Major network is beyond unkind to the Blackhawks in first power ranking of season

We knew the Chicago Blackhawks wouldn’t find themselves among the potential playoff contenders early in the NHL power rankings, but I was expecting something higher from Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton of ESPN. 

Again, nobody should be expecting a top-16 ranking, but the Hawks, even for a team that hasn’t played in a single regular season game with this group, made enough moves to warrant a better ranking. So, who found themselves ahead of the Hawks that this team, at least on paper, should factor in as the better group?

Here is how each team ranked between 28th and 22nd clocks in, and there are quite a few I’d put the Hawks in front of. 

No. 28 Montreal Canadiens: I agree 100 percent that the Habs should be ahead of the Hawks. Even without Patrik Laine for a while, Montreal looks like a team that can jump into the mid-tier range if the rest of its talent stays healthy. 

No. 27: Calgary Flames: I’m going with a 180 here, because I can see the Flames moving even more top-end talent like Blake Coleman, and that’s just the tip of another iceberg. They were active in making trades last season and when the same thing happens again, so many in this group will be auditioning to play elsewhere. 

Blackhawks have more talent and a better outlook than quite a few teams

No. 26: Seattle Kraken: This is another team I felt was ranked too low, and no, the Blackhawks have neither more talent nor a better outlook than Seattle this season. The Kraken did just enough to be solid contenders for a wild card spot in 2024-25, especially if their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks and LA Kings, regress. 

No. 25 Ottawa Senators: I don’t even know where to begin with this team, but if anyone from the Atlantic deserves a bottom-five ranking, it’s Ottawa. Other than Linus Ullmark, nobody in Ottawa jumps out at me, and their star players are second-tier, at best. Throw in the mediocre Travis Green as head coach, and the Sens will be in for a long year. 

No. 24 Philadelphia Flyers: Okay, this one I can agree with, and to be real, the Flyers are one step ahead of the Hawks. I’ll put and keep them at No. 24, and unless they collapse as a young team, Chicago shouldn’t be starting ahead of them. 

No. 23: Buffalo Sabres: Well, right now, the Sabres can’t look any worse, but they’re still a better team on paper. Buffalo also has a chance to turn their awful start around, but if injuries and poor play keep stifling them, it won’t be long until they freefall and the Hawks jump past them. 

No. 22: St. Louis Blues: St. Louis is in restructuring mode and that means, when they look as flat in the regular season as they did in the preseason, the Hawks have a chance here. But regarding overall outlook, I’m giving Chicago the edge as a team that, though they don’t look like it now, will surpass the Blues at some point. 

Where should the Hawks stand?

At worst, this team should rank No. 27 in front of the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators. It’s not a major jump in the rankings, but they have way too many exciting youngsters plus an array of veterans that should have kept them out of the bottom-four. 

No, this group hasn’t played in a single regular season game alongside one another, but on paper, Calgary and Ottawa are both a mess. The Sabres and Blues could be heading in that direction quickly, so the overall range for the Hawks, at this point, is between 25th and 27th as opposed to 29th.