SportsNation Blog Archives NHL

Rank 'Em: NHL preseason rankings

September 30, 2013

Sep

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesAre Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks the NHL's best team?

Who's No. 1 in Pierre LeBrun's preseason NHL Power Rankings? It's the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, naturally, followed by the runner-up Boston Bruins, a trio of semi-surprises -- the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks -- then the reputed Pittsburgh Penguins. Do you agree? Click on the logos below to set your picks!

Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche
2012: 16-25-7, 39 points

Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks
36-7-5, 77 points

Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets
24-17-7, 55 points

Blues

St. Louis Blues
29-17-2, 60 points

Bruins

Boston Bruins
28-14-6, 62 points

Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens
29-14-5, 63 points

Canucks

Vancouver Canucks
26-15-7, 59 points

Capitals

Washington Capitals
27-18-3, 57 points

Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes
21-18-9, 51 points

Devils

New Jersey Devils
19-19-10, 48 points

Ducks

Anaheim Ducks
30-12-6, 66 points

Flames

Calgary Flames
19-25-4, 42 points

Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers
23-22-3, 49 points

Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes
19-25-4, 42 points

Islanders

New York Islanders
24-17-7, 55 points

Jets

Winnipeg Jets
24-21-3, 51 points

Kings

Los Angeles Kings
27-16-5 59 points

Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning
18-26-4, 40 points

Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs
26-17-5, 57 points

Oilers

Edmonton Oilers
19-22-7, 45 points

Panthers

Florida Panthers
15-27-6, 36 points

Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins
36-12-0, 72 points

Predators

Nashville Predators
16-23-9, 41 points

Rangers

New York Rangers
26-18-4, 56 points

Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings
24-16-8, 56 points

Sabres

Buffalo Sabres
21-21-6, 48 points

Senators

Ottawa Senators
25-17-6, 56 points

Sharks

San Jose Sharks
25-16-7, 57 points

Stars

Dallas Stars
22-22-4, 48 points

Wild

Minnesota Wild
26-19-3, 55 points

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

SUBMIT

Comment »

Rank 'Em: NHL preseason rankings

September 13, 2013

Sep

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe Blackhawks won it all last season, but will that translate into success this season?

The puck drops on the 2013-14 NHL season shortly, and fans are looking forward to a full season after last year's shortened campaign. The Blackhawks managed to knock off the Bruins in a competitive Stanley Cup final, but how will they fare this season? Are they still the favorite to go all the way, or would you put the Penguins or Kings above them?

2013-14 NHL Preview: Award predictions | Pick 'Em | Stanley Cup quiz

Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche
2012: 16-25-7, 39 points

Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks
36-7-5, 77 points

Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets
24-17-7, 55 points

Blues

St. Louis Blues
29-17-2, 60 points

Bruins

Boston Bruins
28-14-6, 62 points

Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens
29-14-5, 63 points

Canucks

Vancouver Canucks
26-15-7, 59 points

Capitals

Washington Capitals
27-18-3, 57 points

Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes
21-18-9, 51 points

Devils

New Jersey Devils
19-19-10, 48 points

Ducks

Anaheim Ducks
30-12-6, 66 points

Flames

Calgary Flames
19-25-4, 42 points

Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers
23-22-3, 49 points

Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes
19-25-4, 42 points

Islanders

New York Islanders
24-17-7, 55 points

Jets

Winnipeg Jets
24-21-3, 51 points

Kings

Los Angeles Kings
27-16-5 59 points

Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning
18-26-4, 40 points

Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs
26-17-5, 57 points

Oilers

Edmonton Oilers
19-22-7, 45 points

Panthers

Florida Panthers
15-27-6, 36 points

Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins
36-12-0, 72 points

Predators

Nashville Predators
16-23-9, 41 points

Rangers

New York Rangers
26-18-4, 56 points

Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings
24-16-8, 56 points

Sabres

Buffalo Sabres
21-21-6, 48 points

Senators

Ottawa Senators
25-17-6, 56 points

Sharks

San Jose Sharks
25-16-7, 57 points

Stars

Dallas Stars
22-22-4, 48 points

Wild

Minnesota Wild
26-19-3, 55 points

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

SUBMIT

Comment »

Quiz: Past 10 Stanley Cup winners

September 13, 2013

Sep

The Stanley Cup is probably the coolest trophy in sports, an iconic representation of a season's worth of struggle. Players dream of being able to hoist the Cup at the end of a season along with their teammates -- with a bonus of a full day with it to do whatever they want. There's been only one repeat champion out of the last 10, but can you name them all?

2013-14 NHL Preview: Award predictions | Pick 'Em | Power rankings

Check out more quizzes in our Quiz Archive!

More games from ESPN Arcade »

Comment »

Rank 'Em: Best NHL forwards

September 12, 2013

Sep

Sidney Crosby is already a legend. But is he the best forward in the NHL heading into the 2013-14 season? Or is it Hart Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin? And what to make of Sid the Kid's teammate Evgeni Malkin?

Click on the images below to set your rankings, then check out our other rankers!

2013-14 NHL Preview: Best coaches | Best goalies | Best defensemen

Patrice Bergeron

Bruins

Logan Couture

Sharks

Sidney Crosby

Penguins

Pavel Datsyuk

Red Wings

Claude Giroux

Flyers

Patrick Kane

Blackhawks

Evgeni Malkin

Penguins

Alex Ovechkin

Capitals

Zach Parise

Wild

Corey Perry

Ducks

Steven Stamkos

Lightning

John Tavares

Islanders

Jonathan Toews

Blackhawks

Henrik Zetterberg

Red Wings

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

SUBMIT

Rank 'Em: Best NHL defensemen

September 12, 2013

Sep

This spring, Brent Seabrook came through, scoring the overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, then doing the same in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Boston Bruins. In the end, the defenseman helped the Chicago Blackhawks take home their second Stanley Cup in four seasons.

