The NHL power rankings have a new leader as the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters are announced. Jason Chen shares his burning thoughts and ranks all 32 teams.

Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s NHL power rankings day, but it’s extra spicy today because the rosters for Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off are going to be revealed.

An unofficial gauge of interest in this tournament online ranges from aggressive disinterest (“why are there only four countries?!”) to genuine excitement (“McDavid and MacKinnon?!”), and all of them are valid.

In keeping with the theme, this week’s NHL power rankings will touch on players and burning questions related to them as the 4 Nations rosters are revealed. Since the rosters have yet to be revealed as of this writing and publication, we’ll have to make some educated guesses.

1. Minnesota Wild (17-4-4, +20. Last week: 5)

It is an absolute shame that a team of Russian players is not in this tournament because Kirill Kaprizov might be the best player on the planet right now.

2. Washington Capitals (17-6-2, +31. Last week: 4)

How wild is it that a top-five team potentially won’t have a single player at 4 Nations? As a testament to how deep USA’s blueline will be, John Carlson with 19 points and a plus-12 rating while ranked 17th in time on ice per game among defensemen is not a shoo-in.

3. New Jersey Devils (17-9-2, +23. Last week: 3)

I am flabbergasted what Jack Hughes might do with elite talent surrounding him.

4. Florida Panthers (15-9-2, +11. Last week: 8)

More of a curiosity than anything, but the Panthers might be the only team that has at least one player on each country: Matthew Tkachuk (USA), Aleksander Barkov (Finland) and Gustav Forsling (Sweden) were among the first six named, while Sam Reinhart (Canada) is a virtual lock.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (16-8-1, +19). Last week: 1)

The limited scope of the tournament once again robs the international stage of some elite talent, including Martin Necas (Czechia) and Andrei Svechnikov (Russia). On another note, Seth Jarvis (Canada) is rumored to have made the team, and he’s the type of sparkplug player who can be turn into the unlikeliest of heroes.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-7-2, +13. Last week: 6)

USA is incredibly deep at center, but this is Auston Matthews’ big chance to cement himself as their answer to Canada’s Connor McDavid. Inextricably linked as the first-overall picks in consecutive seasons, their differing styles but similar quests to bring their storied Canadian franchises to the holy land is the closest thing we have to a potential Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry to usher in the current era.

7. Vegas Golden Knights (16-7-3, +13. Last week: 9)

Adin Hill will likely get a chance to be Canada’s No. 1, which is frankly a little terrifying with his .900 SP this season and .909 SP in his career.

8. Dallas Stars (16-8-0, +21. Last week: 10)

Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell will certainly be there, but it’s a little strange to even write that Matt Duchene has arguably been their best player this season. He’s got an outside chance of making Canada’s squad. A year ago, Jason Robertson would’ve been a lock for USA, but I think he’s a long shot.

9. Winnipeg Jets (18-8-0, +28. Last week: 2)

The Jets are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, which overshadows Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck’s (very) likely inclusions to their respective country’s teams. The one I do wonder about is Kyle Connor. The USA is not short on scoring, and aside from scoring goals, it’s debatable how much Connor actually brings to the table.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (12-9-2, +13. Last week: 11)

Star power has always carried the Lightning, but we sometimes forget how good their role players have been. Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli can score and are very comfortable playing bottom-six roles and doing the dirty work. There’s no doubt Canada has talent, but every team needs these types of players.

11. Vancouver Canucks (13-7-4, +1. Last week: 15)

As the reigning Norris winner and one of USA’s first six picks, it’s hard to argue that Quinn Hughes doesn’t get the respect that he deserves. But, sometimes, it certainly feels that way, and it’ll be interesting to see how they use him on such a deep blueline. J.T. Miller once joked that the Canucks were winning more games because they had more Americans now, but it’s conceivable that none of Miller (currently away from the team), Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko make the final cut.

12. Los Angeles Kings (14-8-3, +8. Last week: 16)

I can’t help but feel like the NHL missed a big opportunity to re-introduce a team of non-Swedish and non-Finnish Europeans. As gimmicky as Team Europe was at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, it included NHL players whose home countries may have not qualified for the Olympics. I say this because we may never see Anze Kopitar in top-tier international competitions again after Slovenia failed to qualify for the 2026 Olympics. Only Adrian Kempe is expected to represent the Kings.

13. Edmonton Oilers (13-10-2, -2. Last week: 13)

Could Team Canada look vastly different if the Oilers weren’t struggling and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard were playing well? Team Canada historically wants players to play a certain role rather than taking the best of the best – i.e. they galaxy brain themselves – and trusting them to figure it out. It sounds like they’ve managed to avoid that this time.

14. Colorado Avalanche (14-12-0, -11. Last week: 7)

The thought of having Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid potentially playing on the same line is terrifying for any defender or goalie. The thought of MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby on the same line might force Nova Scotia to declare independence.

15. Philadelphia Flyers (12-10-3, -10. Last week: 19)

Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim, who are rumored to have made Canada’s squad, absolutely earned it. We know the Flyers have fantastic role players, but that’s why Matvei Michkov was so key – he’s the big-talent gamebreaker they needed.

