NHL Power Rankings Week 1 2024-25 Top Teams Prediction | TPR

The 2024–25 NHL season has officially begun! There is a new NHL Power Rankings week 1 by The Power Rankings (TPR), and fans can’t wait to see which teams will be in the running for the Stanley Cup. After a very busy summer, the league is already showing signs of being interesting and unpredictable. Some teams have already played many games this season, but others are still getting used to things because of things like Hurricane Helene. Because of this, the week 1 rank considers what people thought would happen before the season and how teams did early on.

Top 32 Teams NHL Power Rankings Week 1

Teams Ranked 32-27

Teams in different stages of rebuilding are mostly found at the bottom of the NHL power rankings week 1. The Columbus Blue Jackets stand out because they had a rough start. It’s been hard for the team since the deaths of Johny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in August. The Blue Jackets lost some of the best players in the world, and the loss hurt hockey as a whole. The team has a tough road ahead since Captain Boone Jenner could also be out for up to six months. Problems like these could either bring them together or make it hard for them to do well.

The other teams in this range are taking care of their problems. The Chicago Blackhawks, the Anaheim Ducks, the San Jose Sharks, and the Montreal Canadiens have all made moves during the off-season to get better. These clubs are still developing, which means they aren’t always successful. However, their potential is undeniable. One of these teams can surprise fans with a run of wins, but most people expect their results to change throughout the season, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.

The Buffalo Sabres are another team that is having trouble getting going. In the beginning, they had a rough trip overseas, losing two games in a row. When they got back to North America, they lost more games. The Sabres are behind in the standings, even though they beat a weak Florida Panthers team. Their fans are getting increasingly desperate for them to succeed, so they must turn things around quickly.. 

Teams Ranked 26-11

“Mediocre Middle” is often used to describe neither very good nor bad teams. This year is no different. These teams have the skill to fight for the Stanley Cup but don’t play well enough to be called elite. Many of these “middle-of-the-pack” teams are represented in the NHL power rankings week 1 and can go on long winning or frustrating losing streaks.

Some teams, like the Vancouver Canucks, are having trouble so far this season. If starting goalie Thatcher Demko doesn’t come back soon, the Canucks may have a hard time staying in first place until he does. The Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs can easily reach the top 10 if they play well.  They all started the season well and addressed people’s questions about them.

The NHL’s newest team, the Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC), has been a nice surprise so far. The team was proud of its 3-0-0 start, and its home game was a huge success. The Utah HC’s good start shows what good ownership can do for a team. Their low buffet prices and passionate fans should help them keep going strong. 

Teams Ranked 10-1

On TPR’s NHL power rankings week 1, most of the top 10 teams were good last year and will likely compete for the Stanley Cup. But not all of them have had easy starts. Tired and injured early in the season, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers suffer a “Stanley Cup hangover”. The Oilers and Panthers have only won one of their first six games, which shows how hard it is to get back on track after a long playoff run.

Another team having some trouble is the Nashville Predators. New players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei are still used to playing with the team. Early goalkeeper issues for the Colorado Avalanche raised concerns about their defense stability.

The Dallas Stars, the New York Rangers, and the Winnipeg Jets have picked up where they left off last season at the top. These teams have good goaltending, balanced scoring, and a lot of defense depth, so they should still be in the running for the championship all year. Based on how they’ve played so far this season, they could be in the running for the top spots in the coming weeks. 

A Closer Look at This Week’s Top Three Teams

1 Dallas Stars

After a strong start to the season, the Stars are atop the NHL power rankings week 1 list. Building on their success from last year, they were able to keep their key players and fix problems with their backups. With trustworthy goalie Jake Oettinger and a well-rounded squad with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz, they are early playoff favorites.

2 Winnipeg Jets

Many people are very shocked by how well the Jets started the season. Their top lines played well, and Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding in goal. The team didn’t make many big changes to their roster over the summer, but their defense is better now. Keep up the good work, Jets. They might stay near the top of the charts for weeks to come.

3 New York Rangers

The Rangers are in a good spot early because they have experienced guidance and young talent. The forwards led by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have shown they can score when it matters the most. Additionally, Igor Shesterkin is still one of the best goaltenders in the league and can keep games close. The Rangers are a strong competitor because they have a good offense, defense, and goaltending.

Predicting the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion

Now that TPR’s NHL power rankings week 1 analysis is over, it’s time to make one of the hardest guesses: who will win the Stanley Cup in 2025? After looking at everything, the TPR immediately moves toward a team that might not be the clear favorite. The Nashville Predators will likely beat the New York Rangers in a close game and win their first Stanley Cup.

Nashville got some new players over the summer, like Marchessault and Stamkos. These players should help the team get stronger while they get used to their new surroundings. There are still some questions about how well the team will be able to work together, but the general potential is clear. If Nashville keeps getting better and hits its peak at the right time. They could surprise everyone and bring the Cup to Music City for the first time.

What to Expect in Future Weeks

The NHL Power Rankings Week 1 TPR will be a starting point to track team growth as the season progresses. Surprises early in the season will give way to bigger trends, and teams that start may find their groove. Injuries, deals, and the rise of new stars will cause changes in the rankings. Every week, TPR will give fans new data and insights to let them know which teams will likely rise or fall.

Conclusion

There is joy and doubt as the 2024–25 NHL season starts. Here are TPR’s NHL power rankings for week 1, and you can look at how each team is doing right now. The results are not set in stone, though. Some teams, like the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, need to get over their slow starts. Teams like the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets already show why they are good. TPR will keep giving fans accurate, data-driven scores weekly to help them stay on top of the game.

As we wait for more exciting games, make sure you listen to TPR for all your NHL coverage needs. Expect a lot of surprises this season, from weekly power rankings to in-depth team breakdowns. We’ll be here to track it all, one week at a time.