NHL Reverse Power Rankings: February 22, 2024
There is one question that gets brought up every year in the NHL, and that is "Do teams tank?" The answer is of course they do. Some do it on purpose, and some don't. Last season the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets were on complete opposite sides of the tank spectrum. Chicago was very clearly tanking, and had been since the year prior. Columbus on the other hand, had the inadvertent tank. Injuries coupled with poor play sent them to the bottom of the standings early where they could never recover. Chicago's plan worked out as they were moved up by the NHL to draft Connor Bedard. Columbus, much like the regular season, inadvertently got "their guy" when Adam Fantilli was passed over by Anaheim. So, in the end it worked out for everybody, but it doesn't always work out that way.
Here we are almost a year later, and it's the same four teams at the bottom battling for the top pick. Would the NHL allow Chicago to get the top pick again? Conspiracy theorists will scream "YES." Can Columbus, San Jose, or Anaheim be allowed to draft a generational talent? There are no guarantees when it comes to whether or not a kid will become a star, but sometimes you just know.
Let's take a look at the Reverse Power Rankings for February 22, 2024, and who they could draft.
1. Chicago Blackhawks - 57gp; 33pts - Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University - 43 points in 28 games.
2. San Jose Sharks - 55gp; 35pts - Ivan Demidov, RW/C, St. Petersburg (MHL) - 57 points in 28 games.
3. Anaheim Ducks - 56gp; 42pts - Konsta Helenius, C/RW, Jukurit (LIIGA) - 33 points in 43 games.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets - 55gp; 46 pts - Cayden Lindstrom, F, Medicine Hat (WHL) - 46 points in 32 games.
5. Ottawa Senators - 53gp; 49pts - Artyom Levshunov, RD, Michigan State Univ. - 28 points in 30 games.
A lot can change in the standings with 25 or so games to go, but for now these are your standings and who these teams could choose.
From a Columbus Blue Jackets prospective, if they can't land the top pick, they will probably fall to 4 or 5. Cayden Lindstrom is a big center, and could pair well with Adam Fantilli in the future. If it were my selection, that's who I would choose.
You can read more about Lindstrom below.
What's Next - Columbus will return home to Nationwide Arena on Friday when the Buffalo Sabres come to town.
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