16. Calgary Flames (13-9-4, -5. Last week: 12)

Seeing how Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger, who’s expected to serve as the backup, won’t be letting the third goalie see any ice time, I do wonder if USA should take (or should have taken) Dustin Wolf. Introduce him to a pressure-packed environment, acknowledge that he’s been overlooked for far too long, and whet his appetite for making the 2026 Olympic team.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-10-3, even. Last week: 22)

Let it be known that if the Norris vote were to be held today, it would be absolutely criminal if Zach Werenski was not a finalist. He’s going to be indispensable on USA’s blueline.

18. St. Louis Blues (12-12-2, -13. Last week: 20)

It certainly feels like Jordan Binnington is set up to fail on Team Canada. Lose, and it’s likely he gets the blame. Win, and he gets no credit because he’s got an all-star team in front of him. For a goalie who has a reputation for antics when things don’t go his way, it’ll be interesting to see how long he can stay composed.

19. Boston Bruins (13-11-3, -15. Last week: 23)

Brad Marchand has pedigree and built-in chemistry with Sidney Crosby, but was naming him as one of their first six a mistake? It’s hard to envision Marchand playing anything more than a limited checking role, which he can certainly do well, but of the veteran players Canada has reportedly picked, he’s the one player I feel quite confident won’t be named to the 2026 Olympics squad.

20. New York Rangers (13-10-1, +6. Last week: 14)

You almost want to pick Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Jacob Trouba and even Alexis Lafreniere on reputation alone, but there’s no denying the Rangers are getting exposed. They’ve lost six of their past seven, and their poor play will cost some of them spots at the 4 Nations.

21. Buffalo Sabres (11-12-2, -2. Last week: 17)

TSN's Chris Johnston believes Tage Thompson was left off USA’s roster, at which point he promptly scored two goals against the Avalanche on Tuesday. USA is deep, but few players have Thompson’s mix of size and skill, and you have to think that his exclusion was based on USA’s desire to have a different style of player rather than talent or merit.

22. Utah Hockey Club (10-11-4, -5. Last week: 24)

Utah will be well-represented in international tournaments soon, but not now. And that’s kind of the issue – we’re still waiting for them to properly break out.

23. Pittsburgh Penguins (11-12-4, -27. Last week: 31)

No goalie on Canada’s radar has seen his stock drop more than Tristan Jarry. Originally believed to be a potential starter, his play has been so poor that it would’ve been difficult to justify his inclusion for any reason. Sometimes, playing on an elite team can reinvigorate a player – I wonder how Erik Karlsson responds upon his return.

24. San Jose Sharks (10-13-5, -17. Last week: 32)

If Canada had to pick a young player who could contribute now and potentially be considered a core player for all international events going forward, Macklin Celebrini is making a strong case to be that player. Also underrated: A potential William Eklund-Fabian Zetterlund winger combo for Sweden.

25. Anaheim Ducks (10-10-3, -7. Last week: 25)

If John Gibson is making a late run to be considered for Team USA, he’s a few years too late. It’ll be interesting to see if the Swedes usher in some young talent of their own, starting with Leo Carlsson.

26. Seattle Kraken (12-13-1, -3. Last week: 18)

It’s funnily ironic that Joey Daccord is eligible to represent Canada or USA but could end up on neither roster. (Canada could use him). He comes closest to making a 4 Nations roster, followed by Brandon Montour, but Canada’s right-side defense is well-spoken for.

27. Ottawa Senators (10-12-2, -5. Last week: 21)

Jake Sanderson is the most intriguing name because the final spots for USA’s blueline will be tough, but he represents the type of well-rounded defender every team could use as their spare.

28. Detroit Red Wings (10-11-4, -14. Last week: 26)

Even if Patrick Kane was healthy, it would’ve been difficult to name him to the roster despite the unanimous reverence among his American peers. There was a time when Kane and Alex DeBrincat was a winger combo they had to take.

29. Montreal Canadiens (9-13-3, -24. Last week: 29)

Sam Montembeault is rumored to be the third goalie for Canada, which likely sees him as a potential part of the 2026 squad due to his age. Kudos to Montembeault, but his case was much stronger last month. If we’re judging on merit, Mackenzie Blackwood and Logan Thompson are in the same age group and having stronger seasons.

30. New York Islanders (9-10-7, -10. Last week: 27)

You wonder if Mathew Barzal was healthy, he and Bo Horvat would have a shot at making Team Canada. As it stands, Brock Nelson’s reportedly the lone Islander who will be at 4 Nations, representing the USA. I sympathize when Patrick Roy implies that he’s doing the best he can with what he’s been given.

31. Nashville Predators (7-12-6, -21. Last week: 30)

The Preds are undoubtedly the biggest disappointment this season. Steven Stamkos had a Hall of Fame-level run with the Lightning, and it’s almost painful to watch where his career is heading right now. It would’ve been fun to see him reunite with his former Lightning teammates, but their paths couldn’t be more divergent right now.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (8-15-2, -16. Last week: 28)

Whether he makes the team or not, Connor Bedard will be a hot topic. It’s been a trying season for him, and while he may be Canada’s next golden boy, there have been other young players who are playing better and with more confidence than him. This isn’t really a setback for the teen phenom, as he’ll surely be in the conversation for the 2026 Olympics. Remember, too, that Sidney Crosby was left off the 2006 Olympic roster even though he ended up finishing sixth in league scoring that season.

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