big bet that how he looked in the playoffs was the real Broberg — that the Oilers didn’t know what they had in him.

Turns out, the Blues were right on the money there. Broberg looks like a legit top-four defenseman and Edmonton’s loss is St. Louis’ gain.

26. Utah HC, 9-10-3

Last week: 23
Sean’s ranking: 25
Dom’s ranking: 26

Filling in on the top pair is not easy. Michael Kesselring has made it look that way though. With Sean Durzi and John Marino out, it’s been him next to Mikhail Sergachev and so far he’s looked solid there. The pair has outscored opponents 6-3 and won the scoring chance battle to boot. That’s great work for $1.4 million.

27. New York Islanders, 8-10-5

Last week: 18
Sean’s ranking: 27
Dom’s ranking: 27

Value is tough to find overall on Long Island, given that they’re a cap-locked team that’s 27th in points percentage, but Maxim Tsyplakov has added something to the lineup in his first North American season. He’s got 13 points, the highest on-ice expected goals percentage on the team (58.99) and the Isles are winning his minutes 18-15. Once again, not bad for an entry-level contract.

Last week: 29
Sean’s ranking: 28
Dom’s ranking: 29

Three pairs play tougher minutes than Kaiden Guhle: Tampa Bay’s top pair, Detroit’s top pair and Carolina’s top pair. That’s the context needed for what Guhle has dealt with this season and he’s still managed to be Montreal’s best scoring chance suppressor. He has a real future as a shutdown force and will be a bargain on his $5.5 million extension, let alone the ELC he’s currently on.

29. Chicago Blackhawks, 8-12-2

Last week: 31
Sean’s ranking: 29
Dom’s ranking: 28

Chicago’s best forward (and arguably the best young forward in hockey) is still on his ELC so it would be silly not to pick anyone but Connor Bedard. While his production isn’t where many expected for his second season, a boom does feel like it’s coming. Bedard looks a lot better under the surface this year.

Last week: 28
Sean’s ranking: 31
Dom’s ranking: 30

If nothing else — and the Penguins, indeed, don’t have much else — Jesse Puljujarvi is having the exact sort of bounce-back season in a bottom-six role that plenty of us expected. Eight points and solid play-driving on an $800,000 AAV counts for something, regardless of how bad the rest of the roster might be.

Last week: 30
Sean’s ranking: 30
Dom’s ranking: 31

It’s not just that Jake Walman has been the Sharks’ best defenseman — it’s that they reeled in a second-round pick along with him. It was a bizarre move by Steve Yzerman at the time, and it’s only gotten worse. San Jose is outscoring opponents with Walman on the ice; they can’t say that about any of their other D-men. He’s got 15 points, too, and is playing on the top power-play unit. Seems like a useful fella!

Last week: 32
Sean’s ranking: 32
Dom’s ranking: 32

The top-paid Preds have been mediocre in most cases and terrible in others. They’re not getting any true breakout seasons, either. So let’s just give this one to Luke Evangelista (eight points in 21 games, not-putrid five-on-five numbers) and move on with our lives.

(Top photo of Martin Necas: James Guillory / Imagn Images)