With a significant portion of the season now complete, it’s time to reevaluate expectations for various NHL teams, particularly those that are showing unexpected performance levels. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks, each of whom failed to qualify for the playoffs last season, have made remarkable strides in the 2025-26 season, consistently exceeding anticipations.
In this week’s edition of B/R’s Power Rankings, the Bruins made a remarkable jump from 21st to 8th place. Similarly, the Blackhawks saw their ranking improve significantly, moving from 24th to 12th. Meanwhile, the Sharks made considerable progress, climbing 10 spots from 29th to 19th, indicating that they are finding their footing and could be contenders as the season continues.
Conversely, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were the Atlantic Division champions last season, faced a dramatic decline in this week’s rankings. They plummeted from 14th down to 27th place, marking the largest drop of the week. Other teams that experienced notable falls included the Utah Mammoth, which dropped from 7th to 18th, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, who saw a decline from 13th to 23rd.
As these teams continue to play out the season, the shifting dynamics in the Power Rankings reflect not only individual team performances but also the unpredictability of the league, suggesting that surprises may still be in store as the year progresses.