So how does he stack up against the NHL's best at his position? Click on the images below to set your rankings, then be sure to check out our other rankers!

2013-14 NHL Preview: Best coaches | Best goalies | Best forwards

Dan Boyle

Sharks

Zdeno Chara

Bruins

Drew Doughty

Kings

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Coyotes

Dan Girardi

Rangers

Erik Karlsson

Senators

Kris Letang

Penguins

Duncan Keith

Blackhawks

Niklas Kronwall

Red Wings

Ryan McDonagh

Rangers

Alex Pietrangelo

Blues

Brent Seabrook

Blackhawks

P.K. Subban

Canadiens

Ryan Suter

Wild

Shea Weber

Predators

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

SUBMIT

Rank 'Em: Best NHL goalies

September 12, 2013

Sep

Just months ago, Corey Crawford helped the Chicago Blackhawks take home the Stanley Cup. But they won't have much longer to savor it; the 2013-14 season is fast approaching.

So we ask: Who's best in net? Is it Crawford? Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky? Someone else? Click on the images below to set your rankings, then be sure to check out our other rankers!

2013-14 NHL Preview: Best coaches | Best defensemen | Best forwards

Craig Anderson

Senators

Sergei Bobrovsky

Blue Jackets

Corey Crawford

Blackhawks

Jimmy Howard

Red Wings

Henrik Lundqvist

Rangers

Roberto Luongo

Canucks

Antti Niemi

Sharks

Carey Price

Canadiens

Jonathan Quick

Kings

Tuukka Rask

Bruins

Pekka Rinne

Predators

Cory Schneider

Devils

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

SUBMIT

Rank 'Em: Best NHL coaches

September 12, 2013

Sep

It seems like just a few days ago the Chicago Blackhawks were scoring two goals in 17 seconds to clinch another Stanley Cup. Now the 2013-14 season is fast approaching, giving us a chance to look around the NHL and see who's best.

Behind the bench, is it Chicago's own Joel Quenneville? Reigning Jack Adams Trophy winner Paul MacLean? Someone else? Click on the images below to set your rankings, then be sure to rank all the players!

2013-14 NHL Preview: Best goalies | Best defensemen | Best forwards

Mike Babcock

Red Wings

Bruce Boudreau

Ducks

Dan Bylsma

Penguins

Ken Hitchcock

Blues

Claude Julien

Bruins

Paul MacLean

Senators

Joel Quenneville

Blackhawks

Darryl Sutter

Kings

Dave Tippett

Coyotes

Barry Trotz

Predators

Your Rankings

10.

SUBMIT

Rank 'Em: Best uniforms in sports

August 23, 2013

Aug

A year ago, the Montreal Canadiens reigned over all in the Uni Watch Power Rankings. This time around? The St. Louis Cardinals are on top. Do you agree? Click on the logos below to set your top 25!

Cardinals

No. 1 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Bears

No. 2 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Canadiens

No. 3 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Packers

No. 4 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Cubs

No. 5 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Raiders

No. 6 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Celtics

No. 7 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Bruins

No. 8 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Athletics

No. 9 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Red Wings

No. 10 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Phillies

No. 11 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Steelers

No. 12 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Lakers

No. 13 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Dodgers

No. 14 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Spurs

No. 15 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Bills

No. 16 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Tigers

No. 17 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Yankees

No. 18 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

49ers

No. 19 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Rangers

No. 20 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Jazz

No. 21 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Flyers

No. 22 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Warriors

No. 23 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Cowboys

No. 24 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Maple Leafs

No. 25 in Uni Watch Power Rankings

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

SUBMIT

Comment »

Rank 'Em: NHL's best uniforms

August 22, 2013

Aug

The Original Six still rule in the Uni Watch Power Rankings, with the Montreal Canadiens taking the top spot and four more members finding footing in the top six. Do you agree? Or should some newbies take the higher places? Click the logos to set your rankings!

Avalanche

Blackhawks

Blue Jackets

Blues

Bruins

Canadiens

Canucks

Capitals

Coyotes

Devils

Ducks

Flames

Flyers

Hurricanes

Islanders

Jets

Kings

Lightning

Maple Leafs

Oilers

Panthers

Penguins

Predators

Rangers

Red Wings

Sabres

Senators

Sharks

Stars

Wild

Your Rankings

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

SUBMIT

Comment »

Visiting team fans not welcome?

August 15, 2013

Aug

Visiting team fans not welcome?

Chicago Blackhawks fans like to travel to away games. They tend to do so in big numbers. One city that doesn't take kindly to this is Nashville, so much so that the Predators have announced new ticketing procedures that will make it more challenging for Blackhawks fans to attend games at Bridgestone Arena. Is this fair?

What do you think of the Predators' plan to keep Blackhawks fans away from games by limiting how the tickets are sold?
- 34%
  Fair
- 66%
  Unfair
(Total votes: 14,581)
How much do you enjoy seeing your favorite team play on the road as opposed to playing at home?
- 58%
  Just as much
- 42%
  Not as much
(Total votes: 14,118)
How often do you travel to away games for your favorite team?
- 8%
  Fairly often
- 45%
  Not that often
- 47%
  Never
(Total votes: 13,425)
How would you feel if you traveled a long distance to see your favorite team lose a championship game?
- 65%
  Still glad I made the trip
- 35%
  Would wish I had stayed home
(Total votes: 13,358)

Comment »

BEST OF THE BEST

Harden vs. Wade?

Which elite player is better right now -- James Harden or Dwyane Wade? Cast your vote! »